NYC Metro Radio Ratings May 2022

[TheBigA]

Certain artists such as The Beatles, Beach Boys, Motown groups, and others appeal to listeners of all ages. Would it benefit WCBS-FM, Q-104.3, and Lite-FM to include those artists in their respective music mixes?

It's considered a different format. At one time those artists were included, and over time, the results didn't benefit those stations.

However, Q-104.3 has Ken Dashow's Beatles Revolution.

Ken Dashow's Beatles Revolution | iHeart

We pick apart why and how The Beatles phenomenon occurred. On 'Ken Dashow's Beatles Revolution' we'll get into the combination of talent, hard work and luck that changed everything!

www.iheart.com

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Certain artists such as The Beatles, Beach Boys, Motown groups, and others appeal to listeners of all ages.

Citation needed. The specific question is: "Would you like to hear two songs per hour from artists like Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, the Beatles or the Beach Boys on CBS-FM?"

I would bet that most people in their 30s and 40s couldn't correctly name two songs by each of those four artists (eight songs total).

 

[BruceNYC]

My evidence is all anecdotal. I have seen kids of all ages wearing Beatles t-shirts. I worked at a university. I remember one day I saw two students wearing Jimi Hendrix shirts.

 

[TheBigA]

My evidence is all anecdotal. I have seen kids of all ages wearing Beatles t-shirts. I worked at a university. I remember one day I saw two students wearing Jimi Hendrix shirts.

Some people wear shirts because they look cool or they like the design, not because they're fans of the artist or want to hear that music on the radio. But if that's what they want, there are places to get it on demand. I thought it was interesting that Sirius started a Jimi Hendrix channel, but it was only for a limited time during Black History Month. Obviously not enough demand to make it a regular thing.

 

[CTListener]

Here we go again ....

 

[NYRadioFan22]

Citation needed. The specific question is: "Would you like to hear two songs per hour from artists like Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, the Beatles or the Beach Boys on CBS-FM?"

I would bet that most people in their 30s and 40s couldn't correctly name two songs by each of those four artists (eight songs total).

Are you kidding me?
Marvin Gaye: I Heard it Through the Grapevine (Aretha Franklin cover), What's Going On
Diana Ross: Baby Love, Someday We'll Be Together
The Beatles: Misery, Not a Second Time (Two of their lesser known album cuts)
Beach Boys: Forever, Sail on Sailor

 

[AceBiscuits]

It's considered a different format. At one time those artists were included, and over time, the results didn't benefit those stations.

However, Q-104.3 has Ken Dashow's Beatles Revolution.

Ken Dashow's Beatles Revolution | iHeart

We pick apart why and how The Beatles phenomenon occurred. On 'Ken Dashow's Beatles Revolution' we'll get into the combination of talent, hard work and luck that changed everything!

www.iheart.com

Q104.3 plays a lot of Beatles still. Weekdays they have a Beatles Block at noon, and Ken Dashow hosts Breakfast with the Beatles Sunday mornings.

 

[CTListener]

Are you kidding me?
Marvin Gaye: I Heard it Through the Grapevine (Aretha Franklin cover), What's Going On
Diana Ross: Baby Love, Someday We'll Be Together
The Beatles: Misery, Not a Second Time (Two of their lesser known album cuts)
Beach Boys: Forever, Sail on Sailor

Grapevine was done by Gladys Knight first, not Aretha Franklin.

 

[AceBiscuits]

Certain artists such as The Beatles, Beach Boys, Motown groups, and others appeal to listeners of all ages. Would it benefit WCBS-FM, Q-104.3, and Lite-FM to include those artists in their respective music mixes?

I feel that the ship has sailed at WCBS-FM sand Lite-FM. The bread and butter for these stations is 80’s hits, and in the case of WCBS-FM that’s what is driving the success among younger demos.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Are you kidding me?

Not at all. It's why its bemusing when someone claims Frank Sinatra or John Denver or Bon Jovi are timeless.

So far the number of proven timeless artists in the history of recorded music is zero.

 

[NYRadioFan22]

Grapevine was done by Gladys Knight first, not Aretha Franklin.

