Format Categories

[Steppenwolf]

Hang on, now. Yes, this is a post from Steppenwolf but it's not to condemn the Jack programming approach. What do you think of the way Radio-Info has categorized music formats? 50s/60s oldies, 60s/70s classic hits, and 80s/90s variety hits. There's talk that the Indy Jack station may drop the Jack approach in order to go Classic Hits. I think that's a good idea, but in my personal opinion I think a classic hits format should feature the hits, the pop side of music from the late 60s to the mid 80s. If it was in the Top 30, if a legendary station like WLS Chicago played it during the late 60s to mid 80s time period, then play it today.

 

[radiofriend1]

Hang on, now. Yes, this is a post from Steppenwolf but it's not to condemn the Jack programming approach. What do you think of the way Radio-Info has categorized music formats? 50s/60s oldies, 60s/70s classic hits, and 80s/90s variety hits. There's talk that the Indy Jack station may drop the Jack approach in order to go Classic Hits. I think that's a good idea, but in my personal opinion I think a classic hits format should feature the hits, the pop side of music from the late 60s to the mid 80s. If it was in the Top 30, if a legendary station like WLS Chicago played it during the late 60s to mid 80s time period, then play it today.

becuz charts are bogus. a ton of the songs hit top 30's were bought (yez, payola), favors for record reps, the pd's liked the tunes, record companies flooded stations w/bogus requests

also remember wls played quite a few regional hits still from the late sixties into the late seventies.

 

[Tibbs4]

How could listeners, even fake ones posing as listeners, figure out how to call into a radio station these days, talk to anybody human
and get that human to actually log the request? The good old days of it mattering are long gone. Meanwhile, the cash register is
ringing. It's all designed above and around the listener.

 

[radiofriend1]

How could listeners, even fake ones posing as listeners, figure out how to call into a radio station these days, talk to anybody human
and get that human to actually log the request? The good old days of it mattering are long gone. Meanwhile, the cash register is
ringing. It's all designed above and around the listener.

that has zero to do w/anything

your statement was:

in my personal opinion I think a classic hits format should feature the hits, the pop side of music from the late 60s to the mid 80s. If it was in the Top 30, if a legendary station like WLS Chicago played it during the late 60s to mid 80s time period, then play it today."

i was commenting on the above statement which is your criteria for what a classic hits station today should play from the late 60's to the mid 80's and i'm saying that becuz using **CHARTS** or radio station surveys as the basis for what u play today would mean u play a lot of non-hits

 

[Steppenwolf]

that has zero to do w/anything

your statement was:

in my personal opinion I think a classic hits format should feature the hits, the pop side of music from the late 60s to the mid 80s. If it was in the Top 30, if a legendary station like WLS Chicago played it during the late 60s to mid 80s time period, then play it today."

i was commenting on the above statement which is your criteria for what a classic hits station today should play from the late 60's to the mid 80's and i'm saying that becuz using **CHARTS** or radio station surveys as the basis for what u play today would mean u play a lot of non-hits

[/quote]

You're certainly entitled to your opinion and yes, in a few cases in a few markets payola was happening. But not enough to dismiss the Billboard charts of that day. I'm sure nothing corrupt goes on in today's "research", right?
As far as "regional" hits go, Indy & Chicago are both Midwest, both in the same "region". So Classic Hits station in Chicago or Indy, go ahead and play "Amos Moses" by Jerry Reed and "Polk Salad Annie" by Tony Joe White like they did on WLS.

 

[radiofriend1]

that has zero to do w/anything

your statement was:

in my personal opinion I think a classic hits format should feature the hits, the pop side of music from the late 60s to the mid 80s. If it was in the Top 30, if a legendary station like WLS Chicago played it during the late 60s to mid 80s time period, then play it today."

i was commenting on the above statement which is your criteria for what a classic hits station today should play from the late 60's to the mid 80's and i'm saying that becuz using **CHARTS** or radio station surveys as the basis for what u play today would mean u play a lot of non-hits

