CBS-FM's Seven Day Weekend

[scooty430]

If you think that 99.999 percent of the audience is satisfied with repetetive radio, particularly in formats that don't have new music to play, you are really out of touch.

Plenty of ordinary people express boredom with regular radio. That's why despite what people with vested interests (like Mister E.) say, radio listenership has declined dramatically, approaching zero amongst people under 30.

Read just about any non-radio blog or message board online. If the subject of radio comes up, somebody will say that they always play the same songs, and it's boring. You'll inevitably have someone say they don't listen to radio, and haven't for years.

Or, if you like, ask your friends who aren't radio employees or uber-fans. Ask them if their local oldies, rock, female-focused, classic hits, or even modern rock outlet is boring, or plays the same songs over and over.

If you're really feeling bold, find ten people under 30, and ask them what radio station they listen to. Answer will most likely be: none.

 

[Gerryr]

[/quote]
Of course CBS-FM is not playing now what it played in the 60's and they never will,
[/quote]

Weren't they playing Easy Listening and/or simulcasting 880 in the '60's?

 

[adma]

Groupies serve no purpose. They are not representative in any way of the whole radio audience. Only .0001% of a radio audience is active. The other 99.9999% are passive and just listen, if they are so inclined. Any program director or dj who is influenced by the rantings and ravings of the groupies on here is committing career suicide and is an idiot. Say what you want to but, WCBS-FM is but a fraction of what they once were 20 years ago and WCBS-FM, 20 years ago, was but a fraction of what WABC and WMCA were in the mid 60s.

No kidding Sherlock.....Of course CBS-FM is not playing now what it played in the 60's and they never will, but having an A to Z or other specials is reminicent of other times, because of all the "obscurities" being played. And that's why 99.9999% of us are praising CBS-FM for what they've done.

By YOU posting here, you are a groupie too. C'est la vie.

For that matter, let's take WABC in its prime--if it was really that eager not to aid, abet, or be influenced by "groupies", it never would have been W-A-Beatle-C. Indeed, it would have been more of a MOR wallpaperish station with barely any positive acknowledgment of rock at all.

Though I maybe kinda understand where these grumpy old RADIO TRUTHs are coming from; back then, despite whatever momentary lip service, they might have thought rock was but a lurid blip, just so much trivial yadayada which "normal" people would outgrow once they hit their career and family years. They never expected it to be "culture". They never expected that teenage Stones and Zeppelin fans might grow up to be 50-plus Stones and Zeppelin (and even beyond) fans--or conversely, that if they "outgrew" anything, it wouldn't necessarily be on behalf of commercial radio. They thought that a Mitch Miller-era rite of cultural passage would endure forever in radio's "mass audience" favor.

Look at it this way. The audience is your family. And if "passive and just listen" is your ideal, that sounds, well, kinda authoritarian and even abusive...especially if you harangue them out of the household for being anything otherwise...

 

[StereoBrain]

quote author=andreajesus link=topic=103031.msg817331#msg817331 date=1215733027]
thanks - I KNEW you would see things MY WAY!! But seriously, though, for ANY programmer to try and program a "greatest hits" or "oldies" station WITHOUT Motown or R&B? Wouldn't work, ESPECIALLY in New York City - it was TRUE back then, and it is SO TRUE today!! (does the jingle "Greatest Motown, Soul, and Rock and Roll" mean ANYTHING?? ) Besides which, and even a certain "relative" said it quite nicely back about three years ago...New York ain't like anywhere else and you can't program it like anywhere else.....

which makes ALL of CBSFM's success since their return on July 12, 2007 that much MORE endearing to NYC - you have a GREAT programmer in Brian Thomas who has been able to BALANCE all ends of the listening spectrum (including us long-timers...), bring in GREAT DJs, all of this while preserving the legacy that IS WCBSFM 101.1 - STILL STANDING AFTER 35+ YEARS!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY 101.1FM!! YOU STILL ROCK!!
[/quote]

quote author=andreajesus link=topic=103031.msg815946#msg815946 date=1215571332]
Even though I feel as if I shouldn't HAVE to restate ANYTHING, this is what it is in a NUTSHELL:

I have been a fan and supporter and student of the station SINCE 1984; I am also a writer with DEFINITE opinions about EVERYTHING...and one of the things that I'm DEFINITELY opinionated about is the sheer fact that O&A have been SO AGAINST CBSFM for a LONG, LONG time - I shudder EVERY time I hear about another one of their "eggings" on against CBSFM - i just think that they're disgusting and rude and that we shouldn't even be mentioning O&A in connection with ANYTHING CBSFM related....

