Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel

[gcc83j]

I've seen Shannon's format mentioned here a few times and I'm
wondering if anyone has seen ratings from markets around the
country. How is his format doing? Is it still new enough that he's
still adding stations to his lineup. I listen from time to time but
even though his playlist is WAY bigger than most of the mid-to-large
market stations, his fascination with non top twenty R & B songs
turns me off. Just one example is Shake a Tailfeather by the Five
Du-Tones. I've now heard it several times and I don't listen every
day. At least he could pop on the James and Bobby Purify version
once in a while. At least it charted higher. Why not substitute any
one of the 3 top ten songs by Gene McDaniels now and then. I've
never heard any of his songs on the True Oldies Channel. I could give you
several more examples but I think you get my drift. So, generally
speaking, how is Scott Shannon doing?

 

[Mouth1390]

> I've seen Shannon's format mentioned here a few times and
> I'm
> wondering if anyone has seen ratings from markets around the
>
> country. How is his format doing? Is it still new enough
> that he's
> still adding stations to his lineup. I listen from time to
> time but
> even though his playlist is WAY bigger than most of the
> mid-to-large
> market stations, his fascination with non top twenty R & B
> songs
> turns me off. Just one example is Shake a Tailfeather by the
> Five
> Du-Tones. I've now heard it several times and I don't listen
> every
> day. At least he could pop on the James and Bobby Purify
> version
> once in a while. At least it charted higher. Why not
> substitute any
> one of the 3 top ten songs by Gene McDaniels now and then.
> I've
> never heard any of his songs on the True Oldies Channel. I
> could give you
> several more examples but I think you get my drift. So,
> generally
> speaking, how is Scott Shannon doing?
>
Who knows ? The other question is this: how does an oldies format without personalities. . .without any elements besides music and spots actually take hold in a market ? I would never deny Scott Shannon's success, but having heard the True Oldies format, it leaves a lot to be desired. All it has is music with Shannon's bumpers which, in a lot of ways, conflict with the music. To be bold, how much more is it than the Billboard Top 20 starting in 1955 ?

It seems to me that for the format to work there needs to be the other elements including things like news, weather, sports, time checks and real musical jingles. And a touch of reverb wouldn't hurt either. All of that is missing in the Shannon format.

 

[D1075]

> > I've seen Shannon's format mentioned here a few times and
> > I'm
> > wondering if anyone has seen ratings from markets around
> the
> >
> > country. How is his format doing? Is it still new enough
> > that he's
> > still adding stations to his lineup. I listen from time to
>
> > time but
> > even though his playlist is WAY bigger than most of the
> > mid-to-large
> > market stations, his fascination with non top twenty R & B
>
> > songs
> > turns me off. Just one example is Shake a Tailfeather by
> the
> > Five
> > Du-Tones. I've now heard it several times and I don't
> listen
> > every
> > day. At least he could pop on the James and Bobby Purify
> > version
> > once in a while. At least it charted higher. Why not
> > substitute any
> > one of the 3 top ten songs by Gene McDaniels now and then.
>
> > I've
> > never heard any of his songs on the True Oldies Channel. I
>
> > could give you
> > several more examples but I think you get my drift. So,
> > generally
> > speaking, how is Scott Shannon doing?
> >
> Who knows ? The other question is this: how does an oldies
> format without personalities. . .without any elements
> besides music and spots actually take hold in a market ? I
> would never deny Scott Shannon's success, but having heard
> the True Oldies format, it leaves a lot to be desired. All
> it has is music with Shannon's bumpers which, in a lot of
> ways, conflict with the music. To be bold, how much more is
> it than the Billboard Top 20 starting in 1955 ?
>
> It seems to me that for the format to work there needs to be
> the other elements including things like news, weather,
> sports, time checks and real musical jingles. And a touch of
> reverb wouldn't hurt either. All of that is missing in the
> Shannon format.
>
In Chicago, there's is no other oldies station except WRLL 1690 which has a weak signal, and they aren't exactly a traditional oldies station, so his format on 94.7 could do decent without personalites since they are basically the only game in town for oldies. However, it was mentioned ABC wants to have a local AM and PM drive host in place by the end of the year with the Shannon format running the rest of the day.

