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"Cool New Oldies" -- 80's ON OLDIES STATION

B

BrettV

Guest
My local Oldies station, "Cool 101.7" WMVL/Linesville-Meadville, PA -- which is locally operated by Vilkie Communications has begun spinning one "Cool New Oldie" per hour in PM drive time from the 80's. Currently, "Love Is A Battlefield" by Pat Benetar is being played.

Seems so out of place, especially when they do transitions like 60's into 80's back into 60's.

While I realize this was inevitable, it is the first time I have heard it, and quite frankly does NOT sound good.
 
> My local Oldies station, "Cool 101.7"
> WMVL/Linesville-Meadville, PA -- which is locally operated
> by Vilkie Communications has begun spinning one "Cool New
> Oldie" per hour in PM drive time from the 80's. Currently,
> "Love Is A Battlefield" by Pat Benetar is being played.
>
> Seems so out of place, especially when they do transitions
> like 60's into 80's back into 60's.
>
> While I realize this was inevitable, it is the first time I
> have heard it, and quite frankly does NOT sound good.
>

A rock artist like Pat Benatar seems an odd choice for an oldies station. The few 80s tunes I've heard on oldies radio were songs that kind of fit ..."Kokomo", "You Got It" or maybe "Uptown Girl" or Billy Idol's "Mony Mony (a bit of a stretch).
 
80's are oldies

In a sense 1980's music is oldies. So by definition the word "Oldies" do fit the 1980's decade. Keep in mind that radio stations in the 1980's would refere to 1960's music as "oldies" because of the twenty year gap. The same is applied with the twenty year gap between the 1980's to the 2000's.

The word "Oldie(s)" has actually been given a longer time gap over the last thirty years. If this was November, 1957 and you bought a record from December, 1956 the record you bought would be refered to as an "oldie" since it was past its Top 40 charting life.

Anthony
 
Re: 80's are oldies

> In a sense 1980's music is oldies. So by definition the word
> "Oldies" do fit the 1980's decade. Keep in mind that radio
> stations in the 1980's would refere to 1960's music as
> "oldies" because of the twenty year gap. The same is applied
> with the twenty year gap between the 1980's to the 2000's.
>
> The word "Oldie(s)" has actually been given a longer time
> gap over the last thirty years. If this was November, 1957
> and you bought a record from December, 1956 the record you
> bought would be refered to as an "oldie" since it was past
> its Top 40 charting life.
>
> Anthony

When I hear Pat Benatar, the last thing I think of is oldies.....oldies stations have spent the last 30 years driing into us that oldies is a certain sound....and that sound isnt Pat Benatar!
<P ID="signature">______________

AOL IM: wnjoldies or jamminoldies105
CBS-FM lives at http://67.83.125.155:8010
Oldies Board co-moderator</P>
 
Re: 80's are oldies

> > In a sense 1980's music is oldies. So by definition the
> word
> > "Oldies" do fit the 1980's decade. Keep in mind that radio
>
> > stations in the 1980's would refere to 1960's music as
> > "oldies" because of the twenty year gap. The same is
> applied
> > with the twenty year gap between the 1980's to the 2000's.
>
> >
> > The word "Oldie(s)" has actually been given a longer time
> > gap over the last thirty years. If this was November, 1957
>
> > and you bought a record from December, 1956 the record you
>
> > bought would be refered to as an "oldie" since it was past
>
> > its Top 40 charting life.
> >
> > Anthony
>
> When I hear Pat Benatar, the last thing I think of is
> oldies.....oldies stations have spent the last 30 years
> driing into us that oldies is a certain sound....and that
> sound isnt Pat Benatar!
>

Exactly! Perception is Reality, like it or not. Yes, TECHNICALLY 80's are "oldies" with the "20 year rule", much like a car can be classified "historical" after 25 years. Doesn't make a Pacer a classic, even though it qualifies by being 25 plus years old. Much the way 80's music doesn't qualify as "Oldies" due to age.