Having said all that, I SO MUCH enjoyed the A-Z Countdown - my goodness, all those songs that HAD NOT been played in MANY years - LOVED IT!! I swear the DJs were having as much fun playing these songs as we the listeners had hearing them - BIG UPS to Brian Thomas and the ENTIRE programming stuff - they hit the mark with this one!! 8) 8) 8) 8)
[/quote]

You don’t have issues… you have a whole subscription.

Enjoy your stuffed animals on the rear dash of your car and your faded tassel hanging from your rearview mirror from 1996.

I’m out…

 

[oldies76]

If you think that 99.999 percent of the audience is satisfied with repetetive radio, particularly in formats that don't have new music to play, you are really out of touch.

Actually, I was referring to the A to Z and other highlights, not repetitive programming in general. 99.999% is an eggageration, but you know the vast majority most likely approved of this special, don't you?

 

[scooty430]

Oldies76, I was actually referring to this text by RadioTruth, not your comment:

"Groupies serve no purpose. They are not representative in any way of the whole radio audience. Only .0001% of a radio audience is active. The other 99.9999% are passive and just listen, if they are so inclined. Any program director or dj who is influenced by the rantings and ravings of the groupies on here is committing career suicide and is an idiot."

I should have been clearer, my bad. We are definitely on the same page as regards to radio programming!

By the way, the Portland A to Z countdown is quite interesting. It goes very deep on late 60s, but omits almost all 50s and 80s. Same amount of tracks, but almost 50 percent different.

Also, if you want another good listening tip, Bob Shannon's show "Behind The Hits" on WLNG is on Tuesdays 11am-3pm EST. He plays themed sets with plenty of commentary and a great sense of humor.

 

[nickny]

Didn't hear all the A-Z's...but what I did, great! Any possibility of getting a printed list of the A-Z's??

 

[scooty430]

Didn't hear all the A-Z's...but what I did, great! Any possibility of getting a printed list of the A-Z's??

http://www.mediafire.com/?gnzcvyattyy

 

[oldies76]

Plenty of ordinary people express boredom with regular radio. That's why despite what people with vested interests (like Mister E.) say, radio listenership has declined dramatically, approaching zero amongst people under 30.

Read just about any non-radio blog or message board online. If the subject of radio comes up, somebody will say that they always play the same songs, and it's boring. You'll inevitably have someone say they don't listen to radio, and haven't for years.

This is what (Mister E.) said about another A to Z (KDZA's in Pueblo, Co. around early June)

"Yet most listeners don't stay tuned if they don't hear their favorite songs often. Playing a bunch of stiffs and maybe one good song an hour is a way to go out of business. About as dumb a Spring Book promotion as I have heard of lately."

Sure....tell that to CBS-FM & Portland. It's called pleasing listeners and eliminating boredom, and bringing back some 54+ audience, considering all the 50's CBS-FM recently played.

 

[scooty430]

People over 50 (or 60 or 70) are sadly left out of popular media these days. This is why movies feature explosions, CGI, and inane humor geared to 14 year olds, and why TV shows are little different. It's a misguided strategy, IMO, because there are lots of baby boomers in that age group, they are living longer, they have money, and they still buy stuff. I think the idea of a 55 year old Archie Bunker sitting in his easy chair with all his opinions hardened is a really outdated perception.

However.....I don't think the A to Z "fad" is geared toward attracting older people. Frankly, I don't know why WCBS included so much 50s stuff. I LOVE it (and I'm in my 30s)...but I don't know what their motivation is. Maybe they want to maintain their heritage.

The Portland countdown, by the way, is very much focused on 1965-1975. Almost zero 1950s or 1980s, much more rock focused. It reminds me of the Classic Rock (not Oldies) stations in the late 80's, when the term Classic Rock first was coined.

