Slight "Lite" Changes

[wmgcbs]

It seems like with the arrival of new PD Chris Conley, some small changes, probably unnoticeable to the average listener, have taken place. More recently, all of WLTW's transitions without DJ talk were completely dry segues. Now, while some dry segues continue to exist, sweepers have been reintroduced to the station, along with the voice of John Pleisse, which has been absent from the station since earlier this year (only for a few months).

In addition, some of the currents are being introduced by a pre-recorded sweeper. I heard one for Daughtry's "Feels Like Tonight." A similar approach is being used on "Fresh" for their new music. I don't know who started doing it first.

There are also some subtle slogan changes. Now, instead of "The Best Variety of Yesterday and Today," slogans include "The Variety Station" and "The Best Variety in the City." "New York's 106.7 Lite-fm" has been shortened back to the original "106.7 Lite-fm" as well.

The music mix may have changed slightly - I think the play of currents has lessened a bit (no complaints from me...), but it is not extremely noticeable overall. It's just nice to hear some attempts to freshen up the station. I look forward to seeing and hearing what Mr. Conley has in store for the station in the long run.

 

[kevinsealy]

wmgcbs,

I've noticed that WLTW is sounding more like the AC station we've known them to be, especially acts from the 70's like Carly Simon, Carole King, James Taylor and their like.



Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

 

[Danfm]

In addition, some of the currents are being introduced by a pre-recorded sweeper.

As far as i can tell Chris Conley's old station B101 seems to be doing that for most of if not all of their songs both old and new. I only listen to WBEB when overpoweres the CBS FM signal.

 

[disney fanatic]

Way to go, Chris Conley! Jim Ryan is out and into the toilet where it goes and nobody knows! Good move, but now that the slogans has changed to "The Best Variety in the City" instead of "The Best Variety of Yesterday & Today", while other "Lite" stations in the HV area like 92.1 and 98.5 are still using the slogans as "The Best Variety of Yesterday & Today" and "Hudson Valley's Continuous Soft Rock Favorites". And as of that, "New York's 106.7 Lite-FM" has become known as "106.7 Lite-FM" instead. They used that for a year after they dropped in the first place as "New York's 106.7 FM" for a few months.

Excellent move for the station, and good for everyone at the CC Joker. Thanks to Batman & Robin for this great work in Gotham City. Jim Ryan has finally defeated and saves the day. A job well done!

 

[wmgcbs]

wmgcbs,

I've noticed that WLTW is sounding more like the AC station we've known them to be, especially acts from the 70's like Carly Simon, Carole King, James Taylor and their like.



Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

I wouldn't go so far as to say that. However, I find myself able to listen more often than I have been listening over the past two years. When songs like Shaggy's "Angel" come on Lite-fm (it is still in rotation as far as I know), I still have to cringe. However, it began to get ridiculous at WLTW, especially since Fresh burst on the scene - I have already brought up hearing "Bohemian Rhapsody" on the station in the past year numerous times, so I need not belabor the point once again. Now, the station sounds more focused as an AC station, when it almost began to sound as a "Jack" type station for pop music.

I was never critical of updating the playlist and cutting back on the gold tracks. That wasn't the problem; the problem was the songs with which the gold tracks were being replaced. Currents began to get more airplay, and Michael Jackson's, Prince's, and Madonna's more upbeat songs began to be featured. Now, I think that the music is somewhat "lighter," but I would prefer if the currents were played with less frequency, which seemed to be the case until last year through the present. I have always been a KOST/LA fan, and while I know that such a station will never be heard in NYC, I have respect for the fact that they don't overplay the currents and re-currents, a lesson that WLTW might benefit from.

 

[yossefgershon]

A definite response to the inroads "cbs-fm has made!!!!!!They are almost ignoring FRESH---BELIEVE IT OR NOT!!!!

 

[sdol]

I wouldn't call them slight lite changes. It seems almost every time I turn the station on in the last few days, I hear some way old song. And it's often something I don't know. I find Fresh to be so much more modern than Lite. I think playing more gold hits will only hurt them in the long run.

 

[pbf1]

I think playing more gold hits will only hurt them in the long run.

Maybe with you, but definitely not with their target demo. (Are you familiar with this new PD, and the track record he brings to the table?)

 

[neo11]

The same target demo that has brought Lite FM to #1 all these years playing lots of new music?

 

[wmgcbs]

I wouldn't call them slight lite changes. It seems almost every time I turn the station on in the last few days, I hear some way old song. And it's often something I don't know.

Then most likely, you are out of WLTW's target audience. Are you?

The gold tracks that Lite-fm plays are still, for the most part, upbeat, with the exception of an occasional Carly Simon or James Taylor track. The majority of the '70's songs that they play are from artists like KC and the Sunshine Band, Barry White, Donna Summer, and songs with a similar vibe. Not that they don't play "You've Got a Friend" and "Easy," but the upbeat 70's and 80's songs are more prevalent.

I find Fresh to be so much more modern than Lite.

Right... That's the whole point of Fresh. TODAY'S Fresh Music (Not that this particular slogan means anything... They should have left it at "Today's Soft Music," but that's a discussion for another place and time).

I think playing more gold hits will only hurt them in the long run.

If they keep the balance they have right now, they'll probably be OK. In no way do the pre-1980's tracks dominate their playlist. Of the past SEVEN songs I have heard this morning (From "I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight" to "We Belong Together," only ONE of the songs they played was from the '70's, and it was KC and the Sunshine Band's "Boogie Shoes." Their level of gold tracks is certainly not near what it was two or three years ago where almost every other song was pre-1980. Now, there are only about 2 to 3 (occasionally 4) pre-'80's tracks an hour.

Familiarity is the key with at-work listening. That's why stations like WLTW and now, WCBS-FM's reincarnation, will do well in the PPMs. They play songs people know and like. WLTW plays enough old music to keep the older end of their demo happy and enough new songs to quench the thirst of the younger listeners. They have a great formula. WWFS will never be as successful. WCBS-FM, on the other hand, plays music that is familiar to young and old alike, so it's also a natural choice for a listen-at-work station, which seems to have been reflected in their nice PPM pre-currency numbers.

 

[andreajesus]

The whole thing that I see with "Fresh" is NOT the tag line, the whole thing that I see with "Fresh" is - WHO is their TRUE audience?? The programmers need to MORE CLEARLY DEFINE their audience, and market to THAT audience...

 

[pbf1]

I wouldn't call them slight lite changes. It seems almost every time I turn the station on in the last few days, I hear some way old song. And it's often something I don't know. I find Fresh to be so much more modern than Lite. I think playing more gold hits will only hurt them in the long run.

The LAST thing Lite wants is "modern." Not out of date, necessarily, but not "modern." Familiar favorites, not new stuff no one cares about (in that demo, anyway).

 

[ccuphl]

As far as i can tell Chris Conley's old station B101 seems to be doing that for most of if not all of their songs both old and new. I only listen to WBEB when overpoweres the CBS FM signal.

WBEB tags every song, new and old, around the clock.

As for the PPMs, WBEB dominates the landscape to the point where other stations won't flip to AC to take them on. WBEB pulled a 17.something 6+ in December with Christmas music!