Different audience tastes, ethnic groups. Lots of Italians in NYC, lots of Hispanics in Los Angeles, Subway riders in NYC, Freeway commmuters in L.A. You probably don't hear as much Beach Boys music in NYC vs. L.A.
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The new krth
- Thread starter krth101
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Different audience tastes, ethnic groups. Lots of Italians in NYC, lots of Hispanics in Los Angeles, Subway riders in NYC, Freeway commmuters in L.A. You probably don't hear as much Beach Boys music in NYC vs. L.A.
As much as I like some of his hits from the 70's (Could it Be Magic, Mandy, Ready to Take A Chance Again, I Write the Songs), they are too slow to be rotated on most classic hits stations, although that's where the "lost hits" or weekend specialty would come in play. Same goes for Debby Boone's 1977 smash!
I'm basically exactly KRTH's target demo, and I am not really that excited about KRTH playing all these 80s songs you can hear a million other places on the dial. Bon Jovi, "Jack and Diane," "Money for Nothing," "Just What I Needed,".....and then all the 70s tunes from Foreigner, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac... These songs are burnt to a crisp. There is just so much overlap between the stations - JACK, KLOS, Sound, 92.3, even 104.3... It may turn out to be a success, but it's not very compelling.
Wish KRTH took the WLNG approach, which is playing all decades with a 10,000 song playlist. Way, way, way less boring. I know, I know, you can't play Nat King Cole next to U2 and it's a small market... but it's sad to see so much great music essentially disappear from the airwaves....to be replaced by....something that's already there! Just a few years ago, KRTH was still occasionally spinning "Good Timin'" and "Mother In Law."
Perhaps music from 1957 to, say, 1984 will end up being showcased on a public radio station, the way classical and jazz are. Demographics aside, this is regarded by many as a superior time for music, and for radio. Luckily there's XM, but the sound quality is really quite poor compared to FM, and there's no local flavor....
Wish KRTH took the WLNG approach, which is playing all decades with a 10,000 song playlist. Way, way, way less boring. I know, I know, you can't play Nat King Cole next to U2 and it's a small market... but it's sad to see so much great music essentially disappear from the airwaves....to be replaced by....something that's already there! Just a few years ago, KRTH was still occasionally spinning "Good Timin'" and "Mother In Law."
Perhaps music from 1957 to, say, 1984 will end up being showcased on a public radio station, the way classical and jazz are. Demographics aside, this is regarded by many as a superior time for music, and for radio. Luckily there's XM, but the sound quality is really quite poor compared to FM, and there's no local flavor....
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Thomps2525
Guest
In 2009, on that other message board, I posted a sample of WLNG's playlist. Obviously I couldn't list all 10,000 songs...but you can see the list at http://xmfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=99611 and compare it to KRTH's playlist and see which one you'd rather listen to: thousands of seldom-heard songs from various genres or a small number of burned-out overplayed rock'n'roll hits.
In truth, WLNG is not a music station. They are a community station, with everything from the weather to lost dogs and swap shop. And they are in a small market at the far end of Long Island with no ratings for their own coverage area.
They can play whatever they want... if people listen, it's for the local content.
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Groove1670
Guest
Keep in mind the average person doesn't overanalyze a station playlist like we radio geeks do 
They just want to hear the hits. When Brown Eyed Girl plays 5 times we know it, but the average listener might hear it one time that week. l
WLNG is a great community station with a loyal following. Music is secondary, but successful.
They just want to hear the hits. When Brown Eyed Girl plays 5 times we know it, but the average listener might hear it one time that week. l WLNG is a great community station with a loyal following. Music is secondary, but successful.
For the same reason you probably don't hear "Suavecito" on New York radio a lot. Regional differences, Steve.
The reason they were played so much is because the typical desired listener within the demo wanted to hear them. And they listened less, so they didn't burn.
Apart from hard-core fans, Debbie Boone and Barry Manilow lost their appeal to the mass radio audience well before the 2000s.
And huge concert crowds...c'mon, Steve. Fill Staples Center and you're at less than 20,000 people. In a metro of 14 million?
We already know which millions of typical listeners would rather listen to.
