Is the format name the problem to the listening audience?

[geolee]

There are many excellent tunes from all eras.

Stations need to venture further forward in time than 1975. Not all tunes from 1975 to 1979 were DISCO. Format goes as far as last week's No. 1 hit, which is number 6 this week....

Old Dance tunes are sometimes called called "OLD SCHOOL"; what was "house"?

The title "OLDIES", recalls images of an abandoned downtown... Detroit 1967.

It would be great if the marketing guys came up with an alternate title for the format to use. One station refused to call itself 'oldies' and branded themselves as: Hits of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Then they went all sports - which failed - now they are 'oldies'.

PDs, please enlarge to play list too.

 

[OldiesCat]

name a problem?

I've spend a great part of my life in the Detroit area and don't know what you are talking about.

"Oldies" is a brand name, developed out of the mid '80s and taken from baby boomers- it's how they described their music. It basically stands for Top 40 hits from the late '50s into the mid '70s. The "problem" is not with any reference to being old from the word "Oldies" (that's a radio myth- "when I hear the word 'Oldies' it makes me feel old". It's B.S.- radio listeners don't say that).

Part of the challenge may be that the "Oldies" brand name was so well established over the years that it many mean something different to younger listeners (early/mid 40-somethings) the format is trying to attract. It's really a market-to-market call and depends on the heritage level and strength of your local Oldies station.

>
> The title "OLDIES", recalls images of an abandoned
> downtown... Detroit 1967.
>
> It would be great if the marketing guys came up with an
> alternate title for the format to use. One station refused
> to call itself 'oldies' and branded themselves as: Hits of
> Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Then they went all sports -
> which failed - now they are 'oldies'.
>
> PDs, please enlarge to play list too.
>

 

[TheFonz]

> There are many excellent tunes from all eras.
>
> [Stations need to venture further forward in time than 1975.
> Not all tunes from 1975 to 1979 were DISCO. Format goes as
> far as last week's No. 1 hit, which is number 6 this
> week....
>
> Old Dance tunes are sometimes called called "OLD SCHOOL";
> what was "house"?
>
> The title "OLDIES", recalls images of an abandoned
> downtown... Detroit 1967.
>
> It would be great if the marketing guys came up with an
> alternate title for the format to use. One station refused
> to call itself 'oldies' and branded themselves as: Hits of
> Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Then they went all sports -
> which failed - now they are 'oldies'.
>
> PDs, please enlarge to play list too.]


No marketing genius needed here. Just take a lesson from satellite radio and break the Oldies format down into "Decades". And yes, DO enlarge the playlists.

 

[Oldbones]

> No marketing genius needed here. Just take a lesson from
> satellite radio and break the Oldies format down into
> "Decades". And yes, DO enlarge the playlists.
>

Oh yeah, all 70s/all 80s stations were a major success story.

 

[TheFonz]

> > No marketing genius needed here. Just take a lesson from
> > satellite radio and break the Oldies format down into
> > "Decades". And yes, DO enlarge the playlists.
> >
>
> Oh yeah, all 70s/all 80s stations were a major success
> story.


******************************************************************


Not every station in every market can be a "major success story". With a dwendling audience, some stations may have to learn that a smaller piece of the pie is better than none at all.

 

[OldiesCat]

audience size

Great observation. It's not how big your slice is but what you do with it.

I'm reminded of the NFL in this situation. The New England Patriots are the Super Bowl champs, #1 and top of the heap. But there are a lot of other successful,
dynamic, profitable teams in the NFL. They'd love to win the Super Bowl but the fact they haven't doesn't mean they are not successful as a team and organization.


> Not every station in every market can be a "major success
> story". With a dwendling audience, some stations may have
> to learn that a smaller piece of the pie is better than none
> at all.
>

 

[HughMorris]

Re: name a problem?

> I've spend a great part of my life in the Detroit area and
> don't know what you are talking about.
>
>
> >
> > The title "OLDIES", recalls images of an abandoned
> > downtown... Detroit 1967.
> >

The remark could refer to the images that were, and still common on TV, (Remember the opening sequence from Beverley Hills Cop?) about the downtown residential areas of Detroit; then, things were pretty bad for a while - how are they now? It has been ten years since I was last there. The remark brings to mind sad images from an unfortunate time in the life of a great city.

