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menotti1
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HEY, i know we're talking 12 plus since that's what R&R shows,but what's going on at Kool.Would the song KOOL Change apply?
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tcsnrayp
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menotti1 said:
Trying to still the pot are you? Silly man, Phoenix is one of the few majors that kept their oldies format while many others gave up and are have now rapidly returned. Why would they change now?
KOOL is a great sounding, long-standing station in the Valley.
They've kind of been slow to the party on this one, but they need to add some select 80's stuff to their rotation like their other CBS counterparts (KRTH,WCBS) have done...with success. This 80's tweak will tap in to the large population of 35-45 year olds in the Valley that grew up listening to 80's stuff.
Once they do that, which I can almost bet they will....You'll see the ratings go back up.
They've kind of been slow to the party on this one, but they need to add some select 80's stuff to their rotation like their other CBS counterparts (KRTH,WCBS) have done...with success. This 80's tweak will tap in to the large population of 35-45 year olds in the Valley that grew up listening to 80's stuff.
Once they do that, which I can almost bet they will....You'll see the ratings go back up.
If/when KOOL begins playing 80's they'll undoubtedly lose those of us who believe all the great music was recorded before 1980.
Of course, there aren't as many of "us" alive as the 35-45 group so many the ratings won't suffer much. Just the music.
At least Motown and Disco are dead and buried.
Of course, there aren't as many of "us" alive as the 35-45 group so many the ratings won't suffer much. Just the music.
At least Motown and Disco are dead and buried.
landtuna-
I'm with you on the music before the 80's...I think it was better overall too!
But here's the problem...60's & 70's music only, no longer constitutes oldies or classic hits for people like me in my early 40's....and this age segment is huge and growing rapidly! Advertisers are looking for people in the age brackets (and younger) I mentioned in my previous post.
So, I think KOOL is going to have to adjust with a spattering of 80's stuff here and there. There are some good 80's tunes that fit nicely in to this format. Give KRTH or WCBS a listen on-line and you'll hear that they successfully integrate a light sampling of 80's music in to their rotations.
And, sorry to tell you...but Motown and Disco are far from dead. In fact, I think KOOL still does a Disco show on Saturday night!
I'm with you on the music before the 80's...I think it was better overall too!
But here's the problem...60's & 70's music only, no longer constitutes oldies or classic hits for people like me in my early 40's....and this age segment is huge and growing rapidly! Advertisers are looking for people in the age brackets (and younger) I mentioned in my previous post.
So, I think KOOL is going to have to adjust with a spattering of 80's stuff here and there. There are some good 80's tunes that fit nicely in to this format. Give KRTH or WCBS a listen on-line and you'll hear that they successfully integrate a light sampling of 80's music in to their rotations.
And, sorry to tell you...but Motown and Disco are far from dead. In fact, I think KOOL still does a Disco show on Saturday night!
What people think of as an "oldie" will always depend on someone's age, but there's no need to change anything now. If you wanted to start being fair, and play everybody's "oldies", we'll start hearing The Platters followed by The Cranberries. Who's to say who's "oldies" should be played? And then it's a whole mess... It really should just be a known fact that "oldies" constitutes music from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. And that's where it ends... In the world of radio, that's what it is/should be.
80's music sticks out like a sore thumb on a station that should be playing 60's and 70's music. That's what WOGL in Philadelphia is trying to do, despite the "Greatest Hits of the 60s and 70s" claim on their website. You can increase your playlist, sure, if that's what you think will boost your ratings. But there's plenty of 60's and 70's stuff they DON'T play anymore that definitely should/could be played that would probably boost ratings. Where's Junior Walker & the All Stars anymore? Box Tops' "Soul Deep" (briefly added to the regular playlist a few years ago)? The Buckinghams? Turtles (not JUST "Happy Together")? Hermans Hermits (not JUST "I'm Into Something Good")?
People get tired of hearing the same stuff each day, for example, because I know someone who can attest to this: "Brown Eyed Girl". They'll give up and tune out. Hearing the same song is inevitable though, but it surely couldn't hurt to add more songs into the playlist.
All this and more, can probably boost ratings a bit. But... in KOOL's case, I have a feeling this is NOT one of the major factors to the turnout of the recent Arbitron ratings...
By the way, landtuna: Motown and disco are not dead! KOOL is good with the disco but it should be kept to Saturday night, 7 o'clock, or Sunday only. However, "more motown," I say! ;D
80's music sticks out like a sore thumb on a station that should be playing 60's and 70's music. That's what WOGL in Philadelphia is trying to do, despite the "Greatest Hits of the 60s and 70s" claim on their website. You can increase your playlist, sure, if that's what you think will boost your ratings. But there's plenty of 60's and 70's stuff they DON'T play anymore that definitely should/could be played that would probably boost ratings. Where's Junior Walker & the All Stars anymore? Box Tops' "Soul Deep" (briefly added to the regular playlist a few years ago)? The Buckinghams? Turtles (not JUST "Happy Together")? Hermans Hermits (not JUST "I'm Into Something Good")?
