New Knoxville FM

[tk]

Note To Merle Owner Ron Meridith

Some unsolicited advice to the owner of Merle...Ron Meridith.

Do the smart thing and keep the station live and local with plenty of community involvement and local news. You don't have the signal or promotional money to compete in Knoxville which you probably already figured out. At the same time, don't leave the station on the air as a jukebox. Classic County won't be enough without personalities to go along with it. In this day of instant song downloads, listeners can get their own music collection...but they can't get that local flavor and information only a good small town station can deliver.

Please don't forget that important fact and remain just another cookie cutter radio station like every other one
in Broadcasting these days. Ron...you've ran WYSH really, really well and understand every point I'm making here. You know what it takes to become a truly great small market station....just apply those solid principles to Merle and you've got another winner!

There's my 2 cents for what's it's worth.

TK

 

[eacalhoun1]

Back to this "is it country" format debate...

Seems that there was a time(15-20 years ago) that I was listening to WXBQ and I could not believe it when I heard Stevie Nicks "Leather and Lace". Nothing wrong with the song...I love it, but I was a bit taken to hear it on a country station like WXBQ. It was also during this time that XBQ would "slip in" tunes from England Dan and John Ford Coley--"I'd Really Love to See You Tonight"--and Pure Prairie League's "Amie" and "Let Me Love You Tonight". Most of Gordon Lightfoot's stuff would fit in here, too.

Eric

 

[J-Street]

I agree with you Calhoun. But who's lead vocals on Amie? That's right, seems that stuff doesn't fit with the other ones you mentioned... or maybe it does. You could probably get away with that better NOW than 20 years ago because it's since Vince became so successful in country. This is the problem people get into... if you play Pure Prairie League, you can play Stevie Nicks, then Tom Petty, if you play Petty, you can play Dylan, then Clapton, if you play Clapton, you can play Cream, then The Doors, then Zeppelin... oh wow now we have a complete 'nother format!

 

[vchimpanzee]

if you play Pure Prairie League, you can play Stevie Nicks, then Tom Petty, if you play Petty, you can play Dylan, then Clapton, if you play Clapton, you can play Cream, then The Doors, then Zeppelin... oh wow now we have a complete 'nother format!

I'm worried about Worthless Classics for this reason. When I heard "Aimee" I didn't think too much about it. Then I started hearing stuff that was worse. I won't say "even worse" because "Aimee" is okay. It's a good country song as far as I'm concerned.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Good info Marino, that's interesting. I hope to never hear Fleetwood Mac on a top country station, not that it's not good, just doesn't fit the format, but like I said, it's better than half the junk you hear on there now. I've always wanted a country/rock/classic rock/southern rock station, sort of like half the WQUT playlist and throw in some Shooter Jennings, Hank Jr, keep the Fleetwood Mac, stuff like that. Or maybe just an "outlaw country" station as satellite radio is calling real country these days. That might catch on, but the rock mix idea probably would never happen and be successful, although maybe a thought for a terribly struggling independent station, maybe it could catch on. I know I'd enjoy it.

Thunder Country in Charlotte played ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd in the early 90s. Billboard liked it, but the ratings didn't. Cruising Country in Myrtle Beach did the same thing in the mid 90s and then went hip-hop because too many stations were country.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I listened to this station for the first time today. Just how does "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac qualify as classic country?

I agree. Now "Landslide" would, considering The Dixie Chicks did it. I can also see "Rhiannon". Maybe even "Dreams". But "Don't Stop"???

 

[RMarino]

if you play Pure Prairie League, you can play Stevie Nicks, then Tom Petty, if you play Petty, you can play Dylan, then Clapton, if you play Clapton, you can play Cream, then The Doors, then Zeppelin... oh wow now we have a complete 'nother format!

I'm worried about Worthless Classics for this reason. When I heard "Aimee" I didn't think too much about it. Then I started hearing stuff that was worse. I won't say "even worse" because "Aimee" is okay. It's a good country song as far as I'm concerned.

Believe it or not, "Amie" is one of the top testing country songs in auditorium research. I know, it's not country, but it tests well (VERY well) with the country audience.

 

[jwk1979]

I agree with you Calhoun. But who's lead vocals on Amie? That's right, seems that stuff doesn't fit with the other ones you mentioned... or maybe it does. You could probably get away with that better NOW than 20 years ago because it's since Vince became so successful in country. This is the problem people get into... if you play Pure Prairie League, you can play Stevie Nicks, then Tom Petty, if you play Petty, you can play Dylan, then Clapton, if you play Clapton, you can play Cream, then The Doors, then Zeppelin... oh wow now we have a complete 'nother format!

Vince Gill does not sing lead on Pure Prairie League's "Amie", he wasn't even a member of the band during the time they recorded "Amie". I'm not sure who sang lead for Pure Prairie League at the time, but Vince Gill didn't join the band until several years later. He did sing the lead on their two hits from late 1979/early 1980, "Let Me Love You Tonight" and the other one, that I can't think of it's title at the moment.

 

[vchimpanzee]

if you play Pure Prairie League, you can play Stevie Nicks, then Tom Petty, if you play Petty, you can play Dylan, then Clapton, if you play Clapton, you can play Cream, then The Doors, then Zeppelin... oh wow now we have a complete 'nother format!

I'm worried about Worthless Classics for this reason. When I heard "Aimee" I didn't think too much about it. Then I started hearing stuff that was worse. I won't say "even worse" because "Aimee" is okay. It's a good country song as far as I'm concerned.

Believe it or not, "Amie" is one of the top testing country songs in auditorium research. I know, it's not country, but it tests well (VERY well) with the country audience.

Actually, Worthless Classics is what used to be a standards format.