 

[oldies76]

Actually, you are right about attracting 55+. The A to Z was meant for people in their 30's and 40's mostly (like us). Hopefully listeners in their 50's onward (as well as the younger crowd), catched a glimpse of that special and we hope that they are listening more to this station and its superb programming and specialties.

When doing an A to Z or the like, it would seem complete if the whole rock era was represented to a certain year or style of music (1955 - ??). In this case, a lot of the 50's were played, which was great on their part. Like you said, it was most likely a heritage flashback.

Could you imagine if KRTH did the same? Or is it wishful thinking. Maybe this "fad" will spread all over, like most fads do anyways.

 

[scooty430]

K-Earth did whip out a ton of 50s tracks when they did the Top 1001 on New Year's Eve. They were actually (to my knowledge) the first station to do something along these lines. (Not including some rock stations like KLOS that have been doing it for years.)

Since then, though, they've been soundly trumped.

I hope all of this leads to regular playlists being interesting. They don't have to play crazy stuff like "Wildwood Weed" in a regular rotation (yes, the Portland station just played that,) but there are so many great songs. You actually forget you even knew them!

 

[Indielover]

Actually, you are right about attracting 55+. The A to Z was meant for people in their 30's and 40's mostly (like us). Hopefully listeners in their 50's onward (as well as the younger crowd), catched a glimpse of that special and we hope that they are listening more to this station and its superb programming and specialties.

When doing an A to Z or the like, it would seem complete if the whole rock era was represented to a certain year or style of music (1955 - ??). In this case, a lot of the 50's were played, which was great on their part. Like you said, it was most likely a heritage flashback.

Could you imagine if KRTH did the same? Or is it wishful thinking. Maybe this "fad" will spread all over, like most fads do anyways.

As I listened to the CBS/FM A-Z I couldn't help but wish it was K-Earth, which is the "oldies" station that has a special place in my heart. Hopefully they will do this at some point. Isn't K-Earth the oldest continuously programed "oldies" station?

 

[scooty430]

That's a good question. I think KRTH and WCBS started around the same time, (early 70s) in terms of having an oldies format. KRTH, though, was a current/adult contemporary station for awhile there in the late 70s/early 80s or so. But since at least 1986 it's been solid oldies.

WLNG bills itself as the original "oldies" station, but that is a small market (Hamptons) and the station spends tons of time on ultra-local news and ads. Fantastic at night, though. They boast a 10,000 record library. Also listen to WLNG online to tune in Bob Shannon's (also of WCBS) show on Tuesdays at 11am EST. I just discovered this and it's really a well done show.

 

[Indielover]

That's a good question. I think KRTH and WCBS started around the same time, (early 70s) in terms of having an oldies format. KRTH, though, was a current/adult contemporary station for awhile there in the late 70s/early 80s or so. But since at least 1986 it's been solid oldies.

WLNG bills itself as the original "oldies" station, but that is a small market (Hamptons) and the station spends tons of time on ultra-local news and ads. Fantastic at night, though. They boast a 10,000 record library. Also listen to WLNG online to tune in Bob Shannon's (also of WCBS) show on Tuesdays at 11am EST. I just discovered this and it's really a well done show.

K-Earth and CBS/FM both started in '72..I remember in '88 K-Earth proclaiming "playing the oldies of Southern California for more than 16 years"....so perhaps in the late 70's/early 80's they played some currents along with the oldies...CBS/FM used to play new music as "future gold"....CBS/FM however has not been continuously programing oldies, since as we all know, it was "jacked"..for a time, leaving K-Earth the oldest "continuously programed" oldies station...

WLNG is local for me on 92.1, and I know it's good at night but I almost never listen...always have indie on when I am home, in the car its either CD's, WFAN, WRXP, or 104.1 in Hartford.

 

[oldies76]

K-Earth and CBS/FM both started in '72..I remember in '88 K-Earth proclaiming "playing the oldies of Southern California for more than 16 years"....so perhaps in the late 70's/early 80's they played some currents along with the oldies...CBS/FM used to play new music as "future gold"....CBS/FM however has not been continuously programing oldies, since as we all know, it was "jacked"..for a time, leaving K-Earth the oldest "continuously programed" oldies station...