People get tired of hearing the same stuff each day, for example, because I know someone who can attest to this: "Brown Eyed Girl". They'll give up and tune out. Hearing the same song is inevitable though, but it surely couldn't hurt to add more songs into the playlist.
All this and more, can probably boost ratings a bit. But... in KOOL's case, I have a feeling this is NOT one of the major factors to the turnout of the recent Arbitron ratings...
By the way, landtuna: Motown and disco are not dead! KOOL is good with the disco but it should be kept to Saturday night, 7 o'clock, or Sunday only. However, "more motown," I say! ;D
airpab,
I fully understand the age/oldies graph and the 'sliding' scale of music BUT I have two boys (out of 3) who grew up in the 80's/90's. One was country and one was heavy metal but both now listen to oldies. There will continue to be people who love the "traditional oldies" but the real question is whether there are enough of them to satisfy the station owners. I don't know the answer to that one but can tell you I have already switched to satellite for my music - and CD's in the car. The number of commercials on radio and especially the "screaming auto ads" have killed it for me.
Lauren,
You are a very perceptive person for one so young. But you are correct.....there is no reason that the Platters, Buddy Holly, Beatles couldn't mix with the Cranberries, Elton John or even one of the better Idol knockoffs. This is exactly the music mix I create on my own CD's. I have never understood why commercial stations restrict themselves in this manner - perhaps it was designed by the Arbitron(s). But even your favorite (KOOL-FM) doesn't play any 50's that I can recall - and an oldies station should. And I also agree KOOL's music variety is not what it should be. They should have unlimited storage and be able to create a very large music loop.
As for Disco....yes, I've listened to their Saturday evening show - briefly....very briefly. Good dance music. Lousy, repetitive lyrics and background. Can't stand it. Don't know why an "oldies" station signed up for this and passed on Andre Gardner's oldie show.
And I know you are too young to remember the payola scandals of the late 50's which led to girl groups and eventually Motown. Never liked 'em. Never will.
I fully understand the age/oldies graph and the 'sliding' scale of music BUT I have two boys (out of 3) who grew up in the 80's/90's. One was country and one was heavy metal but both now listen to oldies. There will continue to be people who love the "traditional oldies" but the real question is whether there are enough of them to satisfy the station owners. I don't know the answer to that one but can tell you I have already switched to satellite for my music - and CD's in the car. The number of commercials on radio and especially the "screaming auto ads" have killed it for me.
Lauren,
You are a very perceptive person for one so young. But you are correct.....there is no reason that the Platters, Buddy Holly, Beatles couldn't mix with the Cranberries, Elton John or even one of the better Idol knockoffs. This is exactly the music mix I create on my own CD's. I have never understood why commercial stations restrict themselves in this manner - perhaps it was designed by the Arbitron(s). But even your favorite (KOOL-FM) doesn't play any 50's that I can recall - and an oldies station should. And I also agree KOOL's music variety is not what it should be. They should have unlimited storage and be able to create a very large music loop.
As for Disco....yes, I've listened to their Saturday evening show - briefly....very briefly. Good dance music. Lousy, repetitive lyrics and background. Can't stand it. Don't know why an "oldies" station signed up for this and passed on Andre Gardner's oldie show.
And I know you are too young to remember the payola scandals of the late 50's which led to girl groups and eventually Motown. Never liked 'em. Never will.
KOOL Listener Lauren said:
Well said, Lauren. No, AMAZINGLY said! And you're right, Motown rocks!
landtuna-
This is not my opinion. The demographics have changed and continue to change...that's fact. And it's especially true in a relatively young town like Phoenix.
The reason KOOL's counterparts in L.A., N.Y. and elsewhere have added 80's songs, is because they have to. They had to adapt and modify or die! Ratings slid when they were lite 50's, heavy 60's, medium 70's.
Now, oldies/classic hits stations are playing lite 60's, heavy 70's and lite 80's...and it's working!
KOOL is sliding....so I'll bet you'll see some changes!
This is not my opinion. The demographics have changed and continue to change...that's fact. And it's especially true in a relatively young town like Phoenix.
The reason KOOL's counterparts in L.A., N.Y. and elsewhere have added 80's songs, is because they have to. They had to adapt and modify or die! Ratings slid when they were lite 50's, heavy 60's, medium 70's.
Now, oldies/classic hits stations are playing lite 60's, heavy 70's and lite 80's...and it's working!
KOOL is sliding....so I'll bet you'll see some changes!
Thanks landtuna!
However, I was actually meaning to say the complete opposite. KOOL has recently begun regularly playing a handful of songs they used to only play for 70's Sunday, 70's at Seven, or Saturday Night Dance Party. With the addition of even more 70's music, 50's music would not mix well more now than ever before. Besides, radio and music research panels show 50's music isn't very popular. You'd more likely to hear 50's on a smaller station, where they don't really have a chance at being one of the top stations in the latest Arbitron.
Now thinking about it, the last 50's song I've ever heard on KOOL was The Champs' "Tequila" (1958), and this had to have been around 10 months ago.
