LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2009 - RADIO'S SPECIAL PROGRAMMING

[scooty430]

Actually, the small number of PPMs mean that there simply could have been two or three oldies fans that dropped out of the PPM program, or got lazy turning on their devices. The sample size is too small, and the gathering technique too erratic, to really deduce anything.

When they win, it is great programming you say.

When they lose, it is bad measurement.

I see your point very clearly now.

I'm judging the stations more on aesthetic grounds. IMO, a larger number of songs from more eras is less boring. Period.

 

[scooty430]

Why don't you just tune in and enjoy it like everyone else in NY and around the world.

CBS FM has, at best, about one half of one percent of the people in New York listening to them... that's one person in 200 at any time is listening to CBS FM... that is not "everyone" by a long shot.

That's 40,000 people. Over a weekend, at least 100,000 will enjoy this countdown in greater New York. Enough to fill Shea Stadium twice. Good enough for me!

 

[oldies76]

Bottom line David, is that all the "blah blah blah" about your theories and your ultimate wish for limiting the amount of oldies on radio..really isn't working at all. Proof to this is the CBS-FM Top 500 countdown airing as I write, with all the stiffs you dislike and your theory that most under 55 dislike these masterpieces. Well guess what..your hearing them right now! Enjoy!! Maybe you'll hear your favorite...."Yummy Yummy"

Boy, I'd be bored as heck working at your classic hits station. The same 300 worn hits played over and over until your listeners puke and ultimately change stations...then you'd be out the $$$...not KRTH or CBS-FM.

It's 2009....Radio is different now.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Bottom line David, is that all the "blah blah blah" about your theories and your ultimate wish for limiting the amount of oldies on radio..really isn't working at all. Proof to this is the CBS-FM Top 500 countdown airing as I write, with all the stiffs you dislike and your theory that most under 55 dislike these masterpieces. Well guess what..your hearing them right now! Enjoy!! Maybe you'll hear your favorite...."Yummy Yummy"

Boy, I'd be bored as heck working at your classic hits station. The same 300 worn hits played over and over until your listeners puke and ultimately change stations...then you'd be out the $$$...not KRTH or CBS-FM.

It's 2009....Radio is different now.

Many of us wouldn't understand David's classic hits station since it would all be in Spanish!

 

[SuperRadioFan]

An unfamiliar song would be one that was not a significant song when it was released... in other words, it did not become a hit. Songs that were played in any significant amount on the radio will be recognized; most of them have no appeal today, however. And that is why they don't get played.

DE you paint with a broad brush, but no one here knows specifically what songs you might be talking about. You've had experience earlier in your career prgramming Top 40 back in the day, so surely you can name a few titles, right? Sometimes I think your bias is showing in your critiquing songs you think are "stiffs". Is every listener to WCBS-FM or KRTH a moron who is so bland they can't endure hearing a less familiar song?

BTW the movie "National Lampoon's Animal House" is played quite a bit on cable channels like HBO and in that movie a lot of 60s songs are featured (since it is set in 1962-63 era) including one hilarious scene in which "Theme From A Summer Place" is featured. But you wouldn't know what I'm talking about would you?

 

[SuperRadioFan]

That's not true. MediaBase shows plays by daypart, and the severe decline in 25-54 rank is no doubt due to playing music that is totally irrelevant in weekday dayparts to persons under 55.

Piggy backing on my above comment, what song (s) are "totally irrelevant"? in your opinion. Be specific please (if you can).

 

[SuperRadioFan]

"Theme from a Summer Place" was one of those songs Top 40 played because, even into the early 60's, stations could not decide if they were all rock 'n roll or part MOR... and every teen despised the Faith tune... meaning unless you are 70 and over or a freak of nature, you can't relate to that song or hate it.

"every teen despised the Faith tune"

And you know this how?

 

[oldies76]

Any song that has not passed the "test", is irrevelant to him, which is about 95% of the songs that charted top 20 in the 1955 to 1985 time frame. He'd have a blast working at Jay Coffey's K-Earth.

 

[oldies76]

"Theme from a Summer Place" was one of those songs Top 40 played because, even into the early 60's, stations could not decide if they were all rock 'n roll or part MOR... and every teen despised the Faith tune... meaning unless you are 70 and over or a freak of nature, you can't relate to that song or hate it.

