Orlando and an adult standards on FM.......

[Stormychuck]

Its interesting to see that Orlando seems to have every other kind of radio going on, why not adult standards and have it on FM. Would a "Music of your life" type radio station work here in Orlando, risky perhaps, and not necessarily the old "Music of your life" format but something along those lines, something 54 plus, maybe its time for new demographics of sorts, the old adage of thinking outside the box doesn't seem occur much anymore.

There's another demographic based group of listeners out here who have been pushed by the wayside, and if its a numbers thing, I'm sure the bean counters and number crunchers could come up with a new plan on measurements, but, as it stands now, there's not a whole bunch of anything available on the radio for anybody over 55 or 60 plus. It just so happens I happen to love Pink Floyd, anything Pink Floyd, I also happen to love Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, some other big bands and who really doesn't love Frank Sanatra, Dean Martin or Nat King Cole just for the sake of dropping a few names. Believe it or not they're still selling records, but you won't ever hear them on radio especially here in Orlando.

Would it work, perhaps, I'm sure the experienced posters will all weigh in...

 

[Parttimer]

FM, no. The market's too young and almost 40% Hispanic and African-American.

In order, before I'd do something like that on FM I'd do Country, News/talk, a Jack or Bob variety hits format, a GenX format, Contemporary Christian, a Spanish-language music format (yes, there are 2 already but 98.1 is a Titusville rimshot and you could force the AMs out), or Sports.

Now a good adult standards format on a signal like 540, 580, 740, 950, 990 or 1270 would have a shot if the content from one of those stations moved elsewhere.

 

[jmtillery]

That's a great question, Stormy. However, I have to agree with Parttimer on this one. Although I personally like much of the music heard on a Music of Your Life station, the stigma associated with it is an "old person's" format, even though you may actually hear newer music in the mix. If the market was predominantly retired, I'd say it's well worth serious consideration to place such a format on FM.

If at some point WFLF, WYGM or WDBO were to move its programming totally to FM (non-simulcast), I'd say, same as parttimer has suggested, a well programmed adult standards format may survive and pull in decent ratings and revenue from one of these AM sticks.

Keep in mind, however, that WCOT 950 (We Cater Orlando's Taste) attempted adult statndards from 1982 through 1983 and failed. WHOO 990 attempted the same thing with Al Ham's Music of Your Life and it failed though it was on a 50kw signal. WPRD 1440 (Pride 1440) was well programmed with the same format, but it, too, failed. That was a different time, but I don't see where the market demographics have changed since then in favor of supporting an adult standards FM.

I'm not sure I can say exactly why these stations failed with the adult standards format other than, perhaps, as parttimer has stated, the market is too young to embrace the format.

Aside from the above, I'd personally enjoy hearing Adult Standards on FM, and I have not reached 50, yet.

 

[KE4KLS_Radio]

Probably one of the biggest fans of this format, having lived in FL nearly 20 years wondered why no one attempted this on FM. Instead, there have been several AMs in near the Orlando market over the years that have done this format. Two stations that come to mind that seem to have success with standards are WVLG at The Villages and WSBB in New Smyrna Beach. BTW, WSBB streams their standards programming at myam1230.com in stereo...

 

[jmtillery]

Probably one of the biggest fans of this format, having lived in FL nearly 20 years wondered why no one attempted this on FM. Instead, there have been several AMs in near the Orlando market over the years that have done this format. Two stations that come to mind that seem to have success with standards are WVLG at The Villages and WSBB in New Smyrna Beach. BTW, WSBB streams their standards programming at myam1230.com in stereo...

I have to agree that if anyone is doing local radio correctly, it's WVLG-AM 640. However, do you consider WVLG to be true adult standards?

 

[johnknapik]

Although I'm only in my 30's, I'd love an Adult Standards station on FM. I miss WJAS in Pittsburgh, the personalities and the music. Unfortunately, as Parttimer has already stated, the demographics of Orlando just doesn't support the format. I think if anyone were to do this format here it would have to be a little hipper than what's done on WJAS. With a diverse mix of Sinatra, Michael Buble, Jamie Cullum, Sergio Mendes, Herb Alpert (NOT Rise), some big band standards, Billie Holiday, Norah Jones, Ann Margret, and some Serge Gainsbourg thrown in... it *could* work. Nah.. I know I'm just dreaming.

 

[KE4KLS_Radio]

I have to agree that if anyone is doing local radio correctly, it's WVLG-AM 640. However, do you consider WVLG to be true adult standards?

No, from the times I have listened to them they do play standards, but will mix other popular songs, too...

 

[davideduardo]

Unfortunately, as Parttimer has already stated, the demographics of Orlando just doesn't support the format. I think if anyone were to do this format here it would have to be a little hipper than what's done on WJAS.

