New Tower for fabulous WOLS

[fortmill]

I was driving down US 521 today and noticed a new tower being planted next to the tower for legendary WOLS--when I say next to, I mean no more than 50 feet from the original supertower. When I got home I checked recnet and radiolocator and found that a cp had been issued for an upgrade---the new tower will be about 600 ft compared to the present about 200 ft tower. Power will be reduced from 32k to 21k, but according to coverage maps on the two sites, coverage will be increased by about 5 miles in all directions. This should excite the many fans of this station. BTW, I would think the power of the present WOLS transmitter would have to be reduced during this construction phase, as the new tower is VERY close to the old one and the level of the new construction has reached the level of the present antenna. Don't be surprised if reception suffers, or disappears altogether,for a short time.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Is it just me or does the Oldies music on WOLS rock just a little harder than your typical Oldies format? Maybe it's just me, I listened to the standards format on 106.1 for many years and haven't gotten used to the change.

 

[hschutte]

I agree. 106.1 seems to play more classic rock than other oldies stations I have heard. I do think extending their coverage will help their ratings. When will this new tower be ready?

 

[Lhsh]

It does tend to rock a little bit more than some "oldies stations," and I like it.

 

[hschutte]

I am amazed how 94.1 mixes their oldies. 94.1 plays classic rock +oldies and sounds somewhat better. They also have local personalities.

Not complaining though. 3 years ago charlotte did not have any oldies stations after losing 96.1. I'm happy that 94.1 and 106.1 filled that void with 2 stations.

 

[fortmill]

I am amazed how 94.1 mixes their oldies. 94.1 plays classic rock +oldies and sounds somewhat better. They also have local personalities.

Not complaining though. 3 years ago charlotte did not have any oldies stations after losing 96.1. I'm happy that 94.1 and 106.1 filled that void with 2 stations.

Neither fills the void after losing 96.1. Magic was a lively, up-tempo personality-driven station with a major market sound, at least before Clear Channel took them over. 94.1 and 106.1 are both lethargic small-town stations completely out of character in a top 25 market.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I am amazed how 94.1 mixes their oldies. 94.1 plays classic rock +oldies and sounds somewhat better. They also have local personalities.

Not complaining though. 3 years ago charlotte did not have any oldies stations after losing 96.1. I'm happy that 94.1 and 106.1 filled that void with 2 stations.

Neither fills the void after losing 96.1. Magic was a lively, up-tempo personality-driven station with a major market sound, at least before Clear Channel took them over. 94.1 and 106.1 are both lethargic small-town stations completely out of character in a top 25 market.

Your assuming that being a top 25 market actually means something in this day and age, it doesn't. It's all about money and the major money isn't in Oldies anymore. Oldies fans are lucky to have these two stations which are bucking the trend. I agree that Magic was a great station but it's gone.

It's amazing that the music of the '60's and '70's as great as that music is to us, is still heard on the radio. Hey I'm glad because I don't care for much of the music that is coming out today.

 

[eacalhoun1]

I am amazed how 94.1 mixes their oldies. 94.1 plays classic rock +oldies and sounds somewhat better. They also have local personalities.

Not complaining though. 3 years ago charlotte did not have any oldies stations after losing 96.1. I'm happy that 94.1 and 106.1 filled that void with 2 stations.

Neither fills the void after losing 96.1. Magic was a lively, up-tempo personality-driven station with a major market sound, at least before Clear Channel took them over. 94.1 and 106.1 are both lethargic small-town stations completely out of character in a top 25 market.

It's still better than NO station playing this type of music, is it not? Majic 94.1 is somewhat claiming to be a substitute for the old Magic 96 (given the name, "Majic 94.1"), and WOLS is just trying to fill a void that Magic 96-era music. However, we know there will never be another Magic 96 and I think the folks at these two stations would agree. Magic 96 was an institution that will never return. Like all great things -- sooner OR later -- it will end.

 

[Lhsh]

At least Charlotte has a oldies station, and I for one am sick and tired of the large market sounding stations. I grew up on "small town" AM locally owned radio stations here in Columbia, and really wish that we could go back t those days. If I could own and program a radio station, it would be AM and would sound like a local small town station.
I hate to tell you but those days are gone and Magic 96 was a great station, but like someone has laready stated, all good things have to come to an end sometime as well.

