How much has WMJX changed in the last 20 or so years?

[ssetta]

I recently found this old tape of Magic 106.7 from either November or December 1998. For the most part, if you listened to this tape, and listen to the station live on the air now, it almost sounds identical. I think most of the on-air talent is the same. Dan Justin is heard on this tape, and it was taped during the 7 PM hour. Some of the music/jingle packages have changed, but a lot have remained the same. Though I noticed that over the years, sometimes they cycle certain jingles/music in and out of the rotation. Now, the actual music they play. It has changed somewhat. I think their music has gotten a bit hotter. The main songs that are on this tape that really don't get played much on there anymore are "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion (I think this was a real chart-topper at the time), and "Here and Now" by Luther Vandross. They might still play them on Bedtime Magic, but not so much during the day. It even includes one of those celebrity promos with Celine. I'm guessing this is one of the first ones they ever did.

So, does anyone here know exactly how long WMJX has been using the music/jingle package they still use to this day?

 

[WALTER PASTEL]

Why would they change? they do well in the ratings

 

[BoscoGoldBear]

Musically, Magic has changed a lot! They pass off much of what I consider hard rock as soft rock (think Seger, Springsteen, U2, Green Day, Nickelback, Journey, Foreigner, Aerosmith, and the rest of that COZ/AAF umbrella). My musical tastes are mostly of the non-rock type, especially the disco that was once considered classic but now is merely Lost (TM by Barry Scott and his related companies), so clearly you can take this with a grain of salt. The results, however, are solidly #2 (or #1) with adults (Kiss is the only serious challenger) and speak for themselves.

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

As all of you Ssetta, Steve and Walter said, I would like to add on. I agree with you Walter, yes, they always have good ratings, they always come up as the top 3, mostly either first or second place. So in a way I agree with you Walter. But they should change. If I say why and how, you all might get mad. You all always get mad and never agree with me and always get mad at me.

With Steve, I agree with you, I also like the (non) rock music, I also, as you said Steve, I also like the Disco music.


But as Walter said, why should Magic 106.7 change?, they do so well in ratings. True @Walter. I agree 97% with you


This is 2009, almost 2010. Magic 106.7 has to step up their game a little. My idea is for them to add some (nice) good, NEW r&b music (example) "I'm In Love" by Lionel Richie, "I Look To You" Whitney Houston, and "Pretty Wings" by Maxwell. Those are (good) safe songs they can play. What I mean by safe, one of their liners states "Lyrics that don't embarres you..." I have more ideas, but you all always get mad at me, so I will keep it at that.

 

[Mickey37]

LAUROJRM - with all due respect, and no malice intended, I disagree with your thoughts about Magic needing to step it up a bit. They have a winning formula that the masses seem to approve of.

While their jingle packages haven't changed much, their music certainly has. It was a bit of a jolt to me hearing U2 on that station a couple of weeks back, a song from the 90's. But this is Magic's demo, the group that's a bit older than when that song first came out. It's a fairly inoffensive tune, so why not?

Magic has not been successful all this time by accident. I think they tweak their music as they see fit, and know their audience fairly well.

 

[Bakers_Bookstore]

Actually Magic has evolved over the years. 20 years plus years ago they were a full service FM. Over those years they morphed into what they are today. High profit and low budget. Nothing wrong with that from a corporate standpoint.

 

[Cap-n Spackle]

I get my teeth cleaned every 6 months, so I guess I've heard this station about 40 times in the past 20 years. I don't notice any changes.

 

[beantownradio25]

Magic sounds exactly like it did 10 years ago, but I wouldn't go as far to say they have remained unchanged for 20 years.

As far as Magic tweaking their well-working formula, as good as your idea sounds Lauro, it would be a bad move on their part, because Magic is getting great ratings with their well working formula.

They're on in my dentists office too

 

[itsthesong]

I have to disagree and say that they HAVE been changing. As of late, they've been adding music from Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Rhianna, etc. I think it's all in an effort to keep it fresh (or provide better competition with Mix and their new home on the dial), and I must say that it works for me. I enjoy the music they play, but I think that I really enjoy the fact that their personalities are not obnoxious. David and Nancy are my favorites, and both are air talents at the tops of their game. As far as overhauling the station, I must go back to the old adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

[BoscoGoldBear]

I get my teeth cleaned every 6 months, so I guess I've heard this station about 40 times in the past 20 years. I don't notice any changes.

