This is not your father's 50-something

[fred flintstone]

I see we are back into the enough discussion. Oldies bring in money, they do not bring in enough money. I get it. I will go to satellite or Internet and find my musical kicks. We understand, anyone who does not perform to the profile is atypical.

On satellite, you pay the piper and you call the tune.
Even if the percentage of Oldies listeners is small, they have enough bandwidth to go around. Radio does not.

It's not that you're atypical.
But you are not at the top of a long-tail curve.
And the top of the long-tail curve is all radio can accommodate.
See: The Long Tail - Wikipedia

Most people would switch jobs if they were offered more money. Most people will go to a store with lower prices. Most people put their money in a retirement fund with the best performance. But those same people start yelling "corporate greed" if a radio station drops their favorite format.

Many people also seem to have a sense of entitlement about radio. Sorry, listeners don't pay for radio. And listeners don't have a right to have any given format available.

 

[Anyacat]

I see we are back into the enough discussion. Oldies bring in money, they do not bring in enough money. I get it. I will go to satellite or Internet and find my musical kicks. We understand, anyone who does not perform to the profile is atypical.

On satellite, you pay the piper and you call the tune.
Even if the percentage of Oldies listeners is small, they have enough bandwidth to go around. Radio does not.

It's not that you're atypical.
But you are not at the top of a long-tail curve.
And the top of the long-tail curve is all radio can accommodate.
See: The Long Tail - Wikipedia

Most people would switch jobs if they were offered more money. Most people will go to a store with lower prices. Most people put their money in a retirement fund with the best performance. But those same people start yelling "corporate greed" if a radio station drops their favorite format.

Many people also seem to have a sense of entitlement about radio. Sorry, listeners don't pay for radio. And listeners don't have a right to have any given format available.

Oddly, they think the public airwaves are public the poor benighted fools. I understand, please, don't feel compelled to explain ad nauseam that the over-50s group is worthless, does not buy enough and, if this was a fair world, would be placed on those damn ice floes where they belong. And further consolidation has nothing whatsoever to do with cookie-cutter programming and the loss of jobs in radio. Because the loss of a format and further consolidation are, as someone noted, two separate issues that might intertwine on occasion, but the issues are separate. I think we understand without any question that a worthless demographic is a worthless demographic and that consolidation is the best thing that happened to radio since Marconi. Even when I agree with you, you feel the need to over-clarify the already clear situation.

 

[fred flintstone]

Oddly, they think the public airwaves are public the poor benighted fools. I understand, please, don't feel compelled to explain ad nauseam that the over-50s group is worthless, does not buy enough and, if this was a fair world, would be placed on those damn ice floes where they belong. And further consolidation has nothing whatsoever to do with cookie-cutter programming and the loss of jobs in radio. Because the loss of a format and further consolidation are, as someone noted, two separate issues that might intertwine on occasion, but the issues are separate. I think we understand without any question that a worthless demographic is a worthless demographic and that consolidation is the best thing that happened to radio since Marconi. Even when I agree with you, you feel the need to over-clarify the already clear situation.

Self-pity is not an attractive quality.

I feel the need to clarify because you and so many others here don't get it - possibly even refuse to get it.

OK, you win.

Advertisers don't want you. Radio doesn't want you. The radio industry is going to have Arbitron stop including people over 54 in their ratings samples because they don't care what you listen to. They are also looking into a device so they can stop old people from listening at all. They take Oldies off the air because they think it's fun when old people get upset. They work out their parental issues by taking away Oldies and upsetting old people. Unfortunately, because of global warming it's hard to find ice floes any more. Logan's Run has an interesting idea that major corporations and the media are exploring.

In the meantime, the secret is out. Broadcasters know old people do have all sorts of disposible income. They know that if they stop giving you Oldies for free, they can make you pay for Oldies or satellite radio. Clever, eh?

 

[Anyacat]

AARRRRGGGGHHHH, (plop)...

 

[Joey1986]

Self-pity is not an attractive quality.

I feel the need to clarify because you and so many others here don't get it - possibly even refuse to get it.

OK, you win.

Advertisers don't want you. Radio doesn't want you. The radio industry is going to have Arbitron stop including people over 54 in their ratings samples because they don't care what you listen to. They are also looking into a device so they can stop old people from listening at all. They take Oldies off the air because they think it's fun when old people get upset. They work out their parental issues by taking away Oldies and upsetting old people. Unfortunately, because of global warming it's hard to find ice floes any more. Logan's Run has an interesting idea that major corporations and the media are exploring.

In the meantime, the secret is out. Broadcasters know old people do have all sorts of disposible income. They know that if they stop giving you Oldies for free, they can make you pay for Oldies or satellite radio. Clever, eh?

Please be nice to the other posters. Sarcasm has no place here. You teach people how to treat you. So if you're going to be sarcastic to others, well, they just might be sarcastic to you. Respect is earned, not bought. So I (as well as many of the other posters on this board) would appreciate it if you would straighten up and fly right. KM is looooooong gone. This board is a better place without him. That said, we don't need you to take his place, OK?

