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Jax "PPM SAGA"

John FL

John FL

Part 1

I’m sure many of you in the Jax market read the extensive story in Sunday’s T.U. regarding PPM and possible effects on our market. After reading parts of it a few times, I thought of using the pages in my cat’s litter box. But in the end, it’s a keeper and worthy of comment.

I got to thinking about the thousands of people who would have read the article. I’m not sure if it would have relevance to the average Joe but I would think for the FM music fans who think the world is only what they listen to may have been surprised seeing WOKV as king of the hill. I think many would mainly only be interested as to where their favorite station(s) rank and after that, who knows?

I have a lot of respect for the writer but he is a business writer. If you notice, it’s rare indeed for the T.U. to report anything radio in the entertainment section – it’s usually in the business section. I wonder why it’s the case in this market as it’s not that way elsewhere, at least in the places I visit on occasion?

Down in Ft. Lauderdale, there’s an entertainment editor who really knows the business of radio. He asks the tough questions to those in leadership roles and I believe in the end, the public receives really relevant information for them to draw their own conclusions. There were no tough questions asked in this article and there were no challenges to statements made for further clarification.

There really wasn’t anything factually incorrect about the information presented. But it’s really like almost everything else we as consumers receive as news. Maybe, it’s just being let down by so many that creates cynicism in many of us. But then there are still those who believe anything a politician says especially if it involves entitlement.

I believe our town doesn’t really cover radio in an entertainment sense because radio is not highly regarded here in the first place. This isn’t an assumption on my part, it is reality and it has been reported in past posts. I’ve made several pitches over the past few years to the television and print media to cover stories about radio in our town to no avail. Even the writer indicated to me that he listens to alternatives. Apathy plays a big part too but I can't fault the average person. Their own economic well being and future are their biggest concern, as they should be. Obviously, there is no accountability in the public arena because no one here questions business decisions. R.I. is the exception but this is like a private club.

Stay tuned for more on this subject. Time is ticking away and before you know it, PPM will be reality.
 
Part 2

To constantly hear things are done for ME whether it is from the government, business or radio is just irritating. More often than not, it’s not about us but rather it’s about accomplishing goals for themselves only. If consumers/listeners manage to get what they want in the process, then it’s win-win.

In the article readers were given information about Jacksonville’s 3 country stations and why Legends was born. Basically it came down to finding a hole in the market and responding to a lot of buzz that Jacksonville did not have a classic country station. Apparently, it was important to create a station that people grew up with. That’s nice.

I never realized there was such a hole but that’s what is so great about learning. Looking back in topics on this board, I don’t believe there was anyone pitching for the Classic Country format. Really, it’s hard to forget all the posts that called for Rooster to throw in the towel as the consensus was there was one too many country formats for Jax.

Those of us who post and read the boards know the real reasons behind the decision. On the surface it would appear the public is once again presented with a half truth. But a part of me really wants to believe radio markets such as ours really do respond to listeners.

A reasonable person reading the article could conclude that if a hole existed in classic country, then why wasn’t it filled by Gator? Again, we know the real answer. I may sound sarcastic in this post but I would prefer to be more optimistic. As we prepare for PPM, we are at an advantage because we can learn valuable lessons from other markets. Seriously, I’d like to see this market engage in creating listener-inspired format(s) that fill holes as in the case of Classic Country. What a concept! Funny thing is what many of us want actually works very well in the PPM world.

I may have 1 or 2 more comments regarding the article if motivated enough. I don’t know about you but I’m just tired about almost everything we hear, watch or read and I am never sure what we can really believe.
 
Part 3

Then there’s the topic of the talent in the PPM world. Star quality to me is more than flash or even being the wittiest guy on the block who has to get the last laugh. It’s about being real – no fake radio voice. It’s about an audience who has lots of choices but will tune in specifically to hear that person or team. It’s about listeners relating to that voice(s) and feeling comfortable.

It would appear that many of my perceptions of talent in this market to include past talent stars have proven to be correct. To me, the right ones are an asset and not a liability. You can call the recent Folio recognition our local People’s Choice Awards.

Per the PPM article, WQIK’s Big Show and the station were shown to take a hit over the summer but it wasn’t a blow out – far from it. Considering so many guns have taken aim at Robbie and Boomer and they still ended up with a 7+ share placing 3rd in the mornings says a lot to me. They have what it takes and their recent recognition in Folio validates that. I’m of the opinion that WQIK will remain a formidable competitor. I’m against duplicate formats tripping over each other but that’s the mentality of how some operate here. It runs the risk of diluting the format resulting in diminished overall potential for all. But the games continue.

I often think if some consultant came to town to specifically listen to WEJZ, he/she would probably question Arthur Crofton being on the air. After all, he’s in his 50s and he has a British accent. While many can equate a British accent with being uppity, Arthur’s overall personality is nothing as he may sound. He’s been around forever and his numbers have always been solid. Many may not consider him a star but I do based on the criteria set above. Apparently, the Jax audience agrees as he has won Folio recognition 2 years in a row now.

Lex and Terry. I don’t get ratings breakdowns and daypart info so when Planet took a big hit this summer, my assumption was L&T probably lost audience but they were still “up there.” Per the PPM article, it turns out they weren’t even in the Top 10 – ouch. CC appears to be in deep do- do and this is just one of their many problems.

In a prior post somewhere I mentioned how I never understood L&T’s popularity here but then I also indicated who we like on the air is personal and subjective. I don’t think any of us would have believed if was possible for them to perform so poorly in a ratings book. But something I mentioned numerous times has proven to be true.

Young people are fickle and they are not loyal and that point was proven big time. They abandoned Planet in warp speed. This demo may get some of you salivating with the almighty dollar billing they can generate but watch out. If something bigger or better comes along (including alternatives), they are gone. This is a big reason why stations that have older demos as part of their total audience don’t experience huge ratings swings when a competitor comes on the scene. Funny thing about radio is those who are the most loyal and not welcomed.

Obviously, Lex & Terry didn’t matter much and CC has a lot of work to do. While things can change over time, the criteria I used above for star quality such as specifically tuning into a particular show apparently did not happen over the summer for them. It shows vulnerability. This will be interesting to watch. The PPM clock is ticking. A lot needs to be decided ahead of that in my opinion. Can this market support 2 new rock stations is a valid question to be asked.

The right talent can make all the difference but they can’t do it alone. That sounds like another topic worth exploring….
 
Part 4 - Rock 105 & Talent

That PPM T.U. article I have been referring to in this string got me thinking about a lot of things and the need for a “saga”. There was nothing specific about Rock 105 in the article but the underlying message was really all about preparing for a new way to measure audience size. Maybe this is at least one reason Rock 105 is becoming personality intense.

Out of all the stations in the Jax market, what is happening at Rock 105 gets me thinking about all sorts of things from the past, present and future more than any radio station here. The funny thing is with the exception of hearing Bubba for maybe 2 hours a week, I don’t listen to the station at all. I was never a rock music fan, even in my youth.

It’s the nature of these boards to be negative about almost everything. But in the case of Rock 105, I have to give kudos to Cox for at least trying. How many times have we seen stations in this market wither away and die with little or no attempt to save it? But in the case of Rock 105, there has to be a real desire to keep it going, after all they are a heritage station. I’ve expressed my opinion more than enough times about keeping heritage stations going so I am glad they are.

When I moved to Jax in the late 90s, Rock 105 seemed to be pretty dominant. A typical thought process would say markets change, tastes change, competition grows stronger and formats just get stale. Maybe all or a lot of this is true. But will the talent be able to make a difference growing audience share?

You can have all the best talent in the world on your station, but if the content is so-so, it may not have the impact it should. Again, I don’t listen. Others would have to comment if they are doing groovy things as well. If they are doing creative things with the music etc. and giving listeners a total package, then this could be a recipe for success. But I believe a bigger challenge exists.

Over the last 5 years, especially after the demise of Cool 96.9, this market has been witness to a very real, deliberate and orchestrated business model of diminishing the role of talent and going automated for part of the day and entire weekends. Basically, the same message is heard on various stations over and over and over that more music is good and talk/”DJ” patter and commercials/interruptions are bad.

The whole idea of sweepers is to promote what your station actually does. They are also designed to leave impressions on the listener and perhaps they have worked too well here. Local morning drive still has personality, perhaps not as much as in the past but it exists and it draws in listeners. I give credit to those who follow AM drive where they may have just 30 seconds to repeat a sweeper line, be witty, inject personality and maybe say something interesting about a song just played.

I have long been an advocate for the side of talent and it saddens me to see what has happened to so many great and creative people. All the things many of us have been saying are coming home to roost. I want Rock 105 to succeed and I wouldn’t want the talent to once again be blamed if things don’t work or to give justification to provide more lifeless radio. However, the radio audience is given mixed messages. People do tune in to different stations. Telling listeners in all other stations in your cluster one thing and doing the opposite somewhere else doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Maybe this impression on listeners has even affected L&T.

Around 4-5 years ago, even outside our market, I noticed what amounted to common practice of dismissing long-term talent, automating and basically neutering stations so they were shells of what they once were. There are signs out there that give me hope for the future. We are not quite there yet here in this market but I’m thinking that can soon change. Perhaps, PPM will make this happen.

More to come……
 
The Power of Radio....

There is no better way to nail things shut than on a happier note. No doubt radio has made an impression on me. But I'm not alone and it's not necessarily being older that creates this bond.

Sometimes when I hear a Beatles song, I remember it was radio who introduced me to the Fab 4. I guess I was 12 years old then and to have experienced the genesis of what became the greatest creative wave of music was mighty awesome.

Over the years I came to realize my musical tastes are very varied and it was because of radio and the wide variety of music presented. I suppose no matter where we grew up, the Top 40 station we listened to the most will always be the best station we ever listened to.

What does all this have to do with PPM? Stay with me. Just yesterday, it hit me like a ton of bricks. At least to me it explains what has been a central theme of so many of my posts over the past 5 years on this board. Tight, narrow playlists and formats have proven to be my biggest issue. I don't like 'em. I suppose you can call me a mass-appeal kind of guy.

Recognizing the challenges that face radio stations today and after so many years of fragmentation, it's not something viable for contemporary formats but elements of it can still work on an adult hits station. The thing is it's been right in front of me for the last couple years. I just didn't pay much attention to it because good music is good music no matter the decade or genre.

As I look at PPM markets and in particular CBS radio's brand of classic hits, they are performing well. If you think about it, formats that are heard in stores, restaurants, business will have bigger opportunities of being in range of the meter to be registered whether the person is actively listening or not.

