WCBS-FM has Problems with their Music Format Playlist

[adma]

But they're still voluntary, and specially chosen, participants. So if they, and the programming they serve, are so "representative" of the masses out there, then why doesn't the Republican party get national mandates on a Russian "Dmitry Medvedev" scale? (Heck, in NYC, it's the *Democrats* who receive those kinds of mandates.)

All it proves that said companies are intelligent enough to know that in order to attain mass reach, they need to bottom-feed off the stupidest consumer-type specimens, too...

What are you talking about? What mandates? Seriously????

By "mandates", I mean the votes of electors. Like, in Russia's March 2 presidential election, Medvedev got 70.28%; his nearest rival (Communist) got 17.72%.

If the commercial talk radio universe were truly reflective of the USofA, the Republicans would have 70.28%, the Democrats would have 17.72%.

 

[BACKnUSSR]

But they're still voluntary, and specially chosen, participants. So if they, and the programming they serve, are so "representative" of the masses out there, then why doesn't the Republican party get national mandates on a Russian "Dmitry Medvedev" scale? (Heck, in NYC, it's the *Democrats* who receive those kinds of mandates.)

All it proves that said companies are intelligent enough to know that in order to attain mass reach, they need to bottom-feed off the stupidest consumer-type specimens, too...

What are you talking about? What mandates? Seriously????

By "mandates", I mean the votes of electors. Like, in Russia's March 2 presidential election, Medvedev got 70.28%; his nearest rival (Communist) got 17.72%.

If the commercial talk radio universe were truly reflective of the USofA, the Republicans would have 70.28%, the Democrats would have 17.72%.

1) That probably IS the ratio on commercial talk radio in America, conservative shows do tend to dominate.
2) What makes you think the US is 70% Republican??
3) And in NYC the "Democrats" receive mandates? There hasn't been a Democrat as NYC Mayor in 14
years..some "mandate".

 

[adma]

2) What makes you think the US is 70% Republican??

Of course it isn't. I was just responding to the point re radio testing--to re-quote: But they're still voluntary, and specially chosen, participants. So if they, and the programming they serve, are so "representative" of the masses out there, then why doesn't the Republican party get national mandates on a Russian "Dmitry Medvedev" scale?

3) And in NYC the "Democrats" receive mandates? There hasn't been a Democrat as NYC Mayor in 14
years..some "mandate".

Yeah, but that came in spite of their party label. It isn't like Giuliani or Bloomberg swayed New Yorkers toward the Republicans in presidential or congressional elections...

 

[BACKnUSSR]

2) What makes you think the US is 70% Republican??

Of course it isn't. I was just responding to the point re radio testing--to re-quote: But they're still voluntary, and specially chosen, participants. So if they, and the programming they serve, are so "representative" of the masses out there, then why doesn't the Republican party get national mandates on a Russian "Dmitry Medvedev" scale?

I still don't follow the analogy...oh well.

3) And in NYC the "Democrats" receive mandates? There hasn't been a Democrat as NYC Mayor in 14
years..some "mandate".

Yeah, but that came in spite of their party label. It isn't like Giuliani or Bloomberg swayed New Yorkers toward the Republicans in presidential or congressional elections...

That makes the case that there certainly is no Republican mandate (not that a Presidential candidate ever rode on a Mayor's coattails). But the simple fact that Democrats are absent from the Chief Executive's chair in the city for so
long is a weak case for a "mandate". They are the odds on favorites, yes....mandate...not really.

In fact, Giuliani's support of Bloomberg for Mayor in the wake of 9/11 is probably closer to Putin's support of Medvedev
than anything the Democrats have done. And that's not a criticism at all....its smart politics.

 

[adma]

2) What makes you think the US is 70% Republican??

Of course it isn't. I was just responding to the point re radio testing--to re-quote: But they're still voluntary, and specially chosen, participants. So if they, and the programming they serve, are so "representative" of the masses out there, then why doesn't the Republican party get national mandates on a Russian "Dmitry Medvedev" scale?

I still don't follow the analogy...oh well.

