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WBOS Vs. WROR, Is there Really a difference?

G

Garrett

Ok, I know that technically, officially, they are not the same format. WBOS is (allegedly) Progressive Rock, and WROR is (alledgedly) Classic Hits and both are owned by Greater Media. But you know what? Looking at the playlists and comparing, I CAN HARDLY TELL THE TWO APART!
Let's see...
In the past few hours:
Both stations have played Sting
Both stations have played Sheryl Crow
Ok, I get that one is supposed to be more Alternative Based, and the other more oldies based. But really? Are the demos that different? Other than the fact that WROR plays the occasional Disco song, I just don't see any cluster cooperation between these two stations AT ALL. It seems to me that the SMART thing to do would be for WBOS to drop anything older than 1983, and for WROR to drop anything newer than 1990.

Just my 2 Cents worth.
Ok, let her rip, what am I missing here? Am I wrong about this?
 
> Ok, I know that technically, officially, they are not the
> same format. WBOS is (allegedly) Progressive Rock, and WROR
> is (alledgedly) Classic Hits and both are owned by Greater
> Media. But you know what? Looking at the playlists and
> comparing, I CAN HARDLY TELL THE TWO APART!
> Let's see...
> In the past few hours:
> Both stations have played Sting
> Both stations have played Sheryl Crow
> Ok, I get that one is supposed to be more Alternative Based,
> and the other more oldies based. But really? Are the demos
> that different? Other than the fact that WROR plays the
> occasional Disco song, I just don't see any cluster
> cooperation between these two stations AT ALL. It seems to
> me that the SMART thing to do would be for WBOS to drop
> anything older than 1983, and for WROR to drop anything
> newer than 1990.

They're totally different.You would hear Sting and Sheryl Crow within the same hour on AC and CHR stations too.I don't know about the demos but WBOS is AAA and exposes a lot of new music along with 80s and 90s songs WROR would not touch.WROR is basically rock and R&B based oldies from the 60s through the 80s.There is a lot of repetition on WROR while less so on WBOS.I'm surprised WROR is even playing Sheryl Crow since she started hitting in the 90s.

WROR is for people who think they still like rock while WBOS is for people who do but have progressed in their music tastes.

Also regardless of numbers I understand WBOS doesn't do well but sells well.
 
> Ok, I know that technically, officially, they are not the
> same format. WBOS is (allegedly) Progressive Rock, and WROR
> is (alledgedly) Classic Hits and both are owned by Greater
> Media. But you know what? Looking at the playlists and
> comparing, I CAN HARDLY TELL THE TWO APART!
> Let's see...
> In the past few hours:
> Both stations have played Sting
> Both stations have played Sheryl Crow
> Ok, I get that one is supposed to be more Alternative Based,
> and the other more oldies based. But really? Are the demos
> that different? Other than the fact that WROR plays the
> occasional Disco song, I just don't see any cluster
> cooperation between these two stations AT ALL. It seems to
> me that the SMART thing to do would be for WBOS to drop
> anything older than 1983, and for WROR to drop anything
> newer than 1990.
>
> Just my 2 Cents worth.
> Ok, let her rip, what am I missing here? Am I wrong about
> this?
>

Both stations stream their audio online, you should take a listen. They sound completely different. Sure, they play some of the same songs, but then so does Magic. Magic certainly plays Sting and Sheryl Crow. Look at Clear Channel in Providence, where all 3 of their FMs share quite a few songs.
 
Ah yeah

> Ok, I know that technically, officially, they are not the
> same format. WBOS is (allegedly) Progressive Rock, and WROR
> is (alledgedly) Classic Hits and both are owned by Greater
> Media. But you know what? Looking at the playlists and
> comparing, I CAN HARDLY TELL THE TWO APART!
> Let's see...
> In the past few hours:
> Both stations have played Sting
> Both stations have played Sheryl Crow
> Ok, I get that one is supposed to be more Alternative Based,
> and the other more oldies based. But really? Are the demos
> that different? Other than the fact that WROR plays the
> occasional Disco song, I just don't see any cluster
> cooperation between these two stations AT ALL. It seems to
> me that the SMART thing to do would be for WBOS to drop
> anything older than 1983, and for WROR to drop anything
> newer than 1990.
>
> Just my 2 Cents worth.
> Ok, let her rip, what am I missing here? Am I wrong about
> this?
>
WBOS plays more adult alternative and WROR is more for middle aged white baby boomers trying desperately to relive their youth.
 