What this means for Jax is probably very little. I've had a different interpretation on things. But after awhile, even I have to come to the realization that it's time to give the subject a rest.

For some time, I have believed many adult listeners "just settle" for what they listen to. Given the diversity of our community, it's like we have adult stations for "this group" and we have all the others for "that group." There was a time we grew up with and all enjoyed a national music. Great music has never gone away, it's just been buried because of fragmentation.

If PPM started tomorrow, I don't believe much would be different as it is from the diary. But boy how I would love to see things here get shaken up and some very much needed excitement be a part of our radio landscape.

For those interested, the next post is all about the power of the music. I wasn't planning on posting this but as you look at the songs, in this case from the 80s only, just imagine adding the Beatles, British Invasion. Motown, Soul, Pop, Rock and the totally diverse music from the 70s. Not surprising to me, many do work very well together.

As always, thank you for your support and your patience.
 
Per the last post, consider this theater of the mind which is what radio is all about. I started a 60s/70s/80s list almost a year ago and the perfectionist I am, it will never be done but no playlist should get stale. These songs are pure 80s only for illustrative purposes. I consider this a labour of love. It's all about attracting wide groups of people, transending age, gender and race. This is America and how I see radio. I hope you all enjoyed this "saga" as much as I loved presented it.Enjoy!

ABRACADABRA STEVE MILLER BAND
ADDICTED TO LOVE ROBERT PALMER
AFRICA TOTO
AGAINST THE WIND BOB SEGER
ALONE HEART
ALL NIGHT LONG(ALL NIGHT) LIONEL RICHIE
ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS DANCE DON HENLEY
ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME NAKED EYES
AND THE BEAT GOES ON WHISPERS
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL PINK FLOYD
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST QUEEN
BABY COME TO ME PATTI AUSTIN & JAMES INGRAM
BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY/FREEBIRD WILL TO POWER
BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG PRETENDERS
BEAT IT MICHAEL JACKSON
BEING WITH YOU SMOKEY ROBINSON
BETTE DAVIS EYES KIM CARNES
BIG TIME PETER GABRIEL
BILLIE JEAN MICHAEL JACKSON
BORDERLINE MADONNA
BORN IN THE U.S.A. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN, THE THIN LIZZY
BOYS OF SUMMER DON HENLEY
BRASS IN POCKET(I'M SPECIAL) PRETENDERS
BREAK MY STRIDE MATTHEW WILDER
BREAKUP SONG (THEY DON'T WRITE 'EM) GREG KIHN BAND
BRILLIANT DISGUISE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
BROKEN WINGS MR. MISTER
CALL ME BLONDIE
CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELING REO SPEEDWAGON
CARIBBEAN QUEEN BILLY OCEAN
CARS GARY NUMAN
CARELESS WHISPER WHAM!
CELEBRATION KOOL & THE GANG
CENTERFOLD J. GEILS BAND
CHERISH KOOL & THE GANG
CHERRY BOMB JOHN MELLENCAMP
CHINA GIRL DAVID BOWIE
COME ON EILEEN DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS
COMING UP PAUL MCCARTNEY
CRAZY FOR YOU MADONNA
CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE QUEEN
CRUSIN' SMOKEY ROBINSON
CUPID/I'VE LOVED YOU FOR A LONG TIME SPINNERS
DANCING IN THE DARK BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
DANCING ON THE CEILING LIONEL RICHIE
DANCING WITH MYSELF BILLY IDOL
DANGER ZONE KENNY LOGINS
DE DO DO DO, DE DA DA DA POLICE
DIRTY LAUNDRY DON HENLEY
DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME CULTURE CLUB
DON'T ASK ME WHY BILLY JOEL
DON'T DO ME LIKE THAT TOM PETTY & HEARTBREAKERS
DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER CROWDED HOUSE
DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME POLICE
DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' JOURNEY
DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS RICK SPRINGFIELD
DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) SIMPLE MINDS
DON'T YOU WANT ME HUMAN LEAGUE
DOWN UNDER MEN AT WORK
DRIVE CARS
EASY LOVER PHIL COLLINS & PHILLIP BAILEY
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN(JUST LIKE THE WHITE WINGED DOVE) STEVIE NICKS
867-5309/JENNY TOMMY TUTONE
ELECTRIC AVENUE EDDY GRANT
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE POLICE
EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC POLICE
EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD TEARS FOR FEARS
EYE IN THE SKY ALAN PARSONS PROJECT
EYE OF THE TIGER SURVIVOR
EYES WITHOUT A FACE BILLY IDOL
FAITH GEORGE MICHAEL
FAITHFULLY JOURNEY
FAME IRENE CARA
FAMILY MAN HALL & OATES
FATHER FIGURE GEORGE MICHAEL
FLASHDANCE(WHAT A FEELING) IRENE CARA
FOOTLOOSE KENNY LOGINS
FOREVER YOUNG ROD STEWART
FORGET ME NOTS PATRICE RUSHEN
FREE FALLIN' TOM PETTY
FREEWAY OF LOVE ARETHA FRANKLIN
FREEZE-FRAME J. GEILS BAND
FUNKYTOWN LIPPS, INC
GET DOWN ON IT KOOL & THE GANG
GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN CYNDI LAUPER
GIVE ME THE NIGHT GEORGE BENSON
GLAMOROUS LIFE SHEILA E.
GLORIA LAURA BRANIGAN
GLORY DAYS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
GLORY OF LOVE PETER CETERA
GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU GEORGE HARRISON
GREATEST LOVE OF ALL WHITNEY HOUSTON
HARD HABIT TO BREAK CHICAGO
HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY CHICAGO
HARDEN MY HEART QUARTERFLASH
HE'S SO SHY POINTER SISTERS
HEAD TO TOE LISA LISA AND CULT JAM
HEART AND SOUL HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
HEART OF ROCK & ROLL HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
HEAT IS ON, THE GLENN FREY
HEAT OF THE MOMENT ASIA
HEAVEN BRYAN ADAMS
HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH BELINDA CARLISLE
HELLO LIONEL RICHIE
HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN EURYTHMICS
HEY NINETEEN STEELY DAN
HIGH ON YOU SURVIVOR
HIGHER LOVE STEVE WINWOOD
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT PAT BENATAR
HOLD ME FLEETWOOD MAC
HOLD ME NOW THOMPSON TWINS
HOLIDAY MADONNA
HOW 'BOUT US CHAMPAGNE
HOW WILL I KNOW WHITNEY HOUSTON
HUMAN HUMAN LEAGUE
HUNGRY EYES ERIC CARMEN
HUNGRY HEART BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF DURAN DURAN
HURTS SO GOOD JOHN MELLENCAMP
I CAN DREAM ABOUT YOU DAN HARTMAN
I CAN'T GO FOR THAT (NO CAN DO) HALL & OATES
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY EAGLES
I DIDN'T MEAN TO TURN YOU ON ROBERT PALMER
I FEEL FOR YOU CHAKA KHAN
I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU STEVIE WONDER
(I JUST) DIED IN YOUR ARMS TONIGHT CUTTING CREW
I KEEP FORGETTIN' (EVERY TIME YOU'RE NEAR) MICHAEL MCDONALD
I LOVE ROCK 'N ROLL JOAN JETT & BLACKHEARTS
I LOVE YOU CLIMAX BLUES BAND
I MELT WITH YOU MODERN ENGLISH
I RAN (SO FAR AWAY) FLOCK OF SEAGULLS
I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR U2
I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW TIFFANY
I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER PRINCE
I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY WHITNEY HOUSTON
I WANT A NEW DRUG HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS FOREIGNER
I'M ALL RIGHT KENNY LOGINS
I'M ON FIRE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
I'M SO EXCITED POINTER SISTERS
I'M STILL STANDING ELTON JOHN
(I'VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE BILL MEDLEY/JENNIFER WARNES
IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME CHER
IF THIS IT HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
IF YOU LEAVE ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK
IN THE AIR TONIGHT PHIL COLLINS
IN YOUR EYES PETER GABRIEL
INFATUATION ROD STEWART
INTO THE GROOVE MADONNA
INTO THE NIGHT BENNY MARDONES
INVISIBLE TOUCH GENESIS
IT'S ALRIGHT HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
IT'S GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE DENIECE WILLIAMS
IT'S MY LIFE TALK TALK
IT'S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME BILLY JOEL
JACK & DIANE JOHN MELLENCAMP
JEOPARDY GREG KIHN BAND
JESSIE'S GIRL RICK SPRINGFIELD
JOANNA KOOL & THE GANG
JUMP VAN HALEN
JUMP(FOR MY LOVE) POINTER SISTERS
JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH DEPECHE MODE
(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER JOHN LENNON
JUST ONCE JAMES INGRAM
JUST THE TWO OF US GROVER WASINGTON JR & BILL WITHERS
JUST TO SEE HER AGAIN SMOKEY ROBINSON
KARMA CHAMELEON CULTURE CLUB
(KEEP FEELING) FASCINATION HUMAN LEAGUE
KEEP ON LOVING YOU REO SPEEDWAGON
KEEPING THE FAITH BILLY JOEL
KISS ON MY LIST HALL & OATES
KOKOMO BEACH BOYS
KYRIE MR. MISTER
LA BAMBA LOS LOBOS
LA ISLAND BONITA MADONNA
LADIES NIGHT KOOL & THE GANG
LADY (YOU BRING ME UP) COMMODORES
LATE IN THE EVENING PAUL SIMON
LEATHER AND LACE STEVIE NICKS & DON HENLEY
LET IT WHIP DAZZ BAND
LET THE MUSIC PLAY SHANNON
LET'S GROOVE EARTH, WIND & FIRE
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY DENIECE WILLIAMS
LITTLE RED CORVETTE PRINCE
LITTLE RESPECT, A ERASURE
LIVIN' ON A PRAYER BON JOVI
LONG RUN, THE EAGLES
LONGEST TIME BILLY JOEL
LOVE COME DOWN EVELYN "CHAMPAGNE" KING
LOOK OF LOVE ABC
LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD PAT BENATAR
LOVE ON THE ROCKS NEIL DIAMOND
LOVE SHACK B52'S
MAN IN THE MIRROR MICHAEL JACKSON
MANEATER HALL & OATES
MANIAC MICHAEL SEMBELLO
MANIC MONDAY BANGLES
MICKEY TONI BASIL
MISSING YOU JOHN WAITE
MISUNDERSTANDING GENESIS
MONEY FOR NOTHING DIRE STRAIGHTS
MONY MONY BILLY IDOL
MORE THAN I CAN SAY LEO SAYER
NEED YOU TONIGHT INYX
NEVER HEART
NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP RICK ASTLEY
NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE STEPHANIE MILLS
NEVER TOO MUCH LUTHER VANDROSS
NIGHTSHIFT COMMODORES
1999 PRINCE
OFF THE WALL MICHAEL JACKSON
OH SHERIE STEVE PERRY
ON THE RADIO DONNA SUMMER
ONE HUNDRED WAYS JAMES INGRAM
ONE MORE TRY GEORGE MICHAEL
ONE ON ONE HALL & OATES
ONLY THE LONELY MOTELS
ONLY TIME WILL TELL ASIA
OPEN ARMS JOURNEY
OUR HOUSE MADNESS
OUT OF TOUCH HALL & OATES
P.Y.T (PRETTY YOUNG THING) MICHAEL JACKSON
PAPA DON'T PREACH MADONNA
PART-TIME LOVER STEVIE WONDER
PINK CADILLAC BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
PLEASE DON'T GO KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
POWER OF LOVE HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
PRIVATE EYES HALL & OATES
PROMISES,PROMISES NAKED EYES
RASPBERRY BERET PRINCE
RED RED WINE UB40
REFUGEE TOM PETTY & HEARTBREAKERS
RIDE LIKE THE WIND CHRISTOPHER CROSS
ROCK STEADY WHISPERS
ROCK THIS TOWN STRAY CATS
ROCK WITH YOU MICHAEL JACKSON
ROSANNA TOTO
RUN TO YOU BRYAN ADAMS
RUNNING WITH THE NIGHT LIONEL RICHIE
SAFETY DANCE MEN WITHOUT HATS
SARA STARSHIP
SAY,SAY,SAY PAUL MCCARTNEY & MICHAEL JACKSON
SECOND TIME AROUND SHALAMAR
SECRET LOVERS ATLANTIC STARR
SELF CONTROL LAURA BRANIGAN
SEXUAL HEALING MARVIN GAYE
SHAKE IT UP CARS
SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE THOMAS DOLBY
SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS
SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY DONNA SUMMER
SHOUT TEARS FOR FEARS
SISTER CHRISTIAN NIGHT RANGER
SLEDGEHAMMER PETER GABRIEL
SLOW HAND POINTER SISTERS
SMALL TOWN JOHN MELLENCAMP
SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK ROD STEWART
SOME LIKE IT HOT POWER STATION
SOMEBODY'S BABY JACKSON BROWNE
SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME ROCKWELL
SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE TEARS FOR FEARS
ST. ELMO'S FIRE (MAN IN MOTION) JOHN PARR
STAND BACK STEVIE NICKS
START ME UP ROLLING STONES
STEPPIN' OUT JOE JACKSON
STOMP BROTHERS JOHNSON
STOP DRAGGIN' MY HEART AROUND STEVIE NICKS
STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART BRYAN ADAMS
SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER MOTELS
SUMMER OF 69 BRYAN ADAMS
SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT COREY HART
SUPER FREAK (PART 1) RICK JAMES
SWEET DREAMS EURYTHMICS
SWEET FREEDOM MICHAEL MCDONALD
TAINTED LOVE/WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO SOFT CELL
TAKE IT ON THE RUN REO SPEEDWAGON
TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT EDDIE MONEY w RONNIE SPECTOR
TAKE ON ME A-HA
TAKE YOUR TIME(DO IT RIGHT) S.O.S. BAND
TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP ROMANTICS
TELL HER ABOUT IT BILLY JOEL
TELL IT TO MY HEART TAYLOR DAYNE
TEMPTED SQUEEZE
THAT GIRL STEVIE WONDER
THAT'S ALL! GENESIS
THESE DREAMS HEART
THIS IS IT KENNY LOGINS
THRILLER MICHAEL JACKSON
TIDE IS HIGH BLONDIE
TIME AFTER TIME CYNDI LAUPER
TOGETHER FOREVER RICK ASTLEY
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART BONNIE TYLER
TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS STYX
TOO SHY KAJAGOOGOO
TRUE SPANDAU BALLET
TRUE COLORS CYNDI LAUPER
TURN YOUR LOVE AROUND GEORGE BENSON
UP WHERE WE BELONG JOE COCKER/JENNIFER WARNES
UPSIDE DOWN DIANA ROSS
UPTOWN GIRL BILLY JOEL
URGENT FOREIGNER
VACATION GO-GO'S
VENUS BANANARAMA
WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU FOREIGNER
WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO WHAM!
WALK OF LIFE DIRE STRAIGHTS
WALKING ON SUNSHINE KATRINA & THE WAVES
WANNA BE STARTIN' SOMETHIN' MICHAEL JACKSON
WATCHING THE WHEELS JOHN LENNON
WAY IT IS, THE BRUCE HORNSBY & THE RANGE
WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL, THE MICHAEL JACKSON
WE BELONG PAT BENATAR
WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE BILLY JOEL
WE GOT THE BEAT GO-GO'S
WEST END GIRLS PET SHOP BOYS
WHAT ABOUT LOVE HEART
WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS PET SHOP BOYS/DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU ROMANTICS
WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT TINA TURNER
WHEN DOVES CRY PRINCE
WHILE YOU SEE A CHANCE STEVE WINWOOD
WHITE WEDDING BILLY IDOL
WHO CAN IT BE NOW MEN AT WORK
WHO'S CRYING NOW JOURNEY
WOMAN JOHN LENNON
WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND LOVERBOY
WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU/FORGIVE ME GIRL SPINNERS
YOU ARE LIONEL RICHIE
YOU BELONG TO THE CITY GLENN FREY
YOU CAN DO MAGIC AMERICA
YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE PHIL COLLINS
YOU DROPPED A BOMB ON ME GAP BAND
YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME BON JOVI
YOU MAKE MY DREAMS HALL & OATES
YOU MIGHT THINK CARS
YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN' HALL & OATES
YOUNG TURKS ROD STEWART
YOUR LOVE OUTFIELD
YOUR WILDEST DREAMS MOODY BLUES
 
