KOOL is kickin butt again

[landtuna]

I wasn't so much referring to the Motown label as I was the style of music Barry Gordy produced. Just wasn't my thang.

To gripe about Motown being on Kool is ridiculous.

No its not. I don't like it. I wish they wouldn't play it. Wasn't a huge fan of Elvis or the early Beatles either.

The music was a HUGE part of 60's / 70's Pop music.

Not on my radio.

That's what Kool is.....Pop music from that era.

I liked KOOL much better when it was an Oldies station. With all the great sounds from the mid-50's on it seems they do everyone a disservice by restricting their playlist. Maybe that's why I don't listen much any more.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

I liked KOOL much better when it was an Oldies station. With all the great sounds from the mid-50's on it seems they do everyone a disservice by restricting their playlist. Maybe that's why I don't listen much any more.

Sorry Senor Tuna, but it's not everyone, as pre-64 songs are deadly to
the demos. Just ask the Old Gringo. (He doesn't like the Shirelles either,
along with Looking Glass. Not to mention the 1910 Fruit Gum Company. ;D)

You could try the KRTH HD2 channel which is accessible on their website,
along with the regular classic hits format, however a quick check of the
HD2 stream revealed...(gasp!)...Motown.

 

[Gusto]

it just shows that the critics are now out of the demo and may be happier with KOY. Kool is STILL an oldies station. When songs age, they become oldies...does that mean they should include music for the 40's too? There is nothing wrong with Kool having a 20-30 year window. As time goes on, the window moves up...and your favorites become dated. Just my 2 cents.

 

[landtuna]

it just shows that the critics are now out of the demo and may be happier with KOY. Kool is STILL an oldies station. When songs age, they become oldies...does that mean they should include music for the 40's too? There is nothing wrong with Kool having a 20-30 year window. As time goes on, the window moves up...and your favorites become dated. Just my 2 cents.

I haven't listened to KOY since they occupied 550 AM and they were a MOR station (mid-70's unless my memory is shot). Bill Heywood was great but the music sort of sucked. But then they weren't really a music station.

KOOL bills itself as a "Classic Hits" station now (70's-80's). They used to be Oldies (60's-70's). Not since the days of KRIZ and KRUX have we seen stations which are truly "oldies" (although the Lumberyard comes closest today).

But I just had that discussion on another thread yesterday. Classifying music chronologically is often incomplete. Rock, whether produced in the 60's, 70's or 80's is still Rock. Big Band doesn't solely exist in the 40's although the Swing portion of it does. Some genre's did have specific time periods: Disco in the 70's and Doo Wop/BeBop in the 50's. The term 'oldies' means nothing any longer and 'classic hits' could describe any recording reaching the top 10 or 20 position on any chart.

The Old Gringo (I think) once explained that one of the survey companies coined these terms to be able to market station format to ad buyers. They don't describe the music as much as they do the perceived audience. I'm probably ranting into the wind but I don't structure my personal collection in this manner and don't believe it best serves the listening public.

Fortunately, these days, there are alternatives to OTA radio. If there are no stations playing the music I prefer I simply listen elsewhere. Which may be a significant factor why radio is in decline.

 

[landtuna]

I liked KOOL much better when it was an Oldies station. With all the great sounds from the mid-50's on it seems they do everyone a disservice by restricting their playlist. Maybe that's why I don't listen much any more.

Sorry Senor Tuna, but it's not everyone, as pre-64 songs are deadly to
the demos. Just ask the Old Gringo. (He doesn't like the Shirelles either,
along with Looking Glass. Not to mention the 1910 Fruit Gum Company. ;D)

You could try the KRTH HD2 channel which is accessible on their website,
along with the regular classic hits format, however a quick check of the
HD2 stream revealed...(gasp!)...Motown.

Yeah, I've gotten the Old Gringo lecture several times. The only thing I can counter with is that KOOL's ratings (and I assume revenue but can't confirm that) were outstanding before they went from Oldies to Classic Hits. And my very unofficial sampling of call-in's back then seemed to indicate the callers were mostly in the 30's-50's age range (judging by their voices). OG told me everyone over 54 was as good as dead to the radio hucksters but there seem to be a lot of us still alive well over that age that (used) to listen to KOOL.