How funny you should bring up Magic...
See, that's the point, all three stations are Adult. At least Magic has a "soft rock" lean. But when you get to WROR and WBOS, how different can they be? It's a splitting hairs thig. They may intend to be differnt but I submit that any two jocks from WBOS and WROR are interchangeable at any time.

WROR should drop anything remotely modern, and stay 70s and 80s based Oldies. WBOS should stop playing Johnny Cash, and drop the format altogether. Progressive Rock and Classic Hits are just too close in formatic.

And that is ALL I have to say about that.
(Good)

> > Ok, I know that technically, officially, they are not the
> > same format. WBOS is (allegedly) Progressive Rock, and
> WROR
> > is (alledgedly) Classic Hits and both are owned by Greater
>
> > Media. But you know what? Looking at the playlists and
> > comparing, I CAN HARDLY TELL THE TWO APART!
> > Let's see...
> > In the past few hours:
> > Both stations have played Sting
> > Both stations have played Sheryl Crow
> > Ok, I get that one is supposed to be more Alternative
> Based,
> > and the other more oldies based. But really? Are the demos
>
> > that different? Other than the fact that WROR plays the
> > occasional Disco song, I just don't see any cluster
> > cooperation between these two stations AT ALL. It seems to
>
> > me that the SMART thing to do would be for WBOS to drop
> > anything older than 1983, and for WROR to drop anything
> > newer than 1990.
> >
> > Just my 2 Cents worth.
> > Ok, let her rip, what am I missing here? Am I wrong about
> > this?
> >
>
> Both stations stream their audio online, you should take a
> listen. They sound completely different. Sure, they play
> some of the same songs, but then so does Magic. Magic
> certainly plays Sting and Sheryl Crow. Look at Clear Channel
> in Providence, where all 3 of their FMs share quite a few
> songs.
>
 
> How funny you should bring up Magic...
> See, that's the point, all three stations are Adult. At
> least Magic has a "soft rock" lean. But when you get to WROR
> and WBOS, how different can they be? It's a splitting hairs
> thig. They may intend to be differnt but I submit that any
> two jocks from WBOS and WROR are interchangeable at any
> time.
>
> WROR should drop anything remotely modern, and stay 70s and
> 80s based Oldies. WBOS should stop playing Johnny Cash, and
> drop the format altogether. Progressive Rock and Classic
> Hits are just too close in formatic.
>
> And that is ALL I have to say about that.
> (Good)
>
> > > Ok, I know that technically, officially, they are not
> the
> > > same format. WBOS is (allegedly) Progressive Rock, and
> > WROR
> > > is (alledgedly) Classic Hits and both are owned by
> Greater
> >
> > > Media. But you know what? Looking at the playlists and
> > > comparing, I CAN HARDLY TELL THE TWO APART!
> > > Let's see...
> > > In the past few hours:
> > > Both stations have played Sting
> > > Both stations have played Sheryl Crow
> > > Ok, I get that one is supposed to be more Alternative
> > Based,
> > > and the other more oldies based. But really? Are the
> demos
> >
> > > that different? Other than the fact that WROR plays the
> > > occasional Disco song, I just don't see any cluster
> > > cooperation between these two stations AT ALL. It seems
> to
> >
> > > me that the SMART thing to do would be for WBOS to drop
> > > anything older than 1983, and for WROR to drop anything
> > > newer than 1990.
> > >
> > > Just my 2 Cents worth.
> > > Ok, let her rip, what am I missing here? Am I wrong
> about
> > > this?
> > >
> >
> > Both stations stream their audio online, you should take a
>
> > listen. They sound completely different. Sure, they play
> > some of the same songs, but then so does Magic. Magic
> > certainly plays Sting and Sheryl Crow. Look at Clear
> Channel
> > in Providence, where all 3 of their FMs share quite a few
> > songs.
> >
>
I don't see how you can say the formats are similar. Maybe the demographics of the audience are similar, but the music certainly isn't.
 