Oops, I should have done this prior to posting the songs but I wanted to explain my thinking.

What the list is not is a copy and paste of any particular radio station although that would have been easy. It started with looking through Joel Whitburn's Top 40 Hits Book that is almost falling apart. I listened to what stations around the country were doing and I looked at the demo info for that market.

YouTube was a tremendous resource as sometimes I forgot titles or even what a song sounded like. But I paid close attention to the diversity makeup of our community and thought of tying elements of various formats together to bring the most popular songs among various demos together.

As in any list, some will say why wasn't this song included or why was this one on instead? The short answer is too many songs in any direction would make this too much like the Point, or Eagle or even WEJZ and I didn't want to do that. It needed to be different. Plus, I set up 8 specific demos. I had no science to guide me, just my gut telling me what songs would appeal to what demos. For any song to be considered, it had to satisfy at least 3 (mostly 4) demos are it couldn't afford to be on the list for play.

This is one reason artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lionel Richie and the Commodores "tested" best in the wacky system I made up. Plus, the list is intentionally skewing toward woman 35+ because I believe there is a hole in the market and they would be in my strategy to change the station to this in the office. I always felt more woman control what people listen to at work than men. LOL

There is also no doubt, living in South Florida and listening to what I considered the greatest CHR in the 80s had an influence on the music I chose.

But in the end, there were well over 300 songs from the 80s, around 400 from the 70s and over 300 songs from the 60s. There's even a few 90s. We often hear how people can't stand repetition. So what I envisioned in this format for Jax (like it would be considered) is to rotate, let's say 150 80s, 150 70s and 150 60s and after a couple weeks, move 10% of each decade out, replacing them with same type songs. This keeps the format fresh and people tuning in which I think will be critical for PPM should someone do it.

Songs that are not even on the list can pop up occasionally in special programming. Anyway, it was probably way more info than necessary but I believe if you don't take some chances, you run the risk of not getting the greatest reward. And in this case, the listener benefits the most.
 
John,

I like the fact you published that 80's playlist on here. I never understood why when The Point was around it was more focused on certain songs instead of the whole decade of songs that were there for playing. This will also be a help as I am working on potentially DJing an 80's Prom sometime this month. Actually to speak of DJing I got myself into the mobile DJ business after looking for a job in radio is not going the way I want it to and also helping to take care of my grandmother (Also the reason why the blog I started two months ago came to abrupt end). I will say this DJing and taking of grandmother is a lot of work, but it sure beats the other job I had and I feel much happier overall.

With the PPM coming to Jax, it will only be interesting to see how the ratings are affected. I am sure we will see some changes..maybe a three-way race with the country stations? Who knows. Maybe with this it will create some new formats on stations that have been proven so far to be PPM successes. Peace!
 
JAWilson, thank you for the reply and I wish you luck in doing what you enjoy. It’s a rush performing “radio” when your audience is in the same room as you. Seeing the emotion and the response the music brings out in people is pretty awesome. It's like you are a magician.

Through a good number of years in the 80s, I enjoyed going to the clubs in S Fla. As a guy with 2 left feet, trust me when I say the main draw was the great music. A buddy of mine who DJ’d at one of the clubs often invited me into the booth. With confidence, he would say watch how I get everyone on their feet. He would tease the crowd with opening notes of a song like Laura Branigan’s “Gloria” or Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and it was like magic when he cued it up for good.

For a long time we didn’t need to go out clubbing to find magic in the music – we had radio and it served us very well. When talent had a lot more latitude, I’m sure they felt like they were in the same room as their audience – radio was more personal. Taking requests on the air and interacting with listeners are now considered out-dated for a medium that is supposed to be about communication, entertainment and listeners.

While I knew publishing a music list would not generate interest for our market, I can’t begin to express the personal satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment it brought me. I've heard from some outside our market who want to take elements of the list to build on it and give listeners something different. I couldn't be happier. But it also brought back, even if just on paper, those personal life experiences and radio still has the capacity to spark excitement but it’s not a metric goal and a GM doesn’t get a dime in a bonus payout based on content quality. My God, no one is seeing the big picture.

A friend owns a hair styling place and it seemed every month when I got my hair cut, I would notice a different radio station was on in the background. Her answer to that was after a few weeks, all we would hear is the same thing over and over. One day while I was there the Point played “Another Brick in the Wall” and she literally had to excuse herself to change the station as she just reached her saturation point. About 5 minutes later, Eagle played, you guessed it – the same song. We both laughed but she had that what the heck can you do about it look. This is today’s radio in Jax – little choice, little effort, little regard for the listener.

