Final Score: Programmers and 300 Song Playlists 1, Sanity and Intelligence 0.

[crainbebo]

This is WHY I do not listen to large-market, CC/CBS owned FM stations that much. Every station has a different branding, and a different frequency, but the same 400 song playlist. Small town radio rocks - double the points if it's live and local. I just listened to about an hour of KKRB 106.9 Klamath Falls, OR today - an excellent AC playlist with a lot of oh wows. I've already talked about KSRW 92.5 in Independence many times on this board and others, pretty much a mix of Gold AC stuff, Smooth Jazz and smooth vocals. I have only heard 1 Maroon 5 song on there in over a year - no Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, or any other "large-market" staples on AC. When you hear a rare Michael Franks from 1985, or a album cut from James Taylor or Al Jarreau, that's definitely an oh wow! in my book. Kudos to the Sierra Wave.
The same reason is why I hardly listen to classic hits stations anymore - unless I can't find anything else to listen to on the local dial. Most are 400-500 song playlists that repeat the same 100 biggest songs of that playlist, twice to three times a day. Who wants to hear "Brown Eyed Girl" 3 times a day? Not me.
Even country stations are like this - they are trying to get rid of any 90s songs as fast as they can and replace them with Florida Georgia Line "Cruise" or "This is How We Roll" (yucky rap rhythm) on repeat. MANY large-town stations have zero 80s left. Alabama left the building on KMPS long ago in Seattle, and so did Hank Williams Jr. And these so called country stations have 300 songs as well. Less variety, more repeat, more morning zoo talk, more commercials, more contest call-ins.

-crainbebo

 

[oldies76]

With the average weekly listening time to KRTH at 2:00 (3 month average) "Hotel" is an "oh wow" song for many who may not have heard it for what, to them, is too long a time.

I disagree. "Hotel..." is played frequently enough on KRTH (3-5 times a day!) to where many have heard it already and enjoy it enough, but not as a surprise, as real "Oh Wow" songs would do to such listener. Some may consider it an "Oh Wow", but not the quantity you are making it sound. From a listeners perspective, "Hotel..." is a great song, but it's not a surprising, out-of-the-vault type song, as most "Oh Wows" are.

If you claim that the average listener hears their favorites once every 2-3 weeks on a regular listening schedule on KRTH, how can "Hotel California" be an "Oh Wow" if they supposedly hear it once or twice a month?? It's not an "Oh Wow", unless they haven't heard it in years, but then they aren't regular listeners either.

Speaking of "Oh Wows", another great station in the Denver area playing lots of great, lost songs, not heard on conventional classic hits stations. Take a listen. Great stuff here.

http://www.937therock.com/

 

[michael hagerty]

The phrase "Oh Wow song" was coined by a programmer about 30 years ago who wanted to call his stiffs something other than stiffs. Everyone in the business picked up the phrase. Neither he nor his station are around or remembered today.

Once again, it's a case of the industry and the listener speaking different languages. Fortunately, radio has gotten a lot better at learning how the typical listener behaves and how they react.

The typical listener says "Oh, wow!" when they hear something they love. And, as I've said before, they don't keep track of when they heard it last....so if they're only hearing their favorite song once or twice a month, that seems like a long time to them. Pick your favorite food, drink or person and imagine only getting that once or twice a month. It's a treat.

 

[davideduardo]

This is WHY I do not listen to large-market, CC/CBS owned FM stations that much. Every station has a different branding, and a different frequency, but the same 400 song playlist.

Actually, if you look at either company's playlists, you will find that every market has a different list.

There has even been a thread lately peppered with Oldies69 comparing how good CBS's WOGL playlist is, while the same company's KRTH is horrible to his ears

In truth, KRTH at around 500 songs is the exception. Most classic hits stations are in the 700 song library size.

Most are 400-500 song playlists

It's more like 700 to 800.

And these so called country stations have 300 songs as well. Less variety, more repeat, more morning zoo talk, more commercials, more contest call-ins.

More listeners than ever, too.

 

[K.M. Richards]

I very well know what "Oh Wow" songs are being in music and / or radio for the last 30 years. Songs that are played everyday are not "Oh Wow's". Only songs that have not been played for some time and that are suddenly new to the rotation and the subsequent reaction by listeners as such, are.

I think perhaps the problem is that your definition of "oh wow" is not the same as a typical listener.

And I don't have to tell you whose definition the industry is going to use.

 

[K.M. Richards]

To me, an Oh Wow is a song that doesn't test well and yet still gets a spin. So for me, an "Oh Wow" would be something like Lights Out by Peter Wolfe or Never Ending Story by Limahl.

Neither of which being songs I would ever want to hear again, either.

 

[davideduardo]

The phrase "Oh Wow song" was coined by a programmer about 30 years ago who wanted to call his stiffs something other than stiffs. Everyone in the business picked up the phrase. Neither he nor his station are around or remembered today.

I remember a number of AC stations that played a "dreaded morning oldie" which was one of those Top 40 hits of a decade or two ago that would be embarrassing to hear... and that was the joke. Of course, they made a version that lasted about 90 seconds rather than playing the whole thing. And those songs were ones we all knew... and were really "oh, wow" songs. They were also dreadful.

Pick your favorite food, drink or person and imagine only getting that once or twice a month. It's a treat.