Oh duh!! Don't know why I got those 2 mixed up LOL

 

[davideduardo]

Certain artists such as The Beatles, Beach Boys, Motown groups, and others appeal to listeners of all ages. Would it benefit WCBS-FM, Q-104.3, and Lite-FM to include those artists in their respective music mixes?

First, radio does not play "artists". We play songs. And the major market stations research their songs carefully. While individual 60's and early 70's songs may score well with some listeners, they are rejected... often quite negatively... by most. And that is why they are not going to be played today.

 

[CTListener]

Some people wear shirts because they look cool or they like the design, not because they're fans of the artist or want to hear that music on the radio. But if that's what they want, there are places to get it on demand. I thought it was interesting that Sirius started a Jimi Hendrix channel, but it was only for a limited time during Black History Month. Obviously not enough demand to make it a regular thing.

Demand doesn't figure into the equation as much as whether the artist's label or estate (in the case of dead ones like Hendrix) wants to put up the money for an extended run on SXM.

 

[andreaj10]

They should seriously bring back the 60s music!!! If Q104.3 can play the 60s-2000s, CBS-FM can make it work too!!!!

no they can't - even before the Jacking up in 2005, CBSFM was losing audience (hence, ratings) because their key 40-plus demo was aging away - and in some cases, dying. In order for them to stem the losses, the station had to move their music mix forward - unfortunately, they moved it too forward - that's just my opinion. Would 60's work on CBSFM in 2022? No it wouldn't - in my opinon, the music would be a turnoff factor.

 

[andreaj10]

Certain artists such as The Beatles, Beach Boys, Motown groups, and others appeal to listeners of all ages. Would it benefit WCBS-FM, Q-104.3, and Lite-FM to include those artists in their respective music mixes?

i'm surprised to hear you ask that, Bruce - but be that as it may:

1) WCBSFM - the answer is no - as i've indicated in many other places, the station had to move their music mix forward in order not to lose ad dollars. and yes, they had to lower their target demographic in order to do so. in my opinion, 60's music on "New York's Greatest Hits" at this point would NOT work (anniversary weekends being the exception).

2) Q104.3 - since this station is not usually considered in the same genre/vein as the other two, it may be able to get away with some 60's - Beatles, some Beach Boys, and Motown, for example. They have to, however, be careful of the "turnoff factor" as well as the fact that their target audience seems to be 40-54 male.

3) Lite-FM - this is not the Lite-FM that older folks like us remember. They have the same demographic issues as WCBSFM - they had to forward their music mix as well in order that they would NOT lose ad dollars. "Turnoff factor" is a big issue here as well. For the station to play let's say "It's The Same Old Song" by the Four Tops would or could turn off their younger listeners.

 

[andreaj10]

I feel that the ship has sailed at WCBS-FM sand Lite-FM. The bread and butter for these stations is 80’s hits, and in the case of WCBS-FM that’s what is driving the success among younger demos.

the ship sailed at WCBSFM as of February 2014 - and one Mr. Michael Scott Shannon - enough said....

 

[dcowboy7]

CBS calling themselves "NYs Greatest Hits" just seems wierd being they are limiting to a specific timeframe.

 

[BruceNYC]

Sweet Caroline was a hit for Neil Diamond in 1969. Should WROR (classic hits) and WBOS (classic rock) play in normal rotation or do Bostonians only went to hear it at Fenway Park? Neil Diamond actually came to the ballpark and sang it to the crowd.

 

[TheBigA]

Sweet Caroline was a hit for Neil Diamond in 1969. Should WROR (classic hits) and WBOS (classic rock) play in normal rotation or do Bostonians only went to hear it at Fenway Park?

It's definitely not a classic rock song. No rock radio airplay. The use of the song at Fenway is more of a sing-along, like Take Me Out To The Ballgame. So it's not about hearing a song, but participating in the sing-along. Should ROR play it? I'd say only on special occasions, not regular rotation.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Sweet Caroline was a hit for Neil Diamond in 1969. Should WROR (classic hits) and WBOS (classic rock) play in normal rotation

In Boston, maybe it would be playable. I remember reading about a station that had "Sweet Caroline" as the last 60s song in rotation. Not sure which station. Good chance it was KRTH, WOGL or WCBS-FM, since those stations get a lot of discussion on here.