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Did Nash FM Make the Correct Call Not Playing George Jones?
- Thread starter Barry
- Start date
benale said:
While I do not know the reason for the delay, it may be worth pointing out that The Shark on 94.3 on Long Islandhas been on the air for about 8 months and still does not have a morning show. That has not stopped its rock format from earning the station its highest ratings in many years.
Perhaps with music stations, finding a morning show is sometimes not a priority.
As a George Jones fan, and a country DJ since 1975, I completely respect what George accomplished in his career. He was the "gold standard" of traditional country music, bar none. And the majority of artists today, even the young ones, who have had the occasion to work with George have the same respect for him that they had of their fathers and grandfathers.
That having been said, today's country is at least 2 generations removed from the music that George Jones made. Don't like the rock and pop influence in the music? How in God's name could a young person with musical inclinations grow up in the age of the Beatles, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Junior, Loretta Lynn and George Jones and not have bits and pieces of each in their music?
Ask almost any knowledgeable country programmer who has been around that long (and yes, we still exist), and they will tell you the same "that ain't country" argument has been around for decades. I can remember listeners in 1980 griping about our station playing Alabama because, "they're not country...they're a rock band!" Would any of you so-called country music experts care to say that today?
Yes, there's a little more pop influence in the music than there was 40 years ago, but looking at a format which aired music back then by The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Glen Campbell, (who played backup for many rock groups), Marshall Tucker and Elvin Bishop just to name a few, the pop influence is just a bit more than it was then.
What's changed? Country's audience. Besides getting bigger, it's gotten younger. And that's a good thing. I sat on a CRS Panel in Nashville in, I believe it was 1982 and said, "If country doesn't do more to appeal to the younger listeners, there may not be something called country music in ten years". By 1988, those comments were darn near reality. Just ask any record label trying to sell country music back then. Music changes with the generations and that's what's happening.
The decision to play, or not play an artist's music depends on the music research the stations do.
In this case, some stations (more than likely those with a long heritage dating back to the 70's or 80's) probably could get away with dropping a song or two by George Jones in for a day or two. The newer ones probably did right by featuring relevant song clips and that's it.
How many of you making the indignant comments I'm reading here are approaching or over age 55? I don't hear WCBS-FM playing a ton of Elvis these days, and that's how far Mr. Jones's career went back to. (First Opry appearance - 1956.) But, many posters will still loudly complain about it.
My point is: every major artist reaches a point of questionable "viability" to the "current" music market. I don't think if he were alive today, many current A/C, CHR or even country stations would be playing new songs by Elvis. Why? It's about reaching a demographic that buys the products we advertise. By the way, that's radio is about. This is not an art form. We're about selling product. Cars, groceries and yes, CD's and mp3 downloads. (Which it could be argued that any mention or tribute to George Jones is what's driving his record sales now.)
George Jones was an incredible talent. He was the "Elvis", if you will, of the country music of his day. I respect that and I was incredibly saddened to hear that George had passed away. I met him once, and watched him perform for over an hour with a case of bronchitis that would have made most artists cancel a show. But, the fact that country music and country radio moved past that day is not the fault of the music, or the people who play it on the radio...not in a business that is driven by advertising and demographics.
That having been said, today's country is at least 2 generations removed from the music that George Jones made. Don't like the rock and pop influence in the music? How in God's name could a young person with musical inclinations grow up in the age of the Beatles, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Junior, Loretta Lynn and George Jones and not have bits and pieces of each in their music?
Ask almost any knowledgeable country programmer who has been around that long (and yes, we still exist), and they will tell you the same "that ain't country" argument has been around for decades. I can remember listeners in 1980 griping about our station playing Alabama because, "they're not country...they're a rock band!" Would any of you so-called country music experts care to say that today?
Yes, there's a little more pop influence in the music than there was 40 years ago, but looking at a format which aired music back then by The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Glen Campbell, (who played backup for many rock groups), Marshall Tucker and Elvin Bishop just to name a few, the pop influence is just a bit more than it was then.
What's changed? Country's audience. Besides getting bigger, it's gotten younger. And that's a good thing. I sat on a CRS Panel in Nashville in, I believe it was 1982 and said, "If country doesn't do more to appeal to the younger listeners, there may not be something called country music in ten years". By 1988, those comments were darn near reality. Just ask any record label trying to sell country music back then. Music changes with the generations and that's what's happening.
The decision to play, or not play an artist's music depends on the music research the stations do.
In this case, some stations (more than likely those with a long heritage dating back to the 70's or 80's) probably could get away with dropping a song or two by George Jones in for a day or two. The newer ones probably did right by featuring relevant song clips and that's it.
How many of you making the indignant comments I'm reading here are approaching or over age 55? I don't hear WCBS-FM playing a ton of Elvis these days, and that's how far Mr. Jones's career went back to. (First Opry appearance - 1956.) But, many posters will still loudly complain about it.
My point is: every major artist reaches a point of questionable "viability" to the "current" music market. I don't think if he were alive today, many current A/C, CHR or even country stations would be playing new songs by Elvis. Why? It's about reaching a demographic that buys the products we advertise. By the way, that's radio is about. This is not an art form. We're about selling product. Cars, groceries and yes, CD's and mp3 downloads. (Which it could be argued that any mention or tribute to George Jones is what's driving his record sales now.)
George Jones was an incredible talent. He was the "Elvis", if you will, of the country music of his day. I respect that and I was incredibly saddened to hear that George had passed away. I met him once, and watched him perform for over an hour with a case of bronchitis that would have made most artists cancel a show. But, the fact that country music and country radio moved past that day is not the fault of the music, or the people who play it on the radio...not in a business that is driven by advertising and demographics.
