KOOL-FM is still playing Christmas music after December 25th

[pattiwacki]

I know what you're saying and I know you probably know more about marketing the format than me. It's just the trend goes against my own personal preference. I love James Hetfield's voice as much as I love Lou Rawls'. I don't want to hear them broadcast on the same station.

 

[landtuna]

What I can't appreciate is a formerly great station sounding awful and clueless, throwing different kinds of songs from different eras at the wall to see what will stick until there's just a big mess left. Sorry.

You and I probably describe a "big mess" differently. My mp3 player has a combination of songs which would sound natural to me if played on KOOL. They range from Fats and Rick Nelson to the Everlys and Beach Boys followed by some Elton John and even Enya. Toss in a few country-rock favs, a doo-wop or two, some Moody Blues and CSN&Y and I'm in music heaven. Very little Motown, if any, no metal and virtually nothing post-1980. I don't consider this a "mess" but also recognize it would be almost impossible to brand using the normal descriptions. Maybe "Whatever We Want" comes closest (although they didn't play "whatever I wanted" either).

Oldies, to me, means early RnR (late 50's), surf, British Invasion, Folk Rock and 70's rock. That covers a ton of music history and playlists could be large and varied. If I were KOOL PD that would be my target, complete with jingles, effects and DJ soundbites appropriate to that era. It would be the greatest oldies radio station on Earth! (regardless of what Eduardo says)

 

[pattiwacki]

No, I actually have all of the artists you mentioned on my ipod, landtuna. I DO have metal, but I also have Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Kindy Freidman and the Jewboys, Queen Ida and Ray Price and Merle Haggard and Jamiriquai and Tingstadt and Rumbel. I think I even have a song by the Muppets (don't duck the duckie? cool sax) I have no problem with an elective mix when I've made it myself. but for some reason it annoys me to hear it on a radio station.

 

[pattiwacki]

Oops, I mean Kinky Friedman. Lots of Brook Benton too, what a voice!

 

[pattiwacki]

If I were KOOL PD that would be my target, complete with jingles, effects and DJ soundbites appropriate to that era. It would be the greatest oldies radio station on Earth! (regardless of what Eduardo says)

Fantastice ideas! What I wouldn't give to be able to hear my ol' Boss Jocks from KHJ or Seven Swingin' Gentleman from KFWB!

 

[MondayMorningQB]

What I can't appreciate is a formerly great station sounding awful and clueless, throwing different kinds of songs from different eras at the wall to see what will stick until there's just a big mess left. Sorry.

You and I probably describe a "big mess" differently. My mp3 player has a combination of songs which would sound natural to me if played on KOOL. They range from Fats and Rick Nelson to the Everlys and Beach Boys followed by some Elton John and even Enya. Toss in a few country-rock favs, a doo-wop or two, some Moody Blues and CSN&Y and I'm in music heaven. Very little Motown, if any, no metal and virtually nothing post-1980. I don't consider this a "mess" but also recognize it would be almost impossible to brand using the normal descriptions. Maybe "Whatever We Want" comes closest (although they didn't play "whatever I wanted" either).

Oldies, to me, means early RnR (late 50's), surf, British Invasion, Folk Rock and 70's rock. That covers a ton of music history and playlists could be large and varied. If I were KOOL PD that would be my target, complete with jingles, effects and DJ soundbites appropriate to that era. It would be the greatest oldies radio station on Earth! (regardless of what Eduardo says)

So, just so we understand. You would play more fifties and add Enya to the list?

Or are you saying KOOL still plays Everlys and Fats (which they don't) and Enya (which they may have played Silent Night in holiday mode).

And, you would have a radio station that would be 55 plus and have no 25-54 numbers. That is the reason 'the old KOOL' now lives on AM only in almost every market in America. My guess is you aren't in the 25-54 demo (I feel your pain on that) and want KOOL to be more 'you'. That is the death of any program director. Ask an unemployed one. Heck, there are a few on here. Or ask Edurardo (again) and ignore what he says (again).

 

[Wildstyle K]

My god, one of the only reasons I look forward to Xmas is for it to be over and all the crappy songs to go away again.

Stop the madness, Christmas music sucks!

(BTW, so does Light Fail, a billion dollars for something slower than a bus, restricted to one track and goes where no one lives)

The light rail isn't so bad. I like it better than the Red Line for now - while it's still clean with no graffiti. It may be unreliable and unpredictable when it comes to the guarantee of getting places on time, but other than that I think it's ok. It was kind of a silly idea to begin with, but it's good, especially for it's few first days before it starts to get old, and also if you are not planning to go by the airport. I just have to say though that one thing they do need to improve is the fact that when it breaks down, they rather speak on the intercom and apologize and try to keep you in as long as possible rather than open the doors and let you out. That's what happened to us (us meaning me and the other passengers) near 40th street & Washington during the second day of light rail. We were in the train that stopped in the middle of the track in between stations, which stopped all the service on that side and direction of the rail from that train, behind.

If I had known I would have stayed home and listened to Christmas music rather than wait in line for 1 hour 30 minutes to break down during the grand opening.

 

[landtuna]

Lots of Brook Benton too, what a voice!