 

[Oldbones]

> > So,
> > generally
> > speaking, how is Scott Shannon doing?
> >
> Who knows ? The other question is this: how does an oldies
> format without personalities. . .without any elements
> besides music and spots actually take hold in a market ? I
> would never deny Scott Shannon's success, but having heard
> the True Oldies format, it leaves a lot to be desired. All
> it has is music with Shannon's bumpers which, in a lot of
> ways, conflict with the music.

The couple of stations I've heard this format on were either in unrated markets or historically non-players in or rimshotting a medium-sized market. Latchkey operations for the most part. I'm sure the owners see it as cheap programming to keep the station on the air & maybe sell enough spots to break even.

This format is mostly an ego project for Shannon anyway.

 

[classic_rocker]

> > > So,
> > > generally
> > > speaking, how is Scott Shannon doing?
> > >
> > Who knows ? The other question is this: how does an oldies
>
> > format without personalities. . .without any elements
> > besides music and spots actually take hold in a market ? I
>
> > would never deny Scott Shannon's success, but having heard
>
> > the True Oldies format, it leaves a lot to be desired. All
>
> > it has is music with Shannon's bumpers which, in a lot of
> > ways, conflict with the music.
>
> The couple of stations I've heard this format on were either
> in unrated markets or historically non-players in or
> rimshotting a medium-sized market. Latchkey operations for
> the most part. I'm sure the owners see it as cheap
> programming to keep the station on the air & maybe sell
> enough spots to break even.
>
> This format is mostly an ego project for Shannon anyway.
>
I would hardly call 94.7 in Chicago an unrated market, or a latchkey operation.
Ego project or not give the man credit for trying to keep the oldies format alive. He does have a huge playlist, and very few oldies stations around the country still go 55-73. Most are post beatles up to early 80s.

 

[uncamark]

> In Chicago, there's is no other oldies station except WRLL
> 1690 which has a weak signal, and they aren't exactly a
> traditional oldies station, so his format on 94.7 could do
> decent without personalites since they are basically the
> only game in town for oldies. However, it was mentioned ABC
> wants to have a local AM and PM drive host in place by the
> end of the year with the Shannon format running the rest of
> the day.

And considering that morning drive in Chicago is custom voice-tracks by Shannon for now mentioning Chicago things, I'm assuming that he also prefers that morning drive (at least) be local (it seems like the network doesn't start until 10 a.m. CT--WZZN's often playing an instrumental at 9:58 or 9:59).

 

[D1075]

> > > > So,
> > > > generally
> > > > speaking, how is Scott Shannon doing?
> > > >
> > > Who knows ? The other question is this: how does an
> oldies
> >
> > > format without personalities. . .without any elements
> > > besides music and spots actually take hold in a market ?
> I
> >
> > > would never deny Scott Shannon's success, but having
> heard
> >
> > > the True Oldies format, it leaves a lot to be desired.
> All
> >
> > > it has is music with Shannon's bumpers which, in a lot
> of
> > > ways, conflict with the music.
> >
> > The couple of stations I've heard this format on were
> either
> > in unrated markets or historically non-players in or
> > rimshotting a medium-sized market. Latchkey operations
> for
> > the most part. I'm sure the owners see it as cheap
> > programming to keep the station on the air & maybe sell
> > enough spots to break even.
> >
> > This format is mostly an ego project for Shannon anyway.
> >
> I would hardly call 94.7 in Chicago an unrated market, or a
> latchkey operation.
> Ego project or not give the man credit for trying to keep
> the oldies format alive. He does have a huge playlist, and
> very few oldies stations around the country still go 55-73.
> Most are post beatles up to early 80s.
>
I agree that the Shannon format sounds good. Musically, they are way better than WJMK ever was, although the production values of WJMK were far superior. However, are listeners going to listen to an oldies station for the music or the production? Of course the music.