I would definitely say that Magic has changed substantially. 10 years ago Magic did NOT play Green Day (Time Of Your Life) or Aerosmith (I Don't Want To Miss A Thing) for fear of alienating the mainstream adults (birthdates 10/1/49 through 9/30/69) over to Oldies or (especially) disco-formatted Star. Now, of course, both groups have numerous songs on Magic (a little odd to hear Dream On and When I Come Around on Magic IMHO) because the mainstream adults' birthdates for this quarter are 10/1/59 through 9/30/79. All rock (including Pearl Jam and Nirvana) will be passed off as soft music; the only "scary" music in this demo today is gangsta rap, but in another decade gangbanger stuff will be passed off as soft music as well.

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

LAUROJRM - with all due respect, and no malice intended, I disagree with your thoughts about Magic needing to step it up a bit. They have a winning formula that the masses seem to approve of.

While their jingle packages haven't changed much, their music certainly has. It was a bit of a jolt to me hearing U2 on that station a couple of weeks back, a song from the 90's. But this is Magic's demo, the group that's a bit older than when that song first came out. It's a fairly inoffensive tune, so why not?

Magic has not been successful all this time by accident. I think they tweak their music as they see fit, and know their audience fairly well.

Thank you @Mikey37. (This) is the (good) responce that I like, even if it mean they disagree, at least this person respect me as a person. That's all I asked. Nothing more nothing less.

Thank you for your thoughts Mikey37, yeah, you right, it was just ideas I had, nothing to hurt no one.

Radio Management knows more than me, it was just an idea


Yes, (I ) as well also agree, Nancy Quill and Dan Justin are my favorite radio announcers on Magic 106.7. I remember Dan Justin when he was on WZOU, I was just a kid back then about 9 years old back then

 

[MassMusicMan]

(a little odd to hear Dream On and When I Come Around on Magic IMHO)

According to Mediabase, Magic has played neither of those songs this year.

Get lost.

 

[BoscoGoldBear]

OK, wise guy, first of all, not everyone has access to Mediabase. I'm not at a radio station, and I don't have the $$$$$ that Cheap Channel wants in order to have access to this knowledge. I'm just assuming because what Mix did a decade ago (i.e. go back on its promise of no metal) Magic is either doing now and/or is about to do. In short (especially with Mix so close to Magic's dial), it's only a matter of time before AC/DC and Van Halen are passed off as soft rock, if indeed that isn't happening already.

Heard this morning from 8:55 to 9:30 (when the doctor FINALLY called me in):

Slide - Goo Goo Dolls (big on R&R's alt/metal/rock charts in '99 - Magic didn't touch it back then)
Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin (see above minus the metal chart - Magic was afraid of alienating mainstream adults then, of which half became elderly since)
In Too Deep - Genesis (BCN and AAF were heavy on this until Magic and Wish played this weeks later - even F-105 joined BCN and AAF on the bench)
Fallin' - Alicia Keys (finally a non-rock song)
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz (technically an AOR song, as Triple-A falls under the AOR umbrella)

(commercials)

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac (as big an AOR song as anything by VH, Zep, Aero and AC/DC)
Kiss From A Rose - Seal (reached all 4 of R&R's AOR charts in '95 - too hot for Magic to touch until the '00s)

Look that up on your Mediabase, wise guy!

 

[fmradio1]

Every one of these songs wound up a top ten POP hit! It doesn't matter what chart they may have started at. If anything, these songs were hits in several different formats during their original chart runs. Those are the type of songs that a mass appeal, adult contemporary station targeting a wide listening audience would want to play.

The 18-44's that listened to Kiss and Mix during the late 90's are now the 25-54's that Magic has always targeted. Of COURSE the music is going to change. The audience has changed! Every year Magic cycles out some old chestnuts that just don't work anymore and replaces them with recent hits that can stand to be played for the next several years. It's a gradual process, which is why most listeners don't even notice the changes. Yes, some listeners (mostly older, 55+) fall away but that's OK. Agencies aren't buying that demo. As long as Magic keeps bringing in younger listeners to replace the ones that die off or fall away (which they seem to do) the station is healthy.