If you like Benton you should try some Earl Grant. Smoooooth!

As for the Seven Swingin' Gentlemen.....I was in the navy in El A when some of those guys were around and I agree with you but I also would love to hear the early to mid-60's guys on KYA and KEWB....and late 50's KTKT (some of whom moved to KEWB later on).

 

[landtuna]

So, just so we understand. You would play more fifties and add Enya to the list?

Yes, more late 50's and no, I just listed that to provide an example of what I like to listen to. Enya wouldn't fit Oldies.

And, you would have a radio station that would be 55 plus and have no 25-54 numbers. That is the reason 'the old KOOL' now lives on AM only in almost every market in America. My guess is you aren't in the 25-54 demo (I feel your pain on that) and want KOOL to be more 'you'. That is the death of any program director. Ask an unemployed one. Heck, there are a few on here. Or ask Edurardo (again) and ignore what he says (again).

You'd be correct on the demo. I'm 55+ and I've heard all the arguments and will admit I may be totally off base insofar as professional radio goes but....

I've watched carefully as three of my kids have gone through high school over the past ten years and am convinced there is a market among them in the oldies music. When groups of them are over and I fire up the old time machine it is remarkable how they take to it. Mix the music with some real on-air personalities and old time radio could be relevant again. Even the kids at the local elementary school get revved up with old time sock hops and music to match. That's how it all started in my generation.

With the slow death spiral radio is in currently it wouldn't hurt to try. Nothing else seems to be working.

 

[landtuna]

The light rail isn't so bad.

The light rail needs work. I realize it's new and ridership will change into professional commuters once the freebie rides end but.....

The scheduled time from one end terminal to the other is one hour. Today's ride took 1 1/2 hours each way. Way longer than the bus. I heard this comment from many people around me. Not good.

The tracks are on the inside of the roadway which means cars turning left must cross the tracks parallel to them. Three times on the way home a car began to turn left in front of the train. A major wreck awaits. They should have moved the tracks into the traffic lanes or prohibit left turns. Maybe after someone dies that will happen. Not good.

The cars are nice but not nicer than an average bus. And because the bus stops only when there are people to pick up or drop off it passes a lot of the stops. The train must stop at every stop and each stop is 2 to 4 times longer than the bus. Not good.

There is a bus line here called the Red Line which is the most heavily used route in Phoenix. From my house to the airport I take the local several miles north, switch to the RL which then drops me off at any terminal in the airport. The RL will be discontinued once the rail is official. To get to the airport now I must take the local up to Old Town Tempe (the nearest rail station - add'l 10 minutes or so), walk to the rail to get near the airport then switch to a shuttle to get to the terminal. I'm estimating the trip will be at least twice as long (was about 40 minutes). Not good.

I guess for some people it might be worth riding. If you live in Mesa and commute to downtown Phoenix, or want to take in a game at BOB. But I really wonder how many people will stick with it considering the time involved?

 

[pattiwacki]

Lots of Brook Benton too, what a voice!

If you like Benton you should try some Earl Grant. Smoooooth!

As for the Seven Swingin' Gentlemen.....I was in the navy in El A when some of those guys were around and I agree with you but I also would love to hear the early to mid-60's guys on KYA and KEWB....and late 50's KTKT (some of whom moved to KEWB later on).

Earl Grant, "End of the Rainbow", right? Very nice.

 

[DrAkbar]

An hour and a half to go from one end to the other on Snail Rail? How could that be?? In all the printed information Nurse Jeff and I have from Metro it clearly states a one hour journey. Perhaps at 6am on Sundays, but during the week that just aint goin' happen. Pehaps the genius who gave us KOOL's All Xmas Music on Halloween came up with the timetable? If we wanted to travel slowly, the Nurse and I would have taken one of those bicycle rickshaws instead of Snail Rail!

 

[Gale Tulare]

Dear Doc Akbar,

Why in the world would you be riding light rail if you live in Buckeye? A bit out of your way isn't it?

We really enjoyed the Christmas tunes on several stations over the holidays. When you got sick of hearing White Christmas on one station you could punch to another and hear the same song to be sick of all over again!

We also know it does tend to positively affect the ratings. We also know it does not positively affect the rates!

 

[DrAkbar]

Dear Doc Akbar,

Why in the world would you be riding light rail if you live in Buckeye? A bit out of your way isn't it?

Not if you're hangin' with the Central Av Cheerleaders just north of Camelback! The Snail Rail is just the ticket for reminding Nurse Jeff and me why we're proud Gremlin drivers...even if our license plate frame is illegal.

We really enjoyed the Christmas tunes on several stations over the holidays. When you got sick of hearing White Christmas on one station you could punch to another and hear the same song to be sick of all over again!


We also know it does tend to positively affect the ratings. We also know it does not positively affect the rates!

Hmmmmm....we have a hard time believing the See B.S.ers weren't thinking about rates. But you're right, this year you could get sick of Xmas music twice as much with KOOL & KEZ keeping our little ears full of mush!

Prediction: next radio bloodbath occurs at Clear Channel within coming days. Imagine a three legged stool with one leg!