> > Ok, I know that technically, officially, they are not the
> > same format. WBOS is (allegedly) Progressive Rock, and
> WROR
> > is (alledgedly) Classic Hits and both are owned by Greater
>
> > Media. But you know what? Looking at the playlists and
> > comparing, I CAN HARDLY TELL THE TWO APART!
> > Let's see...
> > In the past few hours:
> > Both stations have played Sting
> > Both stations have played Sheryl Crow
> > Ok, I get that one is supposed to be more Alternative
> Based,
> > and the other more oldies based. But really? Are the demos
>
> > that different? Other than the fact that WROR plays the
> > occasional Disco song, I just don't see any cluster
> > cooperation between these two stations AT ALL. It seems to
>
> > me that the SMART thing to do would be for WBOS to drop
> > anything older than 1983, and for WROR to drop anything
> > newer than 1990.
>
> They're totally different.You would hear Sting and Sheryl
> Crow within the same hour on AC and CHR stations too.I don't
> know about the demos but WBOS is AAA and exposes a lot of
> new music along with 80s and 90s songs WROR would not
> touch.WROR is basically rock and R&B based oldies from the
> 60s through the 80s.There is a lot of repetition on WROR
> while less so on WBOS.I'm surprised WROR is even playing
> Sheryl Crow since she started hitting in the 90s.
>
> WROR is for people who think they still like rock while WBOS
> is for people who do but have progressed in their music
> tastes.
>
> Also regardless of numbers I understand WBOS doesn't do well
> but sells well.
>
WBOS would do much better if it's audience wasn't being split by WXRV, the River.
 
>> WBOS should stop playing Johnny Cash

They play the Man in Black? Play more! Change it to classic country and bring back the ol' WBOS :)

I still remember reading in Boston Rock about the day when (progressive rock)
WBOS changed to country: "The Boss Became The Hoss"

<P ID="signature">______________
raccoonradio5ap.gif
</P>
 
Let me tell you why I like WBOS.

In the morning, while reading the paper and having breakfast, I enjoy having the music in the background, without all the DJ talk.

I could listen to my iPod, but BOS gives me a lot of, 'oh yeah moments', where they play songs that I don't have on my iPod, but enjoy hearing.

BOS has Charles Laquidara. I think Charles is the best DJ in Boston right now. Maybe it's because I was always a big fan, but I also think it has to do with BOS allowing him to select the music.

You know how stations want to have appointment listening, where you look up at the clock and say, 'oh it's 9:00, I'd better tune in to BOS because Charles is on'. That is totally working for them with Charles. And an added benefit, which I'm sure they know about, is that later on in the day when I turn my radio back on, it's set to 92.9 from when I was listening to Charles in the morning, and I don't change it. So they've got me listening to other dayparts.

The other thing I like about Charles is that he's not reading liner cards. He's real.

That's why I like WBOS.
 
$$$$$$

How much did Greater Media pay for this advertisement?


> Let me tell you why I like WBOS.
>
> In the morning, while reading the paper and having
> breakfast, I enjoy having the music in the background,
> without all the DJ talk.
>
> I could listen to my iPod, but BOS gives me a lot of, 'oh
> yeah moments', where they play songs that I don't have on my
> iPod, but enjoy hearing.
>
> BOS has Charles Laquidara. I think Charles is the best DJ
> in Boston right now. Maybe it's because I was always a big
> fan, but I also think it has to do with BOS allowing him to
> select the music.
>
> You know how stations want to have appointment listening,
> where you look up at the clock and say, 'oh it's 9:00, I'd
> better tune in to BOS because Charles is on'. That is
> totally working for them with Charles. And an added
> benefit, which I'm sure they know about, is that later on in
> the day when I turn my radio back on, it's set to 92.9 from
> when I was listening to Charles in the morning, and I don't
> change it. So they've got me listening to other dayparts.
>
> The other thing I like about Charles is that he's not
> reading liner cards. He's real.
>
> That's why I like WBOS.
>
 
Have you actually listened to WBOS and WROR? They are incredibly different stations, both in terms of music and imaging. As others have noted, WBOS plays a lot of currents, whereas WROR is essentially an oldies station. Coldplay, the Dave Matthews Band, Sarah McLachlan, Stone Temple Pilots. Jack Johnson, Pearl Jam, David Gray, John Mayer -- all staples of WBOS that you would never hear on WROR. Indeed, Bob Marley gets regular play on BOS, and I'm not sure his stuff gets played on ROR.