However, I was actually meaning to say the complete opposite. KOOL has recently begun regularly playing a handful of songs they used to only play for 70's Sunday, 70's at Seven, or Saturday Night Dance Party. With the addition of even more 70's music, 50's music would not mix well more now than ever before. Besides, radio and music research panels show 50's music isn't very popular. You'd more likely to hear 50's on a smaller station, where they don't really have a chance at being one of the top stations in the latest Arbitron.
Now thinking about it, the last 50's song I've ever heard on KOOL was The Champs' "Tequila" (1958), and this had to have been around 10 months ago.
pattiwacki said:
;D You bet, pattiwacki! Thank you so much!
Lauren,
I have to be honest and say my KOOL listening has declined to about 20 minutes per day - just the time it takes me to get enough energy to roll over and punch my alarm radio. After listening to KOOL for the past 20+ years it has finally reached the point their music isn't worth the onslaught of commercials, particularly the "in your face" auto ads. So I've just either created my own music streams (including the 50's early rock) or listen to commercial-free streams elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised to see KOOL slide down the ladder even further.
Like you, I was very fond of Bill Gardner and was sorry to see him go....however, the music played on the Morning Show is now more to my liking without the you-know-what that BG evidently liked so much. And I like the other people on the crew getting their chance to talk.
Getting back to the big picture though....the industry has gotten so fragmented now that virtually all radio is fighting for little pieces of the audience. Go to the KTKT tribute site and read the editorial by one of the 50's truly great DJ's, Frank Kalil, and you'll see what I mean. Those days are probably gone forever and with ownership of most stations by corporate interests who are short-term oriented there won't be space for "little stations" to play niche music. Sad. Your generation won't ever hear the music that started the rock revolution.
Good luck with your DJ career. You have an uphill climb!
I have to be honest and say my KOOL listening has declined to about 20 minutes per day - just the time it takes me to get enough energy to roll over and punch my alarm radio. After listening to KOOL for the past 20+ years it has finally reached the point their music isn't worth the onslaught of commercials, particularly the "in your face" auto ads. So I've just either created my own music streams (including the 50's early rock) or listen to commercial-free streams elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised to see KOOL slide down the ladder even further.
Like you, I was very fond of Bill Gardner and was sorry to see him go....however, the music played on the Morning Show is now more to my liking without the you-know-what that BG evidently liked so much. And I like the other people on the crew getting their chance to talk.
Getting back to the big picture though....the industry has gotten so fragmented now that virtually all radio is fighting for little pieces of the audience. Go to the KTKT tribute site and read the editorial by one of the 50's truly great DJ's, Frank Kalil, and you'll see what I mean. Those days are probably gone forever and with ownership of most stations by corporate interests who are short-term oriented there won't be space for "little stations" to play niche music. Sad. Your generation won't ever hear the music that started the rock revolution.
Good luck with your DJ career. You have an uphill climb!
I have heard the same thing about listening time decreasing from so many people, that it's become so common and really a shame. A shame that a station that was doing so well is slipping. I still remember when KOOL was #1 and then #3 in the Arbitron. It doesn't seem like that long ago. And it was done without the 80's. But it's not too late to get back up, and it can be done yet again; yes, still without the 80's! The glass is always half-full as far as I'm concerned.
As for the 50's, we just disagree. Good stuff? You bet! My only thing against it is that I really don't think it will be beneficial in the ratings. I'm not going to lie; I like to see my favorite station kicking butt and sounding great! No doubt, that's what the PD should be wanting as well, of course...
Airpab says, "Now, oldies/classic hits stations are playing lite 60's, heavy 70's and lite 80's...and it's working!" But I wonder if they've previously done as well or better before the 80's like KOOL has? KOOL was the crème de la crème, and despite the changes over the past year (some more like hurdles than anything else), they still can do it with their fantastic on-air personalities, and not forgetting some great 60's and 70's chart-toppers they used to play that seemed to drop off the face of the earth. Few more hits can go a long way.
I can go on and say exactly what I think should be done to the precise detail, if only I had the time to type it all out... But talent and playlist is the key. A little FUN something-or-other for the listeners certainly wouldn't hurt either : (Backwards Oldie, trivia, etc.)
...Now, get outta my huddle and go get 'em!! ;D
Thanks landtuna! Appreciate it!
As for the 50's, we just disagree. Good stuff? You bet! My only thing against it is that I really don't think it will be beneficial in the ratings. I'm not going to lie; I like to see my favorite station kicking butt and sounding great! No doubt, that's what the PD should be wanting as well, of course...
Airpab says, "Now, oldies/classic hits stations are playing lite 60's, heavy 70's and lite 80's...and it's working!" But I wonder if they've previously done as well or better before the 80's like KOOL has? KOOL was the crème de la crème, and despite the changes over the past year (some more like hurdles than anything else), they still can do it with their fantastic on-air personalities, and not forgetting some great 60's and 70's chart-toppers they used to play that seemed to drop off the face of the earth. Few more hits can go a long way.
I can go on and say exactly what I think should be done to the precise detail, if only I had the time to type it all out... But talent and playlist is the key. A little FUN something-or-other for the listeners certainly wouldn't hurt either :
(Backwards Oldie, trivia, etc.)...Now, get outta my huddle and go get 'em!! ;D
landtuna said:
Thanks landtuna! Appreciate it!- Status