Curious, I determined in checking their last played list that the song aired at least 2-3 times a day. Let’s just say the song played twice a day. Over a 5 year period, just that song alone would have aired 3,650 times. Then take all the other repetition, a narrow interpretation of what the 80s were all about plus the never-ending sweepers and who can blame the public for tuning out. We can and should endeavor to do better. This isn’t the only case where bad decisions and minimal effort results in viable format demise yet “they” will no doubt claim this market doesn’t support those type formats. They are wrong as format is not the issue. Today, people listen to what they listen to because they don’t have much choice and that remains in my opinion a risky way to do business.

There are so many songs that when chosen carefully and not allowed to be burned out can really make very long-lasting listening impressions and loyalty based on their own life experiences. If you really look carefully at the song choices, so many deal with love, relationships, and just getting up on your feet happy to be alive. The same can be found in decades prior to the 80s as well. I can’t help think of the absolute awesome lyrics to my favorite Mellencamp tune “Cherry Bomb” that reminds me of the laughing and good times I had with my friends outside my own version of Club Cherry Bomb. I can still picture myself driving along the sun-drenched, tropical landscape of South Florida while I heard my favorite Madonna tune “La Island Bonita” playing on the radio reminding me of happy times and a warm climate on this cool, cloudy day.

Yes, there is a lot of magic in great music and a good magician can make it all happen.
 
As we continue our PPM magical mystery tour, we arrive at the 1970's. What a decade and what a challenge too. Going forward, I'd like to keep this in proper perspective and that's just to have some fun with all this while thinking about the importance of picking the right tunes to attract listeners. I have some issues with PPM but I'm generally positive about it. Success in PPM is being realized by those who deep-sixed bias forging ahead building one helluva exciting product. There are so many lessons learned of what works and what doesn't work. The PPM markets clearly show the format usually always places in the top 5 of total audience and it's often in the top 3. That shows a lot of potential folks that should be taken under consideration. Time really is running out. I have concluded many markets already in PPM are at least 3-4 years ahead of us. It's not impossible to achieve but it's just challenging as we have lost so much listener impressions both in music familarity and in narrow format interpretations.

If you think about it, formats that attract a wide range of listeners from those who listen at work, in the car and when they visit a restaurant, convenience store or other business have an increased probability of being picked up by meter even if there isn't active listening. That's why I believe content is still important for a station that would like to move from a bottom top 10 position to top 5 and beyond.

Putting together a 70’s music list was the most challenging and the most time consuming. As a listener, we’ve seen the burn out of really good songs and a lot of songs from the 70s I can place in the burn-out category. Then there is a disco. There was a great divide in the late 70s as listeners tuned into stations that were either playing it or not. I also felt disco was polarizing and represented too much risk if it was overplayed as I frequently pointed out when KOOL came about. Too bad, no one listened.

For the 70’s I didn’t care what most other classic hits stations were doing as Jacksonville has IMHO uniqueness about it. I’ve often wanted to do a string about the WAPE of the past from the 60s to the 80s to get info about what kind of songs were played or what genres of music were most favored. I didn’t bother because I figured I would get little or no response.

So in the end, having lived here for the last 12 years I came up with what can only be considered a very safe song list. There’s nothing wrong with that. Songs such as “I Will Survive,” “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” and “Bad Girls” and anything Village People just to name a few don’t appear on the list. It doesn’t mean they should never be played, I just don’t think they belong on a station I envision as a contender in the work place. Plus, those songs are very burned-out. What may work at WOGL in Philly wouldn't necessarily work here. What remains are more mainstream disco.

By and large, that’s my thought process. What’s important to remember is that if any particular song whether we are talking 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and eventually even the 90’s is a mistake, that mistake won’t keep repeating itself because repetition would be at a minimum because of the large music library of confirmed hits.

As a radio outsider, I never understood why so many great songs that should really help build audience and ratings as in the case of “Another Brick in the Wall” as mentioned earlier wind up becoming poison that ultimately kills the format. Those without challenge can no doubt get away with playing Mac’s “Sara,” Manfred Mann’s “Blinded by the Light,” or virtually anything Eagles for 5000 times. I still say we can do better. It’s just good business.

Stay tuned for the 70's!
 
As you consider this song list from the 70's, take into account what has already been presented from the 80's. There is almost a seemless sound as I tried tying in the same (more or less) percentages of genres of music. With the 70's representing well over 400 tunes and the 80's well past 300 and growing plus special programming, listeners can really be given something that is anything but tired. Think 25-54 as well. I don't think anything presented so far can be considered your dad's oldies station. Having an opend mind is a great thing. Enjoy!

