Is there room in the country market for a true Classic Country station? The Classic Hits stations around the country seem to do very well with both the diary and ppm surveys. If Classic Hits can make it in the market why can't a Country Classic Hits station playing the 70's - 80's - 90's or start with the late 60's make it? I may be way out of the loop for there may be lots of stations doing this around the country.
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Country Classics
- Thread starter nuffsaid
- Start date
I think classic country does well, at least listener-wise, in many areas. Selling ads may be difficult due to the older demo, but it can, and does, work in a number of markets.
There is an FM rimshot in my market that has had the format for years, and I know a number of people who love that station. They run somewhere in the 2-share rating but apparently have enough business to continue. I know they've been classic country for probably 15 years now..maybe longer.
I've had success with the format on the Internet, but not so much with sales. When it was on iTunes I'd have anywhere from 700 to 1000 listeners per day. I got "beached" by my day job, however, and the royalties for those listener numbers were more than I could sustain at the moment. But I've had just under 165,000 listeners.
I like a number of genres of music, but country is my favorite, as it's what I listened to while growing up. Even as a youngster, I preferred country over Top 40..and that was unusual.
There is an FM rimshot in my market that has had the format for years, and I know a number of people who love that station. They run somewhere in the 2-share rating but apparently have enough business to continue. I know they've been classic country for probably 15 years now..maybe longer.
I've had success with the format on the Internet, but not so much with sales. When it was on iTunes I'd have anywhere from 700 to 1000 listeners per day. I got "beached" by my day job, however, and the royalties for those listener numbers were more than I could sustain at the moment. But I've had just under 165,000 listeners.
I like a number of genres of music, but country is my favorite, as it's what I listened to while growing up. Even as a youngster, I preferred country over Top 40..and that was unusual.
Country doesn't really work without playing currents, or at least recurrents. There are two "classic country" stations here... one's an AM with a huge daytime signal, basically a farm station. It's been country since 1970. When an FM took a lot of their non-farm listeners, they started playing a lot of oldies, back into the 60s and 70s, but they still play all the currents.
The other is in a nearby rated market, where the #1 rated country station also owns the other country station, which is a lot of 70s, 80s, 90s, but also plays recurrents.
There have been many attempts over the years to create country oldies stations, and none have been very successful. Country works differently than other formats. Go to a country concert, any current artist, you'll see teens to grandparents.
I'm 54, been listening to country since the early 60s. I should be a prime candidate for a classic country station. But I can't listen to them for any length of time, I still want to hear the new music.
The other is in a nearby rated market, where the #1 rated country station also owns the other country station, which is a lot of 70s, 80s, 90s, but also plays recurrents.
There have been many attempts over the years to create country oldies stations, and none have been very successful. Country works differently than other formats. Go to a country concert, any current artist, you'll see teens to grandparents.
I'm 54, been listening to country since the early 60s. I should be a prime candidate for a classic country station. But I can't listen to them for any length of time, I still want to hear the new music.
In my market in Cleveland, Ohio, a few years ago, I immensely enjoyed hearing some Classics peppered in with the current and recent hits on WGAR. They played carefully selected songs like "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell. It was a breath of fresh air and really made you sit up and take notice. I think I also heard them play "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley which, while not strictly a Country tune, works better today then in the past due to the Pop/Rock orientation of much contemporary Country. Listen to the Rock guitar break in "I Keep On Lovin' You" by Reba Mcintyre as an example. Anyway, "Suspicious Minds" was one of those super-hits with strong cross-sectional appeal.
