KRTH ......and more

[davideduardo]

Not exactly true. If you listen to only one Sirius station all the time, the rotation isn't much different from a typical classic hits station. What really freaks me out is when I hear the exact same SEQUENCE of songs, in the exact order. That's something you rarely hear on broadcast radio.

That is what annoys me to no end. The horizontal and vertical rotations on the decade channels are just horrible. They seem to have no clue as to how to make sure the same sequences do not repeat over and over. This is one of the two main reasons why I am probably not going to renew on any of our cars when they come up next year. The other is the quantity of minor-hits-that-are-almost-non-hits on the 60's, 70's and 80's channels.

 

[oldies76]

Did you have a computer in 1985? Don't blame me or radio for computers, satellites, and smartphones.

We used Apple IIe computers in '85 in school and KRTH was doing it's best specialty weekends ever that year thanks to PD's who knew how to have fun. You simply listed alternates to radio. In 1985, there were cassettes, lingering 8-tracks and reel to reel, 45's and LP's. People had choices then and have choices now.

 

[oldies76]

The other is the quantity of minor-hits-that-are-almost-non-hits on the 60's, 70's and 80's channels.

That's the benefit of a paid service. Don't like it, don't pay. People want their music, not a playlist of 250.

 

[davideduardo]

And radio used to give us what many wanted, for free. You changed, we didn't. And many other smaller stations provide what we want, for free today, you and KRTH don't. There is absolutely no reason why anyone with half a brain should ever pay for a terrestrial radio broadcast. I sure wouldn't and neither would you.

Radio changed.

No, that is not true. Radio evolved, and you did not. You want the style of presentation and the jingles and the playlists stations used 25 years ago.

In radio's evolution, it has replaced the people who were 30 to 54 25 years ago with the folks who were from 6 to 29 years old 25 years ago. The people who enjoyed "your" kind of radio are now all over 55 and of no benefit to a radio station.

 

[TheBigA]

We used Apple IIe computers in '85 in school

You couldn't listen to music on computers, could you? Surf the net in 1985? Really? Come on. The world changed, you haven't.

And many other smaller stations provide what we want, for free today, you and KRTH don't.

And yet KRTH gets better ratings than those smaller stations. In a market where there's far more competition than those little stations will ever know.

 

[oldies76]

The world changed, you haven't.

An 18 year old vs. 47...we all change.

And yet KRTH gets better ratings than those smaller stations. In a market where there's far more competition than those little stations will ever know.

And if you told those stations, what you told me, they'd run you out of town. They are doing their best under their circumstances. 690 is doing an incredible job. Instead of mocking them, why not listen to them. They have plenty to offer, that you will never know!

 

[TheBigA]

An 18 year old vs. 47...we all change.

But you want radio to give you what you got in 1985. So in that way, you haven't changed.

Instead of mocking them, why not listen to them.

No one's mocking anyone. I'm simply stating the facts.

 

[davideduardo]

We used Apple IIe computers in '85 in school and KRTH was doing it's best specialty weekends ever that year thanks to PD's who knew how to have fun. You simply listed alternates to radio. In 1985, there were cassettes, lingering 8-tracks and reel to reel, 45's and LP's. People had choices then and have choices now.

In 1985, CD's had reached the point where they were ready to be considered a mainstream distribution method.

And just like 78's, 45's, albums, 8-Tracks and cassettes they were simply the way people held their personal music collections. Today, the MP3 is giving way to the cloud which is yet another major change.

As technology has evolved, people have adapted to new systems.

In radio, we started using computers for traffic in the '74 to '75 period when IBM brought out the System 33 and System 34 minis. By the late 70's, we were using micros ranging from S-100 Bus CPM machines to Apple II's and Trash-80's to do research and music logs. Some of us even wrote our own music schedulers and research applications in Clipper compiled dBase II.

So that mid-80's period you refer to was well into the era of research and computer assisted programming. Programmers simply programmed to the 25-54 and 18-49 audiences based on what those groups wanted to hear from each different format at the time.

None of the 25-54's of 1985 are of any interest to radio or advertisers today. They are all over 55. And the new 25-54's don't like what you thought was terrific way back when. It's as simple as that.

 

[oldies76]

But you want radio to give you what you got in 1985.

I agree with you 100%. You are right! Exactly why I avoid stations that don't interest me and why I favor stations like WOGL and others that have specials and playlists that appeal. It's called entertaining radio. Like I said already, some radio stations have changed, some for the better, some for the worse.

 

[TheBigA]

Like I said already, some radio stations have changed, some for the better, some for the worse.

The world changed. Get it straight. The world changed, and you want radio to stay the way it was.

You want a museum, and we're running a business. Two different things.

 

[davideduardo]

690 is doing an incredible job. Instead of mocking them, why not listen to them. They have plenty to offer, that you will never know!

I have listened several times, generally when you bring up the station as an example.

I find the music flow to be erratic, without a good era/tempo/sound balance in hours and sweeps. The music is not all that bad, although it leans too old for the station to be an effective selling medium for local advertisers. The production is weak and tiring, the the (few) local commercials sound "good" in proportion to the market size.

 

[oldies76]

I have listened several times, generally when you bring up the station as an example.

I find the music flow to be erratic, without a good era/tempo/sound balance in hours and sweeps. The music is not all that bad, although it leans too old for the station to be an effective selling medium for local advertisers. The production is weak and tiring, the the (few) local commercials sound "good" in proportion to the market size.

