Martini Lounge Radio in Phliadelphia

[Nick Gerard]

Have you guys heard WHAT 1340 in Philadelphia? It's at www.MartiniLoungeRadio.com . Live announcers with a heritage in the market (at least part of the day) and some local direct advertisers.

Personally speaking, this is my kind of standards station: Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Diana Krall, Michael Buble. They don't play any of those 70's and 80's soft AC hits like the networks do.

I've always felt that it was a mistake to air a playlist which dilutes the Great American Songbook with soft AC oldies. I realize that this started 15 or 20 years ago as an effort by programmers to attract younger demos to standards.

Sinatra isn't compatible with David Gates and Bread. Sarah Vaughan and Neil Diamond are mutually exclusive. Radio listeners who are fans of one genre have to "endure" a tune from the other until what they really want to hear comes on.

I enjoy Martini Lounge Radio because it sticks to the genre and doesn't try to be anything else. It's reminiscent of the grand old days of WNEW.

Listen soon, because their GM recently "exited", as they say in the trades. Who knows how long they'll be around?!

Nick Gerard

 

[Chuck]

Have you guys heard WHAT 1340 in Philadelphia? It's at www.MartiniLoungeRadio.com . Live announcers with a heritage in the market (at least part of the day) and some local direct advertisers.

Personally speaking, this is my kind of standards station: Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Diana Krall, Michael Buble. They don't play any of those 70's and 80's soft AC hits like the networks do.

I've always felt that it was a mistake to air a playlist which dilutes the Great American Songbook with soft AC oldies. I realize that this started 15 or 20 years ago as an effort by programmers to attract younger demos to standards.

Sinatra isn't compatible with David Gates and Bread. Sarah Vaughan and Neil Diamond are mutually exclusive. Radio listeners who are fans of one genre have to "endure" a tune from the other until what they really want to hear comes on.

I couldn't agree more. I have never figured out why a lot of programmers seem to think they have to add 70's soft rock to the mix. My own sensibilities tell me that if a song has a synthesizer or electronic drums in it, it doesn't belong on a standards station. I think it is great to add modern musicians like Michael Buble, Stacy Kent, Diana Krall, etc, but they need to be doing songs that are in the style of the original. It seems pretty simple to me. Obviously, I don't know what I'm talking about.....

WHAT does a good job. If I lived in Philly, I'm sure I'd be a regular listener.

 

[passtheword]

Have you guys heard WHAT 1340 in Philadelphia? It's at www.MartiniLoungeRadio.com . Live announcers with a heritage in the market (at least part of the day) and some local direct advertisers.

Personally speaking, this is my kind of standards station: Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Diana Krall, Michael Buble. They don't play any of those 70's and 80's soft AC hits like the networks do.

I've always felt that it was a mistake to air a playlist which dilutes the Great American Songbook with soft AC oldies. I realize that this started 15 or 20 years ago as an effort by programmers to attract younger demos to standards.

Sinatra isn't compatible with David Gates and Bread. Sarah Vaughan and Neil Diamond are mutually exclusive. Radio listeners who are fans of one genre have to "endure" a tune from the other until what they really want to hear comes on.

I couldn't agree more. I have never figured out why a lot of programmers seem to think they have to add 70's soft rock to the mix. My own sensibilities tell me that if a song has a synthesizer or electronic drums in it, it doesn't belong on a standards station. I think it is great to add modern musicians like Michael Buble, Stacy Kent, Diana Krall, etc, but they need to be doing songs that are in the style of the original. It seems pretty simple to me. Obviously, I don't know what I'm talking about.....

WHAT does a good job. If I lived in Philly, I'm sure I'd be a regular listener.

I would have to say I feel that way as well. I grew up learning to enjoy standards, when it was really standards...all the big bands mixed in with Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, and others, with very little emphasis of the what used to be staples of the soft AC format, artists such as Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, and Barry Manilow. Later on, in the mid 80's I started listening strictly to soft AC. Back then, soft AC was just that...soft AC, with maybe a standard thrown in
here and there. Today, soft AC is, IMO, nothing but a "watered-down" version of the adult contemporary format since all the so-called easy listening artists have been eliminated from the playlist.