While there are certainly some under-65's who like the sound of standards, something like 85% or more of the listenership of a true standards format will be senior and geezer demos.

Emmis tried a modern standards in St Louis under the "Red" name, but it was singularly unsuccessful, even though it was on FM. More conventional standards stations are even less successful in getting under-55's. And that pretty much leaves them out of any agency business, leaving only a segment of local accounts... generally the lower rate ones.

 

[cd637299]

Back about 20 years ago, 950 tried Standards with calls of WCOT. So it was indeed tried.

As to WVLG, I like the way they truly serve the community....but with the make-up of the community, I cringed once when they played "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting". Acceptable on their oldies weekends, but I believe that this was a weeknight offering.

Now if only VLG would stream.....

cd

 

[Stormychuck]

Wow, each of you thus far have offered up respectable answers regarding standards on FM and all pretty much on the same alignment. Parttimer additionally offered up numerous stations on the AM band as possible adult standard facility's, however, as an Osceola County resident, and not all that far away from the Orlando market, AM signal strengths and qualities are all but non available.

Some of these AM's, JMTillery would know more then I, probably have repositioned their tower arraignments through out the years and added all sorts of other little goodies in hopes of bolstering their market positions when in fact they've left us AM-less so-to-speak, should one be inclined to listen to AM.

Example, WDBO at one time was, for the most part, crystal clear and listenable here in this area, point is, AM radio is not arriving in Osceola County in anyway shape or form at least from a quality standpoint. Although you can hear WVLG quite good from time to time, and no their not full adult standards.

Everybody's post here are very well taken and pretty much right on target, but Orlando's AM's are missing out on another audience, thus my reason for an adult standards on FM, something different, something unique and properly programmed, I understand the ad dollar's perspectives, would it work? It's failed on AM here, and on FM's elsewhere, but no doubt this is the FM age and sometimes you gotta take a leap of faith (tongue in cheek) and try things out.......

 

[cd637299]

I don't think that *any* top 50 market has a standards station on FM anymore. Red in St. Louis gave it a try.

In fact, despite the heavy retirement community in FL, only one station on FM (non-translator) with any decent ratings is WOSN in Vero. Kinda surprising.

cd

 

[drt]

WVLG 640 has been updating their playlist lately to include more songs from the 1980's, 1990 and even some current songs; I was surprised to hear a song by Lady GaGa several weeks ago, while up toward The Villages, so I would say while they play a lot of music from the late 1950's and 1960's they are not a standards station during the day. From 11Pm through 6AM, they are easy listening, a much softer sound, including many instrumentals. (similiar to XM's channel 28 - Escape); also every Monday through Friday at 4 Pm, they have a local program, titled "More at 4" and during the summer one of the days is dedicated to interns from The Villages Charter High School.

All, in all there is a lot of variety and good music and they are live and local 24/7. (there's a lot of emphasis on local events and weather).

That being said, The Villages corportation owns the station, so the have a lot of money behind them and the population of the Villages is an older demographic than the younger Orlando market

Also, if anyone from WVLG is reading this, I have to congratulate their engineer as well, their audio processing is very good.

 

[cd637299]

I can imagine a listener to WVLG calling in a request...."Hey shunny....kin yoo play that new 'un by Lady whats-her-name, GooGoo?"

cd

 

[jmtillery]

I can imagine a listener to WVLG calling in a request...."Hey shunny....kin yoo play that new 'un by Lady whats-her-name, GooGoo?"

cd

That's a good one. I'd love to have WVLG tuned-in when that request is made.

 

[jmtillery]

Some of these AM's, JMTillery would know more then I, probably have repositioned their tower arraignments through out the years and added all sorts of other little goodies in hopes of bolstering their market positions when in fact they've left us AM-less so-to-speak, should one be inclined to listen to AM.

The only AMs I am aware that have made any adjustments with the antenna systems within the past few years are WRLZ 1270, which recently upgraded to 25kw DA-D; WDYZ 990 which increased night power sometime ago under Cox to, I believe, 14kw-DA-N; and WFLF 540 which made an adjustment to its night pattern, reducing from 50kw-DA-N to 46kw-DA-N. I believe in the 540 case this was due to a change in transmitter location to a shared antenna system with WYGM 740. I'm not aware of any other AM adjustments in the Orlando area.

Regarding bringing adult standards to FM, the format may work if it is largely programmed as an Adult Contemporary format with a lite standards lean. Perhaps something much the same as WDUV Tampa Bay may be a viable option that would satisfy the adult standards listener while the station wouldn't exctly be A/S, nor would it be branded as A/S. The main reason for this is because, again, advertisers want the 25-54 adult demo, not necessarily because the over 55 group does not have the disposable income, but, rather, it has more to do with this age group's buying habits. The agencies buy the top rated 25-54 radio, and that's a fact of radio and most media.