 

[fortmill]

At least Charlotte has a oldies station, and I for one am sick and tired of the large market sounding stations. I grew up on "small town" AM locally owned radio stations here in Columbia, and really wish that we could go back t those days. If I could own and program a radio station, it would be AM and would sound like a local small town station.
I hate to tell you but those days are gone and Magic 96 was a great station, but like someone has laready stated, all good things have to come to an end sometime as well.

Well, WCOS-AM certainly had the small town top 40 sound sewed-up back in the day in Columbia. Come to think about it, Clear Channel would probably be glad to let you have WCOS-AM now, considering their ratings. Or, Intercity would probably part with WOIC (previously top 40 WNOK-AM, though it was a little more "big town" than 'COS) for a song....

 

[Kent Dorsey]

Hope you don't mind me using this thread, but since the oldies discussion came up ...
I am doing a Top 40 oldies show on WCAB, Rutherfordton...I am constantly looking for hard to find oldies and located one this week. The amazing thing was, I remembered, after 29 years, the intro time on the song. Amazing, I can't remember some things from last week, and I am constantly losing things in the office - but I can remember that "Hot Summer Nights" by Night has a :16 intro...

 

[vchimpanzee]

Is it just me or does the Oldies music on WOLS rock just a little harder than your typical Oldies format? Maybe it's just me, I listened to the standards format on 106.1 for many years and haven't gotten used to the change.

This is ironic. I was listening to the station at home on one of those rare occasions I could pick it up, and I was thinking how much it sounded like Pointless Classics. Actually, the good stuff on the old Timeless Classics.

And yet if I'm in the car, so often Mike is right. It must be that they want to be lively when people are getting off work.

 

[wmgcbs]

Is it just me or does the Oldies music on WOLS rock just a little harder than your typical Oldies format? Maybe it's just me, I listened to the standards format on 106.1 for many years and haven't gotten used to the change.

I just returned from my ten day trip to the Carolinas, and I have to say that WOLS does play slightly more classic rock than a typical oldies station, but I enjoyed it as a change from what I usually listen to up in Jersey - WCBS-FM, which I guess can be considered more of a "classic hits" station than traditional "oldies." WOLS might lean somewhat in the rock direction, but it was nice listening to oldies without "My Sharona," "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Talking in Your Sleep" being thrown in there - something I have been accustomed to hearing on CBS-FM.

My relatives in the Queen City really enjoy the station. They have no idea that the station isn't live or local, and some of them who really never listened to Magic religiously are stuck on WOLS. I guess they realized what it's like without an oldies station and are grateful to have one back on the air.

What I was REALLY impressed with was the audio processing on WOLS. Nice clean, crisp sound. In fact, most of the stations in Charlotte that I listened to sound much better with their processing than their FM counterparts in NYC. Lite 102.9 and K-104.7 for me, sound much better than 106.7 Lite-fm and Fresh in NY (with regards to music AND audio processing), and WOLS certainly sounds better than CBS-FM at the moment with regards to audio processing. Both WSOC and WKKT were also very enjoyable. I really I don't know what's up in NYC, but without a doubt, audio processing is overall superior in the Queen City. Props to the engineering departments at Clear Channel, CBS Radio, and WOLS!

Also with WOLS... sometimes there is a bit too much dead air in between songs. I wish they would make it flow a little more seamlessly. Obviously, it can't be perfect, but I still think it can be improved. Overall, though, it really is great to have the oldies back in Charlotte. It's nice that it happened, even though it is not of "Magic" calibur. But then again, what today IS of Magic calibur?

 

[Radknowski]

My guess is that we're going to hear more Classic Hits stations spring back to life when corporate owners realize that the format is far from dead because when it's executed properly, Classic Hits stations can deliver strong and balanced numbers Persons 45-54 and deliver a fair amount of revenue by virtue of competitive ratings in Persons 25-54.

