Testing songs

[johnbasalla]

Some years ago, I did an all-Beautiful Music edition of a weekly radio show called "Sunday Night @ The Oldies" on non-com WBWC - FM.
I played Mantovani, The 101 Strings, and a few vocals by the likes of Robert Goulet and Peggy Lee. I'm, seriously, thinking of doing another one with the added knowledge that I've gotten from all of you. I'm planning to, occasionally, ask if certain recordings are appropriate and were either used, or could have been used, on a Beautiful Music station... or might have been used if the stations didn't solely live off of their syndication reels.

HERE GOES:
The follow-up single to Frank Mills big hit "Music Box Dancer" was "Peter Piper". If you can, listen to it and tell me if you think it fits.
As for "Music Box Dancer", does that sound to "busy" to work? If the Beautiful Music format would have lived into the 21st century, would "Music Box Dancer" have made the cut?

What about pianist Roger Williams ... His biggest hits are "Autumn Leaves", and "Born Free". He also has recorded musical and movie themes such as "The Impossible Dream" from "Man Of La Mancha" and "Lara's Theme" from "Dr. Zhivago". They sound like they work to me.

How about "Theme From Love Story", instrumentally by Francis Lai and His Orchestra, and, vocally, as "(Where Do I Begin) Love Story" by Andy Williams?

Did any of the sedate brand of early Moog synthesizer music make it?

 

[Mikey Radio]

You say you're thinking of doing another one (which I assume refers to your former weekly edition of a radio show featuring beautiful music). To my mind, the biggest question is, is there still enough of an audience for much of this music, even for an hour-long program on a weekend evening? I guess that depends on what kind of station you're talking about. Few commercial stations would touch any of this music as few people under probably 55 remember Music Box Dancer, for instance (released, along with Peter Piper, nearly 45 years ago now), much less the more obscure tunes, and there's little advertiser interest in that demographic. For non-commercial stations, is there listener interest and is that relatable to contributions, etc? Obviously LP stations are far less restricted.

Beautiful Music as a format largely went away a few decades ago. While there are a few stations here and there, the best places to find it are streaming and on the web. Jib on the Web is a good example: http://jibontheweb.com/

 

[johnbasalla]

You say you're thinking of doing another one (which I assume refers to your former weekly edition of a radio show featuring beautiful music). To my mind, the biggest question is, is there still enough of an audience for much of this music, even for an hour-long program on a weekend evening? I guess that depends on what kind of station you're talking about. Few commercial stations would touch any of this music as few people under probably 55 remember Music Box Dancer, for instance (released, along with Peter Piper, nearly 45 years ago now), much less the more obscure tunes, and there's little advertiser interest in that demographic. For non-commercial stations, is there listener interest and is that relatable to contributions, etc? Obviously LP stations are far less restricted.

Beautiful Music as a format largely went away a few decades ago. While there are a few stations here and there, the best places to find it are streaming and on the web. Jib on the Web is a good example: http://jibontheweb.com/

Thank you for the reply. I never did a weekly "Beautiful Music" show, I did a one-time special during "Sunday Night @ The Oldies" some years ago. "Sunday Night @ The Oldies" focuses on Rock/Pop/R&B and some Country music from the 1960s-1970s-early 1980s. The theme-based specials often go over well with the audience. Some years ago, after listener requests, we did a late-1970s through 1980s Punk music special. The station has 4,000 watts E.R.P. During the first time I did a "Beautiful Music" 3-hour special, I talked about all of the stations in the market that had it as their format over the years. We're not trying to make money with a special like this, just giving listeners something different that they won't hear anywhere else unless they, specifically, go searching for it.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I'm planning to, occasionally, ask if certain recordings are appropriate and were either used, or could have been used, on a Beautiful Music station... or might have been used if the stations didn't solely live off of their syndication reels.

I can't remember if you have been asked this question. Are you a member of Beautiful Instrumentals and Vocals Music Group | Facebook

If anyone knows the answer to any questions you have about these styles of music, they would.

 

[kevtronics]

Considering that Beautiful Music stations spent their dying days playing instrumental renditions of Madonna and Bryan Adams songs, all of your suggestions are very tame in comparison.

 

[JIB on the Web]

B/EZ (as it was referred to in the trades) has joined other radio formats in the "niche" category despite it once being outrageously popular. So, here comes the internet (the WWW), the perfect venue for niche music formats of all kinds. Here, B/EZ can thrive as long as the proprietor has wrestled in the costs. Sound Exchange and the PROs (Performance Rights Organizations) will DARE you to make a go of it.
How many different shades of B/EZ can there be and still be ear appealing. Back in the day, there were at least a half dozen syndicators who truly mattered, and others that made the format affordable for small market stations. Each one bringing their take on it. The winners were the stations that BEST executed the recommended guidelines, technically and creatively, and stuck to it despite endless wailing from the sales department. So my advice is to go with what you think the station (or program) should sound like and stick to it EVERY HOUR.
If the OP is considering doing a "Beautiful Music" short form program, might I suggest listening to an aircheck of "The Special of the Week" hosted by the late Ken Lamb. It is floating around the internet somewhere. He was able to devise a formula for a program that was very much compatible with B/EZ format stations, yet incorporate some well conceived detours, not to mention his outstandingly affable narrative throughout the show.

 

[nd2023]

B/EZ (as it was referred to in the trades) has joined other radio formats in the "niche" category despite it once being outrageously popular. So, here comes the internet (the WWW), the perfect venue for niche music formats of all kinds. Here, B/EZ can thrive as long as the proprietor has wrestled in the costs. Sound Exchange and the PROs (Performance Rights Organizations) will DARE you to make a go of it.
How many different shades of B/EZ can there be and still be ear appealing. Back in the day, there were at least a half dozen syndicators who truly mattered, and others that made the format affordable for small market stations. Each one bringing their take on it. The winners were the stations that BEST executed the recommended guidelines, technically and creatively, and stuck to it despite endless wailing from the sales department. So my advice is to go with what you think the station (or program) should sound like and stick to it EVERY HOUR.
If the OP is considering doing a "Beautiful Music" short form program, might I suggest listening to an aircheck of "The Special of the Week" hosted by the late Ken Lamb. It is floating around the internet somewhere. He was able to devise a formula for a program that was very much compatible with B/EZ format stations, yet incorporate some well conceived detours, not to mention his outstandingly affable narrative throughout the show.

It’s nice that WJIB is still there on an AM and translator.