Too Much 80's on CBS-FM Discussion

[BACKnUSSR]

Are you saying that only stupid people want to hear familiar songs on an oldies station?

You say "familiar songs on an oldies station" like it's a good thing. Interesting.

Familiar songs on an oldies station is a VERY good thing.

Yeah, just like mass-market "original oils" are a VERY good thing.

Huh???

 

[adma]

BACKnUSSR, either you don't recognize sarcasm, or you'd gladly own a Kinkade without irony. If the latter, you deserve to be waterboarded and garotted on grounds of abject tastelessness under the delusion it's not.

Maybe I'm just a backwoods bumpkin, inbred hick and a simpleton all rolled into one, but I have no idea what your point is. Are you saying that only stupid people want to hear familiar songs on an oldies station? What do you mean by "gentrifying" the format?

Let's say, if it's a matter of aspiring to younger and "smarter" demos, programming with (a satirical) something like this in the back of one's head. Though given countervailing factors, maybe it's too late for that as far as radio is concerned...

 

[scooty430]

I think the answer to the "80s oldies" question was already answered by JACK. Play a little bit of AOR, a little bit of New Wave, a little bit of Pop.... Increase the playlist fivefold to alleviate boredom. Get rid of the jocks.
Avoid stuff that hasn't aged well. Rotate the playlist frequently. Play some 70s and 90s, even 00s too.

In NYC, it wasn't rolled out well, because it took the place of a beloved institution. But elsewhere it has done well.

Not saying I like it. That era is just not good enough in my eyes to sustain my ears for long. And I can't stand the snarky "voice over" guy. But I think the JACK approach is the basic answer of how to play "old" music that isn't OLDIES.

Personally, though, I'd always stick with WCBS (or KRTH when they aren't boring me to death) because I want to hear stuff that spans many decades. I'd vote for keeping the 50s forever, as it's timeless, and keeping everything after that which fits - just keep smartly adding on to the top end.

If I ran WCBS I'd...

- try to find ways to "sell" my music to a younger generation, without changing the music itself. Most people, including young people, agree the music itself is indeed better from those 55-72 years.
- be more creative in luring advertisers who want to reach older people. They have that market cornered.

 

[BACKnUSSR]

I think the answer to the "80s oldies" question was already answered by JACK. Play a little bit of AOR, a little bit of New Wave, a little bit of Pop.... Increase the playlist fivefold to alleviate boredom. Get rid of the jocks.
Avoid stuff that hasn't aged well. Rotate the playlist frequently. Play some 70s and 90s, even 00s too.

In NYC, it wasn't rolled out well, because it took the place of a beloved institution. But elsewhere it has done well.

Not saying I like it. That era is just not good enough in my eyes to sustain my ears for long. And I can't stand the snarky "voice over" guy. But I think the JACK approach is the basic answer of how to play "old" music that isn't OLDIES.

Personally, though, I'd always stick with WCBS (or KRTH when they aren't boring me to death) because I want to hear stuff that spans many decades. I'd vote for keeping the 50s forever, as it's timeless, and keeping everything after that which fits - just keep smartly adding on to the top end.

If I ran WCBS I'd...

- try to find ways to "sell" my music to a younger generation, without changing the music itself. Most people, including young people, agree the music itself is indeed better from those 55-72 years.
- be more creative in luring advertisers who want to reach older people. They have that market cornered.

I have no intention of starting up the argument again. But although some people prefer the music from 1955-1972. Most of those born since the late 1960's do not. They way CBS FM "sells" itself to a slightly younger audience is to play music that appeals TO THEM, not by changing a generation'smusical tastes, that is a nearly impossible task.
And unfortunately, there are no national radio advertisers that target the 55+ audience. They could probably lure them, if they existed.
The lion's share of advertising to 55+ year olds is done via television (prescription drugs, denture commercials, reverse morgages,and mobility devices.)

 

[prescott]

cbsfm is god awful, they are playing songs that lite fm and plj have played out and dumped years ago, play the 50s, 60s and early 70s.

