Feedback requested

[radiojjh]

Hey I am programming a Classics Hit station in a smaller market.....the A/C station we had here is now doing CHR. Out FM dial here is CHR COUNTRY NEW CLASSIC ROCK CHR CLASSIC HITS(my station), ACTIVE ROCK, "BOB FM" (but not a very well focused bob-fm), another classic hits station that calls itself "MOJO," and they have absolutely no clue what they are doing musically---recently going from Richard Harris and MacArthur Park into the Who "Who Are You?"

So--with the lack of an A/C station I have been mixing some other artists/music not usually heard on classic hits, and that's where I'd like a little feedback. I've got nothing but compliments on how the station is sounding and really getting "rave" reviews from listeners and our cluster's staff. Even our engineer loves it---YIKES!!!

The music I'm talking about is Steve Winwood, Gloria Estefan, more Chicago, and a very limited amount of stuff from the 90's and 00's---like "Smooth"/Santana "Believe"/Cher Only Wanna Be With You/Hootie Go West/King of Wishful Thinking, Game Of Love/Santana some Lionel Richie--the uptempo ones mainly a few by Taylor Dayne, and a handful of others for flavoring. NO ONE else is playing these total mass-appeal hits.....So what's the verdict---good to be playing these, OR are these a big NO NO. We've also added some Huey Lewis, Genesis, and other artists that weren't being played.

So---gimme some feedback.....Radio Info readers....Muchas Gracias!

 

[johnbasalla]

Any feedback from advertisers or potential advertisers? Whatever works - do it.

 

[allenv]

It all about daring to be different and doing what others in your market won't do. It sounds like you are on the right track musically...I hope this translates into dollars for your station. Give em' hell and have fun!!! I don't see a problem paying some newer hits by your core artists. By newer I mean 10 15 or 20 years ago..Let's not forget 1992 was 20 years ago! Wow!! Good luck!!

 

[deltas69]

been doing that for three years on my internet station...small but loyal audience..6000 plus tunes, vintage commercials, '63 through '93..although fudge a bit on either end if it's good enough..spent 20 years in all forms of broadcasting, music business..finally i get to do it MY WAY..lol...

 

[michael hagerty]

...recently going from Richard Harris and MacArthur Park into the Who "Who Are You?"

So Oldies76 is a radio PD? ;D

Sorry, Oldies...couldn't resist.

 

[oldies76]

So Oldies76 is a radio PD? ;D

Sorry, Oldies...couldn't resist.

Funny Michael.. Actually, wish I had the chance.

Obviously a trainwreck here, but yes I would have both of those classics in the library. Just gotta play them at the right time......

 

[radiobum]

So Oldies76 is a radio PD? ;D

Sorry, Oldies...couldn't resist.

Funny Michael.. Actually, wish I had the chance.

Obviously a trainwreck here, but yes I would have both of those classics in the library. Just gotta play them at the right time...... :GREATEST SEGUE EVER..FORMER OLDIES STATION WENT FROM DON AND JUAN'S 'WHAT'S YOUR NAME' TO LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S 'WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"

 

[deltas69]

...recently going from Richard Harris and MacArthur Park into the Who "Who Are You?" hummm i see nothing wrong with that at all...quick little stinger in between...no problem here..

 

[Robert Bass]

I've always had the belief some programmers over-think music scheduling rules, when their respective station(s) runs a stinger/jingle/liner/etc after every single song. Those elements are buffers, so why waste your time setting such complex scheduling rules?

R

 

[SolidGold16]

...recently going from Richard Harris and MacArthur Park into the Who "Who Are You?" hummm i see nothing wrong with that at all...quick little stinger in between...no problem here..

Same goes for me. I wouldn't have any problem with hearing "In-a-gadda-da-vida" right after "Candida" - just love to be surprised, which is totally lacking in radio today. But that's just me, I'm probably completely insane

 

[michael hagerty]

...recently going from Richard Harris and MacArthur Park into the Who "Who Are You?" hummm i see nothing wrong with that at all...quick little stinger in between...no problem here..

