Is there a way to request a HD-2 format? I contacted one of the stations suggesting if they would put on a Dance station on HD-2, but I got no reply. They have the same format on HD-2 as they do on HD-1. I like the format on KVET HD-2 it sounds good. The only thing I wish is that they can increase the power without effecting other stations, with skips I cant recieve austin HD very good but I'm hoping they can fix that.
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Requesting HD-2 formats?
- Thread starter jras20
- Start date
Since us over 40 year-old (old farts) are the only one with money to buy these HD radios, why don't they put formats on there that we want? Hell, put the old FM 'Beautiful Music' on HD2, and you could sell HD to half the businesses in town not to mention all of our parents. If you're keeping track of TSL, Beautiful Music racks up some big numbers.
E
eas_test
Guest
Keep in mind, the radio folks (programmers, engineers, etc) were already busy with the "normal" stations trying to make money. It's difficult for the same people to spend extra man (or woman) hours creating logs, and programming all the HD2 formats.
JohnnyElectron said:
You'd think that one would be a "no-brainer." From a manpower standpoint Beautiful Music formats are one of the easiest to do. It is actually a format that lends itself well to automation. Doing Beautiful Music or Easy Listening really, really well does take some talent but I doubt you'd have to go to any extremes, at least until the station becomes popular. Even with minimal talent, you'd probably be the only station in town doing it, so it should be easy to get a loyal following. An awful lot of early FMs used the format and prospered with very little extra human intervention. Some of the really well programmed ones, like Boston's WJIB, were more labor intensive but they also got huge ratings. I suspect that WJIB made a lot of money for its owners.
With computer automation, the only problem would be building a music library. Even that can't be very hard.
Of course, this all assumes that there are enough HD radios to make a difference. It seems to me that if you want to sell the radios, you really need to give people a reason to buy them.
I don't mean to be rude here, but does anyone actually think consumers would buy IBOC receivers to listen to elevator music? ;D I'm soon to be 55 but my basic tastes in music have stayed the same except that I've built on it on the years. What I mean is that I still love The Beatles, Chuck Berry etc. but I also love Coltrane and Monk nowadays along with Blues, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra. you name it, etc. and will listen to any or all of them on any given night, depending on my mood. Just because we're getting older doesn't mean we're ready for rocking chair music yet. I remember WJIB, I used to fall asleep standing to that one. Hey, maybe Otis Elevator would be interested, what do you think, might be the savior of IBOC?
KB1OKL said:
I understand where you are coming from, but I think you may be missing something. I would have though as you do as well, but one day I was persuaded to subscribe to a Yahoo Beautiful Music - Easy Listening message board. I couldn't believe the traffic. It sure makes this look like a very quiet place. In fact, I had to bow out because it was simply taking too much time to read. It turns out, there is a lot of interest in the topic. Admittedly, there are quite a few folks on that forum who just like to whine and moan, but that is nothing new. It’s just like you’d find on any discussion forum. Even this one.
I grew up listening to the same music most everyone in my (now ageing) group did. There was a wide variety back in the 50's and 60's. Some was good, some was not so good. Beautiful Music was a part of that mix. I used to have it on while I was studying or doing homework. When I was in a livelier mood, The Rolling Stones or Beatles were more my taste. Obviously, a lot of the pop music of the 50’s & 60’s has had a long run. Most radio stations have played the top 400-600 songs of that era to death. I'm sick of a lot of them. I've found that a lot of other people feel the same way. I suspect that resurrecting the good stuff (and there was some) that these Beautiful Music stations played would get a loyal following. It would sound fresh, because it hasn't been heard in years.
More importantly, it would not cut into a station’s current audience. For the most part, it would bring people back to radio who have given up on it. They would not be the demo that ad agencies are looking for, but a decent local sales force ought to be able to sell spots. Of course, that is a moot point right now, since most of the Alliance stations are running without spots.
As for WJIB, maybe it did put you to sleep, but that wasn't the effect on everybody. When visiting New England during WJIB's hay-day, it was amazing how many places had it on. It was everywhere. Maybe you didn’t care for it, but somebody was making money from it. It was really popular.
The funny thing about things that are popular is, like lots of history, they tend to repeat themselves. Fads come and go. Nostalgia sells. I think this is one that is worth a shot. Someone with a little creativity that knew enough to avoid the funeral dirges and really boring stuff could make a go of it. It wouldn't cost a lot to try it. At least it would be more creative than some of the current offerings on HD stations.
HD-2 stations should provide programming not heard on analog radio. WCBS-FM HD1 now play classic hits, but this music is also heard on:
WPLJ-HD2 - 80s
WPLJ-HD3 - True Oldies Channel
WLTW-HD2 Classic Hits
Since HD2 stations are not bringing revenue at this time, why should station owners pay attention to them. I would love an Adult Standards station in place of WLTW-HD2. As stated in an earlier post the Beautiful Music format should be on HD2. It is hard to believe that at one time in the NYC market there were beautiful music stations at WPAT, WVNJ, WTFM, and WRFM.
WPLJ-HD2 - 80s
WPLJ-HD3 - True Oldies Channel
WLTW-HD2 Classic Hits
Since HD2 stations are not bringing revenue at this time, why should station owners pay attention to them. I would love an Adult Standards station in place of WLTW-HD2. As stated in an earlier post the Beautiful Music format should be on HD2. It is hard to believe that at one time in the NYC market there were beautiful music stations at WPAT, WVNJ, WTFM, and WRFM.