 

[John FL]

My goodness, this subject is not unique to CBS-FM. As I read posts from around the country for the past several years, the lifespan of the threads goes something like this:

- An oldies station flips to something else and everyone cries the blues wanting a return to the format and citing corporate stupdity.

- Oldies stations evolve, make a comeback in many markets, expand their playlist to include more 70s and even 80s in an effort to remain as viable as possible in 25-54 and almost everyone complains about the state of things and wanting to return to the way things exactly were.

Folks, for those of you who live in markets that carry an updated version of greatest hits, oldies or whatever you want to call it - be grateful you still can hear some classic tunes from the good old days. I live in a market that killed the format a few years ago and we still don't have anything close to a CBS-FM. Radio where I live is terminal. I listen to CBS-FM and others like it via streaming and I am grateful to have at least that option.

Is CBS- FM perfect and do they program to please everyone? No, it's not realistic. They have enough to meet target demos and revenue goals. The station could not remain the way it was before Jack. All formats must evolve.

As someone who loves the format, I do tend to agree with Dr. Sniffen and what this subject is really about. 80s should be a part of the format, but just like seasoning if too much is added, the flavor/sound of the station could suffer. Alternative was a big part of the 80s and if I had any programming power, I'd be very careful and selective in airing those songs so as to not sound like many other stations.

Back in the day when most oldies stations only played two 70s songs per hour should be a good programming guide for playing 80s today. There's plenty of room for stations to grow with late 70s/80s over time as 60s songs will eventually be played with decreasing frequency. But, if we get back to reality, owners don't have the financial luxury to grow a station slowly over time with the addition of 80s. It is what it is but again, I'd be happy to have what you have in NYC as a local FM.

 

[JohnParker]

I enjoy the station as it is now, for the most part. That said, here are some facts in relation to the "too much 80's" statement.

Looking at the most played songs to date for this year you have to go all the way down to the #136 most played song before you find the first 80's songs. The songs tied for #136 are Celebration by Kool & The Gang and Eye of the Tiger by Survivior along with 13 other songs, none of them from the 80's.

Song Breakdown by decades:

60 songs from the 00's (this included remixes or live versions from the decade)
42 songs from the 90's
667 songs from the 80's
1350 songs from the 70's
1522 songs from the 60's
285 songs from the 50's
1 song from the 40's.

These include any song played once.

At least now you can discuss with some facts.

jp

 

[biggladman]

Regarding the decade of Reagan on CBS...sounds fine to me. As a matter of fact, I tend to leave the station on longer then I used to....but then again i'm in their "target demo." Nothing wrong with some 80's, especially a lil new wave. Let me pretend it's still 1985 and I'm sitting in the garage with my father working on the ole' classic, cranking the boss and eating an ice cream sandwich. Those were good times. Just stay away from the 90's, Rap, Hip Hop, Country and bad new jack swing. Thats when things started to go all awry. )

Now for the serious element of the post...
At what point does the station attempt to tackle anything after the late 80's, when "popular tastes" started to branch off into these super fragmented branches of musical genre nothingness. And which way do they go? Do they go grunge? Hip Hop? Mariah Carey? Celine Dion? Jerkey Boys? Can't make everybody happy.

Maybe Jimi Lalumia is right - 24 Hour Psychotic Frogs, all the time. At least it's from NY.

 

[disney fanatic]

WBPM??????

I know what you're say. I don't make any comparisons to any two stations. CBS-FM plays Rock, Pop, R&B and Motown and WBPM plays just rock & pop. That's it! No Motown, no R&B on WBPM. Give them credit whatever Randy Turner (or Randy Turnip) needs before he can host the "Music Blimp" tomorrow night.

 

[Gerryr]

And what is WBPM and the person or persons that you refer to?

 

[4dude]

They have ruined thier once wonderfull oldies station.....

I used to love listening!!!

Not anymore......

 

[neo11]

Amazing how this comes back to the same old whining....just like before CBS-FM switched to Jack and there was whining even then about the 80s music, the lack of pre-1964 oldies. This of course was replaced with whining when CBS-FM was replaced by Jack, when all of CBS-FM's "sins" were magically forgotten by those very "fans," who then started whining that the "greatest oldies station in the world" was gone. Then, when Jack gave way to CBS-FM again, the whining commenced anew...too much 80s! Too little 50s! Too much 70s! Not enough 70s! It's simply amazing.

