Even WVLT Is Adding Newer Oldies!

[DToTheJ]

It's official: Even the rimshot that resembles the typical "oldies" station, "Cruisin' 92.1", is starting to veer away from traditional oldies.

And it's not just in their selections of Christmas music, i.e. on Wednesday, I heard Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?". On Wednesday, they also played Rick Springfield's "Jesse's Girl". Which, in fairness, I have also heard on the station on Friday nights during the RJ program, but granted, that's a brokered program. This marks the first time I have heard the song in WVLT's regular rotation.

But if I had any indication that Cruisin' was starting to mix in some 80's tracks, today sealed the deal. Just moments ago, I heard Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes".

 

[JH_Radio]

Can't say I've heard 80's Track, but perhaps they're turning into more of a CBS-Fm type?
If they're adding 80's Oldies, and still playing lots of the doo wop, 50's-60's-70's Oldies too, then it would seem to me that rather then eliminating 50's-early 60's (As other Oldies stations have done), that WVLT has chosen to widen there playlist instead.
I listened to Lew Custello (part of the show), and I didn't hear any 80's throne in there. Listen to the verry beginning of Dave Fleetwood's show and again didn't hear 80's Oldies. This was listening earlier today.
John
Bensalem, PA

 

[ccuphl]

It's official: Even the rimshot that resembles the typical "oldies" station, "Cruisin' 92.1", is starting to veer away from traditional oldies.

Was the satellite format on or local programming?

 

[radioskeptic]

John, are you listening to WVLT on the web? Bensalem is pretty far away from Vineland, and it's only a Class A station.

As I recall, it starts to fade out around Exit 7 on the NJ Turnpike on a good car radio.

But if you are getting WVLT over the air, three questions:
(1) Are you getting good stereo reception, or do you have to listen in mono to get rid of the noise?
(2) What kind of receiver are you using?
(3) Are you using an outdoor antenna, possibly mounted on a rotor?

 

[DToTheJ]

It's official: Even the rimshot that resembles the typical "oldies" station, "Cruisin' 92.1", is starting to veer away from traditional oldies.

Was the satellite format on or local programming?

I was listening during Dave Fleetwood's afternoon program, so it was a different playlist than the satellite feed.

I might also add that, as expected, WVLT is also starting to change the ratio of "tried and true" oldies vs. "oh wow" oldies. Obviously, they're starting to play a little more of the former, and a little less of the latter. This comes as no surprise, with the inception of adding 80's songs to the rotation. A few months ago, I heard a Lou Costello show, where he played almost entirely "oh wow" oldies. I sampled one of his shows recently and he played particularly less of such songs.

 

[JH_Radio]

I am listening on a Yamaha T-85 Modified by Steve Solomon. It is in full stereo, with stereo muteing defeated, in superwide mode, with an SNR 280 KHZ filter. I do have an FM outdoor Windgard antenna with roter.

 

[pab]

The window for what is considered "oldies" is sliding along with the demographic window. Remember that people turning 40 this year graduated from high school in 1986; is it really so odd that a format meant to appeal to persons 45-64 would play some stuff from the 80's?

Remember that under the old rules of what constitutes an "oldie" (from back when I got into the business in the '80's), oldies stations today would be playing "How's It Going To Be" by Matchbox 20, "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind, "Quit Playin' Games With My Heart" by the Backstreet Boys, and "Good Riddance" by Green Day.

I think 1955 (or, more likely, 1963) to 1985 is a reasonable window for an oldies station. Weighted heavier from 1963-1975, granted, but still with newer stuff.

 

[DToTheJ]

Remember that under the old rules of what constitutes an "oldie" (from back when I got into the business in the '80's), oldies stations today would be playing "How's It Going To Be" by Matchbox 20, "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind...

Actually, 3EB performed both those songs, but I see what you mean...

My point was that this is the beginning of the end of WVLT as an "oldies" station, based on the criteria above. They'll still play oldies, but are joining similar stations in adapting to the times.

 

[BRNout]

John, are you listening to WVLT on the web? Bensalem is pretty far away from Vineland, and it's only a Class A station.

As I recall, it starts to fade out around Exit 7 on the NJ Turnpike on a good car radio.

