I dont get it with ogl

[RunWithScissors]

Dining at the new Arbys yesterday in Audobon, I had to sit through Big Ron on OGL blasting through the sound system. I would like to know what makes this station so popular, ratings wise. Overload of Commercials, Corny bits, segways and lenghty chatter and the same tired tunes. Is it because the same people are afraid to grow old and can hear the same songs over and over and over again. How many times can you stomach Sugar Pie Honey Bunch. That is why PEN, when Standards was so refreshing, and still would of rated well today, why would GM pull the plug due to audiance age, OGL's audiance is the same as PEN's was, so why not do something else with the signal. The Smooth Jazz format was gobbled up fast why not Active or Alternative that was voided by YSP and PLY.

 

[Jul]

Dining at the new Arbys yesterday in Audobon, I had to sit through Big Ron on OGL blasting through the sound system. I would like to know what makes this station so popular, ratings wise. Overload of Commercials, Corny bits, segways and lenghty chatter and the same tired tunes. Is it because the same people are afraid to grow old and can hear the same songs over and over and over again. How many times can you stomach Sugar Pie Honey Bunch. That is why PEN, when Standards was so refreshing, and still would of rated well today, why would GM pull the plug due to audiance age, OGL's audiance is the same as PEN's was, so why not do something else with the signal. The Smooth Jazz format was gobbled up fast why not Active or Alternative that was voided by YSP and PLY.

I agree with you.

 

[radiolover78]

The audience wants to hear the big hits and WOGL is doin' a fine job with that!

Obviously they are doing something right since they're doing well in the ratings.

It's what the regular listeners think, not you.

 

[eyg2181]

i think 98.1 is a great oldies station

 

[8638]

Randy: even though I love oldies, I've never understood their success either. One of the tightest playlists I've ever heard in oldies radio, WAY too much 70's Philly Soul in the rotation, no really deep 'oh wow' cuts (the Lost 45 is a joke; I've found most of the ones they play!).

Yet, they are consistently in the top 5 ratings wise, so, a lot of people must like what they're doing. And, I admit that I do listen to them (not much else on terrestrial radio in Philly that I like). I don't agree that they are the 'best oldies station ever,' either; to me, that title is shared by the old WCBS-FM (circa 75-90), KRTH-FM Los Angeles (K-EARTH 101, circa mid 80's-late 90's), WQSR Baltimore (prior to its being hiJACKed), and, my all time favorite oldies outlet, the late WXTR LaPlata-Waldorf-Washington, DC (XTRA 104)...all well programmed in their day, and not boring to listen to.

 

[yocco]

PLay the hits. That's what OGL does.....more 70s as the age group who grew up on the 70s moves into the demo they're trying to attract. It's pretty easy to figure out. Oldies stations that remain primarily 60s based are the ones that are getting "too old." And OGL has a unique Philly sound to it with the Philly Soul. This station has been smart to evolve..and it shows in the ratings. And like it or not.....THAT"S ALL THAT MATTERS as long as the ad dollars continue to follow.

 

[radiolover78]

Great points Yocco.

Despite how bland some of you find the playlist, the Philly soul music adds a slight uniqueness to the station.

 

[snowgarden]

Re: I don't get it with ogl

I am 48 and got my 40 year old sister to listen to WOGL. Our father grew up in the 50's and was still in his 20's in the early 60's so that's the kind of music he listened to and I still love it. Even though I was in high school in the 70's, I don't really like the music from that time for the most part and miss the 50's hits which I get from 92.1 (although statically) to satisfy that craving.

 

[crmc]

It's really quite simple. Research the wants of the people who listen to the station. They are the ones that matter.Not the radiophiles or critics.Ask the listeners, then deliver upon their wishes. Be local,live, topical and upbeat. The ratings and revenue will follow.It's the free market system at work before your eyes.The station is enjoying success because it reflects the wants of it's target audience and the advertisers that want to reach them.Check it out online at www.wogl.com. Perhaps you'll enjoy it , too!!

 

[8638]

OK, so you want to attract the demo that likes the Seventies tunes. Why in the hell do you have to play only twenty of them???? And every other one is TSOP/Motown. There were other songs in the Seventies; most of 'em sucked, but some were good.

My problem is I remember when radio was interesting and fun to listen to. Regrettably, those days are gone.

 

[wprt949]

get an ipod or siirus or xm

 

[radiolover78]

OK, so you want to attract the demo that likes the Seventies tunes. Why in the hell do you have to play only twenty of them???? And every other one is TSOP/Motown. There were other songs in the Seventies; most of 'em sucked, but some were good.

My problem is I remember when radio was interesting and fun to listen to. Regrettably, those days are gone.