Aside from those industry observations, I'd love to hear Sinatra, Bennett, Como or even Julie London's Cry Me A River on FM.

 

[cd637299]

The only time I ever heard JL's "Cry Me..." was on the former Wax Museum show with Larry Neal on KOMA in OKC.....I sure miss hearing that thing online. That was maybe 11 years ago.

cd

 

[Stormychuck]

JMTillery: I can always count on you for a responsible respectful answer. Bingo, you hit it right on the head regarding adult standards. I used the term adult standards loosely, A/C as you pointed out with a proper mix of music not heard anymore ie, a WDUV or WVLG type station on FM serving the outlying areas with a lite "tweaking" and I love that word "tweaking" standards lean is pretty much, like you is what I've been thinking all along.

Here's an interesting station that I listen to periodically, and really enjoy, WSBH 98.5 their moniker is "The Beach" there located in Melbourne, 8KW and they lean more towards an oldies type format and then once in a while as an example of what I'm trying to accomplish in talking about here, they'll throw in Louie Armstrong's " What a Beautiful World" and some others along these lines throughout the day, foot note, their morning man is Ray Micheal's former mid-day dude at "Cool 105.9" of years long gone. I here their doing well although they pretty much voice track throughout the day, unlike WMMO, Magic 107.7 and yea we'll throw in"SUNNY" as part of the conversation, they air play music the three mentioned above wouldn't attempt or even consider.

Orlando's radio market is the same thing day in and day out all vying for a sliver of the pie peddling fast and going nowhere and it's been like this for years. Their all afraid to try something new something different. I suppose as long as the BIG three "C'S" Clear, Cox and CBS, are running the show, the powers to be will make no attempt to get their corporate heads out of their, well you know, where the sun don't shine thingy, and I'm afraid this is the way it's going to be.

 

[Interstate4Jammer]

I worked nearly five years at WHNR-AM 1360 in Cypress Gardens/Winter Haven during the early 1990s when we attempted a Adult Standards format. As we proceeded we began to add a very limited amount of more contemporary selections from the '50s and '60s, but were very careful to add only music that would be more acceptable to our base audience. I feel that we did a good job overall, but a combination of factors hurt our chances. The absentee owners shut down after nearly six years. WHNR stayed dark until it became Black/Urban under new ownership several years later; it's now Spanish (Mexican)

 

[jmtillery]

JMTillery: I can always count on you for a responsible respectful answer. Bingo, you hit it right on the head regarding adult standards.Orlando's radio market is the same thing day in and day out all vying for a sliver of the pie peddling fast and going nowhere and it's been like this for years. Their all afraid to try something new something different.

The last real innovative move in Orlando radio took place in 1993 when Press Broadcasting (WKCF-TV) acquired bottom rated WWNZ-FM 104.1 from Paxson Communications and flipped it to Hot Talk with the present day moniker Real Radio 104.1. Press had nothing to lose by attempting the Hot Talk format; something no one else had ever done in Orlando radio, and many skeptics said it will never work. The station got resistance from some, but the negative publicity backfired and actually worked in Real Radio's favor and eventually made WTKS number one.

If someone took advantage of using the same innovative thinking outside the box strategy that Press Broadcasting used in 1993, it's virtually unlimited as to what another station can do in terms of setting Orlando on fire by bringing fun and excitement back to the Orlando radio air-waves.

 

[Parttimer]

JMTillery: I can always count on you for a responsible respectful answer. Bingo, you hit it right on the head regarding adult standards.Orlando's radio market is the same thing day in and day out all vying for a sliver of the pie peddling fast and going nowhere and it's been like this for years. Their all afraid to try something new something different.

The last real innovative move in Orlando radio took place in 1993 when Press Broadcasting (WKCF-TV) acquired bottom rated WWNZ-FM 104.1 from Paxson Communications and flipped it to Hot Talk with the present day moniker Real Radio 104.1. Press had nothing to lose by attempting the Hot Talk format; something no one else had ever done in Orlando radio, and many skeptics said it will never work. The station got resistance from some, but the negative publicity backfired and actually worked in Real Radio's favor and eventually made WTKS number one.

If someone took advantage of using the same innovative thinking outside the box strategy that Press Broadcasting used in 1993, it's virtually unlimited as to what another station can do in terms of setting Orlando on fire by bringing fun and excitement back to the Orlando radio air-waves.

Press already had a track record with the format, as they owned "New Jersey 101.5" somewhere in the swamps of Jersey...

But the only reason the station made it is they put Howard Stern on.

That they have survived Stern's move to Sirius is actually the more interesting case study, but Florida has always been receptive to "hot talk" hosts, whether it be Neil Rogers, Ron & Ron, Spongebubba Lovepants or the Monsters....