KRTH in the early to mid 80's had such a large library, they'd play almost anything, if it was in format. They had a HUGE Sat. Night request show, which they played MOSTLY requests (something that's almost unheard of today). I remember around 1984 requesting a song by Styx "Come Sail Away" and they played it within 15 minutes. They also had huge specialty and themed weekends then too, especially over holiday weekends. It was a station of choice then.

From the late 1980's thru today, it's been really repetitious with a much smaller playlist (1964-70's), although some flexibility has been noted since 2005, with the addition of a few 80's, more 70's, less 60's and almost no 50's.

CBS-FM has it made!

 

[Indielover]

K-Earth and CBS/FM both started in '72..I remember in '88 K-Earth proclaiming "playing the oldies of Southern California for more than 16 years"....so perhaps in the late 70's/early 80's they played some currents along with the oldies...CBS/FM used to play new music as "future gold"....CBS/FM however has not been continuously programing oldies, since as we all know, it was "jacked"..for a time, leaving K-Earth the oldest "continuously programed" oldies station...

KRTH in the early to mid 80's had such a large library, they'd play almost anything, if it was in format. They had a HUGE Sat. Night request show, which they played MOSTLY requests (something that's almost unheard of today). I remember around 1984 requesting a song by Styx "Come Sail Away" and they played it within 15 minutes. They also had huge specialty and themed weekends then too, especially over holiday weekends. It was a station of choice then.

From the late 1980's thru today, it's been really repetitious with a much smaller playlist (1964-70's), although some flexibility has been noted since 2005, with the addition of a few 80's, more 70's, less 60's and almost no 50's.

CBS-FM has it made!

It was through 1990, the change was around 91...the 90's...(while unlistenable for any long periods) was a fun station, with The Real Don Steele and Robert W. Morgan...Tina Delgado is alive! alive!

CBS/FM clearly the better "oldies" station currently between these two...however K-Earth is the oldest continuously programed oldies station...36 years vs. 1

 

[scooty430]

Indie Lover, you must really be an Indie Lover, listening from so far away.

As for K-Earth continuously playing oldies, I thought so myself as well. I moved here in 1986, and they were already running ads with classic cars, beach images, and the tagline "Classic Rock And Roll" sung to the Beach Boys "Dance Dance Dance." Constantly on TV. I have a few tapes from maybe 1988 and they are playing stuff like Come On Down to My Boat Baby, Little Latin Lupe Lu, Bo Diddley, Viva Tirado.....real Oldies.

Yet I found this aircheck on ReelRadio from 1981.

http://reelradio.com/sawyer/index.html#pebbkrth81

They are clearly an Adult Contemporary station at this point, crankin' the Air Supply and Lionel Richie! The voice overs say things like "We play yourrrr faaavorites" in that silky smooth AC way. No mention of "Oldies," "Classic," or "Golden!" They do play the jingle, though, once at the top of the hour.

It's a subscription site, so here is the playlist if you can't listen:

KRTH - 8/19/1981

Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel - Tavares (1976)
Hearts - Marty Balin (1981)
She’s Gone - Hall And Oates (1976)
California Dreamin’ - Mamas And The Papas (1966)
Endless Love - Lionel Richie and Diana Ross (1981)
Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton (1978)
Octopus’ Garden - Beatles (1969)
Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac (1976)
Time - Alan Parsons Project (1981)
Little Green Apples - OC Smith (1968)
Heaven Must Have Sent You - Bonnie Pointer (1979)
Hold On Tight - ELO (1981)
Just Can’t Help Believin’ - BJ Thomas (1970)
We May Never Pass This Way Again - Seals And Crofts (1973)
The One That You Love - Air Supply (1981)

So it would be interesting to know how long KRTH was an AC outlet....

 

[Indielover]

Interesting...how long is a good question, I suspect it was brief..I have several tapes from 88-90 and I know in 88 they claimed to have been playing oldies for 16 years...there were several oldies in that mix...I remember checking it out briefly in 81 and being bored by it..at that time KIQQ was my favorite..KLOS and KMET as well.

As far as indie, I have been an online listener from the beginning...there is nothing here, or anywhere for that matter, that even comes close. I still hold out hope they'll turn WRXP around, but that may be a lost cause...

 

[oldies76]

Scooty430, check out the "Message for David Eduardo" post under San Diego market. Need some real convincers here.