I don't really like what the adult standards formats has been evolving into. All the big band music has just about been eliminated, and the adult standards artists of years ago are now mixed in with a hefty portion of what used to be soft AC. I'd just rather hear one or the other...just soft AC or just standards. Not them running concurrently.


________________________
What If...
Radio Didn't Exist?
www.LifeWithoutRadio.com

 

[cadillacjack]

Quite a few of us don't, it seems. The thing about WHAT/Philadelphia that bothers me is that it doesn't have a great signal in the metro and with only 1000 watts, doesn't get into offices well. With the changes going on, I can't see this format going forward. While "that's radio", it will also become a talking point for any GM or owner to repeat when discussing adding or continuing the adult standards format on their station. "Didn't work in Philly, won't work for us."

MOYL has created the same sort of stumbling block for management. Mention "standards" and instantly their minds lock on the belief that standards equals "Music Of Your Life" and that is only for folks who are "65 to death" in the ratings and is really old sounding. This is seemingly caused mostly by the latter years of the format where they started adding in the Soft AC tunes and non-hit MOR selections to "make it younger".

As a pure play - (done well) - standards can and does attract a younger audience. Playing a Tom Jones stiff just loses cume.

CJ
thepenthouse.fm

 

[Chuck]

Quite a few of us don't, it seems. The thing about WHAT/Philadelphia that bothers me is that it doesn't have a great signal in the metro and with only 1000 watts, doesn't get into offices well. With the changes going on, I can't see this format going forward. While "that's radio", it will also become a talking point for any GM or owner to repeat when discussing adding or continuing the adult standards format on their station. "Didn't work in Philly, won't work for us."

MOYL has created the same sort of stumbling block for management. Mention "standards" and instantly their minds lock on the belief that standards equals "Music Of Your Life" and that is only for folks who are "65 to death" in the ratings and is really old sounding. This is seemingly caused mostly by the latter years of the format where they started adding in the Soft AC tunes and non-hit MOR selections to "make it younger".

As a pure play - (done well) - standards can and does attract a younger audience. Playing a Tom Jones stiff just loses cume.

CJ
thepenthouse.fm

Since most standards stations tend to have a "challenged" signal, the whole downward spiral seems to be a self-fulfilling prophesy. Unless we are talking blowtorch size signals that can overcome all the interference, most people won't tune in to AM, even for something they want to hear. Most Standards stations are relegated to your typical 1 KW AM Day-timer. I don't count out those small stations (in fact I'm very partial to smaller broadcasters) but the reality is with many of those signals, you have to really want to listen. It is not easy. Not many station owners have the guts to try the format on FM.

The only really good signal I can remember going Standards was "Red" in St. Louis. I think even that was a rim-shot. When visiting St. Louis for about a week, I listened to it a lot. For some reason, it just didn't do it for me. I'm not entirely sure why. Perhaps they were stretching too far to be “cool.”

On the other hand, I get frequent calls and emails form listeners who tell me they aren't old enough to remember any of these songs when they were new, but they really like them. I guess people still recognize a good tune when they hear it. Put it on and some younger people will listen. Whether that is enough to impress advertisers or not is debatable. I think it all depends on how you sell it.

 

[cadillacjack]

Your sales department has a lot to do with making the station work. If you send out a raw novice to pick the low hanging fruit, you will fail. However, a seasoned pro (or at least a sales professional who doesn't think the job is hanging out at the fax machine waiting for the agency buy to roll in) can make things happen with the right approach.