Here's one. Are the Eagles "oldies" or "classic rock"? I had a well respected Programmer pose this to me a few years ago when Eagle and other classic rock/hits tunes started appearing on oldies stations. He said "screw research", what do you think the public thinks? If you went to the mall and randomly asked people what genre of music the Eagles were, more than likely classic rock or rock would be the answer. Not oldies. Perception is reality. I don't think anyone who GREW UP during the 70's wants to classify their music as oldies. Same for those who grew up in the 80s. Oldies is associated with 50s/60s/ and pop 70's. And that's the bottom line.
<P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P>
 
Re: 80's are oldies

> Here's one. Are the Eagles "oldies" or "classic rock"? I had
> a well respected Programmer pose this to me a few years ago
> when Eagle and other classic rock/hits tunes started
> appearing on oldies stations. He said "screw research", what
> do you think the public thinks? If you went to the mall and
> randomly asked people what genre of music the Eagles were,
> more than likely classic rock or rock would be the answer.
> Not oldies. Perception is reality. I don't think anyone who
> GREW UP during the 70's wants to classify their music as
> oldies. Same for those who grew up in the 80s. Oldies is
> associated with 50s/60s/ and pop 70's. And that's the bottom
> line.
>

Which brings up a question...with the "Jack" stations around (which are mostly 80s gold), what would you call 80s gold? OK, some of the rock-leaning stuff could be called classic rock, but what about Madonna, Cyndi Lauper or Wham? Going a step further, what about hair bands like Bon Jovi, Winger, etc? Classic rock doesn't want much to do with these artists. Agreed that despite the age, few people would think of songs much past '75 or so as "oldies".
 
Re: 80's are oldies

> Which brings up a question...with the "Jack" stations around
> (which are mostly 80s gold), what would you call 80s gold?
> OK, some of the rock-leaning stuff could be called classic
> rock, but what about Madonna, Cyndi Lauper or Wham? Going a
> step further, what about hair bands like Bon Jovi, Winger,
> etc? Classic rock doesn't want much to do with these
> artists. Agreed that despite the age, few people would
> think of songs much past '75 or so as "oldies".

Just call Madonna, Cindy Lauper or Wham 80's pop. Maybe have a station centered around 76-90, use 'Q' 'Z' or whatever the moniker of your Top 40 circa 1983 was calling itself - "Q-102, where the classic hits come to play" or "93Q, your favorite hits, all the time". Use the classic JAM packages created for KIIS and WHTZ to give it a authentic sound. Would it be oldies? No, but it would be good radio. Choose the crossover hits (both rock and R&B) that resonate with the audience. Hire somebody who knows the market and whatever holes are in it. Hire DJ's that can sell the format & can enjoy listening to it.
<P ID="signature">______________

AOL IM: wnjoldies or jamminoldies105
CBS-FM lives at http://67.83.125.155:8010
Oldies Board co-moderator</P>
 
> My local Oldies station, "Cool 101.7"
> WMVL/Linesville-Meadville, PA -- which is locally operated
> by Vilkie Communications has begun spinning one "Cool New
> Oldie" per hour in PM drive time from the 80's. Currently,
> "Love Is A Battlefield" by Pat Benetar is being played.
>
> Seems so out of place, especially when they do transitions
> like 60's into 80's back into 60's.
>
> While I realize this was inevitable, it is the first time I
> have heard it, and quite frankly does NOT sound good.
>

Westwood One's Oldies Channel (Programmed by RIC SANTOS) plays Bill Medley - I've Had The Time OF My Life and Paul Davis - 69 Love Affair a lot.

WRIT in Milwaukee plays Paul Davis - Cool Night, Hall & Oates - You've Lost That Lovin Feeling, Peabo Bryson - If Ever You're In My Arms, Elton John - I Guess Thats Why They Call It The Blues among others.<P ID="signature">______________