People need to get over the fact that AC radio is no longer the sleepy soft rock stations they used to be. Remember, AC in the late 70's and 80's replaced the beautiful music format in many markets, and back then no one thought adults would want to listen to (gasp)...pop VOCALS! However, the format was a success and that formula worked for quite some time. The format has grown and changed with the tastes of today's adult listener, not the one who listened to Manilow, Streisand and Diamond in the 80's or Dion, Elton & Billy Joel in the 90's.

My one beef is Magic should update their imaging more regularly. While their music is on point for their target audience, their jingles and positioners are so fifteen years ago. They should freshen it up a bit to match the music a little better...

 

[Don Juan]

Heard this morning from 8:55 to 9:30 (when the doctor FINALLY called me in):

Slide - Goo Goo Dolls (big on R&R's alt/metal/rock charts in '99 - Magic didn't touch it back then)
Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin (see above minus the metal chart - Magic was afraid of alienating mainstream adults then, of which half became elderly since)
In Too Deep - Genesis (BCN and AAF were heavy on this until Magic and Wish played this weeks later - even F-105 joined BCN and AAF on the bench)
Fallin' - Alicia Keys (finally a non-rock song)
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz (technically an AOR song, as Triple-A falls under the AOR umbrella)

(commercials)

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac (as big an AOR song as anything by VH, Zep, Aero and AC/DC)
Kiss From A Rose - Seal (reached all 4 of R&R's AOR charts in '95 - too hot for Magic to touch until the '00s)

Look that up on your Mediabase, wise guy!

I still don't see Dream On and When I Come Around.....

As has been explained to you before, you keep trying to categorize songs absolutely, when the categories are always fluid. Every year there are a new slew of 25 year olds....and every year the 56 year olds drop out of the demo.

People don't listen to the radio categorizing each song....ummm...oh I like this it's ablack, oh I like this one it was on an AOR chart when I was in HS....oh and this one is Triple A.

People only make 3 decisions when a song begins...I Love It (Turn it up), I hate it (change the station), or I could take it or leave it(Let it play). They don't sit there and look up which chart it appeared.

The 30 year olds who liked Kenny, Neil and Barbra when magic signed on 28 years ago are now 58.

The people who replaced them in the demo have a different expectations, and a different concept of what "Soft Rock" is.

 

[MassMusicMan]

it's only a matter of time before AC/DC and Van Halen are passed off as soft rock, if indeed that isn't happening already.

It's never going to happen. Brian Johnson's screaming is enjoyable, but by no means contemporary.

Heard this morning from 8:55 to 9:30 (when the doctor FINALLY called me in):

Slide - Goo Goo Dolls (big on R&R's alt/metal/rock charts in '99 - Magic didn't touch it back then)

Yes, and now they do. That's the point of AC...songs evolve into the format. It doesn't break that many artists on its own. Only exceptions I can think of are Michael Buble, Jim Brickman, et. al.

Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin (see above minus the metal chart - Magic was afraid of alienating mainstream adults then, of which half became elderly since)

Are you drunk? Shawn Colvin was never on any rock-based chart. In fact, "Sunny Came Home" fared prominently on AC radio when it was a CHR current.

In Too Deep - Genesis (BCN and AAF were heavy on this until Magic and Wish played this weeks later - even F-105 joined BCN and AAF on the bench)

Yes, in 1987, Genesis was heard on rock radio. In 2009, 22 years later, that record (which was also a POP hit) is accepted as a non-offensive contemporary staple.

Fallin' - Alicia Keys (finally a non-rock song)

A lot of songs that Magic plays aren't.

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz (technically an AOR song, as Triple-A falls under the AOR umbrella)

It does. It also falls under the adult contemporary umbrella. A guy with an acoustic guitar? That's about as soft as it gets.

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac (as big an AOR song as anything by VH, Zep, Aero and AC/DC)

Oh yeah, I love the part of the song where Stevie Nicks screams at the top of her lungs while Lindsey Buckingham breaks out that bitchin' guitar solo.

Kiss From A Rose - Seal (reached all 4 of R&R's AOR charts in '95 - too hot for Magic to touch until the '00s)

Look that up on your Mediabase, wise guy!

I did. They played it as a current in 1995. You lose...again.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

See the "Oldies/WODS" thread for more in-depth discussion about
formats and demographics...