J
JBarrett
Guest
Primarily what I am doing on the internet is a Mainstream Country with Currents/Re-Currents/Recent Gold and Classics mixed in.I play everything from an occassional Tom T. Hall or Bill Anderson all the way thru the 70's,80's & 90's. Am Joining the Backyard Party Radio Network which will hopefully give us more exposure... http://www.FROGFM.COM
As a programmer I have always played Classics on my Country stations, even back in the early 90's when I turned KIK FM/Anaheim into a Top 40 Country station....Currently at K-Flag I'm featuring and highlighting one true Country "Classic" per hour.... IE Patsy Cline, Dolly, Bellamy Brothers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charlie Daniels, David Allan Coe, Willie, Johnny Paycheck, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Johnny Lee, Kenny Rogers, Gatlins, Milsap, Gillie, Jerry Read, Glen Campbell and more! Also doing something similar with our CHR station The Knack...Adding music for the Mom's who are driving around their teenage girls. Songs like My Sharona, Back In Black and Artists like Vanilla Ice, Sir Mix A Lot, Janet, Madonna, Romantics, The Cars, Aerosmith and more. I like to call it wedding reception music....Party songs that you hear at wedding receptions that span all generations. It's working great too and most CHR just don't do anything like that, so it's also a new sound for the listener. Must be working it has a 19 share, one of the biggest of all the CHR stations I've programmed, including Top 40's KEZY/Anaheim and KFXM/San Bernardino, Riverside!
As a programmer I have always played Classics on my Country stations, even back in the early 90's when I turned KIK FM/Anaheim into a Top 40 Country station....Currently at K-Flag I'm featuring and highlighting one true Country "Classic" per hour.... IE Patsy Cline, Dolly, Bellamy Brothers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charlie Daniels, David Allan Coe, Willie, Johnny Paycheck, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Johnny Lee, Kenny Rogers, Gatlins, Milsap, Gillie, Jerry Read, Glen Campbell and more! Also doing something similar with our CHR station The Knack...Adding music for the Mom's who are driving around their teenage girls. Songs like My Sharona, Back In Black and Artists like Vanilla Ice, Sir Mix A Lot, Janet, Madonna, Romantics, The Cars, Aerosmith and more. I like to call it wedding reception music....Party songs that you hear at wedding receptions that span all generations. It's working great too and most CHR just don't do anything like that, so it's also a new sound for the listener. Must be working it has a 19 share, one of the biggest of all the CHR stations I've programmed, including Top 40's KEZY/Anaheim and KFXM/San Bernardino, Riverside!
I've often wondered about a Classic Country station programmed like an A/C. 1 70s song an hour, 3-4 80s, 5 90s, 2 00s-Recurrent, and one current an hour.
The big difference---the currents and songs from the 00s would have to have a traditional to mainstream sound. Reba, George, Alan, etc...No Cowboy Casanova, Gloriana, Taylor Swift type stuff.
Suppose you were in a market with a station with a far better signal than you? Think a station like this could pull away some of their older end?
The big difference---the currents and songs from the 00s would have to have a traditional to mainstream sound. Reba, George, Alan, etc...No Cowboy Casanova, Gloriana, Taylor Swift type stuff.
Suppose you were in a market with a station with a far better signal than you? Think a station like this could pull away some of their older end?
This is how it should be if any new songs are played. Personally, I think adding new songs opens a can of worms.Seltzer said:I've often wondered about a Classic Country station programmed like an A/C. 1 70s song an hour, 3-4 80s, 5 90s, 2 00s-Recurrent, and one current an hour.
The big difference---the currents and songs from the 00s would have to have a traditional to mainstream sound. Reba, George, Alan, etc...No Cowboy Casanova, Gloriana, Taylor Swift type stuff.
Suppose you were in a market with a station with a far better signal than you? Think a station like this could pull away some of their older end?
How does "Country Gold" perform as a format? It does seem to be popping up in some markets. Couple of questions:
1. Will it only be successful in the "traditional" southern markets where country got its start?
2. Or is this a good alternative for most markets now. If I'm a distant second in a market behind a mainstream country station, would this be a good option?
3. Is it best suited for markets that are "older" in their demographic makeup?
1. Will it only be successful in the "traditional" southern markets where country got its start?
2. Or is this a good alternative for most markets now. If I'm a distant second in a market behind a mainstream country station, would this be a good option?
3. Is it best suited for markets that are "older" in their demographic makeup?
If you are looking for classic country 1360 am WHNR has gone country at nite! 7pm-6AM live from 7-10pm with Cowboy Rowdy and Classic Countryand Bluegrass Syndicated show all night. Americas Opry Weekend Sunday Night at 7pm. Our website is kickincountry.whnr1360am.com check us out. Request line 863-299-1360
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