AFTER MIDNIGHT ERIC CLAPTON
AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE EARTH, WIND & FIRE
AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH DIANA ROSS
AIN'T NO SUNSHINE BILL WITHERS
AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I'VE GOT) FOUR TOPS
ALL RIGHT NOW FREE
ALREADY GONE EAGLES
AMERICAN PIE DON MCLEAN
AMERICAN WOMAN GUESS WHO
ANGEL IN YOUR ARMS HOT
BABE STYX
BABY COME BACK PLAYER
BABY HOLD ON EDDIE MONEY
BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY PETER FRAMPTON
BACK STABBERS O'JAYS
BAD,BAD LEROY BROWN JIM CROCE
BAD CASE OF LOVING YOU(DOCTOR, DOCTOR) ROBERT PALMER
BAND ON THE RUN PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS
BANG A GONG (GET IT ON) T. REX
BEAST OF BURDEN ROLLING STONES
BEGINNINGS CHICAGO
BENNIE AND THE JETS ELTON JOHN
BEST OF MY LOVE EAGLES
BEST OF MY LOVE EMOTIONS
BIG SHOT BILLY JOEL
BITCH IS BACK ELTON JOHN
BLACK MAGIC WOMAN/GYPSY QUEEN SANTANA
BLACK WATER DOOBIE BROTHERS
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND
BOOGIE SHOES KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
BOOGIE WONDERLAND EARTH, WIND & FIRE & THE EMOTIONS
BORN TO RUN BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
BRANDY (YOU'RE A FINE GIRL) LOOKING GLASS
BRICK HOUSE COMMODORES
BROTHER LOUIE STORIES
BROWN SUGAR ROLLING STONES
BURNING LOVE ELVIS PRESLEY
CAN'T GET ENOUGH BAD COMPANY
CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE, BABE BARRY WHITE
CARRY ON WAYWARD SON KANSAS
CECILIA SIMON & GARFUNKEL
CELEBRATE THREE DOG NIGHT
CENTERFIELD JOHN FOGGERTY
CHANGES DAVID BOWIE
CHINA GROVE DOOBIE BROTHERS
CHUCK E's IN LOVE RICKIE LEE JONES
CISCO KID WAR
COLD AS ICE FOREIGNER
COME AND GET YOUR LOVE REDBONE
COME MONDAY JIMMY BUFFETT
COME SAIL AWAY STYX
CONQUISTADOR PROCUL HARUM
COULD IT BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE SPINNERS
COULDN'T GET IT RIGHT CLIMAX BLUES BAND
CRACKLIN' ROSIE NEIL DIAMOND
CROCODILE ROCK ELTON JOHN
CRUEL TO BE KIND NICK LOWE
DA YA THINK I'M SEXY ROD STEWART
DANCE WITH ME ORLEANS
DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT KING HARVEST
DANCING QUEEN ABBA
DAY AFTER DAY BADFINGER
DECEMBER, 1963 (OH, WHAT A NIGHT) FOUR SEASONS
DESPERADO EAGLES
DEVIL WOMAN CLIFF RICHARD
DIAMOND GIRL SEALS & CROFTS
DIM ALL THE LIGHTS DONNA SUMMER
DO IT AGAIN STEELY DAN
DO IT(TILL YOU'RE SATISFIED) B.T. EXPRESS
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN LEE MICHAELS
DOCTOR MY EYES JACKSON BROWNE
DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS CHICAGO
DOMINO VAN MORRISON
DON'T BRING ME DOWN ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE
DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY THELMA HOUSTON
DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME ELTON JOHN
DON'T LOOK BACK BOSTON
DON'T STOP FLEETWOOD MAC
DON'T STOP TILL YOU GET ENOUGH MICHAEL JACKSON
DOUBLE VISION FOREIGNER
DRAGGIN' THE LINE TOMMY JAMES
DREAM ON AEROSMITH
DREAM WEAVER GARY WRIGHT
DREAMS FLEETWOOD MAC
DRIFT AWAY DOBIE GRAY
DRIVER'S SEAT SNIFF 'N' THE TEARS
DUST IN THE WIND KANSAS
EMOTION SAMANTHA SANG & BEE GEES
ESCAPE(THE PINA COLADA SONG) RUPERT HOLMES
EVERLASTING LOVE CARL CARLTON
(EVERYTIME I TURN AROUND) BACK IN LOVE AGAIN L.T.D.
EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL MAIN INGREDIENT
EVIL WAYS SANTANA
EVIL WOMAN ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
FAME DAVID BOWIE
FANTASY EARTH, WIND & FIRE
FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY CHICAGO
FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME FOREIGNER
FIRE OHIO PLAYERS
FIRE POINTER SISTERS
FIRE AND RAIN JAMES TAYLOR
FLY LIKE AN EAGLE STEVE MILLER BAND
FOLLOW YOU FOLLOW ME GENESIS
FOOLED AROUND & FELL IN LOVE ELVIN BISHOP GROUP
FOX ON THE RUN SWEET
FREE RIDE EDGAR WINTER GROUP
GARDEN PARTY RICK NELSON
GET CLOSER SEALS & CROFTS
GET DOWN TONIGHT KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
GET READY RARE EARTH
GIVE A LITTLE BIT SUPERTRAMP
GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD
GO ALL THE WAY RASPBERRIES
GO YOUR OWN WAY FLEETWOOD MAC
GOLDEN YEARS DAVID BOWIE
GONNA FLY NOW BILL CONTE
GOOD TIMES CHIC
GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD ELTON JOHN
GOT TO BE REAL CHERYL LYNN
GOT TO BE THERE MICHAEL JACKSON
GOT TO GIVE IT UP MARVIN GAYE
GREASE FRANKIE VALLI
GREEN-EYED LADY SUGARLOAF
GUITAR MAN, THE BREAD
GYPSY FLEETWOOD MAC
HANDY MAN JAMES TAYLOR
HARMONY ELTON JOHN
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN? CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
HEAD GAMES FOREIGNER
HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG MARSHALL TUCKER BAND
HEART OF GLASS BLONDIE
HEARTACHE TONIGHT EAGLES
HEAVEN KNOWS DONNA SUMMER
HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL TAVARES
HERE I AM(COME AND TAKE ME) AL GREEN
HIGHER GROUND STEVIE WONDER
HOLD THE LINE TOTO
HOLD YOUR HEAD UP ARGENT
HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS BOB SEGER
HONESTY BILLY JOEL
HONKY CAT ELTON JOHN
HORSE WITH NO NAME AMERICA
HOT BLOODED FOREIGNER
HOT CHILD IN THE CITY NICK GILDER
HOT STUFF DONNA SUMMER
HOTEL CALIFORNIA EAGLES
HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART BEE GEES
HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE BEE GEES
HOW LONG ACE
HOW SWEET IT IS JAMES TAYLOR
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW JOHNNY NASH
I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE CAROLE KING
I HEAR YOU KNOCKING DAVE EDMUNDS
I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING ANDY GIBB
I JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE RARE EARTH
I LOVE MUSIC O'JAYS
I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE (DISCO ROUND) ALICIA BRIDGES
I SHOT THE SHERIFF ERIC CLAPTON
I THINK I LOVE YOU PARTRIDGE FAMILY
I WANT YOU BACK JACKSON 5
I WANT YOU TO WANT ME CHEAP TRICK
I WISH STEVIE WONDER
I'LL BE AROUND SPINNERS
I'LL BE THERE JACKSON 5
I'LL TAKE YOU THERE STAPLE SINGERS
I'M COMING OUT DIANA ROSS
I'M EVERY WOMAN CHAKA KHAN
I'M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY BARRY WHITE
I'M IN YOU PETER FRAMPTON
I'M JUST A SINGER(IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND) MOODY BLUES
I'M NOT IN LOVE 10CC
I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU AL GREEN
I'M YOUR BOOGIE MAN KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
I'VE GOT TO USE MY IMMAGINATION GLADYS KNIGHT & PIPS
IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU YVONNE ELLIMAN
IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW CHICAGO
IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME STEVIE WONDER
IMAGINE JOHN LENNON
IN THE SUMMERTIME MUNGO JERRY
INSTANT KARMA! (WE ALL SHINE) JOHN LENNON
ISLAND GIRL ELTON JOHN
ISN'T SHE LOVELY STEVIE WONDER
IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE TAVARES
IT'S A HEARTACHE BONNIE TYLER
IT'S A SHAME SPINNERS
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL ROLLING STONES
JACKIE BLUE OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS
JET PAUL MCCARTNEY
JET AIRLINER STEVE MILLER BAND
JIVE TALKIN' BEE GEES
JOKER, THE STEVE MILLER BAND
JOY TO THE WORLD THREE DOG NIGHT
JUNGLE LOVE STEVE MILLER BAND
JUST MY IMAGINATION TEMPTATIONS
JUST YOU 'N' ME CHICAGO
KEEP IT COMIN' LOVE KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
KENTUCKY RAIN ELVIS PRESLEY
KILLER QUEEN QUEEN
KISS YOU ALL OVER EXILE
KNOCK ON WOOD AMII STEWART
KODACHROME PAUL SIMON
LADY MARMALADE LABELLE
LAST DANCE DONNA SUMMER
LE FREAK CHIC
LEAN ON ME BILL WITHERS
LET 'EM IN PAUL MCCARTNEY
LET IT BE BEATLES
LETTER, THE JOE COCKER
LET'S DANCE DAVID BOWIE
LET'S GET IT ON MARVIN GAYE
LET'S STAY TOGETHER AL GREEN
LIDO SHUFFLE BOZ SCAGGS
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE EAGLES
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC DOOBIE BROTHERS
LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS
LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION, A ELVIS PRESLEY
LIVE AND LET DIE PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS
LIVIN' THING ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
LIVING FOR THE CITY STEVIE WONDER
LOGICAL SONG, THE SUPERTRAMP
LOCO-MOTION, THE GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
LONELY PEOPLE AMERICA
LONG AND WINDING ROAD, THE BEATLES
LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) HOLLIES
LONG TRAIN RUNNIN' DOOBIE BROTHERS
LOOKIN' OUT MY BACK DOOR CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
LOTTA LOVE NICOLETTE LARSON
LOVE HER MADLY DOORS
LOVE I LOST, THE HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUENOTES
LOVE MACHINE (PT 1) MIRACLES
LOVE ROLLERCOASTER OHIO PLAYERS
LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH STEPHEN STILLS
LOVE TRAIN O'JAYS
LOVE WILL FIND A WAY PABLO CRUISE
LOVE'S ME LIKE A ROCK PAUL SIMON
LOVE'S THEME LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA
LOW RIDER WAR
LOWDOWN BOZ SCAGGS
LYIN' EYES EAGLES
MAGGIE MAY ROD STEWART
MAGIC MAN HEART
MAGNET AND STEEL WALTER EGAN
MAKE ME SMILE CHICAGO
MAMA TOLD ME (NOT TO COME) THREE DOG NIGHT
MARGARITAVILLE JIMMY BUFFETT
MAYBE I'M AMAZED PAUL MCCARTNEY
ME AND BOBBY MCGEE JANIS JOPLIN
ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD PAUL SIMON
ME & YOU & A DOG NAMED BOO LOBO
MERCY, MERCY ME/THE ECOLOGY MARVIN GAYE
MFSB TSOP
MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA GLADYS KNIGHT & PIPS
MISS YOU ROLLING STONES
MONEY PINK FLOYD
MOONDANCE VAN MORRISON
MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT STARBUCK
MORE,MORE,MORE ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION
MORE THAN A FEELING BOSTON
MORE THAN A WOMAN BEE GEES
MOTHER & CHILD REUNION PAUL SIMON
MOVIN' OUT (ANTHONY'S SONG) BILLY JOEL
MR. BIG STUFF JEAN KNIGHT
MY EYES ADORED YOU FRANKIE VALLI
MY LIFE BILLY JOEL
MY LOVE PAUL MCCARTNEY
MY SHARONA KNACK
MY SWEET LORD GEORGE HARRISON
NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE JACKSON 5
NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE GLORIA GAYNOR
NEVER, NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP BARRY WHITE
NIGHT FEVER BEE GEES
NIGHT MOVES BOB SEGER
NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN MOODY BLUES
NIGHTS ON BROADWAY BEE GEES
NO MATTER WHAT BADFINGER
NO SUGAR TONIGHT GUESS WHO
NO TIME GUESS WHO
OH GIRL CHI-LITES
OLD DAYS CHICAGO
OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG THREE DOG NIGHT
OLD TIME ROCK & ROLL BOB SEGER
ON BROADWAY GEORGE BENSON
ONE OF A KIND LOVE AFFAIR SPINNERS
ONE OF THESE NIGHTS EAGLES
ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG BILLY JOEL
O-O-H CHILD FIVE STAIRSTEPS
OPERATOR JIM CROCE
OUR HOUSE CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG
OYE COMO VA SANTANA
PAPA WAS A ROLLIN' STONE TEMPTATIONS
PEACEFUL EASY FEELING EAGLES
PEG STEELY DAN
PEACE TRAIN CAT STEVENS
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM ELTON JOHN
PHOTOGRAPH RINGO STARR
PIANO MAN BILLY JOEL
PICK UP THE PIECES AVERAGE WHITE BAND
PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC WILD CHERRY
PROUD MARY IKE & TINA TURNER
RAMBLIN' MAN ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
REELING IN THE YEARS STEELY DAN
REMINICING LITTLE RIVER BAND
RHIANNON(WILL YOU EVER WIN) FLEETWOOD MAC
RICH GIRL HALL & OATES
RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE BLUES IMAGE
RIDERS ON THE STORM DOORS
RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM MAXINE NIGHTINGALE
RIKKI DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER STEELY DAN
ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
ROCK ME GENTLY ANDY KIM
ROCK ON DAVID ESSEX
ROCK THE BOAT HUES CORPORATION
ROCK YOUR BABY GEORGE MCCRAE
ROCKET MAN ELTON JOHN
ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA & THE BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU JOHNNY RIVERS
ROCKIN' ME STEVE MILLER BAND
RUBBERBAND MAN SPINNERS
RUNNING ON EMPTY JACKSON BROWNE
SARA FLEETWOOD MAC
SARA SMILE HALL & OATES
SATURDAY IN THE PARK CHICAGO
SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING ELTON JOHN
SAY YOU LOVE ME FLEETWOOD MAC
SEPTEMBER EARTH, WIND & FIRE
SHADOW DANCING ANDY GIBB
SHAKE YOUR BODY JACKSON 5
SHAKE YOUR BOOTY KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
SHAME EVELYN "CHAMPAGNE" KING
SHARE THE LAND GUESS WHO
SHE'S A LADY TOM JONES
SHE'S GONE HALL & OATES
SHINING STAR EARTH, WIND & FIRE
SHOW ME THE WAY PETER FRAMPTON
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED STEVIE WONDER
SILLY LOVE SONGS PAUL MCCARTNEY
SING A SONG EARTH, WIND & FIRE
SIR DUKE STEVIE WONDER
SISTER GOLDEN HAIR AMERICA
SKY HIGH JIGSAW
SLOW DANCIN' (SWAYIN' TO THE MUSIC) JOHNNY RIVERS
SMILING FACES SOMETIMES UNDISPUTED TRUTH
SMOKE FROM A DISTANT FIRE SANFORD/TOWNSEND BAND
SMOKIN' IN THE BOYS ROOM BROWNSVILLE STATION
SO INTO YOU ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION
SOLITARY MAN NEIL DIAMOND
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER SUPREMES
SOONER OR LATER GRASS ROOTS
SOUL MAN BLUES BROTHERS
SPILL THE WINE ERIC BURDON & WAR
SPIRIT IN THE SKY NORMAN GREENBAUM
STAY WITH ME FACES
STAYIN' ALIVE BEE GEES
STILL THE ONE ORLEANS
STILL THE SAME BOB SEGER
STRANGE MAGIC ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
STRAWBERRY LETTER 23 BROTHERS JOHNSON
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU STEALERS WHEEL
STUMBLIN' IN SUZIE QUATRO & CHRIS NORMAN
SUAVECITO MALO
SULTANS OF SWING DIRE STRAIGHTS
SUMMER BREEZE SEALS & CROFTS
SUMMER NIGHTS JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
SUNSHINE JONATHAN EDWARDS
SUPERSTITION STEVIE WONDER
SWEARIN' TO GOD FRANKIE VALLI
SWEET HOME ALABAMA LYNYRD SKYNYRD
SWEET TALKIN' WOMAN ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
SWEET THING RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN
SWINGTOWN STEVE MILLER BAND
TSOP(THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA) MFSB
TAKE IT EASY EAGLES
TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT EAGLES
TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME SUPERTRAMP
TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN STEVE MILLER BAND
TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE
TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS DOOBIE BROTHERS
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG
TEARS OF A CLOWN SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES
TELEPHONE LINE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD RUFUS
TEMPTATION EYES GRASS ROOTS
TEQUILA SUNRISE EAGLES
THANK YOU(FALETTINME BE MICE ELF AGIN) SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
THAT LADY PT 1 ISLEY BROTHERS
THAT'S THE WAY (I LIKE IT) KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD EARTH, WIND & FIRE
THEN CAME YOU DIONNE WARWICK & SPINNERS
THEY JUST CAN'T STOP IT THE (GAMES PEOPLE PLAY) SPINNERS
THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE 10CC
THIS WILL BE NATALIE COLE
TIME IN A BOTTLE JIM CROCE
TIRED OF BEING ALONE AL GREEN
TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT (GONNA BE ALRIGHT) ROD STEWART
TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE
TOO MUCH HEAVEN BEE GEES
TRAVELIN' BAND CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
TREAT HER LIKE A LADY CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE
TURN THE BEAT AROUND VICKI SUE ROBINSON
TURN TO STONE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
25 OR 6 TO 4 CHICAGO
TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE EDDIE MONEY
UP AROUND THE BEND CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
USED TA BE MY GIRL O'JAYS
VEHICLE IDES OF MARCH
VENTURA HIGHWAY AMERICA
WALK THIS WAY AEROSMITH
WALKING IN RHYTHM BLACKBYRDS
WAR EDWIN STARR
WE ARE FAMILY SISTER SLEDGE
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS QUEEN
WE JUST DISAGREE DAVE MASON
WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
WE'VE GOT TONIGHT BOB SEGER
WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES DOOBIE BROTHERS
WHAT IS LIFE GEORGE HARRISON
WHAT YOU WON'T DO FOR LOVE BOBBY CALDWELL
WHATCHA SEE IS WHATCHA GET DRAMATICS
WHATEVER GETS YOU THROUGH THE NIGHT JOHN LENNON
WHAT'S GOING ON MARVIN GAYE
WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN THREE DEGREES
WHO LOVES YOU FOUR SEASONS
WHO'LL STOP THE RAIN CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS WAR
WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES BILLY PRESTON
WITCHY WOMAN EAGLES
WITH A LITTLE LUCK PAUL MCCARTNEY
WONDERFUL TONIGHT ERIC CLAPTON
YEAR OF THE CAT AL STEWART
YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE
YOU AND I RICK JAMES
YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL JOE COCKER
YOU ARE THE WOMAN FIREFALL
YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE STEVIE WONDER
YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM JIM CROCE
YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN STEVIE WONDER
YOU MAKE LOVING FUN FLEETWOOD MAC
YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING LEO SAYER
YOU MAY BE RIGHT BILLY JOEL
YOU SEXY THING HOT CHOCOLATE
YOU SHOULD BE DANCING BEE GEES
YOU WEAR IT WELL ROD STEWART
YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE LOU RAWLS
YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE LOGGINS & MESSINA
YOU'RE IN MY HEART ROD STEWART
YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND QUEEN
YOU'RE SIXTEEN RINGO STARR
YOU'RE SO VAIN CARLY SIMON
YOU'RE THE FIRST, THE LAST, MY EVERYTHING BARRY WHITE
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND JAMES TAYLOR
YOUR SMILING FACE JAMES TAYLOR
YOUR SONG ELTON JOHN
 