Same goes for me. I wouldn't have any problem with hearing "In-a-gadda-da-vida" right after "Candida" - just love to be surprised, which is totally lacking in radio today. But that's just me, I'm probably completely insane

....and now you've got me envisioning the most warped mashup of all time....as Iron Butterfly sings "Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida"...but each time "Da-Vida" is cut out and Tony Orlando sings "Candida". "Inna-Gadda-Candida".

(shudder)

 

[oldies76]

Same goes for me. I wouldn't have any problem with hearing "In-a-gadda-da-vida" right after "Candida" - just love to be surprised, which is totally lacking in radio today. But that's just me, I'm probably completely insane

With thousands of hits "available" to play from the 60's to the 80's, anything can happen.....

 

[SolidGold16]

...recently going from Richard Harris and MacArthur Park into the Who "Who Are You?" hummm i see nothing wrong with that at all...quick little stinger in between...no problem here..

Same goes for me. I wouldn't have any problem with hearing "In-a-gadda-da-vida" right after "Candida" - just love to be surprised, which is totally lacking in radio today. But that's just me, I'm probably completely insane

....and now you've got me envisioning the most warped mashup of all time....as Iron Butterfly sings "Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida"...but each time "Da-Vida" is cut out and Tony Orlando sings "Candida". "Inna-Gadda-Candida".

(shudder)

Even that would sound better than most of what I hear on the radio these days...

Can't we have one person out there with enough money to just buck the system, as it were, and play something different like I described? Hmmm, if I won the Powerball Lottery, that would probably be one of my pet projects. Buy a station, and to he!! with ratings, I'm going to play music I like to hear! (apparently I'm not alone, I see many others on this board feel the same way I do about this). I grew up in the late 60's - early 70's and I would be playing everything from bubblegum (Archies, TO&Dawn, Partridge Family, etc) to rock (Deep Purple, Steppenwolf, Bloodrock, Zep, Yes, Grand Funk, etc) and everything in between. I love it all! With a heavy emphasis on that time period (1967 - 1974). For it was, IMHO, the golden age of rock.

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

 

[Robert Bass]

You could always launch your own Internet station on Live365.

R

 

[SolidGold16]

You could always launch your own Internet station on Live365.

R

Well, that's a thought...although not quite the same as a real terrestrial radio station with a big stick. ;D

Of course, the odds of me ever having the money to do what I decribed is about as small as it ever happening with someone else anyway. I just might look into what you suggested. Why not?

 

[Robert Bass]

Many years ago I would have wanted to own my own terra station. I've since wised up. For one thing, it's just too expensive. Then there's all the maintenance headaches. Plus you're limited in signal coverage. Webcasting allows you so much more freedome with larger audience potential at minimal cost.

R

 

[SolidGold16]

Many years ago I would have wanted to own my own terra station. I've since wised up. For one thing, it's just too expensive. Then there's all the maintenance headaches. Plus you're limited in signal coverage. Webcasting allows you so much more freedome with larger audience potential at minimal cost.

R

True dat. But, like I said, if I won the lottery and money wasn't such a big issue, and I could do what I wanted...in that case, having an actual station would be fun (without the pressure to make a big profit, that is). Signal, of course, would be based on how much KW you could afford to purchase, with many millions I suppose you could do something interesting.

Anyway, I like your idea and will think about it and look into it. Sounds like it would be fun.

 

[michael hagerty]

...recently going from Richard Harris and MacArthur Park into the Who "Who Are You?" hummm i see nothing wrong with that at all...quick little stinger in between...no problem here..

Same goes for me. I wouldn't have any problem with hearing "In-a-gadda-da-vida" right after "Candida" - just love to be surprised, which is totally lacking in radio today. But that's just me, I'm probably completely insane

....and now you've got me envisioning the most warped mashup of all time....as Iron Butterfly sings "Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida"...but each time "Da-Vida" is cut out and Tony Orlando sings "Candida". "Inna-Gadda-Candida".

(shudder)

Even that would sound better than most of what I hear on the radio these days...

