The Double Standard Of "Oldies" Stations

[DToTheJ]

This thread is somewhat of a spinoff of the one reporting the news that Box Tops singer Alex Chilton had died earlier today.

This morning, after 8 AM, I was listening to Kool 101, from New London, CT, one of the few stations in the country that still calls themselves an "oldies" station (in fact, "good times, great oldies" is their tagline). Anyhow, after a song, host Jim Reed plays a song request "off the Kool phone," the Righteous Brothers' "Rock & Roll Heaven." I had wondered if he would address the passing of Chilton after the song. All he did was ask listeners if they had recognized all of the singers mentioned in the song (e.g. Janis Joplin, Bobby Darin, and THREE guys named Jim - my generalization, not Reed's). Then, he went to break, and came back with the next song: "Here's the Box Tops." It was "Cry Like A Baby." Followed by a liner into the next song, which reminded Reed about another group, and so he played one of their songs... then he went to break, no mention of the death of Chilton.

Meanwhile, as I type this, Mason Dixon on Q105 in Tampa Bay - not an "oldies" station by any stretch, especially with the 80's songs in heavy rotation - is in the middle of playing a set of Box Tops songs. (One of them not being "Soul Deep" - and, incidentally, Kool 101 is one of the few stations that have this song in regular rotation.)

It makes me wonder: Are oldies stations so "scarlet lettered" by the branding of the format, that they are sometimes too hesitant of reporting the death of some of the artists in their playlists, for fear of making their listeners think they themselves are older?

 

[hornet61]

I think you and I are more Old School, and would have done a tribute to Chilton automatically. My last radio gig ended about the time Gene Pitney Died....and I did the better part my first hour on Pitney, of course he had a ton of hits. DJ's have different styles, for alot of DJ's this just isn't their thing.

 

[Al Timiter]

He certainly deserves a better send-off from radio, a medium that benefitted greatly from his music.

 

[DToTheJ]

I am certain some oldies stations are at least acknowledging his passing (I saw WCBS-FM played "The Letter" earlier this morning, and I'm sure the host addressed Chilton's death). Still, I can't fathom any oldies station, let alone one in New London, CT, playing a Box Tops song on the morning news that Chilton has died, with nary a mention of the news. I have a feeling the person who had requested "Rock & Roll Heaven" earlier might have mentioned it to the DJ; why else would you request it, other than the fact that it's a "great song," which I remember the DJ saying before he played it. And to be fair, the morning after Michael Jackson's death, this same Kool 101 did play some of his music during that same DJ's morning show; back then, his music was not even part of the station's regular playlist; today, it is... and they play a maximum of ten regular 80's songs, a dozen, tops.

 

[TheFonz]

It makes me wonder: Are oldies stations so "scarlet lettered" by the branding of the format, that they are sometimes too hesitant of reporting the death of some of the artists in their playlists, for fear of making their listeners think they themselves are older?

I would hope that's not the case. I think most Oldies listeners feel these artists' deaths are premature and related to lifestyle.

 

[landtuna]

It does seem as if musicians in general die much earlier than the norm - no matter what their genre.

 

[GridLeakBias]

It does seem as if musicians in general die much earlier than the norm - no matter what their genre.

This is not meant to overlook the physical and mental stress of many occupations, but musicians, especially the highly successful ones, live a stressful life. On the road continuously with one-night stands, endless rehearsals, and studio recording dates which often go long into the night. Add into the equation [the all too often] dependence on alcohol, illicit drugs and temperamental and egotistic band members, managers, and writers.

Then to add insult to injury, we have lost so many great artists to tragic accidental deaths, most related to air travel.

When I see artists such as Chuck Berry, Mick Jagger or Keith Richards, Little Richard, Pat Boone, etc, I wonder just how did they manage to do it?

 

[hornet61]

Add into the equation [the all too often] dependence on alcohol, illicit drugs and temperamental and egotistic band members, managers, and writers.

How can I get this deal, or do I have to form a band.

 

[GridLeakBias]

Add into the equation [the all too often] dependence on alcohol, illicit drugs and temperamental and egotistic band members, managers, and writers.

How can I get this deal, or do I have to form a band.

LOL Hornet, I know where you're coming from. 2010 is a new year, don't give up yet.

 

[DToTheJ]

An addendum of sorts to the initial post: This morning on Kool 101, I heard an Isley Brothers song (last night, it was reported that Marvin Isley had died); the song then segued with a liner into another song, and then the host talked up the commercial break, with nary a word of Marvin's passing.

 

[GridLeakBias]

An addendum of sorts to the initial post: This morning on Kool 101, I heard an Isley Brothers song (last night, it was reported that Marvin Isley had died); the song then segued with a liner into another song, and then the host talked up the commercial break, with nary a word of Marvin's passing.

Some jocks just have no idea of the history of the genre they pick from their play lists. This jock probably just pulls tracks from the station library and then goes home at the end of his shift. Oh well... 8)