Radio stations that are "chestnuts"/anomalies

[davideduardo]

I'm a total statistics nerd. When I was involved in music research decades ago, we calculated the annual percentage of 'outliers' that had been jettisoned from the control group the prior year. Surprisingly, that percentage didn't vary too much from year to year.

Very true. In a 100 person AMT, we'd generally see one true outlier who even gave dramatically different scores to some of the biggest most broadly liked songs. On a rare occasion we might find two that we felt would not distort the total results but might affect age and gender breaks.

2 people is 2% of the sample. The AMT process has a greater overall margin of error, so removing a couple of outliers has no negative impact but some effect on the narrower breakouts. d

We knew interesting things, like how the weather outdoors would effect average scores; a storm or rain will bring down the average for example. Or bad traffic getting to the test site will do the same. Once you do a few hundred AMTs you know how to read the room even as to overall mood. That means that the cut-off point on playability will change according to that assessment.

Now, we test online. We can't read the room, we can't even be sure that the participant is the actual person we recruited. Technology brought down the price, but not the accuracy.

 

[Kelly A]

We knew interesting things, like how the weather outdoors would effect average scores; a storm or rain will bring down the average for example. Or bad traffic getting to the test site will do the same. Once you do a few hundred AMTs you know how to read the room even as to overall mood. That means that the cut-off point on playability will change according to that assessment.

That's why we reduced the participant goals just before school letting out for the Summer, and again just before Thanksgiving, restarting the first week in January. We had some hard core participants who wanted to do the music survey during summer and the holidays, but those were usually single people with no personal lives. Many of those ended up overthinking the survey and were rejected anyway. A little different than an outlier, yet far more annoying.
During peak goals, we tried to get 250 valid surveys done per week. Our 12-15 call center folks (aka 'Mutant Genepool'), received bonuses if they hit their valid survey and returned survey volunteers each week. That would usually include concert tickets or other station prizes. The MGP shift supervisor used to surreptitiously listen into the MGP to hear if they were actually on a call with a human, or just filling out the survey with their buddy on the phone.

Now, we test online. We can't read the room, we can't even be sure that the participant is the actual person we recruited. Technology brought down the price, but not the accuracy.

That's what I think is going on with political polling these days. You don't know if the participant is human, someone just messing with the survey, or a hardcore trying to alter the sample.

 

[AMFMTV]

Very true. In a 100 person AMT, we'd generally see one true outlier who even gave dramatically different scores to some of the biggest most broadly liked songs. On a rare occasion we might find two that we felt would not distort the total results but might affect age and gender breaks.

2 people is 2% of the sample. The AMT process has a greater overall margin of error, so removing a couple of outliers has no negative impact but some effect on the narrower breakouts. d

We knew interesting things, like how the weather outdoors would effect average scores; a storm or rain will bring down the average for example. Or bad traffic getting to the test site will do the same. Once you do a few hundred AMTs you know how to read the room even as to overall mood. That means that the cut-off point on playability will change according to that assessment.

Now, we test online. We can't read the room, we can't even be sure that the participant is the actual person we recruited. Technology brought down the price, but not the accuracy.

This is fascinating. Love learning about the parts of radio I don't specifically come across in my particular job. Thanks for sharing!

 

[radiofan2023]

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[vchimpanzee]

I think WVLG has gone back to what would be considered oldies, with the occasional newer song that doesn't make any sense. I don't encounter a large number of songs that seem too loud for a retirement community very often, but there are usually one or two in any given "last songs played". And the songs listed rarely seem to be unexpected.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I'm going to try again. "Last songs played" on WVLG seems to change as much as some people change clothes.

Are either of these songs unusual?

"Mama Can't Buy You Love" Elton John
"Love Is Like Oxygen" Sweet

 

[CTListener]

Both are certainly old enough for residents of a retirement community to enjoy and got a lot of airplay when new. At some point, chimp, you need to realize that "too loud" is not something today's 70-somethings complain about in music. They grew up with rock and probably went to concerts that were far louder than the radios they're listening to today.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Both are certainly old enough for residents of a retirement community to enjoy and got a lot of airplay when new. At some point, chimp, you need to realize that "too loud" is not something today's 70-somethings complain about in music. They grew up with rock and probably went to concerts that were far louder than the radios they're listening to today.

But do they help make WVLG fit the category?