The analogy is straightforward. We're getting these claims here re the marvels of radio research, how it truly reflects and generates what a mass public audience wants, etc. Yet if the net result is something like the "commercial talk radio" universe, then, well...why isn't America (even so-called "white America") 70% Republican, 17% Democrat, 9% Pat Buchananite (to use a Zhirinovsky analogy), etc?

It's not that it's bad programming logic; but please, don't weasel around by misrepresenting it as "mass" in a 60s/70s three-big-networks sense.

3) And in NYC the "Democrats" receive mandates? There hasn't been a Democrat as NYC Mayor in 14
years..some "mandate".

Yeah, but that came in spite of their party label. It isn't like Giuliani or Bloomberg swayed New Yorkers toward the Republicans in presidential or congressional elections...

That makes the case that there certainly is no Republican mandate (not that a Presidential candidate ever rode on a Mayor's coattails). But the simple fact that Democrats are absent from the Chief Executive's chair in the city for so
long is a weak case for a "mandate". They are the odds on favorites, yes....mandate...not really.

In fact, Giuliani's support of Bloomberg for Mayor in the wake of 9/11 is probably closer to Putin's support of Medvedev
than anything the Democrats have done. And that's not a criticism at all....its smart politics.

If you noticed in the first place, I didn't simply refer to a mandate. I referred to the scale of the mandate, i.e. there's a heck of a difference between, say, Bush-over-Gore in 2000 and Medvedev-over-whomever in 2008. Even Bloomberg only won by a little over a 2% margin in 2001, despite Giuliani's support (the margin was a lot broader in 2005, but still not Medvedev-scale--and besides, by that point Bloomberg was practically Republican by label only).

 

[disney fanatic]

I guess that CBS-FM is sounded almost like it's going to be another WBPM. But CBS-FM needs more hard rock and no Motown and soul on this station. Play some Alice Cooper, Supertramp, some early Genesis with Peter Gabriel and some others. This should sound a lot better than WBPM does on 92.9.

Forget the NY Radio Greats with all those 50's and early 60's stuff with guest DJ's, because of demo problems. I like 50's and early 60's music with some doo-wop songs on it, just like Don K Reed hosted the "Doo-Wop Shop" many years ago. Make it a station that will sound a lot like WBPM with just rock & pop, not Motown and rhythm & blues. Forget it! Play some Van Halen.

 

[lalumia]

no way, MOTOWN RULES!!!

 

[adma]

I guess that CBS-FM is sounded almost like it's going to be another WBPM. But CBS-FM needs more hard rock and no Motown and soul on this station. Play some Alice Cooper, Supertramp, some early Genesis with Peter Gabriel and some others. This should sound a lot better than WBPM does on 92.9.

Forget the NY Radio Greats with all those 50's and early 60's stuff with guest DJ's, because of demo problems. I like 50's and early 60's music with some doo------- songs on it, just like Don K Reed hosted the "Doo------- Shop" many years ago. Make it a station that will sound a lot like WBPM with just rock & pop, not Motown and rhythm & blues. Forget it! Play some Van Halen.

You mean, pitch to the "white flight" demographic? Uh...

 

[scooty430]

I guess that CBS-FM is sounded almost like it's going to be another WBPM. But CBS-FM needs more hard rock and no Motown and soul on this station. Play some Alice Cooper, Supertramp, some early Genesis with Peter Gabriel and some others. This should sound a lot better than WBPM does on 92.9.

Forget the NY Radio Greats with all those 50's and early 60's stuff with guest DJ's, because of demo problems. I like 50's and early 60's music with some doo------- songs on it, just like Don K Reed hosted the "Doo------- Shop" many years ago. Make it a station that will sound a lot like WBPM with just rock & pop, not Motown and rhythm & blues. Forget it! Play some Van Halen.

Whoa! I am a huge fan of early Genesis, the kind with Peter Gabriel.

But you can't seriously expect WCBS to play that.

I'd say WCBS should stick with the oldies style they've readopted. If anything, make it more oldies-ish....that's what people expect to hear. And don't abandon the really old stuff: "Rock Around the Clock" has more longterm appeal than "Safety Dance" or Madonna.