BruceS8852 said:
It makes very little sense to do the same thing on your HD-2 channel that you already do on your primary analog and HD-1 channels. That just fragments your audience. At least for now, HD-2's should provide programming that couldn’t be found elsewhere. Adult Standards, Beautiful Music/EZ, Smooth Jazz, Real Jazz, Classical, Oldies, Classic Country and Comedy are obvious choices. It depends on the market. In Tampa, Florida, I’ll bet a B/EZ station would go over very well. These stations need to bring people back to radio, not rape existing audiences. But, who said any of this makes sense?
BruceS8852 said:
Lets be honest here, While CBS FM calls itself a "greatest Hits" station its more of an updated oldies station where you can hear anything from the late 50's (Very few I'll admit) to the 1980's and its local and live. The HD formats you listed might play some of the same music but PLJ's HD 3 channel is a syndicated production, with a much more early 60's tilt. Their HD 2 was all 70's, last time I checked. Also their HD 2 & 3 channels are mono. The HD 1/analog is aimed at housewives in New Jersey (quite a distance from White Port Lemon Juice, which is what WPLJ stands for). As for a beautiful music station, I'm 51 and I remember WTFM, WRFM, WVNJ, & WPAT (as well as all of the surrounding area BM stations such as WHUD). If you're going to put that stuff on your HD channel in the NY area you might as well put up 1K tone @ +4 or better yet a telco chicken. There is no call IE ZILCH! for that format in NY. Its appeal was 65 and up and that was back in the early to mid 1970's. Why do you think WPAT added vocals to their playlist? I realize you and maybe 25 other people nationally long for those old days of Charles Duval on W-'T'-FM. Sorry, there isn't enough of an audience to support doing that even as an HD2 stream. For those who are reading this while listening to their favorite 101 strings album, I'll leave you with these three final words..You may rinse.
R.F. Burns said:
How do you know that for sure? Or is it just your opinion? Both XM and Sirius have channels with this stuff. They haven't cancelled them yet, so I'd bet that someone is listening. I know you will say, "But they are losing boat-loads of money." That’s right, but it's for reasons other than having a channel with the Hollyridge Strings on it.
I'm not a huge fan of BE/Z music, but I think there is a place for it. The bottom line is nobody will really know unless they try it. At this point in the history of HD, there is very little to loose. Maybe it wouldn’t work in NYC, but it might in many cities. It would be very easy to do. I'd rather hear Montovani than several hours of dead air, as can be found on many HD-2 channels. It seems that not even people at some radios stations are listening. The only way to go is up.
Chuck said:
Radio stations are looking for younger listeners. Here in NYC, CD 101 (WQCD) just switched from "Smooth Jazz" to AAA because the audience for "Smooth Jazz" was too old and so couldn't bring in the money expected of a NY FM facility. "Smooth Jazz" is the next generations Beautiful Music and now even it has been aged out of the market.
R.F. Burns said:
Of course they are, but that is because it’s what agencies are looking for. At this point ANY listener is preferable to "no listeners." Sometimes you have to walk before you run. It occurs to me that implementing HD-2 formats that to not challenge your existing (and hopefully profitable) primary station for listeners would be a wise business choice. It doesn't make a lot of sense to be your own biggest competitor. Besides, it is an opportunity to bring some listeners back to radio. There are quite a few formats that could do that. I'm not in love with B/EZ, but with all the people who live in and around NYC, the law of averages tells me that some of them might listen. You might not get rich, but at least you could probably keep the HD-2 operating, pay all the bills and make a profit until there are enough radios to flip the format to something else. That's assuming there ever are enough radios. Lots of people have made good livings by "doing what the other guy isn't."
R.F. Burns said:
And ironically, 92.5 in Dallas is rumored to be flipping to Smooth Jazz on Monday. Take a look on the DFW Board. If the rumor is true, then maybe somebody else understands that people over 35 actually buy something every now and then.
Chuck said:
Satellite can do formats that commercial stations can not, because the listner pays, not the advertiser. If it does not do will in persons between 18 and 54, it generally will not work in rated markets. Beautiful Music died in the mid-80's and the listeners who are left are probably over 70. No advertiser wants that group.
And most analysts have concluded that the HD channels should fill big niches, like country in NY or be focused on trend setters, who are mostly under 35.
KB1OKL said:
WJIB was in Boston. They used a ships bell as a logo and a time signal. (Three bells, it’s 5:30.) They also played seagull and breaking surf sounds in the background during stop sets as I recall. Just from those sounds, you knew what station you were listening to. Rich Wood programmed it at one time. Maybe he will chime in.
I only heard it as a visitor, but I was impressed, even though I was more interested in the Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. at the time. I admit it wasn't high on my list, but I recognized that it was something quite special and had no problem listening if that was the desire of people around me. It was not your usual mish-mash of elevator music.
Most importantly, there were a ton of people who listened. It was hard to go into a store, doctor’s office, bank lobby, restaurant, etc and escape WJIB. Kind of like Chickenman, "It was everywhere!"
N
necrat123
Guest
Chuck said:
I believe WPLM-FM (99.1 Plymouth) does that now. With the bell, breaking surf and seagull sound during their legal ID.
Chuck said:
Yup that's it, those bells had me convinced it was from the coast somewhere. Those bells and sea sounds were very cool, made me wish I liked the music, haha! No that one wasn't too bad as far as that type of music goes, I must admit I did listen to it occasionally, didn't come in very well here though. It is still on the air I just found out but deep in debt:
http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2007/03/30/licensing_fee_deal_is_not_beautiful_music_for_wjib/
KB1OKL said:
It's not the same station. The original was on FM. Bob Bittner runs the current AM version as a hobby. It airs no commercials. Recently he asked listeners to send in donations to keep it on the air. The donations surpassed his most optimistic expectations. People love what he is doing.
Bob posts here occasionally. He is one of radio's "class acts." Maybe he will comment further.
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