I know, I know... guys much smarter than I will tell me that Classic Hits is a geezer format with a limited shelf life. But when Classic Hits is done properly with a mix of 80s, 70s and 60s, maybe even a format compatible 90s song every so often, it can draw Women 40-44 years old to add to the strong 45-54 demos, thereby making an impact in the demo that's coveted by advertising agencies and buyers, Persons 25-54.

The "sweet spot" for Classic Hits seems to be the 70s, allowing the station to move ten years up or down in either direction, playing the hits from 1965 to 1989. Keep in mind that a person who's 54 was born in 1954. His or her music sweet spot is very likely music from 1964 to 1978. A person who's 40 was born in 1968. His or her music sweet spot is very likely music from 1978 to 1990. In today's version of Classic Hits, the 80s can't be ignored, but the sweet spot is still the 70s, with a smattering of 60s hits from the Stones, Beatles, Motown, Memphis, Beach Music and British Invasion.

Here in Buffalo, WHTT is a station that transitioned from Oldies 104, where it was top 3 Persons 12+ (for nearly 12 years) and usually top 3 Persons 25-54. It moved to Classic Hits 104.1, where it was top 5 Persons 25-54, then to Classic Hits based AC Mix 104.1, where it's fallen out of the top 5 and often places in the lower tier of the top 10 stations. This station now seems to be moving back toward the 70s and 80s with a touch of the great 60s songs that everybody, 18-54 knows from hearing and liking them on their parents' car radios and music collections. It will be interesting to see where it ranks when the Spring book comes in later this month.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

It's good to hear some nice comments on Charlotte radio from WMGCBS and the points made by Radknowski.

While I complain about radio all the time I must admit there are things I'm very proud of in Charlotte radio. For one thing WMGCBS is right most of the area stations sound good. They have the processing done right. I think WBT sounds a bit overdriven to me though very compressed which is most noticeable when they play music on the 4th of July.

I'm also proud that Charlotte is home base for the "John Boy and Billy Big Show", "Bob and Shari" and Ace and TJ" all good shows syndicated to other cities.

Miami radio compared to Charlotte has better music variety but doesn't have the personalities like Charlotte does. I don't know what the reason for this is.

Rad I hope you'll let us know how WHTT does in the next book. We only see 12+ and there is more to the story than that. I keep up hope that someday 1520 in Buffalo will find a format that works.

 

[wmgcbs]

While I complain about radio all the time I must admit there are things I'm very proud of in Charlotte radio. For one thing WMGCBS is right most of the area stations sound good. They have the processing done right.

I'm glad to give credit where credit is due. Charlotte radio IS good. Here in NYC, I think more stations are beginning to use a second processor in front of the main processor. I don't know if they are doing the same in Charlotte, but judging on what I heard last week, that's not the case. I guess this technique is supposed to make the station sound better, but when I got home, I felt like I was listening to small market stations that sound muddied, muffled, and WAY too punchy.

People have always said, "Classic Hits or Oldies is one of the hardest formats to find the correct processing for." I'm sure it is. But what I can't understand is why most stations (probably all in the upper markets) seem to have no problem with the processing, WOLS included, yet CBS-FM struggles in that department. Not to mention there is almost zero stereo separation right now. Hopefully there are still things to be done to better the overall sound.

Lite and K, as much as people may complain about them here in Charlotte, are, for me, much more listenable musically than WLTW and Fresh in NY. Not only is the processing better, but the music is more mainstream. I did notice, however, that WKQC cut back on the earlier gold cuts pre-'80 and plays a lot more music from the '90's and now... I would guess it is probably because of the return of full-time oldies on WOLS. At least I didn't have to sit through Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music," Shaggy's "Angel" and David Cook's "Time of My Life," all staples on WLTW.

Thumbs up to the lack of extreme repitition, as well. While local ACs play their top currents more than 26 times a week, it's nice to see that Lite and K rarely play their currents 13 times, let alone more. What's also nice is K's continued use of JAM jingles, which really do sound great on-air. Also, WLYT seems to keep their jingles fresh. Seems like the just started airing another new package from Reelworld.

Charlotte -- in my book, you're great. Thanks for the radio vacation for a couple of days.