Learn the lesson of Starbucks: they kept marketing and testing and marketing and testing, and before you know it, they're selling books and CDs and egg mcmuffins and turkey sandiwches......and they forgot about the coffee. Wonder why profits are plummeting?

 

[BACKnUSSR]

Learn the lesson of Starbucks: they kept marketing and testing and marketing and testing, and before you know it, they're selling books and CDs and egg mcmuffins and turkey sandiwches......and they forgot about the coffee. Wonder why profits are plummeting?

Probably has more to do with $6 lattes and increased competition than turkey sandwiches.

 

[fang39]

I guess that CBS-FM is sounded almost like it's going to be another WBPM. But CBS-FM needs more hard rock and no Motown and soul on this station. Play some Alice Cooper, Supertramp, some early Genesis with Peter Gabriel and some others. This should sound a lot better than WBPM does on 92.9.

Forget the NY Radio Greats with all those 50's and early 60's stuff with guest DJ's, because of demo problems. I like 50's and early 60's music with some doo------- songs on it, just like Don K Reed hosted the "Doo------- Shop" many years ago. Make it a station that will sound a lot like WBPM with just rock & pop, not Motown and rhythm & blues. Forget it! Play some Van Halen.

You must be bi-polar or something! This is coming from a person who gone on this board bemoaning the original format flip to Jack and the release of the entire airstaff ("I've missed them so much")? Have we forgotten to take our meds today? LOL!

 

[chuckydoll]

CBS-FM hasn't upgraded its music library much

Last night, just after 8 PM, I'm driving home with 101.1 tuned in. CBS-FM is playing "(It Looks Like) I'm Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" by Tom Jones ... only it's the 45 edit.

The full-length version runs about 4:10; the 45 edit runs around 2:50. Guess CBS-FM didn't upgrade its music library in the 25 months that Jack was around.

OK, it's Sunday night and you're voice-tracked, yet that's no excuse to not play a full-length version. Ed Baer ain't Casey Kasem and you shouldn't be editing songs as a result.

 

[oldies76]

WCBS is a much better & fulfilling station than that other Classic Hits / oldies station out west (KRTH). You guys rock over there at CBS. To hear some 60's, some rare late 50's, lots of 70's and even some 80's PLUS specialty shows on weekends and countdowns Sunday Night is really what I've been looking for the last few years!!

Coming out of a crazy debate on the Los Angeles Top 20 Market - KRTH songs you'd hear.

I thought I'd give you my 2-cents worth..WCBS is a station that plays most of the songs I've been looking to hear, with minimal frequency of repetition, plays songs & hits that were very popular in New York AND around the country, and is willing to go above and beyond and play songs that weren't so popular back in the day or are considered "cheesy" by today's standards.

On top of that, they do a weekly Sunday Night Countdown.

By the way..I'm told WCBS only has 488 songs in rotation. Is this really true?? Because it sure seems that what you are playing..(50's thru the 80's) far exceeds that number.

Great Job WCBS. Keep up the good work and keep those oldies and hits coming!!

Let's see if D.E. ...you know the guy with over 12,000 posts, comes attacking my compliments to WCBS.
It's only a matter of time now.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Let's see if D.E. ...you know the guy with over 12,000 posts, comes attacking my compliments to WCBS.
It's only a matter of time now.

LOL 76!! DE to make a response?


Well... Is the Pope Catholic?
Does a bear sh*t in the woods? ;D

I agree with YOU about the playlist. I think it's a matter of perception... I dunno but from the times I've sampled WCBS-FM's stream lately, it sure seems like they play a better variety than KRTH. Ehhh waddaweknow n.e.way? 8)

 

[oldies76]

Great Answer..made me laugh!! ;D

Super RadioFan...you're the one!

 

[davideduardo]

WCBS is a much better & fulfilling station than that other Classic Hits / oldies station out west (KRTH). You guys rock over there at CBS. To hear some 60's, some rare late 50's, lots of 70's and even some 80's PLUS specialty shows on weekends and countdowns Sunday Night is really what I've been looking for the last few years!!

I'm very sure that is true for you and most of the people who look for an oldies / classic hits station in New York. It shows how research can make a station appear bigger than life by playing the right songs... so much, in fact, that you belive them to have greater variety than KRTH! They have done a terrific job, and your paeans prove it

Coming out of a crazy debate on the Los Angeles Top 20 Market - KRTH songs you'd hear.