The Motown thing is just personal preference. Although I do have a few faves in that genre, overall it isn't my music. I realize that listening to "oldies" will entail some Motown as it was part of the times. It just seemed KOOL was a bit heavy on that rotation at one time (Bill Gardner especially).

Thanks for the tip on KRTH. I'll give them a try.

 

[Gusto]

I don't like it.Not on my radio

well that is a strong argument! but i will admit, you came back with good points. 1440 also includes Motown, so Oldies and Classic Hits obviously both consider it a mainstream part of music history. But to say Kool's ratings have dropped seems pre-mature. Even though these numbers are 12+, Kool is still in the Top 5, and the formats beating them are talk, spanish, and AC....so i wouldn't say they have much competition in that area.

KFYI-AM
KESZ-FM
KHOT-FM/KHOV-FM
KTAR-FM
KOOL-FM

The station that SHOULD play Motown does very little (as well as disco), so I suppose Kool is picking up those listeners.

 

[landtuna]

But to say Kool's ratings have dropped seems pre-mature. Even though these numbers are 12+, Kool is still in the Top 5, and the formats beating them are talk, spanish, and AC....so i wouldn't say they have much competition in that area.

I didn't mean to imply that KOOL ratings were down but, evidenced by their recent moves to drop most of their local on-air staff, seems to imply their revenue isn't that hot. All things are relative though and they might just be in the same boat as radio in general (with respect to revenue and expenses).

 

[RandyMicheals]

The only thing I can counter with is that KOOL's ratings (and I assume revenue but can't confirm that) were outstanding before they went from Oldies to Classic Hits.

While KEZ does a fairly good job of getting an unfair share of revenue, PPM will be a friend to KOOL.

Park it and lock it.

 

[IreneCaraFan]

Here's one for ya... tonight, I heard, "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson on KOOL FM. A year ago, no one hear would have ever believed that!

Granted, it was the Tom Kent show, but still... it was KOOL FM!

 

[pattiwacki]

Here's one for ya... tonight, I heard, "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson on KOOL FM. A year ago, no one hear would have ever believed that!

Granted, it was the Tom Kent show, but still... it was KOOL FM!

That's just wrong.

 

[landtuna]

Well today I heart "Africa" by Toto.

I may have to give PD Kris a temporary pass (but I'd still like to hear Rick Nelson, Fats, Buddy every now and then).

 

[OCradiodude]

Here's one for ya... tonight, I heard, "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson on KOOL FM. A year ago, no one hear would have ever believed that!

Granted, it was the Tom Kent show, but still... it was KOOL FM!

I wouldn't consider Billie Jean to be oldies, classic rock, or classic hits. Billie Jean is 80s CHR. At some point this is all going to colapse. What happens when stations start getting to music made after 1983*?

Just go AC with tempo (a little more upbeat than KEZ) and be done with it.


*=When music went all directions and segmented

 

[radioman148]

Here's one for ya... tonight, I heard, "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson on KOOL FM. A year ago, no one hear would have ever believed that!

Granted, it was the Tom Kent show, but still... it was KOOL FM!

I wouldn't consider Billie Jean to be oldies, classic rock, or classic hits. Billie Jean is 80s CHR. At some point this is all going to colapse. What happens when stations start getting to music made after 1983*?

Just go AC with tempo (a little more upbeat than KEZ) and be done with it.


*=When music went all directions and segmented

Yawn-- another 80s classic station.

 

[qid937]

Here's one for ya... tonight, I heard, "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson on KOOL FM. A year ago, no one hear would have ever believed that!

Granted, it was the Tom Kent show, but still... it was KOOL FM!

*=When music went all directions and segmented

Actually that date was more like 1993...

 

[brownsugar]

i heard "Kim Carnes - Bettie Davis Eyes" Friday midday

 

[landtuna]

Kris must have found my mp3 player! ;D

 

[radioman148]

i heard "Kim Carnes - Bettie Davis Eyes" Friday midday

Originally written & recorded by Jackie DeShannon.

 

[brownsugar]

Oh and I heard the remix of "Elvis vs JXL - Little Less Conversation" from 2003 on Friday nite

 

[radioman148]

Oh and I heard the remix of "Elvis vs JXL - Little Less Conversation" from 2003 on Friday nite

Gee that's an old one.

 

[brownsugar]

Gee that's an old one.

I know, Right? lol, the song is 70's i believe, but was surpised to hear the remix