Timeless is Dead

[PTBoardOp94]

Radio-Info.com reports that Timeless Favorites will cease to exist in February 2010.

This is part of more sweeping changes at Citadel Media Networks Dallas-based operation, where all of their 24 hour formats originate.

http://www.radio-info.com/news/

I'm wondering what all these little AMers that run Timeless will do for programming. Probably just pull something off of a hard disk at the station.

 

[radioboy]

Just another reason why it pays to have a locally-based format plan in place. Especially if you're using
a full-time format from what appears to be unstability at Citadel.

 

[passtheword]

Radio-Info.com reports that Timeless Favorites will cease to exist in February 2010.

I'm wondering what all these little AMers that run Timeless will do for programming. Probably just pull something off of a hard disk at the station.

Many of them will probably switch to other ABC programming. There wil probably be a lot of defectors (of adult standards) come February.

 

[Scholarm1111]

Wow, it does have a lot of affiliates, especially in smaller towns. Well, there are 2 other services that could use some more affiliates - Music of Your Life and the new Hit Parade Radio. Dial Global seems to have plenty.

This could be taken as another statement about the unattractiveness of the older demo in today's broadcasting environment.

 

[publisher]

Good think I didn't take the time to finish that monster Timeless playlist survey a few weeks back.

I was aiming to post this tidbit earlier in the week, but it applies in this topic: I noticed WLEZ LPFM in Jackson, MS dropped Timeless recently. The station reverted to a true standards format, and appears (or sounds) to be programmed locally. An improvement, in my opinion. I was not aware Timeless was on death watch when I first noticed it had been dropped locally. WLEZ streams at wlezfm.com.

I had noticed, however, that the playlist on Timeless of late had appeared to veer a little more toward the territory covered capably by DG Adult Standards.

 

[Oldbones]

I was aiming to post this tidbit earlier in the week, but it applies in this topic: I noticed WLEZ LPFM in Jackson, MS dropped Timeless recently. The station reverted to a true standards format, and appears (or sounds) to be programmed locally.

I thought LPFMs were supposed to be programmed locally all along. How did they deal with the network spots considering that LP's are all non-comms?

 

[Paige Turner]

Good think I didn't take the time to finish that monster Timeless playlist survey a few weeks back.

LOL - maybe that's what did them in . Either no one did the survey or those who did panned the music.

I haven't really heard them for any length of time in recent months, but whenever I would listen to a station, I thought the music mix was rather bland... too highly concentrated with soft hits from the '70s & '80s, or, as I like to say, mired in '70s sludge. A victim of updating itself right out of existence.

 

[publisher]

I was aiming to post this tidbit earlier in the week, but it applies in this topic: I noticed WLEZ LPFM in Jackson, MS dropped Timeless recently. The station reverted to a true standards format, and appears (or sounds) to be programmed locally.

I thought LPFMs were supposed to be programmed locally all along. How did they deal with the network spots considering that LP's are all non-comms?

WLEZ uses underwriters rather than sponsors. All commercial spots are PSAs and community features. I assume this is how they skirted the issue with FCC. Nevertheless, a healthy portion of the schedule (particularly lunch hours, evening drive and weekends) is filled with locally-produced talk shows and music programs.

 

[scottwmro]

Thursday was a bad day. My little AM station, WMRO-AM, (Magic 1560) is on Citadel's Hot AC Format.

The P.D. of the Hot AC Format, Dan Lopez, was fired. My affiliate relations director from Citadel told me on the phone lots of people have been let go. From what I understand from her, I believe Citadel has filed Chapter 11. Chapter 11 is to allow a business to reform, let go of unnecessary staff, and help make the business pay its debt.

A station up the road from us had Timeless from Citadel. I think they are going to the True Oldies Channel, but I not sure yet.

The person on here that made the comment about stations being local with D.J.'s has no idea what is going on with radio. The economy has hit the radio business hard, big and little stations. If ANY little AM station is going to run with a full staff, especially with an AM without a full class (not translator) FM station is NUTS.

The cost of running stations is going up by the day and little AM's are going dark and turning in their licenses. Clear Channel even has done this with underperforming AM's. I would love to see that guy who made that comment about running a full staffed AM station try to make it work. He would go broke in 6 to 8 months.

This can’t be done with a little AM station in 2010, this is NOT 1960 folks, technology, hard drive and satellite automation will save what little AM stations are still left, hanging on. Hell, I know! I live it everyday! Being Local comes with a price tag and small businesses in small towns are not doing good to buy advertising from a small AM station. We live in a Wal-Mart world now!

 

[scottwmro]

My revision to my last post:


Thursday was a bad day. My little AM station, WMRO-AM, (Magic 1560) is on Citadel's Hot AC Format.

The P.D. of the Hot AC Format, Dan Lopez, was fired. My affiliate relations director from Citadel told me on the phone lots of people have been let go. From what I understand from her, I believe Citadel has filed Chapter 11. Chapter 11 is to allow a business to reform, let go of unnecessary staff, and help make the business pay its debt.

A station up the road from us had Timeless from Citadel. I think they are going to the True Oldies Channel, but I not sure yet.

The person on here that made the comment about stations being local with D.J.'s has no idea what is going on with radio. The economy has hit the radio business hard, big and little stations. If ANY little AM station is going to run with a full staff, especially with an AM without a full class (not translator) FM station is NUTS.

The cost of running stations is going up by the day and little AM's are going dark and turning in their licenses. Clear Channel even has done this with underperforming AM's. I would love to see that guy who made that comment about running a full staffed AM station try to make it work. He would go broke in 6 to 8 months.