AIM: JeremyA1069</P>
 
Re: 80's are oldies

> > In a sense 1980's music is oldies. So by definition the
> word
> > "Oldies" do fit the 1980's decade. Keep in mind that radio
>
> > stations in the 1980's would refere to 1960's music as
> > "oldies" because of the twenty year gap. The same is
> applied
> > with the twenty year gap between the 1980's to the 2000's.
>
> >
> > The word "Oldie(s)" has actually been given a longer time
> > gap over the last thirty years. If this was November, 1957
>
> > and you bought a record from December, 1956 the record you
>
> > bought would be refered to as an "oldie" since it was past
>
> > its Top 40 charting life.
> >
> > Anthony
>
> When I hear Pat Benatar, the last thing I think of is
> oldies.....oldies stations have spent the last 30 years
> driing into us that oldies is a certain sound....and that
> sound isnt Pat Benatar!
>
yea..but when i started listning to oldies--in 1979...it was all 50s early 60s music. and elton john sounded out of place. ff to 2005..pat benetar isnt exactly modern pop anymore..and it was once on top 40 radio not just rock radio..and most of her music is 20-25 years old..how many 18 year olds you know listen to pat benetar? for that matter how many even know who she is? <P ID="signature">______________
note to tvland...bring back wkrp!!!</P>
 
Re: 80's are oldies

> Just call Madonna, Cindy Lauper or Wham 80's pop. Maybe have
> a station centered around 76-90, use 'Q' 'Z' or whatever the
> moniker of your Top 40 circa 1983 was calling itself -
> "Q-102, where the classic hits come to play" or "93Q, your
> favorite hits, all the time". Use the classic JAM packages
> created for KIIS and WHTZ to give it a authentic sound.
> Would it be oldies? No, but it would be good radio. Choose
> the crossover hits (both rock and R&B) that resonate with
> the audience. Hire somebody who knows the market and
> whatever holes are in it. Hire DJ's that can sell the format
> & can enjoy listening to it.
>

I've wondered why an 80s gold format hasn't really caught on. Maybe because the early attempts at it focused almost exclusively on altrock, much of which wasn't all that big outside of the college-radio crowd back then. My guess is that the Jack stations that survive will morph into a 1978-95 format though it probably won't be marketed as nostalgia.
 
Re: 80's are oldies

> > Just call Madonna, Cindy Lauper or Wham 80's pop. Maybe
> have
> > a station centered around 76-90, use 'Q' 'Z' or whatever
> the
> > moniker of your Top 40 circa 1983 was calling itself -
> > "Q-102, where the classic hits come to play" or "93Q, your
>
> > favorite hits, all the time". Use the classic JAM packages
>
> > created for KIIS and WHTZ to give it a authentic sound.
> > Would it be oldies? No, but it would be good radio. Choose
>
> > the crossover hits (both rock and R&B) that resonate with
> > the audience. Hire somebody who knows the market and
> > whatever holes are in it. Hire DJ's that can sell the
> format
> > & can enjoy listening to it.
> >
>
> I've wondered why an 80s gold format hasn't really caught
> on. Maybe because the early attempts at it focused almost
> exclusively on altrock, much of which wasn't all that big
> outside of the college-radio crowd back then. My guess is
> that the Jack stations that survive will morph into a
> 1978-95 format though it probably won't be marketed as
> nostalgia.
>
I think of '50s and '60s music as oldies.
I tend to refer to '70s and '80s music as "retro".
Most of the people I know use the retro term for '70s or '80s pop music and classic rock for '70s and '80s rock music....(The Eagles, Doobie Brothers etc.)
 
80's ON OLDIES

There are some wide-appeal 80s titles that work- Pat Benatar would NOT be on my list.

> My local Oldies station, "Cool 101.7"
> WMVL/Linesville-Meadville, PA -- which is locally operated
> by Vilkie Communications has begun spinning one "Cool New
> Oldie" per hour in PM drive time from the 80's. Currently,
> "Love Is A Battlefield" by Pat Benetar is being played.
>
> Seems so out of place, especially when they do transitions
> like 60's into 80's back into 60's.
>
> While I realize this was inevitable, it is the first time I
> have heard it, and quite frankly does NOT sound good.
>
 
Every Oldies station today that's 60s and 70s should be playing the 80s music too and call it either Motown, Soul & Great Rock N Roll...The Greatest Hits Of All Time or The Best Oldies From The 60s, 70s & 80s. This is something plenty of oldies station's around the country don't want to do except stay inside the same 300 song burnout playlist from the 60s and 70s. The standard format years for oldies stations should from 1964-1989. In my opinion this is why Oldies stations are dying out too, not only because of the demos but because a lot of pd's think the music died either before or at 1975 or died at 1979 and they are afraid to go forward with more oldies variety & thinking they are gonna lose listeners which is all wrong. If anything they will gain listeners. in 2003 when CBSFM added a lot of 80s music into the playlist that was good what they did, they wanted to finally move forward with the 70s and 80s music and not just stay with the 50s and 60s, a lot of people said it was a bad move but in reality it was a pretty good move for them. But in March 2004 the station should have never been restricted to the same 450 nuggets from the 60s and 70s, that's what really made them go down the drain.