I love this quote on John Pizzarelli's website:

"It's been rumored that the Great American Songbook is making a comeback.
As far as I'm concerned, it never left.”
-John

CJ
thepenthouse.fm

 

[Chuck]

Your sales department has a lot to do with making the station work. If you send out a raw novice to pick the low hanging fruit, you will fail. However, a seasoned pro (or at least a sales professional who doesn't think the job is hanging out at the fax machine waiting for the agency buy to roll in) can make things happen with the right approach.

I love this quote on John Pizzarelli's website:

"It's been rumored that the Great American Songbook is making a comeback.
As far as I'm concerned, it never left.”
-John

CJ
thepenthouse.fm

That's a great quote....

As for sales, it seems that real selling is a lost art. Too many people are just order-takers. It is not just a problem that is unique to broadcasting. It's everywhere. That approach won't work if you are providing a niche product.

Regardless of what you are marketing, a really good sales person identifies ways that they can help the client by using their product, and applies those talents so it is a win-win situation for both the seller and the buyer. That concept seems sadly lacking these days. Everyone seems to be out for the quick and easy buck.

 

[vchimpanzee]

MOYL has created the same sort of stumbling block for management. Mention "standards" and instantly their minds lock on the belief that standards equals "Music Of Your Life" and that is only for folks who are "65 to death" in the ratings and is really old sounding. This is seemingly caused mostly by the latter years of the format where they started adding in the Soft AC tunes and non-hit MOR selections to "make it younger".

As a pure play - (done well) - standards can and does attract a younger audience. Playing a Tom Jones stiff just loses cume.

CJ
thepenthouse.fm

I'm confused by both statements. Music of Your Life made people believe it was for old people by playing MOR and soft AC?

I know for a fact that as of a year ago, the last time I heard an affiliate, they didn't do as much of that as they did.

It still amazes me they ever played junk like Carly Simon's "You're So Vain". That was in 2002.

And what's wrong with Tom Jones?

By the way, I have to go with the attitude you have to have some MOR and soft AC. Standards to me just wouldn't sound right without The Carpenters, softer Neil Diamond, Dionne Warwick and early Barry Manilow. That's how WAVO in Charlotte is doing it. I'll have to look for the thread, but I read they had Jones and are now on hard disk. Doing it just that way. It's not excessive like on Dial Global.

 

[cadillacjack]

That's not what I said. MOYL sounded old. The pacing of the imaging was that of a funeral parlor and the overall feel was of - (this is a quote from a radio salesman who I worked with) - "an old guy in plaid pants up around his nipples driving slowly down the road with his blinker on".


CJ
ThePenthouse.fm

 

[vchimpanzee]

That's not what I said. MOYL sounded old. The pacing of the imaging was that of a funeral parlor and the overall feel was of - (this is a quote from a radio salesman who I worked with) - "an old guy in plaid pants up around his nipples driving slowly down the road with his blinker on".


CJ
ThePenthouse.fm

Okay, I read it again. What you meant was that they added in the MOR in response to that.

By the way, it was in 1999 when my father said, "Turn that junk off." He said that about MOYL!

Obviously they had added too much MOR and soft AC. A few months later we were listening to the same station and he was commenting on how good it was. The weird thing is I remember hearing James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" right before he said that.

The station wasn't selling commercials. As much as the owner liked the music, he liked oldies better, and there has been real excitement on that station since they switched.

 

[MajorArmstrong]

Not quite WHEN this happened...but "Martini Lounge Radio" has gone away!

Seems they have reimaged the station as simply 1340 WHAT (might as well tell people what they are listening to, right?). The tagline is a lame "The Greatest Music Of All Time". New website is standard stuff, but good looking am1340WHAT.com - the old martiniloungeradio.com is aliased to the new site, too. Same rotation (four Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin songs in some hours, back announce of artist/title on every song).

Radiolicious.fm still lists the station as Martini Lounge Radio with the (now) old logo...which was the best part of the station.

 

[cadillacjack]

When the old GM/owner of Marconi Broadcasting, Tom Kelly, was "replaced" at the station changes started to happen.