 

[TheFonz]

Why don't advertisers targeting the "senior market" buy Oldies radio. Well, for one thing, most of their target customers are not listerning to Oldies. Specifically, in the Spring Arbitron 06 book, on average, in a given 15 minute period, 93.2 per cent of radio listeners aged 55 to 64 were listening to something else.

Should we blame the listener for that, or should we blame the FORMAT?

there is no *BLAME*-- it's just the way it is. as they age they listen to music radio less.

It sure sounds to me like the poster is *blaming* the demise of Oldies radio on 55+ because "they listen less to music radio". And if that's true, somebody in radio should be asking WHY they listen less.

 

[LeChat]

Why don't advertisers targeting the "senior market" buy Oldies radio. Well, for one thing, most of their target customers are not listerning to Oldies. Specifically, in the Spring Arbitron 06 book, on average, in a given 15 minute period, 93.2 per cent of radio listeners aged 55 to 64 were listening to something else.

Should we blame the listener for that, or should we blame the FORMAT?

there is no *BLAME*-- it's just the way it is. as they age they listen to music radio less.

It sure sounds to me like the poster is *blaming* the demise of Oldies radio on 55+ because "they listen less to music radio". And if that's true, somebody in radio should be asking WHY they listen less.

Excellent point, which I think someone made elsewhere. But isn't radio listenership down across the board? Yes, there are now other alternatives, but why do they exist? The technology is developed because there is an audience and there is an audience because...of course, as a neophyte, I may not understand the fine shadings, although if I had a business that fell off, even slightly, I'd want to know why.

 

[semoochie]

Under your Logan's Run scenario, I would have been dead for the past 23 years! I wonder how many people got it.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Under your Logan's Run scenario, I would have been dead for the past 23 years! I wonder how many people got it.

Not me! I'm still hoping for "renewal". ;D

Wow the longest pointless thread in history!

 

[amfmsw]

Question...What/which/where Spring Arbitron book for these 55-64 numbers? Anyway, if you can reach 7% of your target one EACH spot, that's awesome! 7% of 55-64 during any given 15 minute period, the cume must be awful powerful over a week of spots running.

 

[fred flintstone]

Question...What/which/where Spring Arbitron book for these 55-64 numbers? Anyway, if you can reach 7% of your target one EACH spot, that's awesome! 7% of 55-64 during any given 15 minute period, the cume must be awful powerful over a week of spots running.

Go the Arbitron website: Click on American Radio Listening Trends -> Format Trends. Use the drop-down menus to select demographic segments and dayparts.

Seven per cent does not compare to over 15 per cent (AC), almost 12 per cent (Country), or just under 26 per cent (news, talk, information). News-talk is a better targeted by for senior demos. AC and country are better for a "shotgun" buy for an advertiser who wants younger demos and older demos.

 

[Anyacat]

I will repeat this one more time: I am aware that the FCC does not control format. Please let me be clear about this: I understand, know, realize and am aware that the FCC does nor control format. One may complain to the FCC about a number of things, but it would be pointless to complain about format as the FCC does not control format.

Clearly all of the independent studies that indicate fewer choices since consolidation are inaccurate.

And one more time: I know that the FCC does not control format and although I may continue in my wrong-headed opposition to further consolidation, I understand that this in no way effects or affects or has anything to do with format because the FCC has nothing to do with format. I hope you understand that I understand that. Thank you.

 

[gr8oldies]

Then again, how do six A/C stations in a market pre-consolodation equal "more choices"?

 

[fred flintstone]

Then again, how do six A/C stations in a market pre-consolodation equal "more choices"?

It doesn't. But people going through Oldies withdrawl have to blame something or someone.
Headline: Baby boomers adopt the politics of victimization.

All this disposible income and they can't afford satellite radio.
But complaining is soooo much fun.

 

[LeChat]

I imagine many people who like first generation rock have already moved on either to online streams or to paid radio. Unfortunately, this may not make them happy with what has happened to terrestrial radio and so they complain. This does not mean, however, that they also lose their right to comment unfavorably about the state of radio. But it is much easier to glibly characterize those with whom we do not agree as professional victims or complaining cranks--rather than admit that some, maybe a small amount, of what they have to say might just possibly be valid. Anyway, this has become a circular argument, with those in favor of consolidation as steadfast as those opposed.

 

[gr8oldies]

It's not that anyone has to support or oppose consolodation 100%. I think some of it was absolutely neccesary, in fact, there would be many AM and rimshot FMs that would be silent, offering "no choice" by now if they all were left to stand alone. I think the consolodation that happened was too much, too fast, and it should never have been allowed to become the feeding frenzy that resulted. However, the "good old" Mom and Pop days had their problems, too. Pay was low, owners were cheap and many formats were duplicated. There really weren't all these hyper-niched formats running around.

 

[Chuck]

There really weren't all these hyper-niched formats running around.

As with many things, "the good old days" weren't that hot either. There were certainly good things about them, but they were far from perfect. I remember when Dallas had only one Top 40 station. KBOX flipped formats, leaving the whole enchilada to KLIF. That wasn't exactly a zenith in broadcasting....