Can't we have one person out there with enough money to just buck the system, as it were, and play something different like I described? Hmmm, if I won the Powerball Lottery, that would probably be one of my pet projects. Buy a station, and to he!! with ratings, I'm going to play music I like to hear! (apparently I'm not alone, I see many others on this board feel the same way I do about this). I grew up in the late 60's - early 70's and I would be playing everything from bubblegum (Archies, TO&Dawn, Partridge Family, etc) to rock (Deep Purple, Steppenwolf, Bloodrock, Zep, Yes, Grand Funk, etc) and everything in between. I love it all! With a heavy emphasis on that time period (1967 - 1974). For it was, IMHO, the golden age of rock.

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

Sure.

Trouble is, what you've just described is not a business approach. No problem with that at all...people use lottery winnings to create art, support charities, all kinds of things.

But most people, looking at the costs involved in radio, want to see a return on investment. Otherwise, it will eventually eat your jackpot.

One of the biggest misconceptions about broadcasting is that having, say, half the ratings of the number one station in town, you'll probably make about half the ad dollars. And they make a boatload and you're not greedy, so that'll be fine.

Doesn't work that way. Most buys are agency buys. And depending on the size of the market, they buy only the top 3, 4 or 5 stations in a key demo. If you're not there, you're going to bill a lot closer to zero than you will to half whatever number one is getting. The same way that the sales figures for a #15 record were a lot closer to a #40 record than a #1 record.

It's why Jack Welch's philosophy at GE was to get out of any business they weren't #1 or #2 in...because the drop off is sharp, steep and starts a whole lot higher up the charts than most people think.

And that's why business people...people who want or need their investment to make a profit...don't take a lot of chances with radio programming, and don't say to hell with the ratings.

 

[SolidGold16]

Sure.

Trouble is, what you've just described is not a business approach. No problem with that at all...people use lottery winnings to create art, support charities, all kinds of things.

But most people, looking at the costs involved in radio, want to see a return on investment. Otherwise, it will eventually eat your jackpot.

One of the biggest misconceptions about broadcasting is that having, say, half the ratings of the number one station in town, you'll probably make about half the ad dollars. And they make a boatload and you're not greedy, so that'll be fine.

Doesn't work that way. Most buys are agency buys. And depending on the size of the market, they buy only the top 3, 4 or 5 stations in a key demo. If you're not there, you're going to bill a lot closer to zero than you will to half whatever number one is getting. The same way that the sales figures for a #15 record were a lot closer to a #40 record than a #1 record.

It's why Jack Welch's philosophy at GE was to get out of any business they weren't #1 or #2 in...because the drop off is sharp, steep and starts a whole lot higher up the charts than most people think.

And that's why business people...people who want or need their investment to make a profit...don't take a lot of chances with radio programming, and don't say to hell with the ratings.

I'm quite sure you are absolutely correct on all your points. That's why it's just a dream, I know there's no way this would ever happen. Fun to think about but not practical or realistic. I've never actually been in the radio biz myself, but I find this board very interesting and educational, and I like to read posts like yours that are informative and well articulated. Thanks for taking the time to educate me on more details of the financial side of radio, I know there's a lot more to it than it seems on the surface.

That said, it's fun to think about what could be done if money were no object...

 

[oldies76]

Hmmm, if I won the Powerball Lottery, that would probably be one of my pet projects. Buy a station, and to he!! with ratings, I'm going to play music I like to hear! (apparently I'm not alone, I see many others on this board feel the same way I do about this). I grew up in the late 60's - early 70's and I would be playing everything from bubblegum (Archies, TO&Dawn, Partridge Family, etc) to rock (Deep Purple, Steppenwolf, Bloodrock, Zep, Yes, Grand Funk, etc) and everything in between. I love it all! With a heavy emphasis on that time period (1967 - 1974). For it was, IMHO, the golden age of rock.

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

You realize that maybe 10% (and that's pushing it..) of all top 20 charting hits from 1960-1985 are even played today? No wonder there are so many complaints on radio stagnation, repetition and tight playlists these days. I'll give credit to some brave AM's out there, seem to be doing what some of us are dreaming to do.

I'm just astounded that even in the 1975-1984 period, very few hits are played, compared to when we heard them "new" on top 40 stations then. Crazy, huh?