This thread shows the hypocrisy of several forum members. No one blasts CBS-FM or Q104.3 for playing music heavily from the 70s and 80s. But God forbid if a country music station plays music from that period.
Trying to spin these songs from George Jones as oldies with no place on today's country radio is ridiculous. Look at the dates. The years are newer than what is played on ther beloved CBS-FM.
"He Stopped Loving Her Today" (1980)
"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" (with Barbara Mandrell) (1981)
"Still Doin' Time" (1981)
"Yesterday's Wine" (with Merle Haggard) (1982)
"I Always Get Lucky with You" (1985)
I tried again this morning to listen to NASH and although liked some of the newer music the audio was unbearable. It is probably the worst audio quality of any station in NY. It sounds turned up so loud that it is distorted and gets on ones nerves.
Trying to spin these songs from George Jones as oldies with no place on today's country radio is ridiculous. Look at the dates. The years are newer than what is played on ther beloved CBS-FM.
"He Stopped Loving Her Today" (1980)
"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" (with Barbara Mandrell) (1981)
"Still Doin' Time" (1981)
"Yesterday's Wine" (with Merle Haggard) (1982)
"I Always Get Lucky with You" (1985)
I tried again this morning to listen to NASH and although liked some of the newer music the audio was unbearable. It is probably the worst audio quality of any station in NY. It sounds turned up so loud that it is distorted and gets on ones nerves.
mikerock said:
Mike - you're missing the point. CBS-FM is a classic hits station and Q104 is a classic rock station. Playing music from the 70's and 80's IS their format. Those stations exist to play music from that era.
Nash FM is a modern country station, so no, it does not make sense for them to play a classic country artist as old as George Jones. We get it, you don't like Nash FM. I respect that you like classic country and there are plenty of other sources for that music that will suit you.
And you just hit the crux of the argument -
Some old line traditional country fans feel, and that is their right...that country stations should play everything from all the decades of country music...I can find listeners who think country stations should still play Hank Williams (Senior...not Junior).
I respect their views, but times have changed. It is not a show of disrespect to the older artists...merely the fact that today's audience doesn't expect to hear the older songs, or cares to hear them.
I've always said: it is not country radio's place to educate listeners on what "good" country music is...that is up to the listeners to decide. And radio will respond to the demographics that advertisers want.
Some old line traditional country fans feel, and that is their right...that country stations should play everything from all the decades of country music...I can find listeners who think country stations should still play Hank Williams (Senior...not Junior).
I respect their views, but times have changed. It is not a show of disrespect to the older artists...merely the fact that today's audience doesn't expect to hear the older songs, or cares to hear them.
I've always said: it is not country radio's place to educate listeners on what "good" country music is...that is up to the listeners to decide. And radio will respond to the demographics that advertisers want.
The hypocrisy stands. It was not unheard of for rock stations that relied heavily on new music to throw in a "classic" once an hour. What would have been the big deal for WNSH to have female voice whisper "classic" or "classic tribute" and play a George Jones song from the 80s.
This board is also rife with comments about the audio quality of other stations. Not once I have heard a complaint about WNSH which has the worst audio quality ever. Like I said, despite not playing anything greater than 10 years ago I would still listen to WNSH but the audio quality makes it unlistenable.
This board is also rife with comments about the audio quality of other stations. Not once I have heard a complaint about WNSH which has the worst audio quality ever. Like I said, despite not playing anything greater than 10 years ago I would still listen to WNSH but the audio quality makes it unlistenable.
mikerock said:
This isn't a rock station, and they don't typically throw in a classic.
They did brief song montages for their tribute. It wasn't ignored completely.
My view is if you didn't play his music when he's alive, then you should all of a sudden change your format when he dies.
I've said it before on here, and I do audio processing for a living in major markets. I have two stations on in Boston that I've tweaked, one of them has doubled its share in the past 8 months. Nash is overcompressed, the bass is overhyped and muddy and the highs are smeary. They need to back down on it from 11 to about 9 (no puns intended on a certain brand of audio processors). I find it tough to listen to for any length of time. I get that they're trying to make it pop out of the dial when people tune by, but it can, and should, sound better than it does.
Right now, it exacerbates the multipath problem with how it's cranked up.
WFME, as WFME, had a cleaner signal than WNSH does now.
I agree that Nash sounds over compressed. Those who have HD radios can hear the same songs on WLTW HD2- New York Country, and note the considerable differences. IMHO, NY Country takes good advantage of the relatively clean audio HD radio is capable of delivering, if set up well.
My guess is that right now they are trying to build up their cume by pumping out noticeable audio on their overlooked frequency. Eventually they may be more concerned about TSL, and back off on the audio. I believe it has already been sounding a bit less harsh in the past few days.
As I am fortunate to have a choice, I do prefer to listen to the HD2 at this time, due to its better audio, wider play list and lots of personality. But Nash seems to be quickly improving.
My guess is that right now they are trying to build up their cume by pumping out noticeable audio on their overlooked frequency. Eventually they may be more concerned about TSL, and back off on the audio. I believe it has already been sounding a bit less harsh in the past few days.
As I am fortunate to have a choice, I do prefer to listen to the HD2 at this time, due to its better audio, wider play list and lots of personality. But Nash seems to be quickly improving.
B
bigrobmjca
Guest
Stop looking for new country music in Nashville. Production moved to Texas years ago.
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