You're certainly entitled to your opinion and yes, in a few cases in a few markets payola was happening. But not enough to dismiss the Billboard charts of that day. I'm sure nothing corrupt goes on in today's "research", right?
As far as "regional" hits go, Indy & Chicago are both Midwest, both in the same "region". So Classic Hits station in Chicago or Indy, go ahead and play "Amos Moses" by Jerry Reed and "Polk Salad Annie" by Tony Joe White like they did on WLS.
[/quote]

u do good research u get good results. too much goofy criteria went into charts. they are ok for an overall big-pic look at the time but for deciding what to play and what not to play charts are basically useless. besides even if u buy into SOME accuracy at the time (say July 14, 1975)..........what people wanted to hear THEN has zip to do with what's legit for them today. not even close

i sure know i would never have Amos Moses or Polk Salad Annie on my classic hits station..........they might be oh-wow titles on a 60s/70s oldies--maybe

 

[Tibbs4]

I did refer to my phone request comment to today's radio, not in "the day." That did happen and it was part of the magic of radio then,
the real requests that is. Remember when the phones were non-stop? It's changed. Radio today does not program on calls, does it?

I have to say that the words "Classic Hits" almost leave it totally abstract as to what could be played on the format. Do you play songs
like "Billy Don't Be A Hero," "Love Will Keep Us Together" or "Dancing Queen" or do you play Motown Hits.

To me though, the word Classic is nearly synonomous with Classic Rock, which means Classic Hits would be the slightly harder
rock songs that generally charted well. The Doors, Foghat maybe even ....Steppenwolf... and some heavier Southern Rock bands.

I don't think any of us look forward to Classic Hits evolving to Air Supply followed by AC/DC and Kenny and Dolly.

Does anyone know of any Classic Hits station that play blocks of music from a specific year to reflect the sounds and culture of
that time? It's a good way to put in long unheard, forgotten tracks and artists. I think, done correctly, this gives a station an
understandable reason to not play the same 126 Classic Hits into the ground. You have to walk listeners through the program and
explain why they are important songs. Guess that requires to much energy.

Maybe part of the fragmentation of the format is, like Jack, mixing it up so dramatically that P1 listeners bolt at the sound of
Fleetwood Mac or Carly Simon.

Incidentally, Steppenwolf? Have you noticed latest round of Jack numbers in NY, LA, Chicago and even, say, market #44?
Something is 'slightly' amiss, even with the 12+ numbers that don't count. I still tell you, though, 12+ does give you insight
to future books if you see through the bull. Then again an-Arb is an-Arb is an-Arb...and there have been way to many hits
lately to not see some listener fatigue. Blaming the rating system isn't telling the total truth. This will light up the board!!!

 

[radiofriend1]

that has zero to do w/anything

your statement was:

in my personal opinion I think a classic hits format should feature the hits, the pop side of music from the late 60s to the mid 80s. If it was in the Top 30, if a legendary station like WLS Chicago played it during the late 60s to mid 80s time period, then play it today."

i was commenting on the above statement which is your criteria for what a classic hits station today should play from the late 60's to the mid 80's and i'm saying that becuz using **CHARTS** or radio station surveys as the basis for what u play today would mean u play a lot of non-hits



You're certainly entitled to your opinion and yes, in a few cases in a few markets payola was happening. But not enough to dismiss the Billboard charts of that day. I'm sure nothing corrupt goes on in today's "research", right?
As far as "regional" hits go, Indy & Chicago are both Midwest, both in the same "region". So Classic Hits station in Chicago or Indy, go ahead and play "Amos Moses" by Jerry Reed and "Polk Salad Annie" by Tony Joe White like they did on WLS.

u do good research u get good results. too much goofy criteria went into charts. they are ok for an overall big-pic look at the time but for deciding what to play and what not to play charts are basically useless. besides even if u buy into SOME accuracy at the time (say July 14, 1975)..........what people wanted to hear THEN has zip to do with what's legit for them today. not even close

i sure know i would never have Amos Moses or Polk Salad Annie on my classic hits station..........they might be oh-wow titles on a 60s/70s oldies--maybe

 

[Steppenwolf]

I'm sure nothing corrupt goes on in today's "research", right?

[/quote]

u do good research u get good results.

[/quote]

Have I told you about this bridge in Brooklyn that I have for sale?

 

[radiofriend1]

Have I told you about this bridge in Brooklyn that I have for sale?
[/quote]

statements like that say a lot about where u are in the overall picture of radio in the year 2006