Thanks for your honest conclusion. I have noticed production lapses as well (KRTH is obviously superior), but I'm more into the music than anything.

 

[Bob Eubanks]

And radio used to give us what many wanted, for free. You changed, we didn't. And many other smaller stations provide what we want, for free today, you and KRTH don't. There is absolutely no reason why anyone with half a brain should ever pay for a terrestrial radio broadcast. I sure wouldn't and neither would you.

Where there's a will, there's a way. Radio changed.

It never gave everyone what they wanted, even if it gave you what you wanted. What's true then and true now is that it gives a huge portion of the audience what it wants (taken in aggregate then and now). What's changed is that the Internet gave complainers an echo chamber.

 

[Art Landing]

Michael, the Sirius XM '40s Channel was renamed '40s Junction and is now on Channel 73. And yes, I've worked on a list for that channel too. The list has 1383 songs so far and is posted at http://xmfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=124328&start=0

"Forties" Junction? With the original 1922 version of bandleader Vincent Lopez's theme song "Nola" included in the playlist? Now that's a real stretch.

Andy and Virginia Mansfield might have featured that disc on their "Turn Back the Clock" program on KFI in the fifties!

What really dates me is that, although I don't specifically remember Nola, I do recognize and recall easily more titles on the list than anything on KRTH's list today. For a number I can even recall the melody - today melody has largely given way to the beat.

 

[Thomps2525]

Felix Arndt wrote Nola in 1915 for his fiancé, Nola Locke. There have been five hit versions of the song: Vincent Lopez and Carl Fenton, both in 1922; Tommy Dorsey in 1937; and Guy Lombardo and Les Paul, both in 1950. The song has also been recorded by Roger Williams, Billy Williams, Liberace, Horst Jankowski, the Morgan Brothers and many other artists. Nola is one of those tunes that people hear and recognize but can't remember the name of. Here is one of Vincent Lopez's versions; he recorded the song three times, for Okeh Records, Edison Disc Records and Edison Amberol Records. It was his first hit, reaching #3 on the national sales chart in August of 1922.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gguRFUlg1WU

 

[SuperRadioFan]

The additive playlists of all of the radio stations in LA is over 4000 songs ...... you'll hear more depth in the last 35 years than you'd hear on any single channel, regardless of platform.

BS BS BS!!! Define or tell us what you consider to be "more depth".... Give me specific examples ... tracks or artists... Right.

 

[TheBigA]

Define or tell us what you consider to be "more depth".... Give me specific examples ... tracks or artists... Right.

By sampling all stations, you get songs and genres you'd never hear on any one single Sirius channel. Understand?

 

[K.M. Richards]

BS BS BS!!!

NO
IT
ISN'T.

Define or tell us what you consider to be "more depth".... Give me specific examples ... tracks or artists... Right.

I can hear a classic top-40 track on KRTH. I can switch stations and hear a classic rock song on KSWD or KLOS. Switch stations again and a current pop song on KIIS or KAMP. A country song on KKGO. A current hip-hop song on either KPWR or KRRL. A classic one on KDAY. A softer hit on KOST, a softer soul oldie on KTWV, an older rhythmic hit on KBIG. A current or classic alternative hit on KROQ or KYSR ...

Give me the Sirius/XM channel where I will get all of those.

Complaining about a single station's lack of "variety" without considering that there are other stations available is like sticking to one satellite channel and making the same complaint.

 

[michael hagerty]

Felix Arndt wrote Nola in 1915 for his fiancé, Nola Locke. There have been five hit versions of the song: Vincent Lopez and Carl Fenton, both in 1922; Tommy Dorsey in 1937; and Guy Lombardo and Les Paul, both in 1950. The song has also been recorded by Roger Williams, Billy Williams, Liberace, Horst Jankowski, the Morgan Brothers and many other artists. Nola is one of those tunes that people hear and recognize but can't remember the name of. Here is one of Vincent Lopez's versions; he recorded the song three times, for Okeh Records, Edison Disc Records and Edison Amberol Records. It was his first hit, reaching #3 on the national sales chart in August of 1922.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gguRFUlg1WU

Steve: A serious question. If you have a job, a life, write these historical pieces for Barrett, and compile lists of thousands of songs on SiriusXM channels, of which you are a longtime subscriber and fan.....where do you get the time to complain about what KRTH (which you say you never listen to) and what they do and don't play? And why would you care?

 

[michael hagerty]

NO
IT
ISN'T.



I can hear a classic top-40 track on KRTH. I can switch stations and hear a classic rock song on KSWD or KLOS. Switch stations again and a current pop song on KIIS or KAMP. A country song on KKGO. A current hip-hop song on either KPWR or KRRL. A classic one on KDAY. A softer hit on KOST, a softer soul oldie on KTWV, an older rhythmic hit on KBIG. A current or classic alternative hit on KROQ or KYSR ...

Give me the Sirius/XM channel where I will get all of those.

Complaining about a single station's lack of "variety" without considering that there are other stations available is like sticking to one satellite channel and making the same complaint.

And KM's list is just the commercial stations. There's classical on more than a couple of non-comms, along with jazz, eclectic rock and more. And if you have HD, that opens up a batch more, including KKGO HD-3's "Unforgettable" format, which draws on music going back to the 1940s. To say nothing of music in languages other than English (if it doesn't bother me that Brasil '66 sang songs I like in Portuguese, why should any other language be an impediment to my enjoyment?).

The only thing limiting anyone's ability to find variety in music on L.A. radio is how broad or narrow their taste in music might be.