maybe someone finally heard me!!

[RBW]

I've been ragging-on MAGIC 590 for some time now about their tiresome jingle package. FINALLY, I'm hearing more seques with less annoyance ;D I only hope it's NOT temporary!!

 

[MODULATIONFM]

I guess they heard you loud and clear!

 

[RBW]

Well.... summers' over and it seems the frequency of those **bleeping** jingles on Magic 590 has been upped again! From listening over this past week, (during the sporatic dayparts I chose) I never heard a song to song seque :'( They seem to have reverted back to inserting those inscideous bumpers between each & every song Up until now, there'd been a break from the practice about 2 to 3 times per hour.

Guess I'll be tuning them OUT more often.

 

[ChuckRoast]

What I find irritating is the echo chamber effect on the voices. Bob Greene sounds especially stupid like he's the Voice of God or something.

 

[Bug]

The reverb is just to much, a little is fine but when there is open voice (No back ground music) it is too much. They are going for that old 60's sound, Bob Green is just having fun - he does get carried away thou. Ben is just a straight jock, Jay talks too much and Richie again just trying to have some fun. For an am they still get numbers and that in it self says something.

 

[RBW]

They are going for that old 60's sound, Bob Green is just having fun - he does get carried away thou. Ben is just a straight jock, Jay talks too much and Richie again just trying to have some fun.

Yes, as you say, I suppose (in some respects) they're trying to re-create a certain "sound" but in Green's case... I think it's more of a "circus" approach! I welcome personality, but to me, that's going overboard. What I call classy is the bird-delivered (national) sound that's been perfected by Dial Global (with 1190/1230 [& 1160 part-time] being "local" afilliates) Jeff Rollins is a class act and makes Bob Green sound like a complete buffoon!!

And not to beat a dead horse..... but NO other station that I can think of plays those long cheesy annoying jingles into the ground like they do. Many stations of that format, (including 95.5 Utica) either use them sparingly, or don't use ANY at all. THAT, my friends, is music to my ears

 

[retiredfromradio]

While I can understand your point of view with the jingles and id's, remember the only opportunity a radio station has to identify itself is through id's and jingles. Unlike TV radio can't run a "id bug" on the bottom corner of the screen througout the programming. The average listener (this is non-radio people)write down such wacky things in their diaries which could lead to miscredit or no credit for the station.

Magic is a very unique station in that they allow the air talent (Jay, Ben, Bob Greene, Bob Johnson and Rich Norris) to share their individual personalities with their listeners. There is no corporate honcho 1500 miles away programming the station with "liner cards". If it didn't work, their numbers 3.5+ (and remember this is 12+) would never be where it is. This is an AM station playing music, it's not the music that is bringing in the numbers, it is the personality. As crazy as Bob Greene sounds at times, he is funny and the humor is like watching The Simpsons you have to sometimes pay close attention.

The only thing I would really like to see change is to have them lighten up a little on the standards. Once even twice an hour is ok, but some hours it is just too much. Also it would be nice to hear less of Ben Patten. Nothing against the guy, I have met him before, but some day's he is on from early morning until mid afternoon. Way tooooo much for one person. There are enough people in the building that time of day, why couldn't somone else do the midday shift?

I'm also praying they don't go all Christmas this year.....

 

[danikayser84]

How about more classic soul, like Marvin Gaye or Anita Baker? Would that fit with the format?

Only way I'd see Urban AC in Albany is if Anastos puts The Touch on one of their AMs, even then I'm not holding my breath for it...

 

[AMonFM]

To each his own i suppose.... the 'echo chamber'...aka Reverb, in my opinion sounds fine. The classic PAMS-like jingles also work well, and make 590 sound a bit more uptempo vs. the old-fart boring sound of satellite offerings on WABY & WHUC.

Agreed on Bob Greene... super guy and all but just stick to reading the cards Bob - lol

 

[ChuckRoast]

"Lighten up on the standards"? I thought 590 was playing all standards. What else are they playing?

The jingles are great! The music mix seems to be moving more and more away from the lite favorites slop to sounding more like a real variety of tunes including some rarer cuts. Overall, much more uptempo and fun! The only drawback is that AM still sounds like they're broadcasting underwater.

 

[RBW]

While I can understand your point of view with the jingles and id's, remember the only opportunity a radio station has to identify itself is through id's and jingles.

Absolutely true about needing the jingles as an identifier, but I DO NOT NEED TO HEAR ONE EVERY 3 MINUTES!! Especially the one that's must be 10 sec long and tries to mimic a sock-hop! I have to turn the sound down when it comes on! Perhaps a VOICE saying Magic 590 between songs and a jingle every 3 or 4th song would be sufficient.

Magic is a very unique station in that they allow the air talent (Jay, Ben, Bob Greene, Bob Johnson and Rich Norris) to share their individual personalities with their listeners. This is an AM station playing music, it's not the music that is bringing in the numbers, it is the personality.

It IS unique, but how could it NOT be the music that's drawing them in? Believe me nobody's going to stray from a format of choice to hear Ben, Jay or Bob!! Even those satellite delievered guys have personality... and they're just as every bit as good as anyone on 590.

The only thing I would really like to see change is to have them lighten up a little on the standards. Once even twice an hour is ok, but some hours it is just too much.

What format are you seeking? Standards is what got them to where they are. Besides even the aforementioned satellite facilities are injecting ALOT more AC these days...to pepper the standards they still play. My assumption, was that WROW was following THEIR lead, except that 590 plays waaaayyyy more "standard oldies".

 

[RBW]

The classic PAMS-like jingles also work well, and make 590 sound a bit more uptempo vs. the old-fart boring sound of satellite offerings on WABY & WHUC.

I don't need jingles to add a more up-tempo sound. THAT is the job of the music! And have you recently checked-out the "old-fart boring sound of satellite offerings" lately??? They now play Michael Jackson... Donna Summer...
Al Stewart... Simply Red... Genesis... Fleetwood Mac... Blood Sweat & Tears .... in addition to Sinatra, Como, Bennett, Cole, Mathis, Streisand etc... Check it out, you MIGHT be surprised. ;D

 

[MajorArmstrong]

If a station is going to play standards, inserting Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac or the other A/C fare will not make it better. Why play songs that are played on each and every adult contemporary formatted station on the dial? If what is played on Magic 590 isn't unique to the station, why would you listen?

 

[Bug]

I think the reverb (Echo) is too much just crank it back some, I do like that you hear stuff you don't hear any where else othe than maybe 1240 True Oldies.

 

[RBW]

If a station is going to play standards, inserting Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac or the other A/C fare will not make it better. Why play songs that are played on each and every adult contemporary formatted station on the dial? If what is played on Magic 590 isn't unique to the station, why would you listen?

Purists of the format are getting more disgruntled because of the recent additions. It's mainly the ad execs who find it more challenging trying to sell "standards" as the original core audience is becoming more extinct. They want a younger demographic.... and there's only one way to accomplish that. These days we consider ourselves fortunate to have the variation of the format that still exists.