And how many weeks was "Summer Place" #1 in 1960? Right, and who bought the 45's then?? Right! Nine weeks at the top is no fluke, unknowingly at the time, it would be one of the biggest #1 singles of the entire rock era. And the teens hated it in 1960?? Weren't they the ones who mainly determine what's popular on Top 40 rotation? Remember the old picture of teens huddled around the portable record players, listening to their 45's?? Yeah..you remember.

 

[scooty430]

I do think one has to admit that certain #1 songs were despised by a huge portion of the population. I'm way too young for A Summer Place, but I certainly remember "You Light Up My Life" when it was ubiquitous.

But.....there is no reason not to spin these songs from time to time. Somebody still likes them, guaranteed. And the rest of us enjoy saying, "Oh man, that is so awful - I love it."

Case in point: "Taxi" by Harry Chapin is #51, as voted by CBS-FM listeners.

 

[oldies76]

Gotta love it, when a Partridge Family "stiff" makes the top 40 of 500, beating out many of D.E.'s 300 "hits". So much for familiarity. What a countdown!!

"In the Year 2525" #30
"Precious and Few" #29

 

[davideduardo]

And how many weeks was "Summer Place" #1 in 1960? Right, and who bought the 45's then?? Right! Nine weeks at the top is no fluke, unknowingly at the time, it would be one of the biggest #1 singles of the entire rock era. And the teens hated it in 1960?? Weren't they the ones who mainly determine what's popular on Top 40 rotation? Remember the old picture of teens huddled around the portable record players, listening to their 45's?? Yeah..you remember.

That tune was a movie theme... movie music then was mostly bought by adults... and again you are using the charts to base your evaluation. In 1960, I would not trust a chart farther than I could toss a wadded up copy of Cash Box.

Music sales and juke box plays determined Top 40 play... but there was no way to determine who bought the songs... and juke box plays were as likely to be made by adults as teens. That's why Dominico Modugno's tune in Italian made it to the top a year or so earlier.

I don't recall any portable record players in 1960...

 

[davideduardo]

Gotta love it, when a Partridge Family "stiff" makes the top 40 of 500, beating out many of D.E.'s 300 "hits". So much for familiarity. What a countdown!!

When are you going to understand the definition of "stiff?" It is an industry term for a song that listeners don't want to hear, the opposite of "hit." Both are used in present time. Lots of songs that were "Top 10" (whatever that means) decades ago are not hits today. And lots of them are.

 

[davideduardo]

Any song that has not passed the "test", is irrevelant to him, which is about 95% of the songs that charted top 20 in the 1955 to 1985 time frame. He'd have a blast working at Jay Coffey's K-Earth.

No, I am having a blast working with a dozen or so classic hits stations that play in excess of 1000 songs, have live, personality talent 24/7, and get terrific ratings.

 

[davideduardo]

Piggy backing on my above comment, what song (s) are "totally irrelevant"? in your opinion. Be specific please (if you can).

Any song that was "popular" before the target audience was around 13 is irrelevant, with few, if any exceptions. that means, for under-55's, anything that is pre-1967.

Obviously, because by '67 Top 40's were playing gold, today's 55 year old knows some music that was from the mid-60's, but not a lot of it will achieve passionate positives... ok to play some, but not much.

 

[pjc1961]

#1 on the WCBS-FM Top 500 Countdown Labor Day Weekend 2009 = "Thriller" by Michael Jackson featuring Vincent Price from 1984.

There's one song missing somewhere between #96 & #56 that I couldn't find on www.yes.com or www.mediabasemusic.com or the "recently played" Mediabase listing on the www.wcbsfm.com website. If anyone knows what it is, let me know & I'll readjust the list.

101: The Spiral Starecase - More Today Than Yesterday 1969 05.09.2009 8:34am
100: Elvis Presley - Kentucky Rain 1970 05.09.2009 8:36am
99: Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay 1968 05.09.2009 8:40am
98: Eric Burdon & War - Spill The Wine 1970 05.09.2009 8:43am
97: Simon & Garfunkel - The Sounds Of Silence 1965/66 05.09.2009 8:47am