> My local Oldies station, "Cool 101.7"
> WMVL/Linesville-Meadville, PA -- which is locally operated
> by Vilkie Communications has begun spinning one "Cool New
> Oldie" per hour in PM drive time from the 80's. Currently,
> "Love Is A Battlefield" by Pat Benetar is being played.
>
> Seems so out of place, especially when they do transitions
> like 60's into 80's back into 60's.
>
> While I realize this was inevitable, it is the first time I
> have heard it, and quite frankly does NOT sound good.
>
 
Re: 80's are oldies

> [The word "Oldie(s)" has actually been given a longer time
> gap over the last thirty years.]


Now wait a minute....................we were told on this board over a year ago that radio has dropped the word "oldies" because it sounded "old". The demo radio was targeting "couldn't identify with it". Are you saying that radio admits making a mistake and is bringing "Oldies" back?
 
Update: Thomas Dolby

Just tuned in to hear "She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby as the "Cool New Oldie" of this hour. Then it was followed with "Hit The Road Jack". Right idea, wrong excecution.


> My local Oldies station, "Cool 101.7"
> WMVL/Linesville-Meadville, PA -- which is locally operated
> by Vilkie Communications has begun spinning one "Cool New
> Oldie" per hour in PM drive time from the 80's. Currently,
> "Love Is A Battlefield" by Pat Benetar is being played.
>
> Seems so out of place, especially when they do transitions
> like 60's into 80's back into 60's.
>
> While I realize this was inevitable, it is the first time I
> have heard it, and quite frankly does NOT sound good.
>
 
Another Update: U2 On Oldies

Today Cool 101.7 featured "New Years Day" by U2 as their "Cool New Oldie". Again...NOT an 80's song that fits on the Oldies format whatsoever.
 
Cool 101.7

> Today Cool 101.7 featured "New Years Day" by U2 as their
> "Cool New Oldie". Again...NOT an 80's song that fits on the
> Oldies format whatsoever.
>

I was in Meadville last week, and was shocked--not at the "Cool New Oldie" idea.

But that fact that 101.7 is the ONLY oldies station (hell, only station period) I know of that plays the Drake instrumental jingles (like the instrumental "More Music" and the instrumental logo sig for "93/KHJ")!

Far out, groovy baby, hey boss, how's your sauce, man?
 
Re: 93 KHJ

I think that 93 KHJ in Pago Pago, American Samoa plays those jingles. Sunday is all oldies day on KHJ. (Sunday starts seven hours later than in New York)
Also, the town is pronounced "Pango, Pango."

http://khjradio.dyndns.org:8200/



> But that fact that 101.7 is the ONLY oldies station (hell,
> only station period) I know of that plays the Drake
> instrumental jingles (like the instrumental "More Music" and
> the instrumental logo sig for "93/KHJ")!
>
> Far out, groovy baby, hey boss, how's your sauce, man?
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
80's are oldies

because most have Programmers who are too obsessed with making it a "retro" station and being over-dependant on the Madonna/Prince genre. There was a lot of great pop-rock stuff out in the '80s but too many of the format's PDs make them either too alt-rock or too dancy.


>
> I've wondered why an 80s gold format hasn't really caught
> on. Maybe because the early attempts at it focused almost
> exclusively on altrock, much of which wasn't all that big
> outside of the college-radio crowd back then. My guess is
> that the Jack stations that survive will morph into a
> 1978-95 format though it probably won't be marketed as
> nostalgia.
>
 
70's and Oldies

Seventies music is definitely now part of the Oldies genre.

If it isn't, get ready for a format change, because stations who's average listener age is 60+ are getting nuked left and right.
 
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