 

[OldiesCat]

name a problem

but do you really think somebody in Omaha, Seattle or Dallas thinks that?
If that were the case, the brand name "Oldies" would never have been so successful for the better part of 20 years.

> > >
> > > The title "OLDIES", recalls images of an abandoned
> > > downtown... Detroit 1967.
> > >
>
> The remark could refer to the images that were, and still
> common on TV, (Remember the opening sequence from Beverley
> Hills Cop?) about the downtown residential areas of Detroit;
> then, things were pretty bad for a while - how are they now?
> It has been ten years since I was last there. The remark
> brings to mind sad images from an unfortunate time in the
> life of a great city.
>

 

[BDBopper]

"Oldies" is a demographic nightmare. I am 22 and I recognize the format's connotations are not pretty. I see old people in rocking chairs. They are eating prunes and suffering from kidney stones. I see pieces to a puzzle laying around all over a table. Success can be found if those pieces can be put together. Keep in mind that I am an outsider.

1. LOCAL ADVERTISING!!! WLNG plays the format and makes buckoo bucks because all the advertising is local. The businesses don't care about the music because they have been advertising for decades on LNG and the results are still positive. Joe Donaven in Louisville kept his show on life support several years after WHAS was bought by Clear Channel because he did all the work for advertising. The only thing that killed his show is the old building had to come down and

2. When I was growing up there was an emphasis on the fact that "Fox 97" (the local Oldies station) was the only radio station on the dial safe for the entire family to listen to. The morning show was clean and the station was everywhere when it came to remotes at family events. During that time as a kid there was not a party or get-together in which Fox 97 was not blasting. Widen the audience by plugging the family-friendly music and fun.

3. The connections are out there. Music has and is still being influenced by what came before. Unfortunately no one has ever tried (on a big national scale) to make the connection. There are several (read hundreds) songs from the '70s- to today that cover songs, from the 50's& 60' as well as originals that sound like they were recorded from there. I am not talking about flashes in the pan. I am talking about big hits by big artists: CCR, Ringo Star, Dave Edmunds, Billy Joel, Ronnie Milsap, Boyz II Men, Little Feat, Charlie Daniels, Brian Setzer, Commodores, Dells, Originals, Lou Bega, Aaron Carter, Cherry Poppin Daddies, Dwight Yokam, Randy Travis, I could go on and on. I feel it is time to take those songs and play them as well as the "Golden Oldies" so that the younger listeners will recognize hey "This music isn't old" I just haven't thought of a name for it.


<P ID="signature">______________
In Harmony
From the Bop Shop,
Brian "BD Bopper"</P>

 

[radiolover78]

> > > No marketing genius needed here. Just take a lesson
> from
> > > satellite radio and break the Oldies format down into
> > > "Decades". And yes, DO enlarge the playlists.
> > >
> >
> > Oh yeah, all 70s/all 80s stations were a major success
> > story.
>
>
******> ************************************************************
>
>
>
> Not every station in every market can be a "major success
> story". With a dwendling audience, some stations may have
> to learn that a smaller piece of the pie is better than none
> at all.

It depends on the market.
<P ID="signature">______________
Kevin</P>

 

[OldiesCat]

format name

You hear "Oldies" and think of old people in rocking chairs? People in their 40s and 50s in rocking chairs?

Your subsequent points reinforce my thoughts on your opening paragraph: the youth of America should really stop doing so much ecstacy.

We are indeed fortunate you ARE an outsider- please stay out. thanks.