 

[J-Street]

I agree with you Calhoun. But who's lead vocals on Amie? That's right, seems that stuff doesn't fit with the other ones you mentioned... or maybe it does. You could probably get away with that better NOW than 20 years ago because it's since Vince became so successful in country. This is the problem people get into... if you play Pure Prairie League, you can play Stevie Nicks, then Tom Petty, if you play Petty, you can play Dylan, then Clapton, if you play Clapton, you can play Cream, then The Doors, then Zeppelin... oh wow now we have a complete 'nother format!

Vince Gill does not sing lead on Pure Prairie League's "Amie", he wasn't even a member of the band during the time they recorded "Amie". I'm not sure who sang lead for Pure Prairie League at the time, but Vince Gill didn't join the band until several years later. He did sing the lead on their two hits from late 1979/early 1980, "Let Me Love You Tonight" and the other one, that I can't think of it's title at the moment.

Oops! Looks like you are correct jwk. I just learned recently that Vince Gill did vocals on Amie. I wasn't sure either but I heard that on John Boy & Billy I think and a friend confirmed it for me. Google proved you right though. That's what I get for listening to John Boy!

 

[vchimpanzee]

Actually, Worthless Classics is what used to be a standards format.

Timeless Classics is the real name. I shouldn't call it by that other name where the real name isn't known.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I listened to this station for the first time today. Just how does "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac qualify as classic country?

I agree. Now "Landslide" would, considering The Dixie Chicks did it. I can also see "Rhiannon". Maybe even "Dreams". But "Don't Stop" ???

Worthless Classics is playing "Over My Head" by Fleetwood Mac. That would qulaify as country. Also "Got A Hold On Me" by Christine McVie.

 

[chuck9997]

Re: Note To Merle Owner Ron Meridith

Some unsolicited advice to the owner of Merle...Ron Meridith.

Do the smart thing and keep the station live and local with plenty of community involvement and local news. You don't have the signal or promotional money to compete in Knoxville which you probably already figured out. At the same time, don't leave the station on the air as a jukebox. Classic County won't be enough without personalities to go along with it. In this day of instant song downloads, listeners can get their own music collection...but they can't get that local flavor and information only a good small town station can deliver.

Please don't forget that important fact and remain just another cookie cutter radio station like every other one
in Broadcasting these days. Ron...you've ran WYSH really, really well and understand every point I'm making here. You know what it takes to become a truly great small market station....just apply those solid principles to Merle and you've got another winner!

There's my 2 cents for what's it's worth.

TK

I worked for Ron Meredith at WYSH.. did the local news back in 1998 or so,.. We had a great time,.. made $$.. and it sounded great! The above post is great advice.. Take the MERLE FM format.. and make it a real local (Anderson/Knox) station!!! It's a shame that so many FMs have gone the way of being Knoxville jukeboxes.


Chuck

 

[tk]

I listened to this station for the first time today. Just how does "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac qualify as classic country? It played back to back with Tom T. Hall and that was followed by Toby Keith. At least WLIL and WIVK know how to be consistent. I've never heard Fleetwood Mac on a country station before. How about some Ozzy?

Fleetwood Mac gets played on Nashville's WSM-FM 95.5 The Wolf.

But I'm sure it certainly depends on the songs "Say You Love Me" is a much better fit than Don't Stop!!!

 

[bub]

Re: Note To Merle Owner Ron Meridith

Some unsolicited advice to the owner of Merle...Ron Meridith.

Do the smart thing and keep the station live and local with plenty of community involvement and local news. You don't have the signal or promotional money to compete in Knoxville which you probably already figured out. At the same time, don't leave the station on the air as a jukebox. Classic County won't be enough without personalities to go along with it. In this day of instant song downloads, listeners can get their own music collection...but they can't get that local flavor and information only a good small town station can deliver.

Please don't forget that important fact and remain just another cookie cutter radio station like every other one
in Broadcasting these days. Ron...you've ran WYSH really, really well and understand every point I'm making here. You know what it takes to become a truly great small market station....just apply those solid principles to Merle and you've got another winner!

There's my 2 cents for what's it's worth.

TK

I worked for Ron Meredith at WYSH.. did the local news back in 1998 or so,.. We had a great time,.. made $$.. and it sounded great! The above post is great advice.. Take the MERLE FM format.. and make it a real local (Anderson/Knox) station!!! It's a shame that so many FMs have gone the way of being Knoxville jukeboxes.


Chuck

I'm going to hitchhike on this and ditto above-mentioned. Keep it live, local and tight. It's not necessarily the songs, it's what's between the songs that can make or break a station.

BTW: Here's the station's website which contains a station sales demo ready for download:

http://www.merlefm.com/

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

After reading this message, I headed out and tuned in 96.7 to see what this new station is all about. Immediately I heard "Don't Cry Daddy" by Elvis and I thought finally someone is bringing back oldies to Knoxville radio. But sadly no. They are 96.7 Merle-FM (don't we have enough stations here named after people?) with a classic country format. Do they really think they can compete with WIVK with such a horrible signal? They should have gone oldies.

I've said it once, and I will say it again.

Merle-FM will end up in the "Class A" Country Station Graveyard along with the rest of the stations that failed to be able to compete with WIVK.

 

[spindoctor1]

But SOMEONE apparently like them, the trends are up and so is the last book.
(In a very short period of time I might add)
Comments?

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

But SOMEONE apparently like them, the trends are up and so is the last book.
(In a very short period of time I might add)
Comments?

I've heard that too, however I still think the trend won't last based on all of the other country stations that have tried to do the same thing before.

It's only temporary IMHO.

I give it just a couple of years before it changes format, or one of the major companies here in Ktown will end up buying it out one day.