Before we reach the last stop on our journey in more ways than one, I would like to clarify/correct a couple things for those interested. “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie is clearly a 1980’s tune and not the 70’s. “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson was not included in the 80’s as it should have been for owner/operator reasons. Also, Earth, Wind & Fire for the 1970’s “tested” best.

What I present next – the 60’s- is what I am personally least proud. The songs pretty much mirror what many classic hits stations excluding the Eagle brand across the country play. It’s not at all representative of the incredible creativity in music for that decade, but I do recognize radio is a business. As in the other decades, care was taken to not go too far in any direction and the same applied here. After all, getting too oldies intensive would just not be good business and would defeat all other music efforts.

I followed a lot of the current thinking that says nothing existed prior to 1964 but I strayed on a handful of songs if no other reason is the fact that I’m an independent thinker. Personally, I find these lines of demarcation silly. When I’ve visited music websites, I’ve found it amazing how many young people are turned on by music popular long before they were born. My feeling is if a song is featured in special programming or highlighted for whatever reason such an artist’s birthday, (younger) listeners will remain provided it’s not done too often or gets to sound too old.

Today, creativity lies with the PD and a GM/owner who support rather than obstruct. Even with a core playlist of over 1100 songs that will have been presented, burn out can and will occur if programming isn’t tweaked occasionally. This all goes back to making the effort and for a PD to think of ways to be creative.

So with conformity in mind, the songs on the 60’s list tally to the famous/infamous 300 playlist – no more, no less. It’s almost this writer’s quiet way to protest programming concepts over the years that saw adult formats die needlessly due to burning out the same songs. Overall, what you will see are songs that have held up well over time. It’s all about how songs sound especially when positioned among multiple decades and different genres of music. Literally, this can be a bloody mess if not done right.

Stay tuned for the 60’s and final comments. Hopefully, we will come full circle in celebrating past success and evaluating past failure to looking at where we are today. But even more importantly, where will we be in the future? The future after all starts the next day.
 
I'm certain that even a generation or two from now, when someone talks about music from the 60's, the Beatles will be at the center with Motown as a very honorable runner up.

ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN DION
AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL
AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG TEMPTATIONS
ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT KINKS
ALL MY LOVING BEATLES
ALL SUMMER LONG BEACH BOYS
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE BEATLES
AND I LOVE HER BEATLES
AND WHEN I DIE BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS
APPLE, PEACHES, PUMPKIN PIE JAY & THE TECHNIQUES
AQUARIUS/LET THE SUNSHINE IN 5TH DIMENSION
AS TEARS GO BY ROLLING STONES
BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING FOUR TOPS
BABY I NEED YOUR LOVIN' JOHNNY RIVERS
BABY IT'S YOU SMITH
BABY LOVE SUPREMES
BABY, NOW THAT I'VE FOUND YOU FOUNDATIONS
BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN SUPREMES
BACK IN THE U.S.S.R BEATLES
BAD MOON RISING CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
BALLAD OF JOHN & YOKO BEATLES
BARBARA ANN BEACH BOYS
BEAUTIFUL MORNING RASCALS
BECAUSE DAVE CLARK FIVE
BEND ME SHAPE ME AMERICAN BREED
BIRTHDAY BEATLES
BLACK IS BLACK LOS BRAVOS
BORN TO BE WILD STEPPENWOLF
BOXER,THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL
BROWN EYED GIRL VAN MORRISON
BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP FOUNDATIONS
BUT IT'S ALRIGHT J.J. JACKSON
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' MAMAS & PAPAS
CALIFORNIA GIRLS BEACH BOYS
CAN'T BUY ME LOVE BEATLES
CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU FRANKIE VALLI
CARRIE-ANNE HOLLIES
CHAIN OF FOOLS ARETHA FRANKLIN
CHERISH ASSOCIATION
CHERRY, CHERRY NEIL DIAMOND
CLASSICAL GAS MASON WILLIAMS
COME SEE ABOUT ME SUPREMES
COME TOGETHER BEATLES
CRIMSON AND CLOVER TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
CRY LIKE A BABY BOX TOPS
CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
DANCE, DANCE, DANCE BEACH BOYS
DANCE TO THE MUSIC SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
DANCING IN THE STREET MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS
DARLIN' BEACH BOYS
DAY IN THE LIFE, A BEATLES
DAYDREAM LOVIN' SPOONFUL
DAYDREAM BELIEVER MONKEES
DEVIL W/BLUE DRESS-GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY MITCH RYDER & DETROIT WHEELS
DO WAH DIDDY DIDDY MANFRED MANN
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? LOVIN' SPOONFUL
DO YOU LOVE ME CONTOURS
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET BEATLES
DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD ANIMALS
DON'T WORRY BABY BEACH BOYS
DOWN ON THE CORNER CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
DRIVE MY CAR BEATLES
EASY TO BE HARD THREE DOG NIGHT
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK BEATLES
ELEANOR RIGBY BEATLES
EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' NILSSON
EVERYDAY PEOPLE SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
EXPRESSWAY TO YOUR HEART SOUL SURVIVORS
FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE STEVIE WONDER
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
FORTUNATE SON CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
FROM ME TO YOU BEATLES
FUN, FUN, FUN BEACH BOYS
GET BACK BEATLES
GET OFF MY CLOUD ROLLING STONES
GET READY TEMPTATIONS
GET TOGETHER YOUNGBLOODS
GIMME LITTLE SIGN BRENTON WOOD
GIMME SHELTER ROLLING STONES
GIMME SOME LOVIN' SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
GLORIA SHADOWS OF KNIGHT
GO NOW! MOODY BLUES
GOD ONLY KNOWS BEACH BOYS
GOOD DAY SUNSHINE BEATLES
GOOD LOVIN' RASCALS
GOOD VIBRATIONS BEACH BOYS
GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE BEATLES
GREEN ONIONS BOOKER T & THE MG'S
GREEN RIVER CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
GROOVIN' RASCALS
HANG ON SLOOPY McCOYS
HANKY PANKY TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
HAPPY TOGETHER TURTLES
HARD DAY'S NIGHT, A BEATLES
HEAT WAVE MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS
HELLO, GOODBYE BEATLES
HELLO, I LOVE YOU DOORS
HELP ME, RHONDA BEACH BOYS
HELP! BEATLES
HERE COMES THE SUN BEATLES
HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE BEATLES
HEY JUDE BEATLES
HOLD ON! I'M COMIN' SAM & DAVE
HONKY TONK WOMEN ROLLING STONES
HOOKED ON A FEELING B.J. THOMAS
HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN, THE ANIMALS
HOW SWEET IT IS MARVIN GAYE
HUSH DEEP PURPLE
I AM A ROCK SIMON & GARFUNKEL
I AM THE WALRUS BEATLES
I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU TEMPTATIONS
(I CAN'T GET NO) SATISFACTION ROLLING STONES
I CAN'T HELP MYSELF FOUR TOPS
I FEEL FINE BEATLES
I GET AROUND BEACH BOYS
I GOT YOU BABE SONNY & CHER
I GOT YOU (I FEEL GOOD) JAMES BROWN
I HEAR A SYMPHONY SUPREMES
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE GLADYS KNIGHT & PIPS
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE MARVIN GAYE
I SAW HER STANDING THERE BEATLES
I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER DIONNE WARWICK
I SECOND THAT EMOTION SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER BEATLES
I THANK THE LORD FOR THE NIGHTIME NEIL DIAMOND
I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND BEATLES
I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER STEVIE WONDER
I'D WAIT A MILLION YEARS GRASS ROOTS
I'LL BE BACK BEATLES
I'LL CRY INSTEAD BEATLES
I'M A BELIEVER MONKEES
I'M A LOOSER BEATLES
I'M HAPPY JUST TO DANCE WITH YOU BEATLES
(I'M NOT YOUR) STEPPIN' STONE MONKEES
I'VE BEEN LONELY TOO LONG RASCALS
I'VE GOTTA GET A MESSAGE TO YOU BEE GEES
IN MY LIFE BEATLES
IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR WILSON PICKETT
IT'S MY LIFE ANIMALS
IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG FOUR TOPS
IT'S YOUR THING ISLEY BROTHERS
IVE BEEN LONELY TOO LONG RASCALS
JUMPIN' JACK FLASH ROLLING STONES
KENTUCKY WOMAN NEIL DIAMOND
KISS HIM GOODBYE STEAM
LADY MADONNA BEATLES
LAND OF 1000 DANCES WILSON PICKETT
LAST TIME ROLLING STONES
LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE MONKEES
LAUGHING GUESS WHO
LAY LADY LAY BOB DYLAN
LETTER, THE BOX TOPS
LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY GRASS ROOTS
LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER ROLLING STONES
LIGHT MY FIRE DOORS
LIGHT MY FIRE JOSE FELICIANO
LIGHTNING STRIKES LOU CHRISTIE
LITTLE BIT ME, LITTLE BIT YOU MONKEES
LITTLE BIT O' SOUL MUSIC EXPLOSION
LODI CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
LOUIE, LOUIE KINGSMEN
LOVE CHILD SUPREMES
LOVE IS ALL AROUND TROGGS
LOVE IS HERE AND NOW YOU'RE GONE SUPREMES
LOVE ME DO BEATLES
MAGIC CARPET RIDE STEPPENWOLF
MEMPHIS JOHNNY RIVERS
MICHELLE BEATLES
MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS GRASS ROOTS
MIGHTY QUINN MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND
MONDAY, MONDAY MAMAS & PAPAS
MONY MONY TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
MOTHER'S LITTLE HELPER ROLLING STONES
MR. TAMBOURINE MAN BYRDS
MRS. ROBINSON SIMON & GARFUNKEL
MUSTANG SALLY WILSON PICKETT
MY CHERIE AMOUR STEVIE WONDER
MY GIRL TEMPTATIONS
MY GUY MARY WELLS
MY WORLD IS EMPTY WITHOUT YOU SUPREMES
NATURAL WOMAN (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) ARETHA FRANKLIN
NEVER MY LOVE ASSOCIATION
19TH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN ROLLING STONES
96 TEARS ? & THE MYSTERIANS
NORWEGIAN WOOD BEATLES
NOWHERE MAN BEATLES
NOWHERE TO RUN MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS
OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA BEATLES
OCTUPUS' GARDEN BEATLES
OH, PRETTY WOMAN ROY ORBISON
ONE THREE DOG NIGHT
OOH BABY BABY SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES
OPUS 17 4 SEASONS
P.S. I LOVE YOU BEATLES
PAINT IT BLACK ROLLING STONES
PAPERBACK WRITER BEATLES
PENNY LANE BEATLES
PEOPLE ARE STRANGE DOORS
PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY MONKEES
PLEASE PLEASE ME BEATLES
PROUD MARY CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE FOUR TOPS
REFLECTIONS SUPREMES
RESCUE ME FONTELLA BASS
RESPECT ARETHA FRANKLIN
REVOLUTION BEATLES
ROCK & ROLL MUSIC BEATLES
RUBY TUESDAY ROLLING STONES
SGT. PEPPER'S / WITH A LITTLE HELP… BEATLES
SHE LOVES YOU BEATLES
SHE'D RATHER BE WITH ME TURTLES
SHE'S A WOMAN BEATLES
SHE'S NOT THERE ZOMBIES
SHOOP SHOOP SONG BETTY EVERETT
SHOTGUN JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS
SHOUT ISLEY BROTHERS
(SITTIN' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY OTIS REDDING
SLOOP JOHN B. BEACH BOYS
SOMEBODY TO LOVE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
SOMETHING BEATLES
SON OF A PREACHER MAN DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
SOUL MAN SAM & DAVE
SOULFUL STRUT YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED
SOUNDS OF SILENCE SIMON & GARFUNKEL
SPINNING WHEEL BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS
SPOOKY CLASSICS IV
STAND BY ME BEN E. KING
STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE FOUR TOPS
STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE SUPREMES
STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER BEATLES
SUITE: JUDY BLUE EYES CROSBY, STILLS & NASH
SUGAR, SUGAR ARCHIES
SUMMER IN THE CITY LOVIN' SPOONFUL
SUMMER RAIN JOHNNY RIVERS
SUNNY AFTERNOON KINKS
SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE CREAM
SURFIN' USA BEACH BOYS
SUSPICIOUS MINDS ELVIS PRESLEY
SUZIE Q CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
SWEET CAROLINE NEIL DIAMOND
SWEET SOUL MUSIC ARTHUR CONLEY
TAKE A LETTER MARIA R. B. GREAVES
TAXMAN BEATLES
TELL HER NO ZOMBIES
THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH HERMAN'S HERMITS
THESE EYES GUESS WHO
THINGS WE SAID TODAY BEATLES
THINK ARETHA FRANKLIN
THIS MAGIC MOMENT JAY & THE AMERICANS
THIS OLD HEART OF MINE ISLEY BROTHERS
TICKET TO RIDE BEATLES
TIME IS ON MY SIDE ROLLING STONES
TIME OF THE SEASON ZOMBIES
TO LOVE SOMEBODY BEE GEES
TO SIR WITH LOVE LULU
TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT MY BABY MARVIN GAYE
TOUCH ME DOORS
TRACKS OF MY TEARS SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES
TUESDAY AFTERNOON MOODY BLUES
TURN! TURN! TURN! BYRDS
TWIST AND SHOUT ISLEY BROTHERS
TWIST AND SHOUT BEATLES
UNCHAINED MELODY RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
UNDER MY THUMB ROLLING STONES
UNDER THE BOARDWALK DRIFTERS
UNDUN GUESS WHO
UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT) STEVIE WONDER
VALLERIE MONKEES
WANDERER, THE DION
WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO TEMPTATIONS
WE CAN WORK IT OUT BEATLES
WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE ANIMALS
WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKENHEARTED JIMMY RUFFIN
WHAT DOES IT TAKE (TO WIN YOUR LOVE) JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS
WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN PERCY SLEDGE
WHEN I GROW UP(TO BE A MAN) BEACH BOYS
WHEN I'M 64 BEATLES
WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO? SUPREMES
WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS BEATLES
WHITE RABBIT JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
WHITE ROOM CREAM
WHITER SHADE OF PALE PROCAL HAREM
WILD THING TROGGS
WOOLY BULLY SAM THE SHAM
WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU 4 SEASONS
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE BEACH BOYS
YELLOW SUBMARINE BEATLES
YESTERDAY BEATLES
YESTER-ME, YESTER-YOU… STEVIE WONDER
YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE SUPREMES
YOU'RE GONNA LOOSE THAT GIRL BEATLES
YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON SUPREMES
YOU REALLY GOT ME KINKS
YOU WON'T SEE ME BEATLES
(YOU'RE MY) SOUL & INSPIRATION RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN' RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
YOU'VE MADE ME SO VERY HAPPY BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS
YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES
 
Conclusion

I thought about putting a music list together for a long time. Almost a year ago, I started work on this while I was in South Florida for the holidays. If there was anything I wanted to do was to use this as a visual to illustrate deficiencies in our market and just how much music we don’t hear on any one station.

At the time, I was very concerned about the Point because I knew the narrowness and repetition of the music would be their ultimate undoing. I really wasn’t a big fan of the station but they were by definition an adult oriented format and we had so few as it was so I wanted them to thrive.

While away I listened to their sister station out of Miami. They get 80’s intensive on the weekends but the variety of the music was just spot-on and their weekday morning show was killer. I very often wished we could have offered listeners in Jax their “Coast” brand as it would have simply been good business.

I guess it’s natural to get nostalgic when you go back “home” and I started thinking of radio there in the early to mid 80’s. While I realize this is the North Florida board what I’m about to say still relates to the ultimate topic – PPM and our market.

The station that made a very long-lasting impression on me was Y-100 (WHYI). Apparently, others agreed as for years as part of their top of the hour ID, the jock would say “The most listened to station in Florida.” This was more than a slogan, it was something earned.

The music was so good that there was never a need to ever say “one great song after another” or “X minutes of music each hour or X # of songs in a row. I never liked that kind of programming. But as I thought about radio in our market, I envisioned that magic in the music. Even as a CHR station, they would sometimes go back even 20 years to play an oldie. They incorporated the current with the past and it worked. After a news presentation in AM drive listeners would hear “that’s what’s happening today April 10, 1982.” Then drum roll, “April 10, 19XX” where the song could be anything from the 60’s through the 80’s tying the whole format together.

That’s just one example of how a concept like that can goose a greatest hits format today, especially if the song presented is not ordinarily heard. That does not take a lot of effort but the positive impacts to a listener can prove priceless especially if it keeps people tuned in. I pictured myself back in the mid 80’s listening to CHR and taking elements of all that worked then to help craft an adult alternative. Maybe, I don’t have an original; idea in my head after all as WCBS-FM is currently doing what I envisioned years ago.

When we bring all this closer to home, I continue to look at the past so we don’t repeat mistakes. I believe our market has often times been on the cutting edge with respect to format ideas. I thought “Groovin Oldies” was a good idea and there could have been a market for it. There’s no point in going over all that was wrong but one would think a weak signal would make them endeavor to get the song choices right. I consider myself an expert when it comes to knowing and understanding hit music to include funk and R&B from the 60’s to the 80’s and half the time I didn’t recognize the so called classic hits from the beach thing they did.

I also thought “Mix” was a great idea too. My only recollection now of that station was that they overplayed “Convoy” by C.W. McCall and duh, the song is in the novelty category which should have been played once in a blue moon. That’s another case of poor decisions and poor choices causing another viable format to die.

