NJ 101.5 Weekend Music vs. CBS-FM's "New" Playlist

[jerrold]

Has anyone else noted the rather glaring similarities between the "new" CBS-FMs playlist and the music featured on 101.5 for at least the past few years? Granted, 101.1 has a larger playlist and has been playing more older 60s titles that 101.5 has not, and 101.5 seems to be more open to 80s cuts that CBS-FM is not playing (yet).... still, at times, I find it difficult to tell the two stations apart based on the music. Even some of the new jingles (and the slogan - "New York's Greatest Hits") on CBS are identical to the ones used by 101.5.

Do you think someone at 101.1 might have done a little creative lifting of the 101.5 weekend format? With a NY station playing essentially the same music full-time (with NY talent), will this have any bearing on 101.5's weekend format?

 

[nd2023]

70% of the NJ 101.5 (including 97.3) coverage area doesn't get CBS-FM well. You can't even hear CBS-FM at the NJ 101.5 tower location.

 

[wmgcbs]

I think it's the other way around. NJ 101.5 has been playing songs which I've NEVER heard them play before. Most of them are... (drumroll please)... on the new CBS-FM playlist. I heard "Tighten Up" this morning on 101.5! I don't remember the last time they played that song! I think it's a fairly recent add. Same goes for Toto's "Africa." I don't remember 101.5 playing that regularly ("Rosanna," yes), yet CBS-FM plays it. Also, the Romantics, "Talking in Your Sleep?" Never heard that on 101.5, but I have on CBS-FM. One more... Billy Joel's "Allentown." I usually listened to 101.5 weekends between CBS-FM's flip and its return, so missing one or two of these songs is possible, but I think some (if not all of them) are recent adds.

Also, on Big Joe's Friday night show, a little while back (I don't know how long), he stopped saying, "Taking your requests and dedications from the 60's, 70's, or 80's" and shortened it to "Taking your requests for Jersey's Favorite Hits." Yet, last night, 60's, 70's, and 80's were mentioned yet again. Take it for what you will. Subtle adds and liner changes don't mean anything drastic.

But, I think NJ 101.5 reacted (however subtly) to CBS-FM, not the other way around. I will concede that CBS-FM plays some songs 101.5 plays; however, 101.5 weekends is hardly the model format. The playlist is short, the music blocks are short... I'm glad I have CBS-FM to listen to again. It's only when I head west (hearing interference from B101) when I turn on NJ 101.5.

 

[jerrold]

I think it's the other way around. NJ 101.5 has been playing songs which I've NEVER heard them play before. Most of them are... (drumroll please)... on the new CBS-FM playlist. I heard "Tighten Up" this morning on 101.5! I don't remember the last time they played that song! I think it's a fairly recent add. Same goes for Toto's "Africa." I don't remember 101.5 playing that regularly ("Rosanna," yes), yet CBS-FM plays it. Also, the Romantics, "Talking in Your Sleep?" Never heard that on 101.5, but I have on CBS-FM. One more... Billy Joel's "Allentown." I usually listened to 101.5 weekends between CBS-FM's flip and its return, so missing one or two of these songs is possible, but I think some (if not all of them) are recent adds.

Also, on Big Joe's Friday night show, a little while back (I don't know how long), he stopped saying, "Taking your requests and dedications from the 60's, 70's, or 80's" and shortened it to "Taking your requests for Jersey's Favorite Hits." Yet, last night, 60's, 70's, and 80's were mentioned yet again. Take it for what you will. Subtle adds and liner changes don't mean anything drastic.

But, I think NJ 101.5 reacted (however subtly) to CBS-FM, not the other way around. I will concede that CBS-FM plays some songs 101.5 plays; however, 101.5 weekends is hardly the model format. The playlist is short, the music blocks are short... I'm glad I have CBS-FM to listen to again. It's only when I head west (hearing interference from B101) when I turn on NJ 101.5.

I've listened to 101.5 on weekends pretty consistently, and with the possible exception of "Allentown", I've personally heard all of the songs you mentioned here at one time or another during the past couple of years.