New Country Format

[boardreader]

From R&R.com today...

Dukin' It Out: If Clear Channel hoped last Friday's debut of Classic Country WTUN (The Legend)/Chattanooga, TN would deter Citadel from launching a Country outlet in the market to challenge WUSY, it was wrong. Just in time for the premiere of the new Dukes of Hazzard movie, Citadel claims it will flip Oldies WOGT to Country as "107.9 Duke FM" this Friday. Outlining the Duke's musical philosophy, OM Scott Chase said, "Duke FM is a variety country music station that will play hundreds of country classics, recent country favorites and all the latest hits. We plan to play a wide variety of country favorites with some southern rock and a few contemporary songs that have a country flavor sprinkled in throughout the day."


Not that it would work in Philly, but it sounds like a BEN/JACK format for country. Just thought I'd mention it ...

 

[saintrichard]

I think a genuine Country Classics station would work in the Philadelphia Market. By C.C., I am talking music from '54 to '74 with a few early '50's and late '40's sprinkled in. This "whatever" music they play on Music Choice, DMX, Sirius or XM on their Country Classics channels is pure nonsense, most of their music is from the late '80's early '90's, IMHO that is not Classic Country. Whomever told the higher ups that Classic Country is music later than '85 is insane, Country Classic music is the core of the sound, mainly '54 to '74 and earlier, and this would work in any market. It would be refreshing and different and would give the audiance a good view of how Country/Bluegrass/ Rock-a-Billy and Southern Rock played a major part in America's music, which is slowly decaying with the product out now-adays. Beasley could easily flip 860 or 800 to Classic Country and sell it with WXTU as a combo for advertisers, it would be cheap to run and would have ratings.

 

[John1]

Re: 'New' Country Format

Not the first, a number of markets where country does well have added classic-leaning FM country stations. The most successful "Jack" type has been WLHK "97.1 Hank FM" in the Indianapolis market, "He Plays Anything Country" is the slogan, although if you read the last played songs on the website its not too daring a playlist of 'recent' hits. The station jumped to the top 10 in Spring trends, book comes out tomorrow. There was such a station in Sacramento but it already switched to a Jack format.

 

[RickRose]

> I think a genuine Country Classics station would work in the
> Philadelphia Market. By C.C., I am talking music from '54
> to '74 with a few early '50's and late '40's sprinkled in.


Considering that pop/rock oldies stations that serve that time period are dropping nationwide due to lack of advertiser support I highly doubt a country format targeting those years would draw enough financial support to stay alive most places. I believe the ratings would be okay but remember all the ratings in the world are useless if you can not sell it.

 

[valkyrie777]

> Not that it would work in Philly, but it sounds like a
> BEN/JACK format for country. Just thought I'd mention it
> ...
>

Country programmers and jocks with whom I have spoken continue to divide Country into two camps: pre-1988 or so and post-1988 or so. I'm no Country authority; I just know that they've told me that that is about the "dividing line" between New Country and Classic Country.

It might be the evolutuion of the "sound" of Country music, the artists doing it or some more complex and esoteric reason. I do know that many "New" Country stations recoil in horror if asked to play a Porter Waggoner, Jeannie C. Riley or Loretta Lynn.

Now...let's talk about those "Hat" acts versus those who abhor "Hats".