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Do you think we'll ever get an adult standards station in Chicago?

What I say is not for young eyes. I just saw a tv commercial for ky jelly with Elvis playing during it. This is obviously a commercial aimed at the 20 30 crowd, if singers like Elvis are unknown, why use it in this type of commercial?

Many commercials for everything from cars to cereal feature oldies songs that are no longer on radio for the most part? Why would advertisers use this music to target young men and woman? It would not be used if not known.

This brings about an issue I think about, you have tv networks me, antenna, this, them and the other. They all seem to run diaper, cathater, suppliments, wheelchairs and all types of products like that, are they making money?

Many of the shows on these channels are from the 50-60's and it seems that another one pops up every few weeks, how many people under 50 watch George Burns or Jack Benny? Is Perry Mason big in the 20 year old crowd? I don't think so.

Why can this be a successful model for tv and not for radio? Could they not do call to action, barter or depends commercials on radio?

If this makes money on tv, why not radio? How about holiday music, Bing Crosby, Elvis, The Carpenters, Frankie, Tony Bennet, Burl Ives and many others bring most stations more revenue and ratings in 1-2 months than a lot of them make all year.

It is people of all ages listening, the data proves that. While a station is strictly standards, oldies, classic country, jazz or blues is hard to sell it is not impossible.

You have to be creative, why not use a me tv based model for radio? People live longer now, buy cars, go on vacations, like new restaurants, use adult care items and hoverrounds, why not be the only person to reach them. Cross promote with tv station.

I agree right now that it is close to immposible to run any of these formats in the big city, is it because of age or because ad agenecies which are focused on younger folks do the selling?

I worked at a small AM station with a standards format, it is not a standards format anymore, it is now a mix of oldies dropped from FM, softer music from the 80 through today, much of which plays on FM AC and classic hits stations, current country stations, one or two standards an hour, local events, sports, weather and news in certain hours. The station is out billing the satelite ac fm. If it is impossible, how could this be?

Even if a a large city can't support a standards or oldies station could they support one or two older classics an hour?

Check out some AAA stations you are more likely to hear Johnny Cash or Elvis once in a while than on todays classic hits evolution of oldies stations. Would playing Elvis or Sammy once every couple of hours? Will the kids hit the radio with a hammer and destroy it never to listen again?

Go to a club or place where younger people "hang" and throw on the "Pina Coloda" song and tell me if you can still hear afterwords ;-]
 
Jay Walker said:
In Dallas KJKK HD-2 "The Sound of the Strip" is an interesting listen. Focused on the Rat Pack era and 60's instrumentals it's a nice listen with minimal commercials.
Listen Here: http://tunein.com/radio/The-Sound-of-the-Strip-1003-HD2-s67545/
Click to expand...

Indeed a good listen! I also like the Rat Pack audio clips. It's probably my wife's favorite online station. My only complaint is that the playlist...while containing some very good stuff....seems a little too small.

As for KBRD, I personally think its an absolute hoot! No drive from Seattle to Portland is complete without the hour or so I'm in range of "K-Bird's" 250-watt signal. I can't see that type of format on a big signal. But it's a good "outside the box" option for a rimshot in the midst of a jungle of big sticks. Especially if you're not counting on advertising revenue to keep it going.
 
Goldilocks94941 said:
For what it's worth, there's a daytimer called "K-Bird" near Tacoma, Washington that was a hobby for its now-departed owner, who was an enthusiast for early standards. It continues to operate in the same vein, playing only music from the 1920-1940s, with what must be a very minimal staff. I think it's all automated, and their selections go WAY back. Pre-Sinatra. it is worth having a few outlets like this in the universe, even if a corporate broadcaster wouldn't know how to promote, program, or sell it.

So, while they can still hang on, here's a link to the homemade KBRD website, which appears to have a listen live link. I don't know if they still program it after local sunset Pacific Time (around 9pm PT/ 11pm CT in July). And it looks to be a pretty low-budget operation - not well known or promoted in the Seattle area - but worth a listen if you'd like to hear something pre-Korean War from your national heritage.

http://www.apikai.com/kbrd/

I think this kind of music would make for a novel specialty show for a couple of hours on the weekends - especially if it had a knowledgeable host who knew how to say just enough and not get in the way. Will probably have to find something like that on a non-comm station now.

Randy Bachman's weekend shows on Saturday evenings on CBC radio come to mind for a 1960s-70s version of that. The songs sound stronger when you know a little background about what went into their creation, from someone who was in the middle of it all. You should listen to Canada's CBC Radio One (and repeated on Sundays on Radio Two, I think) on the weekends if you're interested in the origins of pop and rock music, hosted by a "player" in the genre.

Those of us who like more than "both kinds" of music are grateful for access to something original and different on internet radio. It just needs a guide or a curator to help find the best examples of different kinds of programming. I hope those of you who enjoy music made a generation or three ago will enjoy these two suggestions.
Click to expand...