When I lived in Ecuador, I flew to Miami 6 to 8 times a year to buy tubes and supplies and records. My first stop was at McDonalds near the airport... after 6 weeks in a country with no fast food places at all, a Big Mac was better than a steak au poivre, which I could get every day.

 

[oldies76]

There has even been a thread lately peppered with Oldies69 comparing how good CBS's WOGL playlist is, while the same company's KRTH is horrible to his ears

Because the playlist and weekend specials of WOGL are far more appealing than KRTH's. As a listener I know good music when I hear it.

BTW, who's "oldies69"?

 

[SuperRadioFan]

I guess that says something about the "listeners", David. Why should any listener put up with morning zoo shows, a block of 7-8 spots, contests that are just about impossible to win ( ever try getting thru if its a phone number? I don't know if that's still current because I don't listen to these kinds of stations)? Why indeed. Are they even paying attention to any commercial. If they are, well says something about them and its not flattering. I know the advertisers will never again reach people like me who skip thru commercials both on radio and TV. Again why does anyone put up with this "entertainment"?

 

[SuperRadioFan]

I think perhaps the problem is that your definition of "oh wow" is not the same as a typical listener.

And I don't have to tell you whose definition the industry is going to use.

Who cares what the industry's definition is anyway?

 

[davideduardo]

Speaking of "Oh Wows", another great station in the Denver area playing lots of great, lost songs, not heard on conventional classic hits stations. Take a listen. Great stuff here.

http://www.937therock.com/

I should know by know that any station that you recommend with have few listeners. But this time you outdid yourself.

In the Spring 2014 in 25-54 the AM / FM combo had no listeners. It had a 0.1 share overall, and all of that listening was by people over 55.

I think we have now reached the point where it is eminently clear that what you like is not liked by practically anyone else. So you should really consider ending the bitching about playlists, rotations and such as your tastes represent such a small percentage of the public as to be unmeasurable.

 

[davideduardo]

Who cares what the industry's definition is anyway?

That's not what KR said.

He stated that the average listener had a different definition of an "oh wow" song than Oldies76 does. And that radio was going to go with the definition that fits the biggest group of people, not the tiny splinter fringe group.

 

[davideduardo]

Because the playlist and weekend specials of WOGL are far more appealing than KRTH's.

... appealing to you.

I rest my case.

 

[oldies76]

I should know by know that any station that you recommend with have few listeners. But this time you outdid yourself.

In the Spring 2014 in 25-54 the AM / FM combo had no listeners. It had a 0.1 share overall, and all of that listening was by people over 55.

I think we have now reached the point where it is eminently clear that what you like is not liked by practically anyone else.

They only began their current format on March 7, 2014, so your point above is null. The station just started, give them a chance. So you think my preference for music is ignored by practically everyone else? Did you research that statement? You've got facts to back that up? You think I'm the only one who enjoys small stations that puts out the real hits? Your conclusions are based on your own hunches.

 

[oldies76]

... appealing to you.

I rest my case.

And to the ENTIRE population of a major market, ranked 8th in the country, many who enjoy classic hits on a #2 ranked station. They could care less about L.A.

 

[TheBigA]

And to the ENTIRE population of a major market, ranked 8th in the country, many who enjoy classic hits on a #2 ranked station. They could care less about L.A.

But since you live in neither town, you contribute nothing to either of them. So it doesn't matter what you think of either station. You don't factor in what they do. You're simply an expense.

 

[davideduardo]

They only began their current format on March 7, 2014, so your point above is null. The station just started, give them a chance.

This was their third book in the format. No movement at all.

So you think my preference for music is ignored by practically everyone else? Did you research that statement? You've got facts to back that up? You think I'm the only one who enjoys small stations that puts out the real hits? Your conclusions are based on your own hunches.

Based on the fact that you uniformly like stations that either have no audience or very, very little, it's safe to conclude that your "likes" are in opposition with those of the general public. It's a simple deduction along the line of "if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck..."

 

[oldies76]

Based on the fact that you uniformly like stations that either have no audience or very, very little, it's safe to conclude that your "likes" are in opposition with those of the general public.

I prefer stations like these that pop up every so often because of their content. For me, it's preferable since I enjoy the music more and there is far less chatter and junk to deal with. These stations HAVE an audience or they wouldn't be running. A station like this does not have to be a 5.9 KRTH or a 6.8 WOGL, but it can have it's respectable audience otherwise. Please give them a chance. You know, if they don't make it, then all you and I can say is that they tried. I don't need to listen to the corporate mumble jumble type large stations that sound robotic and stale in their presentations (with Philly being an exception of course) with basically the same music. I prefer small radio. I wish you'd respect that.

I prefer the local hamburger stand that has some of the best burgers around, instead of corporate McD's. Same thing.

Have a good night.

 

[TheBigA]

I prefer small radio. I wish you'd respect that. It's my preference.

The problem comes when you extrapolate your personal preference into something greater than it is.

 

[semoochie]

Last night, I heard a song that I hadn't heard since it was a current. I was just arriving home and sat in my driveway, listening to the rest of the song. My first reaction was "Oh wow, I haven't heard that song in ages". I couldn't believe that I would have that kind of reaction! It was "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars from about four years ago. Actually, I'm surprised that the local AC hasn't grabbed onto this one but I heard it on the Hot AC.