When Cool 96.9 fell to another PD to program, we heard the Fab 4 multiple times per hour and as much as I love the Beatles, I tuned out. Trying to satisfy playing 16 songs an hour even when “American Pie” played resulted in sloppy programming and you see what wound up happening. Listeners don’t walk around with stop watches counting songs. All they want is good music.

I never believed all the hype that adult hit music formats don’t work in Jacksonville. It’s not the format. It’s the programming, bad decisions and the wrong people who killed it.

As for the music list spanning 3 decades I provided, I’d like to clarify a couple points. The success of executing lies in the careful selection of songs. Every hour should sound like the one prior. A good number of the songs on the list would only be played in special programming or very infrequently. On both ends of the spectrum, songs such as “Hello” or “Just Once” should be heard only handful of times throughout the year and the same as anything Bon Jovi. It’s all about balance and not overdoing anything, especially disco. Many of the songs in the late 80’s are there so as to act as an anchor to the eventual addition of 90’s songs. There is growth potential and I don’t believe this is anything geriatric in what I presented and it is proven to do well in 25-54.

Many of you may think I’m all about an oldies type format or perhaps I’m even off the wall in my rants. Middle of the road talk show hosts don’t have an audience for not having an opinion. I do and I have long disagreed with how business is done here. I may sound like loose cannon at times but it’s all show to get you folks to read the posts. I also believe radio and the power of great music are causes worth fighting.

In the 5 years I have approached this subject, it hasn’t really been about turning radio into a museum or living in the past. To me, it’s always been about the future and the health of radio. As a listener, I sense a feeling of not trying or giving up. Hitting revenue targets is a worthy goal but radio should be about a lot more.

As I listen to the CBS-FM’s of the world, I have come to realize just how much 80’s and 70’s I had forgotten as those songs are not heard here. Multiple stations play a lot of the same songs and formats are very restrictive. Perhaps my expectations are higher, but radio should NOT be wallpaper as pocket-radio so very accurately puts it. I understand this isn’t New York but damn it, check out the Hall of Fame feature on the WCBSFM.com website. There is special programming every day, month after month. If we could even do 25% of that, radio here would be kicked up a very big notch. Listeners would finally have something more than wallpaper. Who knows, maybe even local advertisers would want to be a part of something exciting for a change.
.
So, the journey ends. I believe I’ve expressed myself as eloquent as I could by bringing facts and good common sense to the table. Today, adult listeners settle in among a couple of stations because they have nothing else. I always thought that was wrong and it stirred up passions in me that have remained strong for the last 5 years.

I certainly wish a different thinking process existed here. We hear so much about ratings and revenue, yet we engage in boring, repetitive programming but listeners are held ransom and so there is little effort to do more. I don’t want to end this all by repeating myself but to not have an adult hit music station that plays the King of Pop or even the Beach Boys and the scores of classic Beatles tunes shows us as a market out of touch. We can do better and that has been my source of frustration and motivation to try and effect change.

Decisions are in the hands of others. I’m just a poster on a board who has reached a point of overexposure and I apologize a lot for that. I’m a pretty well-grounded guy but I let my passions for great radio and great music perhaps dilute the real message that radio is worth fighting for and I want her to succeed. So thank you for putting up with me over the years. I hope you enjoyed the musical drive across time. Consider it special programming.

I may live in a dream world but I’ve always been optimistic. As I think about the very T.U. PPM article that spawned this saga, I still hope one day to read a comment from one of the GM’s here that says “We found a hole. There seemed to be a lot of talk that there’s no real classic hits station in Jacksonville – music that people grew up with on WAPE and other Top 40 stations across the country. This has really hit a nerve with a lot of people.”
 
If it was in the TU it may be more like hundreds who read the article....John, do you have a job?.....just kidding, I read your posts on a regular basis, Interesting stuff. I can't maintain the kind of focus you display. I will say this, I travel all over the US and I can tell you that the radio choices you have in Jax are below average at best. I am currently in the DC area and this is by far one of the best radio markets in the country. It is creative and well produced accross the dial. Jax radio needs to pick up the bar and raise it. My opinion only, I'm just an average has been.

Briggs Bickley
 
And yet, the bar was once yours to raise. Has been? Or never was?
 
Briggs, I appreciate the kind words more than you can imagine. Your comparision of our market to others is accurate. In all I have said over the years, never was it my intent to make anything personal. My passions can make my words too caustic and I'm far from perfect.

Today, I work seasonally but would like to work a lot more. I had a very long career in a very big bank. Last year, after having been laid off/hired back a number of times, I just had enough of the corporate politics and got the heck out of Dodge. Little did I know the bottom was going to drop out. So, that should answer the question about a job and the time I spend on radio stuff.

My managers often said I made the connection others don’t see. I took a stand, remained positive and was influential in changing opinions. As it comes to radio, I see myself more as naïve than as some change agent. Almost laughable, I really believed this board was like a conference room and that I had the ability to change opinions of those in charge here just as I did for years at work. My motivation was always about great radio, music variety and reflecting the diversity of this market and I don't think that will ever change. Maybe that all contributed to my dream world state of what should be.

Briggs, you travel a good deal and it’s hard not to recognize other markets offer more in the way of formats and good content. I do the same and I also travel by a click of a mouse listening to a lot of great radio across our country. That’s what I have always wanted for Jacksonville.

After I finished posting all the playlists and commentary about PPM, I went into a blue funk and I’m still feeling it. Between the apathy on this board and radio operations here, it’s just harder to stay upbeat. I took a look at the latest ratings in Tampa - a market in which we are compared. I was able to manage a smile as those numbers tell such a story. It’s all there if someone here can just connect the dots.
 
John,
I'm sorry about your job situation, I'm sorry for my comment. I am one of the lucky ones today, I have maintained employment during this down turn and I am blessed, not every one can say that and I should keep my pie hole shut. Keep posting, I love reading your stuff, you do have a gift. As for moonshadow, taking all things in consideration, never was.... That's okay, sometimes letting things go is more difficult than expected.
 
John,
Your last post made me think about some things, things that I wish I had understood sooner in life but that's not how it works. I made some bad decisions during my time in the world of broadcasting that shed a dim light on the biz, or at least my perception of things. My ego became so inflated that I forgot what was important. I began to buy into the nonsense around me, It became the real world for me like so many others but it was far from it. Radio truely is a strange brand of crazy and if you don't pay attention you can become part of it and that is never a good thing. People who don't work in broadcasting today may not realize how good they have it. I spoke to a good freind of mine at Renda just a few weeks ago, (one of the very few people from my life in radio I would consider a real freind)...He said he was a prisoner, he's trapped there, they own him. It is so sad to see that happen to such a good person. I, like every one else on this marble have made my share of bad decisions, I never should have taken the job @ wjxt, and I NEVER should have taken the position at Sunny 94.1. That was one of the dumbest things I had ever done. I did it because I lacked talent and ability, so I was willing to do more than expected to conpensate. That is not the way to live your life. I have learned at 47 to find your passion, what makes your mind click and do the best you can at it, no matter what others may think, no matter what the pay may be. I realized I needed to right size my ego and stop working for money and praise. I don't miss it at all, I miss a very small number of people from that world who I speak with from time to time. I am so much better off today, it's a choice, one that we can all make if we are willing to look at ourselves through the prism of reality. One more thing I wanted to mention, ratings are tough because the information that is used to make programming decisions is 3 to 4 months old, PD's are usually behind the 8 ball, reacting. The good ones have a natural sense and are willing to listen to imput from others, they keep their egos in check...

Have a great day, I'm on the road ago......
 
What you describe is not uncommon. In the seasonal job I had/have, I noticed a lot of middle age to even older workers who were in a long term career and got out due to burnout to do something else. That's where I am exept I don't know what that something else is yet.

There are those who spend a lifetime in radio and can only dream of achieving the position you had. At this point, rehashing all that went wrong serves little purpose. I still suspect you will always have radio in your blood and you will still recall the rush it gave you, especially in the earlier years. I never collected a radio paycheck but it's in my blood and even today I still get that rush.

One of those corporate teachable moment things says there is no "I" in teamwork. I always believed that to be true. I had the greatest success when I was a part of a team that worked well together to achieve goals and no partiucular person wanted to have all the glory. As in the case of the old KOOL, even if you earned a reputation as being a really good, creative programmer, it would have only extended borrowed time. Pure and simple, KOOL was not supported and it wasn't a format those in charge saw as viable in the long run.

Since you did a little confession of the soul, I will do likewise. A couple months after KOOL was born, I put together as I recall about 8 pages worth of suggestions and programming ideas. The only one I will mention here is that I thought the WKQL calls needed to be dropped and the KOOL moniker flushed down the toilet. There was too much comparison to Cool 96.9 and the station needed it's own identity.

With the suggestions in hand, I made a couple of trips to the Renda studios but chickened out going into the building. I wasn't exactly winning any popularity contests from this board so I thought no one would listen anyway and I was really fearful of a confrontation. I always regretted that inaction on my part. Again, maybe nothing could have been done to save the station. I had a lot of anger and resentment and these things can consume you so I learned a valuable lesson. All in all, I wish I were more civil to you and others - maybe it could have made a difference.

Thank you for the "gift" comment. While it may sound like ego, I'm not that way at all but I know, live and breathe the format. You mentioned talent at Renda and I think there are lots of great ones in that building. When I started building the playlists, I just dreamed of the Hometown Morning Show with Steve, Eden and Amadeus in the format. Now that would rock with lots of 70's and 80's hits and the impressions, especially on Generation X who listened to the Big Ape would have complemented the very audience I would want to attract. I always saw greater potential for them with this type format than Country. The way I see it, the 60's will continue to diminish and I can see it as a feature of special programming only within the next few years. But it's important to keep evolving and staying fresh. Other market GM's have revenue goals yet the format I want here exists there so I can't help but continue to be frustrated.

You mentioned Sunny 94.1. They are tweaking the station and it doesn't sound as it sounded when you were there. I'm not saying it's bad or good as I need more time to figure out exactly where they are going. Nothing was perfect, but I think you did a better job at Sunny than you did at KOOL but it's just an opinion of a listener. Matt does the voice imaging at Sunny and he is one to watch. He is the future. If Sunny went Bohemian Rhapsodies, I think Matt could image that too - he's that good.

Guess, I rambled way too much again. Anyway, I think we both got things off our chests. I feel better and many of my regretts are now buried in the past. I hope you feel the same way. It's a shame we couldn't relate like this a while back. Peace.
 
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