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Thomps2525
Guest
"Fill Staples Center and you're at less than 20,000 people." Yeah, but if the arena is filled to capacity, I consider that crowd to be "huge." Now, if you're talking about a small arena that seats only ten people, that's a different matter. And yes, millions of typical listeners will prefer the burned-out overplayed hits, but I am not among that crowd. KRTH---indeed, all classic hits stations---programs to the masses and not to us "music freaks." *Sigh*
After reading over 12 pages of feedback *I'm pleased and pleasantly surprised to see how much response this post has received. Whether it's the special place KRTH has held for many of us over the years or simply the passion this oldies/classic hits topic has generated or a combination of both. My perspective is strictly from that of a fan of radio and not one who has been involved in the business. With that said, I am not in agreement in the direction Rick Thomas has decided to take the station - but I get it. He was hired to do a job and if that means alienating a certain portion of his audience so be it. I am sad to see his approach however and I believe this transformation will be accelerated even more so in the coming months. To the extent, I dont think we will recognize KRTH a year from now. He has done what many predicted and frankly called for on this site in pulling the 60s music. But the music was just one component of the KRTH formula. The true transformation will come when he turns over the long time personalities and removes all aspects of the drake formatics. I don't see him simply inserting a heavier mix of 80s and 90s and leaving everything else status quo. To me that wouldn't make any sense, and frankly I don't think would work. The question I have is will be continue to tweak the format in piece meal or at some point blow it up entirely? Is he proceeding somewhat cautiously right now as to not lose the vast part of the existing audience all at once? By prolonging this eventual change is he throwing us older listeners a bone hoping that we will stay a little longer? *It seems to me that radio has become so sterile in its approach,so heavily researched, so safe, so predictable. My view is strictly *more sentimental and probably unconventional . Its disheartening to see an icon, which I truly believe KRTH has been through it's many incarnations go away. *I find it rather sad to see it evolve so quickly, perhaps prematurely. As an avid listener, i find it painful to watch - listen to. The playlist is turning into a train wreck. Just my opinion. Where so many here have spoken of endless repetition of the 60s songs, take a look at what's taking place now. The exact same repetition *is happening with the newer tracks. How long will it be before the listeners get burned out on these songs? Some of these records are being aired up to 3 times in a 24 hour span. Even if my opinion doesn't count or I'm in the minority viewing the station as I do, would it be easier to pull the plug entirely, if that's ricks ultimate direction rather than watch it die a slow death? Or is he trying to avert the mistake CBS fm made in new York a few years ago?
20,000 people. KRTH's weekly cume is 2 million. It's the Manilow niche that packs (if they still do) Staples Center.
First of all, there are no "Drake Formatics" left on KRTH. Drake was about forward momentum, more music and short commercial breaks.
Jingles and stagers are production elements, nothing more.
Second, there's no reason to believe the KRTH air staff is in danger. These guys (especially Jim Carson, Shotgun and Charlie Tuna) are pros and have played the music KRTH is gravitating to as well as the music they're transitioning out of. Until and unless there's a reason to believe the jocks are a problem, they're fine.
Third, the "vast part of the existing audience" that might have a problem with the new direction is likely outside the demo. And since the only thing advertisers look at is the demo, you could dump them all tomorrow and have zero effect on the number that matters.
Fourth, the endless repetition thing....the average listener hears the most frequently played songs once every three weeks at most. That's what, 14 times a year...IF they catch them all. And they won't. So they're hearing songs they like 10 or so times a year, and because they have lives, they couldn't tell you if you put a gun to their head how recently or long ago they heard it last, just that they like it and they're not tired of it. It applies to "Super Freak" just as much as it did to "Satisfaction".
I think you have reached the correct conclusion. Some radio formats are like Linus' blanket... worn but loved.
Formatics is a vague game on an ill-defined playing field. Some say Drake invented new formatics when, indeed, what he did so magnificently was distill existing formatics and impose a new level of discipline. Today's radio simply requires an update of the same type of revision and will result in a product more appealing to newer generations.
Same goes for research. When Rick Sklar brought WABC to dominance, he used programming skills and research to win. Sklar decided he would not go on new music alone for the most part. Instead, he waited for other stations in the tri-State area and beyond to break songs, and when he saw them selling, he added them. That was research, and WABC was very research driven... but nobody said it was over-researched. Today, various issues with radio and its vulnerability to new media competitors are being blamed on research when there is indeed no more research done today than 40 years ago or more.
The original KOWH Top 40 format was based on research... Juke box spins.
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Groove1670
Guest
Big Band gave way to MOR
B/EZ gave way to soft AC
Smooth jazz to Smooth AC
50's & 60's to 70's & 80's
"To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)"
B/EZ gave way to soft AC
Smooth jazz to Smooth AC
50's & 60's to 70's & 80's
"To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)"
You said it well. To hear a great selection of past hits, either tune in to AM radio still playing these great classics, or stations like Super Hits 106, WLNG, Hippie Radio...etc... or just program your mp3 to play all your favorites in the order you want. Everyone else is simply, "Out of Touch" to the listeners that love classics.......had to throw that in there.....
I forgot this part...Manilow's records appealed largely to 30+ back in the day...so they're in their 60s and older.
I think you just flipped us The Byrds.
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Groove1670
Guest
Just preachin' the cold hard facts of getting old in the radio landscape.
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Thomps2525
Guest
Michael said "there's no reason to believe the KRTH air staff is in danger." That's certainly true of Bryan, Kelly, Tuna and Carson. However, in his syndicated radio column yesterday, Richard Wagoner noted that midnight-to-5 host Dave Randall was fired and replaced with voice-tracks of assistant program director Dave Mason. What is the reason? Simply to save money? Do the people who listen to KRTH during those hours not care if there's a live DJ?
Same with Debby Boone. Hell, in Chicago Landecker bitched on the air about having to play Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love" at night on WLS--no wonder he did that "'You Light Up My Life' on the installment plan" stunt where he played 30 seconds of it in the first hour, 30 more seconds in the second hour, etc.
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