I think it's safe to say they more than twenty 70s tunes. But, I get your point.

No offense, but your opinion (or mine) doesn't matter. If the listeners enjoy the station, then the owners and programmers are doing something right.

 

[radioskeptic]

Let's be realistic about this. WOGL's impressive Arbitron figures are the result of one thing, and one thing only: lack of competition. At least they don't use the word "Oldies" in promoting the station. (If they did, it would be false advertising.)

Motown, TSOP, and a few things that really belong on a Soft AC station?

The station is boring, as is most commercial radio these days. If it weren't for Harvey Holiday's "Street Corner Sunday," I'd never tune beyond 92 on the FM dial!

 

[yocco]

As it has been stated...as long as the ratings are good and the revenue follows, all will remain well at OGL. I can't imagine another gold based station is going to come on in Philly. I'd check out XM or Sirius for a steady dose of 50s music.

 

[mcmannors]

And OGL has a unique Philly sound to it with the Philly Soul.

I can deal with the "Philly Soul", but what's with the excessive Motown? CKLW didn't even play that much Motown! And it's usually the "burnt to a crisp" titles, nothing interesting. I would say that even "regular people" (non radio junkies) should be sick to death of those songs as well.

 

[RunWithScissors]

Since OGL's birth (and that goes with every other so called oldies format) tried in this town, the emphasis was on Philly Soul, Motown and R&B, you would hear Breaking Down The Walls of Heartache by Bandwagon like it was a top 10 hit, in reality it zoomed to 115 for one week, another over played Philly gem was Chuck Wood, Seven Days too Long which made 119 for 3 weeks, I used to think these were top 10 songs. Number one hits, such as I'm Telling You Now by Freddie and the Dreamers were completly ignored, go figure. The last time Philly had a true Mass Appeal oldies station was WCAU-FM, Solid Gold Radio, under the true master of music, the un-bias Jim Nettleton, who would program, Have I the Right by the Honeycombs into Triangle done by Janie Grant to High on a Hill from Scott English topped off by Coney Island Baby Excellents.

 

[WTUX]

WCAU-FM went with oldies around 1970-1971. R&R was born around 1955 (everybody argues the starting year), but basically, the oldest music played was 15 years old! Get a grip! The 70's were 30 years ago! You can't keep playing "In the Still of the Night" forever. The people who were teenagers in 1955 are now in their mid to late 60's. You have to move ahead. Most people I know consider WMGK to be Philly's "oldies" station. WOGL is ancient history to them (and they are in their late 40's).

 

[yocco]

That is a good point concerning WMGK. Brings up a point that in many markets, the station that was the oldies station is now Classic Hits to better reflect the "oldies" of the generation in their 40s. Still, WOGL has moved ahead that they're even playing some pop hits from the 80s in their mix. Makes one wonder that if WMGK didn't exist, would WOGL have changed format by now to Classic Hits.

 

[radioskeptic]

WTUX wrote, “WCAU-FM went with oldies around 1970-1971. R&R was born around 1955 (everybody argues the starting year), but basically, the oldest music played was 15 years old!”

Wrong, WTUX: I remember hearing lots of pre-1955 cuts on Solid Gold WCAU-FM back in the mid-1970’s . Fats Domino’s “The Fat Man” (1949) and “Hey La Bas” (1950), as well as some later pre-“Ain’t That a Shame” Fats; the Dominoes’ “Sixty Minute Man” (1951); “Gee” by the Crows (1954); and “Sh-Boom” by the Chords (also 1954), to name just a few. And on the non-R&B side, some Essex (that is, pre-Decca, pre-“Rock Around the Clock”) cuts by Bill Haley and the Comets, among others.

Records like those were mixed in with the more commonplace oldies of the later Fifties, the Sixties and the early Seventies – and some more obscure sides from those years – along with selected currents, and this broad repertoire worked.

RunWithScissors and I may have our political differences, but on this topic we’re on the same page. (He remembers something as obscure as Janie Grant’s “Triangle”? I’m impressed!)

 

[RunWithScissors]

I can remember it like yesterday, a Sunday afternoon I think 1974, the Joe Niagara show on WCAU-FM, (he was on tape that day), 15 minutes before his show was over and the Geet was about to air. I heard, I Can't Stop by the Honeycombs, not their big hit, Have I the Right but their second single, followed by High on a Hill-Scott English, Triangle-Janie Grant, Ballad of a Teenage Queen-Johnny Cash and Don't Bet Money Honey-Linda Scott. I fell off the chair, this is what I call a fantastic Oldies station, you never knew what was coming on next....I have the tape to prove it and its the truth, I wish Diamond Jim would comment on this, how did he do it......