But if you are getting WVLT over the air, three questions:
(1) Are you getting good stereo reception, or do you have to listen in mono to get rid of the noise?
(2) What kind of receiver are you using?
(3) Are you using an outdoor antenna, possibly mounted on a rotor?

I used to get WVLT really well on a decent radio when I lived near Malvern, PA. That's quite a bit farther out than Bensalem. Once you get to the west of the Delaware river, there are some hills which face southeastward which permits reception of this station. The terrain really helps you with line of sight reception.

WVLT actually seemed to come in quite well in parts of Philadelphia too - particularly south of Center City and along the river. Too bad to hear that they are mixing more 80s into their playlist. Then again, their format was quite inconsistent at times with lots of brokered segments.

 

[mcmannors]

John, are you listening to WVLT on the web? Bensalem is pretty far away from Vineland, and it's only a Class A station.

I was listening to WVLT quite clearly on Street Road in Bensalem yesterday late morning/early afternoon. On a Kenwood KDC-MP338 car radio. With the factory window antenna.

 

[JH_Radio]

Wane,
Were you driving? WVLT on our Chryslor is fadey around these parts. Cryslor is a good car radio too.
John
Bensalem, PA

 

[mcmannors]

Yes, I was driving. It faded a little bit while I drove, but it was quite listenable nonetheless.

 

[davoice]

If this is the PHILADELPHIA board, why is this rat-hole of a station in Cumberland County NJ showing up here. Can the "administrators" do some administrating please and put that crap on the Jersey board. Can we talk about REAL (Non-brokered) stations in the Philly market?

 

[DToTheJ]

While WVLT is licensed to Vineland, their signal could be heard in a portion of the Philadelphia market. As such, they are considered a Philly "rimshot".

 

[pab]

Remember that under the old rules of what constitutes an "oldie" (from back when I got into the business in the '80's), oldies stations today would be playing "How's It Going To Be" by Matchbox 20, "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind...

Actually, 3EB performed both those songs, but I see what you mean...

Thank you for correcting that. I was thinking of "Back 2 Good" and my fingers were going faster than my brain was.

My point was that this is the beginning of the end of WVLT as an "oldies" station, based on the criteria above. They'll still play oldies, but are joining similar stations in adapting to the times.

My point is that "oldies' is a morphing and changing format. The classic or "real" "oldies" format (1955-1969) is disappearing as its audience, literally, starts dying off, much as standards faded out when its demographic started losing its battle with actuarial tables.

The age group that "real oldies" gets nowadays is the same age group that standards got 15-20 years ago. They're no longer where the money is, their numbers are not as large any more, and within 10 years their audience could disappear by more than half.

If you want to program an oldies station, and make money at it, you need to program to an audience aged 45-65, or even 40-65. That means songs from 1963 to 1983 or 1988.

Of course, what do I know? I predicted the rise and fall of AAA back in 1990-1991. I was programming a "Jack" format in 1999. Maybe I'm just four or five years ahead of the curve, but mark my words, "oldies" as we've known it for years is destined for the scrap heap.

 

[Soon Yi CIV.V]

Pab, I was wondering if anyone was going to address these points you've made! Someone earlier in the thread said something like (I'm paraphrasing), "It's a shame [the oldies station] is adding '80s music" and that confounded me a bit.

Oldies by it's very nature is a constantly changing animal. More so than any format I can think of, Oldies has to concentrate on a certain timeframe in order to hit its target. Sure, it's a loose timeframe (to say the least) but it's a timeframe nonetheless. 1

1983 was twenty-five years ago! The only legitimate reason why a song from twenty-five years ago doesn't qualify as an "Oldie" is because they're now being called "Classic Hits." LOL.

 

[pab]

Oldies by it's very nature is a constantly changing animal. More so than any format I can think of, Oldies has to concentrate on a certain timeframe in order to hit its target. Sure, it's a loose timeframe (to say the least) but it's a timeframe nonetheless. 1

I know, Soon Yi. I buck the conventional wisdom and speak the truth. That's why no one will hire me today; I was right too often in the past.

 

[nd2023]

Cruisin 92.1 is still playing 50s and 60s oldies, even 10 years after people predicted doom and gloom