> "Oldies" is a demographic nightmare. I am 22 and I
> recognize the format's connotations are not pretty. I see
> old people in rocking chairs. They are eating prunes and
> suffering from kidney stones. I see pieces to a puzzle
> laying around all over a table. Success can be found if
> those pieces can be put together. Keep in mind that I am an
> outsider.
>
> 1. LOCAL ADVERTISING!!! WLNG plays the format and makes
> buckoo bucks because all the advertising is local. The
> businesses don't care about the music because they have been
> advertising for decades on LNG and the results are still
> positive. Joe Donaven in Louisville kept his show on life
> support several years after WHAS was bought by Clear Channel
> because he did all the work for advertising. The only thing
> that killed his show is the old building had to come down
> and
>
> 2. When I was growing up there was an emphasis on the fact
> that "Fox 97" (the local Oldies station) was the only radio
> station on the dial safe for the entire family to listen to.
> The morning show was clean and the station was everywhere
> when it came to remotes at family events. During that time
> as a kid there was not a party or get-together in which Fox
> 97 was not blasting. Widen the audience by plugging the
> family-friendly music and fun.
>
> 3. The connections are out there. Music has and is still
> being influenced by what came before. Unfortunately no one
> has ever tried (on a big national scale) to make the
> connection. There are several (read hundreds) songs from
> the '70s- to today that cover songs, from the 50's& 60' as
> well as originals that sound like they were recorded from
> there. I am not talking about flashes in the pan. I am
> talking about big hits by big artists: CCR, Ringo Star,
> Dave Edmunds, Billy Joel, Ronnie Milsap, Boyz II Men, Little
> Feat, Charlie Daniels, Brian Setzer, Commodores, Dells,
> Originals, Lou Bega, Aaron Carter, Cherry Poppin Daddies,
> Dwight Yokam, Randy Travis, I could go on and on. I feel it
> is time to take those songs and play them as well as the
> "Golden Oldies" so that the younger listeners will
> recognize hey "This music isn't old" I just haven't thought
> of a name for it.
>

 

[Oldbones]

> "Oldies" is a demographic nightmare. I am 22 and I
> recognize the format's connotations are not pretty. I see
> old people in rocking chairs. They are eating prunes and
> suffering from kidney stones. I see pieces to a puzzle
> laying around all over a table. Success can be found if
> those pieces can be put together. Keep in mind that I am an
> outsider.

You're perhaps confusing oldies with Music Of Your Life? Even then, that is a ridiculous stereotype....no more accurate than one that paints your generation as nothing but a bunch of slackers who work at McDonalds, still live at home with their parents and drive dorky looking riced out Corrolas.



>
> 1. LOCAL ADVERTISING!!! WLNG plays the format and makes
> buckoo bucks because all the advertising is local. The
> businesses don't care about the music because they have been
> advertising for decades on LNG and the results are still
> positive.


WLNG makes money because (1) it's had the same ownership for years and is paid for and (2) said ownership whores it out with 30 minutes of commercials an hour.

> 3. The connections are out there. Music has and is still
> being influenced by what came before. Unfortunately no one
> has ever tried (on a big national scale) to make the
> connection. There are several (read hundreds) songs from
> the '70s- to today that cover songs, from the 50's& 60' as
> well as originals that sound like they were recorded from
> there. I am not talking about flashes in the pan. I am
> talking about big hits by big artists: CCR, Ringo Star,
> Dave Edmunds, Billy Joel, Ronnie Milsap, Boyz II Men, Little
> Feat, Charlie Daniels, Brian Setzer, Commodores, Dells,
> Originals, Lou Bega, Aaron Carter, Cherry Poppin Daddies,
> Dwight Yokam, Randy Travis, I could go on and on. I feel it
> is time to take those songs and play them as well as the
> "Golden Oldies" so that the younger listeners will
> recognize hey "This music isn't old" I just haven't thought
> of a name for it.

Try "a flop". You might, get away with a format like that out in Podunk where you're the only station around, but not where there's ANY competition. A 1000W daytimer brokered ethnic station would cream you in the ratings. No one is going to listen to a schizophrenic station like that.

 

[tibbs]

Re: format name

> You hear "Oldies" and think of old people in rocking chairs?
> People in their 40s and 50s in rocking chairs?
>
> Your subsequent points reinforce my thoughts on your opening
> paragraph: the youth of America should really stop doing so
> much ecstacy.
>
> We are indeed fortunate you ARE an outsider- please stay
> out. thanks.

