Re: Please Forgive Us Ageing Radio Romantics For Enjoying A Kiss—Albeit A Bit Sloppy
> > Same old washed-up DJs saying the same old lame
> > catch-phrases playing the same old burned-out songs.
> > Especially those sappy clunkers from the early 60's
> > (pre-Beatles). YAWN!
>
> ‘Rocker…If that preference is “personal”--you’re certainly
> entitled to it, but don’t disguise it as “professional”
> because you may have never owned a 45rpm “Stack-O-Matic”.
> While we’re critiquing re-treaded formats, consider that
> nearly all of commercial music-radio (that aspires to an
> audience beyond the onset of puberty) utilizes--and even
> depends on material that Billboard no longer reports sales
> on. In fact, the first song I heard on the fabled WOXY back
> in the mid 90s was Roxy Music’s “Love Is the Drug”…FROM
> 1976!
>
> Several decades ago when I was in my 20s, I didn't
> characterize the Dean Martin and Doris Day that routinely
> played on my parents’ choice station as “worn-out sappy
> clunkers”. That was wise, because over time these songs
> have proven to be FAR LESS disposable than most of the tunes
> that modulate large market pop stations in this era.
> Recently, I was paying for several CDs (including a Ray
> Charles box set, Wilson Pickett Best Of, and a “Beach Music”
> and old R&B anthology) at a music store on Hilton Head
> Island. The early 20ish “new rocker” attendant exclaimed;
> “Great choices man”, then shocked me with the question—“Have
> you ever heard of a song called “Monkey Time” by Major
> Lance?” I’m sure that “clunker” is destined for rotation on
> ‘DJO soon!
>
> >A lot of posters on these boards clamor for new, innovative
>
> > programming.
>
> Oh Rocker…PLEASE tell me you’re not talking about “Jack”,
> his sister “Alice”, cousin “Max”, or African-American
> neighbor “JO”! I prefer to reserve that depiction for only
> the most substantial of examples; like the goings-on at WEBN
> in the late 60s when “son” took his weekly allowance out in
> additional hours for underground and album rock at the
> expense of “dad’s” classical music proclivity; the 1972
> Q-102 Top-40 invention on the FM band (DAMN--I still can’t
> get Chris Bailey out of my head); and Randy Michaels’
> clean-up of the Mariner mess in the early 80s on “The Big
> One”. Those are three good examples of “innovation” in your
> local…But check your Webster (i.e. “to renew using
> non-current methods”), and behold that the “renewed” WDJO
> may well be your fourth!
>
> 1160 could indeed be the classic “science fair project”…But
> the mad scientists seem to be great at mixing chemicals, and
> it appears that many are watching for smoke to rise from
> their laboratory.
>
You've got the "personal" and "professional" viewpoints mixed up. My posts have been based on professional analysis of the trend away from music on AM, which has been going on since the 70s, and accelerated in the 80s. I also cite the difficulty that upper-demo formats (like 50s-60s oldies) have in attracting advertisers, as well as the special challenges that stand-alone stations have in this day of consolidation.
Also, studies have been done that show that oldies listeners prefer the music delivered in a style along the lines of AC or Hot A/C. The majority of them have outgrown the "Hey Gang, Chime Time, Sookie Sookie" delivery of the past. As for WDJO, throw in the fact that none of the principals have ever owned a radio station before. They come from sales and programming. That doesn't mean they can't run a station successfully, but the odds are not tilted in their favor. I also imagine that their resources ($$$) are limited, at least when compared to most of the other owners in town.
I don't make this stuff up. I use those facts to support my opinion. Maybe I will be proven wrong. I don't think I will be.
On the other hand, virtually all of the pro-WDJO posts say things like, "I think it's great", "I love this music", "I miss the oldies", "Dusty rocks", "This brings back memories of driving around in my dad's big gas-guzzler", etc. Those are definitely personal views. My guess is that some of those posters have never set foot in a radio station.
In fact, the owners of the station seem to be basing their investment heavily on their "personal" love for oldies, and not any meaningful research into it's feasibility on 1160.
Please don't try to put words in my mouth. I never said MAX was innovative. I never said any current station in Cincy is innovative. I just pointed out that a lot of posters want innovative programming.
As far as my credibility with oldies: I am 50 years old and grew up with the Beatles, Beach Boys, Motown, British Invasion, etc. I bought many 45s when I was in my teens, and while it wouldn't be characterized as "extensive", my collection has plenty of "gems".
I said it before and I will say it one more time: Oldies on FM is viable when done correctly (like dropping some of the non-rock 50s and early 60s and adding some non-disco 70s); Oldies on AM is not substantially profitable anymore.
Just because some kid in Hilton Head thinks that Major Lance is still relevant doesn't mean it's true. And by the way, how many truly successful commercial radio stations outside of Florida still play Dean Martin and Doris Day? Not many! That music is timeless, but does not play well on the radio these days.