95: Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville 1977 05.09.2009 8:58am
94: Frankie Valli - My Eyes Adored You 1975 05.09.2009 9:02am
93: The Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye 1971 05.09.2009 9:05am
92: Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale 1967 05.09.2009 9:09am
91: Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run 1975 05.09.2009 9:12am
90: Gallery - Nice To Be With You 1972 05.09.2009 9:16am
89: Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender 1956 05.09.2009 9:19am
88: The Beatles - A Day In The Life 1967 05.09.2009 9:29am
87: The Archies - Sugar, Sugar 1969 05.09.2009 9:34am
86: The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin 1972 05.09.2009 9:37am
85: The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself 1965 05.09.2009 9:44am
84: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Old Time Rock & Roll 1979/1983 05.09.2009 9:46am
83: Edward Bear - Last Song 1973 05.09.2009 9:57am
82: Dion - The Wanderer 1962 05.09.2009 10:00am
81: The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You 1970 05.09.2009 10:03am
80: Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light 1972 05.09.2009 10:06am
79: The Beatles - Twist And Shout 1964 05.09.2009 10:09am
78: The Drifters - Up On The Roof 1963 05.09.2009 10:11am
77: Starbuck - Moonlight Feels Right 1976 05.09.2009 10:15am
76: Journey - Don't Stop Believin' 1981/82 05.09.2009 10:17am
75: Frankie Valli - Can't Take My Eyes Off You 1967 05.09.2009 10:22am
74: The Zombies - Tell Her No 1965 05.09.2009 10:32am
73: Shelley Fabares - Johnny Angel 1962 05.09.2009 10:34am
72: Meat Loaf - Paradise By The Dashboard Light 1978 05.09.2009 10:37am
71: Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock 1957 05.09.2009 10:45am
70: The Brotherhood Of Man - United We Stand 1970 05.09.2009 10:48am
69: The Beach Boys - God Only Knows 1966 05.09.2009 10:51am
68: George Harrison - My Sweet Lord 1970/71 05.09.2009 11:01am
67: Billy Joel - Scenes From An Italian Restaurant 1977 05.09.2009 11:04am
66: Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline 1969 05.09.2009 11:12am
65: Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You 1970 11:15am
64: B.W. Stevenson - My Maria 1973 05.09.2009 11:18am
63: Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman 1964 05.09.2009 11:20am
62: The Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun 1970 05.09.2009 11:31am
61: Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride 1970 05.09.2009 11:34am
60: USA For Africa - We Are The World 1985 05.09.2009 11:37am
59: Sweet - Little Willy 1973 05.09.2009 11:43am
58: The Penguins - Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) 1955 05.09.2009 11:46am
57: The 4 Seasons - I've Got You Under My Skin 1966 05.09.2009 11:50am