 

[scooty430]

I enjoy the station as it is now, for the most part. That said, here are some facts in relation to the "too much 80's" statement.

Looking at the most played songs to date for this year you have to go all the way down to the #136 most played song before you find the first 80's songs. The songs tied for #136 are Celebration by Kool & The Gang and Eye of the Tiger by Survivior along with 13 other songs, none of them from the 80's.

Song Breakdown by decades:

60 songs from the 00's (this included remixes or live versions from the decade)
42 songs from the 90's
667 songs from the 80's
1350 songs from the 70's
1522 songs from the 60's
285 songs from the 50's
1 song from the 40's.

These include any song played once.

At least now you can discuss with some facts.

jp

Wow, they need some more 50s in there.

What song was played from the 40s?

I'm guessing a Christmas song....

 

[scooty430]

Regarding the decade of Reagan on CBS...sounds fine to me. As a matter of fact, I tend to leave the station on longer then I used to....but then again i'm in their "target demo." Nothing wrong with some 80's, especially a lil new wave. Let me pretend it's still 1985 and I'm sitting in the garage with my father working on the ole' classic, cranking the boss and eating an ice cream sandwich. Those were good times. Just stay away from the 90's, Rap, Hip Hop, Country and bad new jack swing. Thats when things started to go all awry. )

Now for the serious element of the post...
At what point does the station attempt to tackle anything after the late 80's, when "popular tastes" started to branch off into these super fragmented branches of musical genre nothingness. And which way do they go? Do they go grunge? Hip Hop? Mariah Carey? Celine Dion? Jerkey Boys? Can't make everybody happy.

Maybe Jimi Lalumia is right - 24 Hour Psychotic Frogs, all the time. At least it's from NY.

No right answer.

If it were me, I'd keep the focus on 50s to 70s, permanently. I'd add in a smattering of 80s. For 90s and 00s, I'd only spin tunes with super broad appeal. Definitely no rap, or modern R+B with those wailing vocals, or grunge, or Fat Boy Slim...

90s and 00s songs with broad appeal?.... Mmmbop. Hey Ya. That acoustic Green Day song. Hey Jealousy. Mysterious Ways. Maroon 5. Maybe Dave Matthews? The playable list is actually kind of small, because things became so niched, and because music overall has been less good.

Anyhow, make 50s to 70s, with its timeless appeal, the permanent sound. Just as classical is permanently focused on Beethoven, Bach, etc. - despite the fact that nobody was alive then.

 

[oldies76]

Amazing how this comes back to the same old whining....just like before CBS-FM switched to Jack and there was whining even then about the 80s music, the lack of pre-1964 oldies. This of course was replaced with whining when CBS-FM was replaced by Jack, when all of CBS-FM's "sins" were magically forgotten by those very "fans," who then started whining that the "greatest oldies station in the world" was gone. Then, when Jack gave way to CBS-FM again, the whining commenced anew...too much 80s! Too little 50s! Too much 70s! Not enough 70s! It's simply amazing.

CBS-FM is one of the most thorough oldies/classic hits stations on-air today! No complaints here. The lack of 50's, 60's or 70's music is easily made up during weekends and specialties (like A to Z) and Jeff's Sunday night countdowns. Too much 80's?? Remember that 80's music is 28 to 19 years old now (1980 - 1989). They're labeled as classic hits, get used to it. Don't like it, switch stations! Give them a break guys, better enjoy it now while we have that chance.

WCBS Rocks!

 

[neo11]

Amazing how this comes back to the same old whining....just like before CBS-FM switched to Jack and there was whining even then about the 80s music, the lack of pre-1964 oldies. This of course was replaced with whining when CBS-FM was replaced by Jack, when all of CBS-FM's "sins" were magically forgotten by those very "fans," who then started whining that the "greatest oldies station in the world" was gone. Then, when Jack gave way to CBS-FM again, the whining commenced anew...too much 80s! Too little 50s! Too much 70s! Not enough 70s! It's simply amazing.

