How to promote easy listening radio

[vchimpanzee]

I came up with this idea years ago.

Does anyone remember a cartoon about a bear who hired a dog to keep everything quiet while he slept? He yelled every word he spoke, including the words, "I hate noise!" The part of the cartoon where he said that would be used in commercials for easy listening stations, should anyone want to be so bold.

This was one of the animated shorts I used to see on Sunday mornings on CBS along with Tom and Jerry, Droopy, and Barney Bear. I haven't found any information about this cartoon online.

 

[amlover]

Was it a Barney Bear toon? I have a book that list's all the MGM shorts and cartoons. I use to program all the cartoons on TBS and Turner owned all the MGM cartoons.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Was it a Barney Bear toon? I have a book that list's all the MGM shorts and cartoons. I use to program all the cartoons on TBS and Turner owned all the MGM cartoons.

No, he wasn't Barney Bear. Barney Bear was nice. This bear was very, very mean.

 

[BlueHen]

Does anyone remember a cartoon about a bear who hired a dog to keep everything quiet while he slept? He yelled every word he spoke, including the words, "I hate noise!" The part of the cartoon where he said that would be used in commercials for easy listening stations, should anyone want to be so bold.

As apropos as that might be, I prefer a more subtle approach. I never cared for the boastful “America’s Best Music” liner used by Westwood One/Dial Global. Every time I heard it, I would think of someone I used to work with, whose idea of America’s best music was Pearl Jam.

Instead, I like what Jonathan P. Casey uses for his afternoon show on WSNJ: “Good Music for Good People.”
http://www.wsnjam.com/afternoon.htm

Sometimes promotions tell you too much, or I should say, everything you need to know. A year ago or so we had TV commercials for an AC station in our area. (B101 – it’s far from being easy listening, but I get a kick out of stations that claim to be your “listen to at work station”). It starts out with an overhead view of an animated office full of cubicles. Then you get a closer view of the people at their desks – bored and miserable from their mundane jobs. Then someone turns on B101 and perks up. The people in the surrounding cubicles begin to liven up when they hear a sampling of the songs they play. The commercial ends with everyone in the office listening to B101 and dancing in their cubicles. Yeah… I’m sure office managers everywhere appreciated that.

 

[KenClark]

>>As apropos as that might be, I prefer a more subtle approach. I never cared for the boastful “America’s Best Music” liner used by Westwood One/Dial Global. Every time I heard it, I would think of someone I used to work with, whose idea of America’s best music was Pearl Jam.

Hi, Blue!

I'm not sure how "America's Best Music" is boastful on Dial-Global's part. It IS the best music, isn't it?? Isn't that why we're here talking? It's the music that makes the station, not the other way around...so I'm not sure I see how it's boastful. The point about Pearl Jam is well taken, but is that the person who would complain about D-G's usage of the term?

"Good Music For Good People" makes me cringe a bit...because the implication is that if you don't listen to Standards, you must be a bad person! Plus, I'm sure there are Sinatra fans who have cheated on their taxes, too.

I'm from the Nick Michaels school of imaging, so it would seem to me that the most effective way to get the point across would be to discard all references to "your" this and "your" that (presumptuous), and make it relatable to the listener (not "people").

Maybe Standards doesn't easily boil down to a simple catch-all positioning phrase, but a place to begin with imaging might be along the lines of, "Through the good times and the bad...you could always count on the music. You still can! WXXX."

I think there are plenty of ways to bring across how special the music is, without relying on over-used "industry" terms that really mean nothing to the listener.

Thoughts?

Regards,
Ken Clark

 

[BlueHen]

Ken:
I see your point about Good Songs for Good People. Reminds me of a priest we used to have who had the attitude that everyone was on the wrong path unless they were a priest or a nun.

But let me clarify my feeling about America’s Best Music. I don’t care for it because you’re opening yourself up for a discussion not worth having. If that coworker of mine walked in my office and heard that, he’d have a field day with me. “Where do they come off saying that?” etc, etc. A lot of people think the music I like is boring. Then, of course, I’d have to say something like “at least it’s music.” I’ve had these discussions, especially concerning rap and hip-hop.

Have you seen some of the discussions on this board about rock stations? I sure couldn’t tell you what the difference is between modern rock and active rock, but some people are awfully passionate about what constitutes the best rock station in the city. For me, reading a comment about one station being no good because they played a Hoobastank song sounds as ridiculous as a discussion on here about whether or not Air Supply belongs on a standards station.

So the point I was trying to make (and I guess I didn’t) was that hearing America’s Best Music simply reminds me of that coworker and these meaningless discussions. I don’t need to be told I’m listening to America’s Best Music. I already know I am. Save that for all those other “music” stations to hash out.

 

[sharklover]

Beautiful Music has been off of the Fm dial far too long.It needs to come back and with limited commercials like in the 70s.I'm glad Escape on Xm hasn't forgotten about this format.

 

[Otto Maddock]

"Good Music For Good People" makes me cringe a bit...because the implication is that if you don't listen to Standards, you must be a bad person! Plus, I'm sure there are Sinatra fans who have cheated on their taxes, too.

It's interesting going back and reading some of these old threads. First, my apologies for resurrecting this one, but I noticed there are others on here which seem to go on and on and on, so it must be OK.

On the subject of that "Good music for good people" slogan, here's one I heard which had me scratching my head...
"Real music for real people." ???

 

[The Atrium]

Beautiful Music has been off of the Fm dial far too long.It needs to come back and with limited commercials like in the 70s.I'm glad Escape on Xm hasn't forgotten about this format.

You can listen to WGCY out of Gibson City, Illinois online. They are a real throwback to the Beautiful Music era.

 

[Paige Turner]

You can listen to WGCY out of Gibson City, Illinois online. They are a real throwback to the Beautiful Music era.

Yes, there are still a few out there. WGCY is certainly one. Also KHOY in Laredo TX (after 10 AM Central), KAHM in Prescott AZ, and Jones College Radio in Jacksonville FL.

With the exception of Jones College (WKTZ), it's interesting that the vocals interspersed here and there tend to be the soft AC hits of the last 30 years rather than the true standards and MOR artists of the '40s, '50s, & '60s. For example, I've heard Roger Daltry's "Without Your Love" and Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Wasted On The Way" fairly regularly on WGCY, and it's a nice blend. On the other hand, you're more likely to hear Perry Como, Rosemary Clooney, and Broadway showtunes on Jones College Radio.