56: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes 1969 05.09.2009 12:01pm
55: The Beatles - The Long And Winding Road 1970 05.09.2009 12:09pm
54: Stampeders - Sweet City Woman 1971 05.09.2009 12:12pm
53: The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations 1966 05.09.2009 12:15pm
52: Harry Chapin - Taxi 1972 05.09.2009 12:19pm
51: The Flying Machine - Smile A Little Smile For Me 1969 05.09.2009 12:33pm
50: Del Shannon - Runaway 1961 05.09.2009 12:39pm
49: The Beatles - She Loves You 1964 05.09.2009 12:42pm
48: Richard Harris - MacArthur Park 1968 05.09.2009 12:44pm
47: The 4 Seasons - December, 1963 (Oh What A Night) 1976 05.09.2009 12:59pm
46: The Turtles - Happy Together 1967 05.09.2009 1:03pm
45: The Association - Cherish 1966 05.09.2009 1:06pm
44: Rod Stewart - Maggie May 1971 05.09.2009 1:10pm
43: The Duprees - You Belong To Me 1962 05.09.2009 1:15pm
42: The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash 1968 05.09.2009 1:18pm
41: John Lennon - Imagine 1971 05.09.2009 1:21pm
40: Michael Jackson - Billie Jean 1983 05.09.2009 1:31pm
39: Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 1970 05.09.2009 1:36pm
38: Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds 1969 05.09.2009 1:41pm
37: Dion - Runaround Sue 1961 05.09.2009 1:45pm
36: The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand 1964 05.09.2009 1:48pm
35: Billy Joel - Piano Man 1974 05.09.2009 1:58pm
34: Jigsaw - Sky High 1975/76 05.09.2009 2:04pm
33: Jim Croce - I Got A Name 1973 05.09.2009 2:07pm
32: The Partridge Family - I Think I Love You 1970/71 05.09.2009 2:10pm
31: The Beatles - Something 1969 05.09.2009 2:12pm
30: Zager & Evans - In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) 1969 05.09.2009 2:16pm
29: Climax - Precious And Few 1972 05.09.2009 2:19pm
28: The Grass Roots - Midnight Confessions 1968 05.09.2009 2:29pm
27: Frank Sinatra - Summer Wind 1966 05.09.2009 2:32pm
26: Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror 1988 05.09.2009 2:35pm
25: The Marmalade - Reflections Of My Life 1970 05.09.2009 2:40pm
24: King Harvest - Dancing In The Moonlight 1973 05.09.2009 2:44pm
23: The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You 1959 05.09.2009 2:47pm
22: Chicago - Beginnings 1971 05.09.2009 2:58pm
21: The Beatles - Yesterday 1965 05.09.2009 3:02pm
20: The 4 Seasons - Dawn (Go Away) 1964 05.09.2009 3:04pm
19: The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody 1965/1990 05.09.2009 3:07pm
18: Jay & The Americans - Cara, Mia 1965 05.09.2009 3:11pm
17: The Beatles - Let It Be 1970 05.09.2009 3:14pm
16: The 4 Seasons - Sherry 1962 05.09.2009 3:18pm
15: Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven 1971 05.09.2009 3:28pm
14: Abba - Dancing Queen 1977 05.09.2009 3:36pm
13: The Cuff Links - Tracy 1969 05.09.2009 3:40pm
12: The Eagles - Hotel California 1977 05.09.2009 3:42pm
11: Looking Glass - Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) 1972 05.09.2009 3:48pm
10: The Temptations - My Girl 1965 05.09.2009 3:59pm
9: Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife 1959 05.09.2009 4:02pm
8: The Beatles - In My Life 1965 05.09.2009 4:06pm
7: Don McLean - American Pie 1971/72 05.09.2009 4:08pm
6: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love 1961/62 05.09.2009 4:17pm
5: The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction 1965 05.09.2009 4:27pm
4: The 4 Seasons - Rag Doll 1964 05.09.2009 4:31pm
3: The Beatles - Hey Jude 1968 05.09.2009 4:34pm
2: The Five Satins - In The Still Of The Night 1956 05.09.2009 4:42pm 
1: Michael Jackson - Thriller 1984 05.09.2009 4:53pm

 

[scooty430]

Any song that was "popular" before the target audience was around 13 is irrelevant, with few, if any exceptions. that means, for under-55's, anything that is pre-1967.

Obviously, because by '67 Top 40's were playing gold, today's 55 year old knows some music that was from the mid-60's, but not a lot of it will achieve passionate positives... ok to play some, but not much.

What accounts for people still being "passionate" about classical music? Nobody around when that music was current is still alive, yet somehow the Hollywood Bowl is sold out all summer for people attending classical music concerts.

Is it so farfetched to think the music of the 50s, 60s, or even 70s, is good enough to be, like classical music, somewhat timeless?

 

[scooty430]

Gotta love it, when a Partridge Family "stiff" makes the top 40 of 500, beating out many of D.E.'s 300 "hits". So much for familiarity. What a countdown!!

When are you going to understand the definition of "stiff?" It is an industry term for a song that listeners don't want to hear, the opposite of "hit." Both are used in present time. Lots of songs that were "Top 10" (whatever that means) decades ago are not hits today. And lots of them are.

I think he totally understands "stiff." All Partridge Family songs are, in your world, "stiffs." Yet here it is in the top 100 requests!

 

[lalumia]

very strange , flat Top 500;
not really digging it......sounds like "Jack" in disguise..where's my Supremes and Marvelettes?

 

[scooty430]

very strange , flat Top 500;
not really digging it......sounds like "Jack" in disguise..where's my Supremes and Marvelettes?

I'm sure there are plenty of those within the 500.

Doesn't sound flat at all to me. Great mix of warhorses and major surprises. You have "In the Still of the Night" at #2 and "Thriller" at #1. How cool is that? Clearly only listeners could have come up with this crazy, fun list, it ain't researched B.S. (Like K-Earth's farce this weekend.)

Geesh, they have Tracy by the guy from the Archies in the top 20! Someone must have voted a bunch of times for that one! Strange? Yes. Flat? No way.