KBRD IS non-commercial. That's about the only way they could even begin to think of surviving in today's day and age - especially when you consider what they're still doing over there!
 
cyberdad said:
Jay Walker said:
In Dallas KJKK HD-2 "The Sound of the Strip" is an interesting listen. Focused on the Rat Pack era and 60's instrumentals it's a nice listen with minimal commercials.
Listen Here: http://tunein.com/radio/The-Sound-of-the-Strip-1003-HD2-s67545/
Click to expand...

Indeed a good listen! I also like the Rat Pack audio clips. It's probably my wife's favorite online station. My only complaint is that the playlist...while containing some very good stuff....seems a little too small.

As for KBRD, I personally think its an absolute hoot! No drive from Seattle to Portland is complete without the hour or so I'm in range of "K-Bird's" 250-watt signal. I can't see that type of format on a big signal. But it's a good "outside the box" option for a rimshot in the midst of a jungle of big sticks. Especially if you're not counting on advertising revenue to keep it going.
Click to expand...

As with all things HD-2 they really don't put much into it as it is far down the priority list. It hasn't been refreshed since I last cut the sweepers a couple of YEARS ago. I think there's around 500 or so cuts in rotation at various times. I do know before I retired from CBS, when it was off the air or the stream was down, we would get a surprising amount of email and calls. At one time corporate was supportive of the concept and as a result there are/were variations in Baltimore and other markets...

Jay Walker
 
500 tracks in rotation on "The Strip" sounds about right. Not putting much into it sounds spot-on...almost painfully obvious!

I don't listen daily....maybe once or twice a week when we have it on in the house. So I can't say this with certainty. But it does seem to me that every so often I'll hear a track I hadn't heard on the station before. So maybe there is at least a perfunctory attempt to freshen things at least a little. It certainly wouldn't require much thought or effort, and there's certainly enough material out there.

....Or maybe I'm just imagining things.
 
cyberdad said:
500 tracks in rotation on "The Strip" sounds about right. Not putting much into it sounds spot-on...almost painfully obvious!

I don't listen daily....maybe once or twice a week when we have it on in the house. So I can't say this with certainty. But it does seem to me that every so often I'll hear a track I hadn't heard on the station before. So maybe there is at least a perfunctory attempt to freshen things at least a little. It certainly wouldn't require much thought or effort, and there's certainly enough material out there.

....Or maybe I'm just imagining things.
Click to expand...

I think there are "Packets" of songs that are scheduled in and out of rotation on a monthly basis. For now it sits in the corner and clicks and whirs. I also voice the KLUV HD-2 "Oldies" stream. It's the "Oldies" pre-classic hits version that KLUV use to air. It has a larger playlist than "Strip".

The "Strip" concept initially focused on "Rat Pack" as we didn't want the the station to come off as too old school MOR, or too Big Band. After the first few months, in order to broaden the rotations I suggested and they bought the idea, of adding 50's 60's instrumentals into the mix, hence the Rat Pack era pop vocals and pop instrumentals.

"The Strip" was setup for a listener in the 40+ range who wanted something different than classic rock, classic hits, talk, or smooth jazz (KMVK HD-2) a retro-hip non obtrusive presentation not too over or under the top. A noticeable background music station...
 
So many AS stations gone - 570 in LA, KABL - SF/Oakland, WJJD - Chicago; WBYU - New Orleans. Try XM channel 71. Or I note in retirement areas there are some, especially FL & AZ.
 
howardm said:
So many AS stations gone - 570 in LA, KABL - SF/Oakland, WJJD - Chicago; WBYU - New Orleans. Try XM channel 71. Or I note in retirement areas there are some, especially FL & AZ.
Click to expand...

And that sir, is the hard part about getting older...
I know I am getting older with every passing minute. I miss "Clyde Clifford and Beaker Street" on KAAY, MG Kelly on 15-KSTP "The Twin Cities Music Machine". Lujack, King, Winston, Davis, Landecker, Daniels, and everyone else on "The Big 89". Charlie Tuna on 93 KHJ, Scott Muni on WNEW....

"Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin' into the future"
 
And the San Diego station playing AS we heard up to 3 yrs ago until format change. Jerry G. Bishop was one of the hosts. He now has a restaurant in or near San Diego.
Guess you're still "young" metioning Winston, etc. What about Carmen Anthony, Sid Roberts, and Stan Dale on WJJD in the 50's. What about John R out of WLAC in Nashville playing R&B, or Arlen Vagen spinning traditional country on WCKY out of Cincinatti. Or the Bill Mack Open Road Show catering to truckers on WBAP in Dallas. Or early WLS jockeys in 1960, Mort Crowley, Gene Taylor, Sam Holman, Bob Hale, Dick Biondi, and Ed Grennan?
 
Jay Walker said:
howardm said:
So many AS stations gone - 570 in LA, KABL - SF/Oakland, WJJD - Chicago; WBYU - New Orleans. Try XM channel 71. Or I note in retirement areas there are some, especially FL & AZ.
Click to expand...

And that sir, is the hard part about getting older...
I know I am getting older with every passing minute. I miss "Clyde Clifford and Beaker Street" on KAAY, MG Kelly on 15-KSTP "The Twin Cities Music Machine". Lujack, King, Winston, Davis, Landecker, Daniels, and everyone else on "The Big 89". Charlie Tuna on 93 KHJ, Scott Muni on WNEW....

"Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin' into the future"
Click to expand...

Man, I think the only names on that list that are still on the air are Landecker and Tuna.
 
Now I really feel old. I use to listen to John R on WLAC when 890 and 1000 were not skipping down south very well at night. I can remember hearing Al Green (and other non Motown artist's) songs months before they made it on top 40 stations.

IIRC Ernie's Record Mart and baby chicks were often sold per inquiry.
 
RE: WLAC - Yes, Ernies Record Shop was in Nashville + earlier also plugged Randy's Record Store in Gallitan, TN. John R was really John Richbourg, hope I spelled that right. In 50's, song mix was heavy on Blues, Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Bobby Blue Bland, etc
 
howardm said:
And the San Diego station playing AS we heard up to 3 yrs ago until format change. Jerry G. Bishop was one of the hosts. He now has a restaurant in or near San Diego.
Guess you're still "young" metioning Winston, etc. What about Carmen Anthony, Sid Roberts, and Stan Dale on WJJD in the 50's. What about John R out of WLAC in Nashville playing R&B, or Arlen Vagen spinning traditional country on WCKY out of Cincinatti. Or the Bill Mack Open Road Show catering to truckers on WBAP in Dallas. Or early WLS jockeys in 1960, Mort Crowley, Gene Taylor, Sam Holman, Bob Hale, Dick Biondi, and Ed Grennan?
Click to expand...

....or "The Charlie Douglas Road Gang on WWL, King Edward Cigar time..." "John McCormack, The Man Who Walks and Talks at Midnight" on "The 50,000 Red Hot constantly cooking watts of KMOX St.Louis", "Herb Jepko and the Nitecaps on KSL"...All those great personalities that use to inhabit the airways after dark on the old 50K 1-A's...those were the days...

Now all you kids get off my lawn...grumble....grumble...
 
howardm said:
RE: WLAC - Yes, Ernies Record Shop was in Nashville + earlier also plugged Randy's Record Store in Gallitan, TN. John R was really John Richbourg, hope I spelled that right. In 50's, song mix was heavy on Blues, Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Bobby Blue Bland, etc
Click to expand...

There was a rumor that John R was really white. Thankfully the racial turmoil and hating of the late 1960's and early 1970's are over. A person's race should not matter.
 
Yeah, but what about Spider Harris? I think that's who hosted the late night blues on WLAC that I'd catch at a teenager, loud and strong in northern Ohio in the early 1970s. Also listened to WLAC on the foggy backroads of Appalachia, going between college and my nighttime DJ gig in Parkersburg WV. At the time, Toledo had a monaural "soul" station on what was considered a minor FM signal (now it's the top rated country station there). But the local DJs liked to talk too much and faded the music in and out so much to talk over it, it made you dizzy. But the blues on WLAC had style, and helped prep me for listening to Purvis Spann Your Blues Man on that little station from Cicero when I eventually moved to Chicago. That way, I could appreciate the overnight old style "naughty" Christmas blues that WBEZ used to air, too.
 
howardm said:
And the San Diego station playing AS we heard up to 3 yrs ago until format change. Jerry G. Bishop was one of the hosts. He now has a restaurant in or near San Diego.
Guess you're still "young" metioning Winston, etc. What about Carmen Anthony, Sid Roberts, and Stan Dale on WJJD in the 50's. What about John R out of WLAC in Nashville playing R&B, or Arlen Vagen spinning traditional country on WCKY out of Cincinatti. Or the Bill Mack Open Road Show catering to truckers on WBAP in Dallas. Or early WLS jockeys in 1960, Mort Crowley, Gene Taylor, Sam Holman, Bob Hale, Dick Biondi, and Ed Grennan?
Click to expand...

Howardm,

Did Stan Dale have a regular shift on WJJD? I remember Carmen Anthony, Sid Roberts, Del Clark, but I can only recall Dale from WLS. What years was he at WJJD? I did listen to WJJD in the late 50s.
When mentioning the original WLS DJs, don't forget Jim Dunbar who ended up in San Francisco at KGO.
 
secondchoice said:
There was a rumor that John R was really white.
Click to expand...

John Richbourg, a native of South Carolina was most assuredly white, of French ancestry. Also white were the other spinners of R&B on WLAC: Bill (Hoss) Allen, Gene Nobles and Herman Grizzard. Ironically, the one black individual heard during the heyday of BluesRadio 1510 was newsman Don Whitehead.

Like its 50,000 watt competitor down the dial at 650, WSM, both were block programmed with far different fare heard during the day. And, of course, the two stations were originally put on the air to promote the parent insurance companies that owned them, National Life for WSM and Life & Casualty for WLAC.

For a good part of the 50s and 60s, though, neither of those blowtorches attracted big audiences in the metro. The young crowd flocked to 1,000-watt WKDA and adults favored WSIX. WSM and WLAC got much of their fame from outside the market. Having spent a good part of my career in Nashville, I know that there was a certain element of the old money elites that were appalled by WSM's country music image and the Opry. The feeling was that the image of the "Athens of the South" was not well served by WSM nor, to a lesser extent, by WLAC.
 
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