OldiesCat:

Don't you think you're NOT being tough enough on the Beaver?
Why's this 22-year-old wasting his time even listening to our
old peoplez (40+) "has been" media? Do they play oldies stations
at McDonalds? And who/what the hells Cherry Popping whatevers?

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by tibbs on 07/07/05 01:33 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[radiolover78]

Re: format name

> > You hear "Oldies" and think of old people in rocking
> chairs?
> > People in their 40s and 50s in rocking chairs?
> >
> > Your subsequent points reinforce my thoughts on your
> opening
> > paragraph: the youth of America should really stop doing
> so
> > much ecstacy.
> >
> > We are indeed fortunate you ARE an outsider- please stay
> > out. thanks.
>
> OldiesCat:
>
> Don't you think you're NOT being tough enough on the Beaver?
>
> Why's this 22-year-old wasting his time even listening to
> our
> old peoplez (40+) "has been" media? Do they play oldies
> stations
> at McDonalds? And who/what the hells Cherry Popping
> whatevers?
>

They play oldies at Wendys.

Whoever said the thing about old people in rocking chairs is really incorrect. Your saying by 56 year old aunt sits in a rocking chair knitting sweaters for her grandchildren? A) She doesn't have grandchildren B) She goes to work 5 days a week 8 hours a day C) She listen to the radio. I know, odd post, but true.<P ID="signature">______________
Kevin</P>

 

[OldiesCat]

rockin chairs, false teeth, nursing homes

And 56 is currently the upper end for most Oldies stations! <LMAO>

(The kid's obviously a fruit. But if I rip him I'm an insensitive know-it-all; give him a bit of a pass, mostly for just being a walking idiot, and I'm not hard enough on him. Sheesh.)

>
> Whoever said the thing about old people in rocking chairs is
> really incorrect. Your saying by 56 year old aunt sits in a
> rocking chair knitting sweaters for her grandchildren? A)
> She doesn't have grandchildren B) She goes to work 5 days a
> week 8 hours a day C) She listen to the radio. I know, odd
> post, but true.
>

 

[Oldbones]

Re: format name

> Whoever said the thing about old people in rocking chairs is
> really incorrect. Your saying by 56 year old aunt sits in a
> rocking chair knitting sweaters for her grandchildren? A)
> She doesn't have grandchildren B) She goes to work 5 days a
> week 8 hours a day C) She listen to the radio.


She probably also has more of a life than many 22 year olds.

 

[gr8oldies]

Re: rockin chairs, false teeth, nursing homes

For the person who asked, yes,they play oldies at McDonald's. Also at Burger King and Wendy's (one local Wendys plays XM's 60s channel). <P ID="signature">______________
I'll get back to you when I think of a cute quote</P>

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

Re: format name

> They play oldies at Wendys.

Yes, but it's oldies by 101 Strings. I didn't even know they were still around!

 

[OldiesCat]

Oldies are everywhere

it's funny- we all (here) seem to get the universal popularity of Oldies music
(the aforementioned places plus placement in commercials, TV, movies). Then why don't the CEOs get it? That alone says something about the state of radio today.
We love our business and are still insantely passionate about it but the pressures and influences are more and more blinding the ultimate decision makers. You'll never hear me do the "suits suck" whine but c'mon, people- GET A CLUE.

)-

> For the person who asked, yes,they play oldies at
> McDonald's. Also at Burger King and Wendy's (one local
> Wendys plays XM's 60s channel).
>

 

[radiolover78]

Re: rockin chairs, false teeth, nursing homes

> And 56 is currently the upper end for most Oldies stations!
>
>
> (The kid's obviously a fruit. But if I rip him I'm an
> insensitive know-it-all; give him a bit of a pass, mostly
> for just being a walking idiot, and I'm not hard enough on
> him. Sheesh.)

Umm, are referring to me or someone else?



> > Whoever said the thing about old people in rocking chairs
> is
> > really incorrect. Your saying by 56 year old aunt sits in
> a
> > rocking chair knitting sweaters for her grandchildren? A)
> > She doesn't have grandchildren B) She goes to work 5 days
> a
> > week 8 hours a day C) She listen to the radio. I know, odd
>
> > post, but true.
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Kevin</P>