CBS-FM is one of the most thorough oldies/classic hits stations on-air today! No complaints here. The lack of 50's, 60's or 70's music is easily made up during weekends and specialties (like A to Z) and Jeff's Sunday night countdowns. Too much 80's?? Remember that 80's music is 28 to 19 years old now (1980 - 1989). They're labeled as classic hits, get used to it. Don't like it, switch stations! Give them a break guys, better enjoy it now while we have that chance.

WCBS Rocks!

Just to clarify, in case it wasn't apparent from my post...I'm not complaining about WCBS-FM at all. I am pointing out, however, the crybaby attitude that many CBS-FM "fans" seem to have...whining about CBS-FM before Jack came along, then whining about Jack FM and begging for CBS-FM (which they had previously whined about) to return, then when Jack was dropped and CBS-FM resurrected, whining some more about CBS-FM. It's the same old arguments too, again and again, and it never seems to end.

 

[oldies76]

Just to clarify, in case it wasn't apparent from my post...I'm not complaining about WCBS-FM at all. I am pointing out, however, the crybaby attitude that many CBS-FM "fans" seem to have...whining about CBS-FM before Jack came along, then whining about Jack FM and begging for CBS-FM (which they had previously whined about) to return, then when Jack was dropped and CBS-FM resurrected, whining some more about CBS-FM. It's the same old arguments too, again and again, and it never seems to end.

Oh no, I know it's not you complaining at all about CBS-FM...it's the others out there, fed-up listeners and some posters. We're on the same page!! No one is ever satisfied with anything which is really a shame..WCBS is one of the best oldies stations I have ever heard since KRTH of the 1980's!! We're lucky in this day, to have a station throwing out the amount of classic hits and oldies as WCBS does.

 

[wmgcbs]

WCBS is one of the best oldies stations I have ever heard since KRTH of the 1980's!! We're lucky in this day, to have a station throwing out the amount of classic hits and oldies as WCBS does.

I completely agree. Aside from my occasional rant about their audio processing (and my EXTREME frustration over the edit out of the ENTIRE piano intro of Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" this afternoon - it was completely ridiculous and unnecessary), the station's programming leaves other oldies/classic hits stations in the dust in my opinion. From the Listener-Voted Top 500 to the A-Z week, the station sounds great with its specialty features. I just wish their ratings would reflect the amazing station that CBS-FM really is.

I feel that since its reincarnation, CBS-FM has made leaps and bounds. Even with Lite-fm's recently improved (and quite enlargened) playlist, CBS-FM still has a better variety of music. I really enjoy most of the jocks (especially Rick Stacy on weekends), and the one that I really don't enjoy must have more to do with my own personal preference than with the jock himself; many seem to like the nighttime program on CBS-FM.

As far as the '80's argument, I have very little trouble with the music they play from the '80's. It might be nice to hear some more upbeat pop from the '80's (aka Whitney's "How Will I Know" and "I Wanna Dance (With Somebody Who Loves Me)," but most of the titles are quite acceptable for this type of station.

I think CBS-FM's time as JACK really allowed me to broaden my musical horizons. Hearing the '80's songs on Lite, Q, and Fresh helped me warm up to those specific titles which the "new" CBS-FM shares with the AC's in the market; additionally, I enjoy hearing "She Drives Me Crazy," "The Way It Is," and "Got My Mind Set On You" - the '80's songs which the "old" CBS-FM really never played (or if they did, certainly didn't do it as often as they do currently).

Overall, two thumbs up for CBS-FM. The people that complain about the programming shouldn't take it for granted. Few stations are on par with what CBS-FM does on a daily basis.

Oh, yeah... and enjoy hearing Christmas music on CBS-FM for the next couple of weeks (even if it is just one song a day); you can prepare for when Lite starts jingling the bells this holiday season!

 

[scooty430]

They're playing Christmas music already? Did I miss something?

 

[wmgcbs]

They're playing Christmas music already? Did I miss something?

Well, it's part of their "Santa Song of the Day" which happens to be "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." When they play it, you call, and you (maybe) win $1000. The contest apparently runs through the week of Thanksgiving.