Summer Phase II numbers

[MsMusicRadio]

When KQV would segue the Carpenters into the Stones, nobody said trainwreck. Listen to old airchecks of KQV or WABC and see how they were all over the place. Having a low key guy like my old buddy the late Henry D. into Ravin Dave might seem odd today also. Why couldn't that work today?

 

[johnsummers]

.....log on...kluv.com!! And, take your laptop in the car!! ;D

 

[Boss Radio]

When KQV would segue the Carpenters into the Stones, nobody said trainwreck. Listen to old airchecks of KQV or WABC and see how they were all over the place. Having a low key guy like my old buddy the late Henry D. into Ravin Dave might seem odd today also. Why couldn't that work today?

To the best of my recollection, 3WS has never played any Carpenters song in regular rotation (except "Merry Christmas Darling.")

 

[Parttimer]

They must not research at all, you don't hear them in any oldies formats.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Maybe they will flip to Spanish after XMAS

 

[Raymond]

And 3WS has sucked every last bit of fun out of the station.

At KLUV the Amazing Mr. Cresswell keeps the tempo going and you all still exude the energy that made radio great. Wish we had you guys here in the Burgh. (Especially since you ARE Pittsburgh guys...).

Partimer, I think you meant to say "And management has sucked every last bit of fun out of 3ws".

 

[MsMusicRadio]

WRBQ and WCBS are classic hits stations that have a fun sound like stations actually had when this music was new. Maybe CBS should flip 93.7 or Star to classic hits and pulverize CC.

 

[trefdawg]

and hire Clark to program it!(not Keith either)

 

[Parttimer]

Partimer, I think you meant to say "And management has sucked every last bit of fun out of 3ws".

I'd agree with that.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

I'm glad that finally I have a good idea. If anybody knows CBS brass, they should feed the idea. Flipping one of these to classic hits, if done right, could put a big hurt on 3ws, LTJ, and even BOB. It should be live, but Vt'ing from WCBS sometimes would not be a fatal flaw. Isn't one of their jocks an old Pitts radio vet? Then 93.7 and 100.7 would not overlap. And hire Clingram by all means.

 

[johnsummers]

Yep!! Clarke with an 'e'.!

 

[cingram]

Well, hello, John.

I believe the evolution of the Classic Hits format still has to involve 'pop' music of different styles and textures. R&B, pop/bubblegum, Rock-leaning songs, etc.

I might disagree on the bubblegum.

For example, do you consider "Glory Days" to be a rock song or a pop song.

Both. But Springsteen accrues to Rock, so that's where I'd place it.

If you play Glory Days back to back with...Light My Fire, it gives the station a decidedly rock feel, maybe not right for a 'mainstream Classic Hits station. A better choice might be to follow with something like "Love Grows....", for example. But, is that a psychographic train wreck?? Some say yes, some no.

I say yes, both because of the psychographic difference and the span of years between the two songs.

Another key element of Classic Hits radio has to be....here it comes.....are you ready for it?........FUN!!

Couldn't agree more. I've gone from being a P1 3WS listener to an occasional passerby, and that isn't all about the music changes.

Here in DFW, with People Meter the law of the land, K*LUV has a 'soft oldies' competitor which is talking only between the songs and seging into music directly out of spots on purpose.

People Meter or not, I'd say that sounds unprofessional. Maybe I'm just locked into forty years of formatics, but "failing to entertain" in a PPM environment where content is king doesn't seem wise to me. Sheesh, buy some jingles.

It seems to me, music irregularities aside, that 3WS is already People Meter friendy.

Expound on this, please. PPM or no PPM, unless they want to be the in-office choice, I can't see how being less exciting is going to help them.

That said, I think that a 'top 40' sounding Classic Hits station will win over the other kind every time, all other things being equal.

Again, I couldn't agree more. I would love to program a fun, Top 40 sounding Classic Hits station. Who knows. Maybe I will.

C.

 

[Raymond]

Clarke-

Expound upon your thoughts:

Another key element of Classic Hits radio has to be....here it comes.....are you ready for it?........FUN!!

Couldn't agree more. I've gone from being a P1 3WS listener to an occasional passerby, and that isn't all about the music changes.

 

[OldSchoolWoman]

Is Bob Dearborn on WCBS under another name?

 

[cingram]

Expound upon your thoughts:

Another key element of Classic Hits radio has to be....here it comes.....are you ready for it?........FUN!!

Couldn't agree more. I've gone from being a P1 3WS listener to an occasional passerby, and that isn't all about the music changes.

3WS stopped being fun for me, as a listener, a while ago. I like 60's oldies, and they've dropped most of them. I like uptempo, fun personalities, and they've dialed that back to the point where most of the day is voice-tracked and Tom Kent is the most energetic thing on the station. I like jingles, and they've gotten rid of them. I like "Renegade" by Styx, but not on 3WS!

In short, most of my reasons for listening to them disappeared some time ago.

That said, the ratings are good, and the demos are better. So don't mind me.

C.

 

[Boss Radio]

Is Bob Dearborn on WCBS under another name?

Bob Dearborn is working in Toronto (or was at last check). Bob Shannon works at WCBS-FM. He was Don Bombard when he worked at 13Q in the '70s.

 

[Snafu]

Bob is still doing mornings at CKWR-FM in Kitchner, ON. I think he's still streaming at www.ckwr.com. One of the most decent guys in the business.

 

[kenhawk1160]

A surprising number of people call in when we are airing the alternative-health shows. If you don't like them, tune elsewhere.

Clarke, we aired "Here's to Your Health" on WKPA when I was running it 16 years ago. You still running it on KHB? The audience response we got after only running it for a month was nuts. And we too made money with it. When you've got tons of people nowadays with no health insurance or a really crappy plan, boom...there's your audience.

 

[kenhawk1160]

Expound upon your thoughts:

Another key element of Classic Hits radio has to be....here it comes.....are you ready for it?........FUN!!

Couldn't agree more. I've gone from being a P1 3WS listener to an occasional passerby, and that isn't all about the music changes.

3WS stopped being fun for me, as a listener, a while ago. I like 60's oldies, and they've dropped most of them. I like uptempo, fun personalities, and they've dialed that back to the point where most of the day is voice-tracked and Tom Kent is the most energetic thing on the station. I like jingles, and they've gotten rid of them. I like "Renegade" by Styx, but not on 3WS!

In short, most of my reasons for listening to them disappeared some time ago.

That said, the ratings are good, and the demos are better. So don't mind me.

C.

I'll also chime in here, if you'll indulge me. When 3WS was owned by Shamrock, they were EVERYWHERE. Very promotion intensive, and heck, they had a listeners' club even before email existed! Now everyone has them because they can be done cheaply through the station's websites. They also had a cooperative agreement where you could buy their gear at Sears. As a listener, you really felt like you were a part of the station. You don't have that anymore.

 

[johnsummers]

'Expound on this, please. PPM or no PPM, unless they want to be the in-office choice, I can't see how being less exciting is going to help them."


Some months back, it was rumored, that CC issued an edict of sorts, limiting jock 'patter' to 20 secs max. In addition, more 'no-talk' segs were added. The idea is, with PPM, call letters, jingles, etc are not needed. Add to that, the fact that clutter is the enemy of good PPM results. All of this may, in part, explain the change in approach.....I'm just sayin'.......As far as the 'less exciting' part is concerned, you're preaching to the choir here. I guess there's a lot I don't understand (lol)....however, it is difficult to argue with success.