The jocks may be interchangable, but any good jock should be able to switch from one format to another.


> How funny you should bring up Magic...
> See, that's the point, all three stations are Adult. At
> least Magic has a "soft rock" lean. But when you get to WROR
> and WBOS, how different can they be? It's a splitting hairs
> thig. They may intend to be differnt but I submit that any
> two jocks from WBOS and WROR are interchangeable at any
> time.
>
> WROR should drop anything remotely modern, and stay 70s and
> 80s based Oldies. WBOS should stop playing Johnny Cash, and
> drop the format altogether. Progressive Rock and Classic
> Hits are just too close in formatic.
>
> And that is ALL I have to say about that.
> (Good)
>
> > > Ok, I know that technically, officially, they are not
> the
> > > same format. WBOS is (allegedly) Progressive Rock, and
> > WROR
> > > is (alledgedly) Classic Hits and both are owned by
> Greater
> >
> > > Media. But you know what? Looking at the playlists and
> > > comparing, I CAN HARDLY TELL THE TWO APART!
> > > Let's see...
> > > In the past few hours:
> > > Both stations have played Sting
> > > Both stations have played Sheryl Crow
> > > Ok, I get that one is supposed to be more Alternative
> > Based,
> > > and the other more oldies based. But really? Are the
> demos
> >
> > > that different? Other than the fact that WROR plays the
> > > occasional Disco song, I just don't see any cluster
> > > cooperation between these two stations AT ALL. It seems
> to
> >
> > > me that the SMART thing to do would be for WBOS to drop
> > > anything older than 1983, and for WROR to drop anything
> > > newer than 1990.
> > >
> > > Just my 2 Cents worth.
> > > Ok, let her rip, what am I missing here? Am I wrong
> about
> > > this?
> > >
> >
> > Both stations stream their audio online, you should take a
>
> > listen. They sound completely different. Sure, they play
> > some of the same songs, but then so does Magic. Magic
> > certainly plays Sting and Sheryl Crow. Look at Clear
> Channel
> > in Providence, where all 3 of their FMs share quite a few
> > songs.
> >
>
 
> >> WBOS should stop playing Johnny Cash
>
> They play the Man in Black? Play more! Change it to classic
> country and bring back the ol' WBOS :)
>
> I still remember reading in Boston Rock about the day when
> (progressive rock)
> WBOS changed to country: "The Boss Became The Hoss"
>
Were they progressive rock before they went country? If that's true than their current format would seem to be heritage, huh?
 
> > >> WBOS should stop playing Johnny Cash
> >
> > They play the Man in Black? Play more! Change it to classic
> > country and bring back the ol' WBOS :)
> >
> > I still remember reading in Boston Rock about the day when
> > (progressive rock)
> > WBOS changed to country: "The Boss Became The Hoss"
> >
> Were they progressive rock before they went country? If
> that's true than their current format would seem to be
> heritage, huh?

WBOS went from AC to progressive AOR from January 1982 to July 1983, when they flipped to country. The AOR format only lasted about a year and a half. The station flipped thorugh a few Program Directors during this brief stint, including consultant Clark Smidt (of the old WBZ-FM), and ending with Maxanne Sartori, who was Boston's first female FM/AOR DJ in the early through mid-70's on WBCN.

The format included a lot of what was then called "New Wave" and local Boston/New England area artists, as well as an eclectic mix of album rock from the 60's to that present day. It was truly either a predecessor to today's AAA format (though that moniker had not been invented yet), or a successor to late 60's "FM underground" progressive rock radio, or somewhere in between. The last song played on WBOS as an AOR before the flip to country was "Rock And Roll" by The Velvet Underground (Lou Reed).
 
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