 

[davideduardo]

But do they help make WVLG fit the category?

The problem is that people from their mid-60's to, perhaps. 80, and who would be in the prime demos at that retirement community are not bound by a single musical taste. Some grew up on The Archies and The Monkees, some on Supremes and Four Tops, some on Iron Butterfly and Janis Joplin. And some grew up on George Jones and Glenn Campbell. And a few, even, on Brubeck or Holzst.

And many, as they matured, moved on. They do not want to hear that music today at all or, maybe, they want some of it occasionally but they also grew to like songs from the 70's, 80's and even beyond.

 

[K.M. Richards]

But do they help make WVLG fit the category?

I think the problem here is trying to fit a station into a "category". Sometimes, it is impossible to do that.

 

[BruceB]

WWOZ Forgive me if it's already been mentioned.I didn't want to read all eleven pages.
New Orleans heritage music and about as laid back as radio gets.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I think the problem here is trying to fit a station into a "category". Sometimes, it is impossible to do that.

WVLG probably qualifies for the number of 60s songs they play. I've even seen 50s.

I think they gave up on Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga.

 

[K.M. Richards]

WVLG probably qualifies for the number of 60s songs they play. I've even seen 50s.

You missed my point, Chimp. The format no longer needs "qualification" to fit into a preconceived box.

 

[vchimpanzee]

You missed my point, Chimp. The format no longer needs "qualification" to fit into a preconceived box.

If it defies category, is it part of the category "chestnuts/anomalies"? That was my intended point.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I dont know why vchimpanzee seems to be trying so hard to get WVLG to appear to be a chestnut/anomalie...... plus, a few errant songs here and there dont accompl;ish thjat

 

[cc333]

I think they gave up on Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga.

I gave up on most present-day music years ago.

The last time I gave it any meaningful attention was on Radio Disney (KMKY 1310, long before its current format took hold) around 1998. Yes, 1998.

Bonus points for me being old enough to remember that Radio Disney was a thing on AM at one time.

You missed my point, Chimp. The format no longer needs "qualification" to fit into a preconceived box.

True, but...

If it defies category, is it part of the category "chestnuts/anomalies"? That was my intended point.

You make some sense.

I think you're both right. If a station doesn't really figure into any present-day formats, the "chestnuts/anomalies" category does kind of end up being the de-facto catch-all for the "unclassifiables," absent anything better.

I dont know why vchimpanzee seems to be trying so hard to get WVLG to appear to be a chestnut/anomalie...... plus, a few errant songs here and there dont accompl;ish thjat

Perhaps we're all getting a bit lost in the weeds here. Let's move on!

Anyway, let me try: is KYNO 940 out of Fresno, CA a chestnut by the definitions ?

It's the only AM station (at least out here in the West) that I'm aware of that broadcasts oldies at 50,000 watts 24/7, notwithstanding the recent copper theft that left its ground system damaged and its signal crippled for some time.

I've also heard quite a few early 60s and 50s records on there, by the way, which is even more unusual in my experience; the farthest back most other so-called oldies stations go nowadays is the late 60s, if that, and most have re-branded themselves as "classic hits" and concentrate on the late 70s through the 80s and sometimes into the 90s.

c

 

[vchimpanzee]

I dont know why vchimpanzee seems to be trying so hard to get WVLG to appear to be a chestnut/anomalie...... plus, a few errant songs here and there dont accompl;ish thjat

It just seemed like a large number of songs I hadn't heard of or hadn't heard in years ended up on "last songs played". Things seem more normal now.

 

[cc333]

It just seemed like a large number of songs I hadn't heard of or hadn't heard in years ended up on "last songs played". Things seem more normal now.

Maybe someone, somewhere requested those songs, for whatever reason?

c

 

[Kent]

I gave up on most present-day music years ago.

The average person stops listening to new music around age 34. That was about the age I stopped listening to pop and current country music. I always tell my nieces that my music tastes have never stopped growing. It's just not the pop or country sound anymore. While I will occasionally listen to new rock or acoustic songs, I usually stick to classic hits, classic rock, or classic alternative.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Maybe someone, somewhere requested those songs, for whatever reason?

c

Could be. I do listen to WLML and they do take requests. So does serenade Radio online but the DJs aren't live or even in the same studio. One isn't even in the same country. I think they all work from home but it all sounds quite professional.