This can’t be done with a little AM station in 2010, this is NOT 1960 folks, technology, hard drive and satellite automation will save what little AM stations are still left, hanging on. Hell, I know! I live it everyday! Being Local comes with a price tag and small businesses in small towns are not doing good to buy advertising from a small AM station. We live in a Wal-Mart world now!

 

[radioboy]

Hi Scott,

If you're referring to the statement I said about "having a locally-based format plan in place" then you
are reading way more into it than was intended.

A station in Florida lost their satellite service last year and has been silent for the better part of a year. Why? There was no back-up plan. Whether its music on a hard drive and automation or whatever, if you are totally dependent on an outside source for 100% of your programming, you have basically handed control of your station to someone else.

I started in radio in 1979 at a standalone (then Class IV) AM. It was a great learning experience and I worked there for about a year until the day it sold to new owners.

Ultimately I ended up managing (ops manager/PD/MD/sales/janitor) at a standalone 5kw AM daytimer. I successfully operated this station for an absentee owner for 8 years. We did use some satellite programs, but we were also staffed with only 3 of us. I was able to get the billing up from around $7k-ish a month to an avarage of $11k. The station's mortgage was paid off during the time I was there.

I'm no armchair PD. I've brought almost lifeless AMs back into the Arbs with over a 4 share.

I would not advocate a fully staffed, all DJ's all the time solution in today's world. I would recommend having a Plan B in place. Every day at one of these companies there's a bloodbath. I wouldn't want to be unprepared.

Scott, I am familiar somewhat with WMRO and the struggles you are facing. We have family in Tennessee.
I am legally blind and had to do all my sales either by phone or direct mail. Still do..I just do it for myself now.

In the old days we didn't have message boards to banter on..we just worked our butts off 14 to 16 hours a day. There was no one to tell us it couldn't be done, so we hustled and did it.

For those affected, best wishes as you work out alternatives. Scott: hang in there. Having spent the better part of 24 years in AM radio, I'm all for success and wish you the very best.

 

[vchimpanzee]

This has been true for the past two and a half years.

Dial Global is doing the music right. Maybe they still play a few too many of the annoying 70s AC stuff, but they're committed to the standards. The boring AC stuff I can enjoy, though, as long as I have the good stuff.

 

[bossjock 56]

In recent months, Citadel has been marketing "Timeless" as a Soft Classic Hits format. That's why some stations have been dropping them. My guess is that existing affiliates will go to Dial Global for Adult Standards...or go to to one of Citadel's Oldies formats....such as Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel....that is if Citadel doesn't blow that up as well. From what I do understand.....if the programming provider dumps the format......you're out of the contract.

 

[vchimpanzee]

In recent months, Citadel has been marketing "Timeless" as a Soft Classic Hits format. That's why some stations have been dropping them. My guess is that existing affiliates will go to Dial Global for Adult Standards...or go to to one of Citadel's Oldies formats....such as Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel....that is if Citadel doesn't blow that up as well. From what I do understand.....if the programming provider dumps the format......you're out of the contract.

I can't remember whether I've heard True Oldies but I probably wouldn't like it.

But Dial Global is doing a great job these days. There are days like Friday when they play entirely too much AC and oldies. During one hour that listened I heard "Brandy" by Looking Glass and "Magic" by Olivia Newton-John, and one other song I can't remember but it just seems weird next to Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra.

Timeless apparently dumped the new standards. That too was a mistake. They played a lot of them at first after the changes. Dial Global is all over them. Though I admit some days I never hear one. This morning I heard Nat and Nataie "together" singing "Walking My Baby Back Home". I also heard "Ballerina Girl" by Lionel Richie an "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion. One thing about Timeless--I think they quit playing Celine Dion.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

One thing about Timeless--I think they quit playing Celine Dion.

And that's GOOD thing!!!! ;D

 

[vchimpanzee]

One thing about Timeless--I think they quit playing Celine Dion.

And that's GOOD thing!!!! ;D

That's what I meant. And I have to keep putting up with that Titanic song and other garbage.

I don't understand the people who compare her to Barbra Streisand. Barbra is spectacular and except for "Somewhere" and some AC tunes in the 80s she performs with the right kind of instrumentals.

 

[bossjock 56]

The only problem with "The True Oldies Channel" Is that it's all over the place. It started as a 50's and 60's rock and roll oldies format, but once Citadel took over and more FM's came on board...they expanded into the 80's. It may well be the only format of it's kind playing pre '64 stuff, but then they through in Eddie Money's "TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT" and it all blows up. I understand some Timeless affiliates will go this route because they think they need to lower their demos and they feel Adult Standards is dead. What they really need to do is start talking to Dial Global. They have a lot to offer.....music library on portable hard drive, imaging, and jingles.....all free....or should we say barter. To the stations condidering Oldies....think long and hard...and then take a listen to Dial Global Adult Standards. A much better mix for your demo. No...I don't work for Dial Global...but if they want to hire me we can talk.

 

[Jkf]

Thoughts on Hit Parade Radio? Only listened for about an hour and there were a lot of 70s a/c cuts but it wasn't bad at all. Not exactly as smooth production wise as Dial Global but certainly better than MOYL is now. Who are some of their affiliates?

 

[Scholarm1111]

I agree that Hit Parade Radio musically sounds promising. None of the DJs are on yet however. I am not sure any affiliates are running them just yet. If I were the management of Hit Parade Radio I would be on the phone with all those Timeless Favorites affiliates which will need some new programming come February.

 

[RMarino]

Hit Parade does sound interesting. I listened for about an hour and for the most part it was decent. Although I heard a couple of cuts which don't fit including one from Creedence Clearwater Revival (I think it was "Lookin' Out My Back Door") I did hear some rarely played '60s and '70s AC hits which sounded really good to hear again. It would be great if they would dig deeper into the early '50s Hit Parade music, but all in all I do like this format.