Remember Bumper Stckers

[nitro99]

Yes, Bob...I remember the 'KB litter boxes too. Looked like a big tissue box (white) with blue lettering "WKBW Radio 1520"

If I recall, they were co-sponsored by Gulf and came out around 1964 when Gulf Oil introduced their new disc-logo.

The last one I saw was in 1968 on the back shelf of a 1962 Buick on my paper route. I even remember the address on Sanders Road in North Buffalo.

The stupid things that are etched in your mind....how come I never was able to burn in the Algebra and Trig??

Speaking of giveaways with station logos, how about "music surveys" at the record shops.

I can still see the stack of 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of colored paper with the WYSL top 30 (circa 1966). The top 10 were in big boxes on the front, each sponsored by a different advertiser. You would then call in the request line and ask for the song and tag the sponsor...

"I'd like to hear Along Comes Mary by the Association...Things go better with Coke"

Something tells me I should have started a new thread.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Hmmm...I seem to recall WKSE in it's "Price Communication station" days saying "This is a Kiss 98 point five Super sticker..." (sound effect of a rip.)
"This is a Kiss 98 point five Super sticker...ON YOUR CAR!!!!" (yes, the words "on your car" were yelled out!)

Then there were lots of screaming people with djs screaming out "A hundred dollars!...Two hundred dollars..."

I believe that contest went right into the early 90's, but remember there was also alot more competition back then too.

They had to battle it out with Magic 102.

Today, Magic (now star) is owned by the same company as WKSE, so perhaps less competition has something to do with it...(?)

 

[nitro99]

My recollection of the Kiss vs Majic bumper stickers...

At the Erie County Fair. Kids would put them EVERYWHERE at the Fair (restroom stalls, signs, rides, even on themselves). Not too sure that was the station's intent..after all they're called BUMPER stickers for a reason, right?

I fondly remember pestering my parents to put a "WKBW Tooth Fairy" sticker on our car. They said no to putting on the T-Bird, but yes to the Maverick!!

 

[Radknowski]

Oh, well, it was a goner within a matter of weeks anyway, when he traded that car on a new convertible that didn't have a package shelf.

Is a package shelf anything like a banana hammock? Just askin'.

 

[music123]

WGVA in Geneva had a unique litter box promo. You designed your own 'GVA litter box, and could win a prize if the station's spotters liked it and read your license plate number on the air. Made for some creative art work!

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Right up until last Summer, Z103 (Cidc fm, Orangeville/Toronto Ontario) handed out bumper stickers. This summer, the choice was to replace the bumper sticker with car air fresheners.

Good point that the stickers can go anywhere, while the air freshner is pretty much restricted to the car.

However, on the other side of the coin, what's the cost factor?

How much does it cost to make a car air freshener with the station identification on it?

How much do the bumper stickers cost?
What's delivering the message better?

Ah, so many questions! 8)

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

Rumper Stickers:

WKSE/1995 at the kiss..summer,hello
had "Rumper stickers" in the form of lips...

they were alot smaller, and most likely less expensive.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

well.....im not sure if this was covered or not,
but - i was never a fan of O&A, and all
those "WOW" stickers...every one has those -
and, now they are not even "readily available"
here in buffalo....

so, what if u place a station's sticker on your
car, and an out of towner turns to 102.5
hoping to hear the "MAJIC" and is disappointed,
i think it says alot about you; esp. once the
sticker is out of date / which can happen...
almost from book to book, if you have a
station like CKEY, esp five years ago.
"#1 for hip hop" / "Buffalo's Party station" /
"the #1 hit music channel" / (etc,etc)...

OR,
if a station, like WHTT - changes the look
or image, well, then its not the
"CLASSIC" oldies 104 sticker , instead
it maybe a "GOD BLESS USA,104.1" image,
and...well, to most people here from Buffalo,
that is not their "oldies 104"
(just like when people say, guess what i heard
on 'joy 96 today).... that is never gonna go away,
SIDE TOPIC:
should wjye, just bring that BACK ? bringin' u the
Joy of the holidays, 96.1 - - kick off the idea/campaign
w/ a bumper sticker!

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

....although, the bumper sticker
w/ shredd and ragan, is fairly common.

they seem to endorse the bumper sticker,
every time, a new 'slogan' or idea - from
their show becomes some thing ....
(thanks to their friends at, o.t.m,designs).

either on the message board, on the aire,
or...an event in pop culture becomes SOOO....
"big" - a short term promotion is
the bumper sticker to support or
participate in the [short-term] running gag.
when that is over, they move onto the next...

 

[bobgowa]

People who still believe in things, passions, causes, put them on cars, STILL. Yet, no radio bumper stickers. Wonder why?!

Because (remember, you asked): People used to have the same kind of passion for a favorite station that they have for NASCAR drivers, sports teams and causes. They also hoped the station spotter would see them on the road, announce their license plate number and give them those big money prizes ("I JUST WON F I F T Y D O L L A R S !?!?!?). No one wants a sticker because there's no "there" there. Most stations (there are notable exceptions) aren't unique enough for listeners to identify with or feel passionate about (imagine if every baseball team had the same name and mascot) and the only "big money prize" in radio today is the CEO's exit package

Most importantly, today's target generation just doesn't consider radio to be terribly relevant (I wonder if there's a market for "Listen to iPod in the Morning" stickers...hmm.

Just my 2 (hey wait, there's no "cents" symbol on my keyboard!) cents worth. Take it with a pound of salt...

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Re: Litter Box

Going way back in time - I had a KB litter box on the back shelf of my '60 Chevy.

Was that a gray Impala you bought from the KB station manager...
the guy whose car Dick Biondi wanted everyone to throw rocks at? ;D

 

[Yeziknoradio]

if you have a
station like CKEY, esp five years ago.
"#1 for hip hop" / "Buffalo's Party station" /
"the #1 hit music channel" / (etc,etc)...

CKEY? There are still some cars found in Toronto Canada that either read "Unlock your memories on Key 590"
or just simply, 590 CKEY "Solid gold radio".
590 in Toronto was the original home of CKEY, until 1991 when they changed over to Country as CKYC.