Top 20 market? LA is the largest market in the US in terms of revenue.

WCBS is a station that plays most of the songs I've been looking to hear, with minimal frequency of repetition, plays songs & hits that were very popular in New York AND around the country, and is willing to go above and beyond and play songs that weren't so popular back in the day or are considered "cheesy" by today's standards.

Confirming what I said. CBS-FM is talking to you as it should. KRTH is not, which is also as it should be as you are not a Left Coaster and shouldn't like it!

On top of that, they do a weekly Sunday Night Countdown.

A show which underperforms the station average in a daypart with nearly no listening.

By the way..I'm told WCBS only has 488 songs in rotation. Is this really true?? Because it sure seems that what you are playing..(50's thru the 80's) far exceeds that number.

Two people with access to real time monitoring services which cost thousands of dollars a month have stated the count of total different songs played outside specialty shows.

Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediabase

In part, the accurate description in Wikipedia says, "Mediabase is... located in Sherman Oaks, California. Mediabase is a music industry website containing in-depth charts and analysis based on the monitoring of 1,836 radio stations in the US and Canada, in 175 radio markets. Mediabase features realtime charts in 25 radio formats, based on radio airplay. In addition, its services features literally hundreds of analytical tools. Nearly 1,800 radio stations subscribe to Mediabase's monitoring service, via network affiliations. Mediabase charts are the basis of many well known radio countdowns and programs, including Crook & Chase Country Countdown, American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest, American Top 10 Casey Kasem, Ben and Brian's Big Top 20 Countdown, Jeff Foxworthy Countdown, etc.

Let's see if D.E. ...you know the guy with over 12,000 posts, comes attacking my compliments to WCBS.
It's only a matter of time now.

I think finally you are getting the point that CBS is great for New York and KRTH is great for LA. Comparing them is, thus, absurd.

 

[Mothership]

WCBS is a much better & fulfilling station than that other Classic Hits / oldies station out west (KRTH). You guys rock over there at CBS. To hear some 60's, some rare late 50's, lots of 70's and even some 80's PLUS specialty shows on weekends and countdowns Sunday Night is really what I've been looking for the last few years!!

Coming out of a crazy debate on the Los Angeles Top 20 Market - KRTH songs you'd hear.

I thought I'd give you my 2-cents worth..WCBS is a station that plays most of the songs I've been looking to hear, with minimal frequency of repetition, plays songs & hits that were very popular in New York AND around the country, and is willing to go above and beyond and play songs that weren't so popular back in the day or are considered "cheesy" by today's standards.

On top of that, they do a weekly Sunday Night Countdown.

By the way..I'm told WCBS only has 488 songs in rotation. Is this really true?? Because it sure seems that what you are playing..(50's thru the 80's) far exceeds that number.

Great Job WCBS. Keep up the good work and keep those oldies and hits coming!!

Let's see if D.E. ...you know the guy with over 12,000 posts, comes attacking my compliments to WCBS.
It's only a matter of time now.

Oldies76,

Very nice compliments.
488 sounds about right.
KRTH is a fine station too.

 

[oldies76]

Coming out of a crazy debate on the Los Angeles Top 20 Market - KRTH songs you'd hear.

David Eduardo

Top 20 market? LA is the largest market in the US in terms of revenue.

WCBS is a station that plays most of the songs I've been looking to hear, with minimal frequency of repetition, plays songs & hits that were very popular in New York AND around the country, and is willing to go above and beyond and play songs that weren't so popular back in the day or are considered "cheesy" by today's standards.

Confirming what I said. CBS-FM is talking to you as it should. KRTH is not, which is also as it should be as you are not a Left Coaster and shouldn't like it!

I think finally you are getting the point that CBS is great for New York and KRTH is great for LA.
Actually, I got the words "Top 20 Market" from the "select your board destination" tab.

I used to live on the LEFT / West Coast (50 miles south of L.A) from 1978 thru 2005 and I remember how KRTH was in the early-mid 80's (lots of hits played with holiday specialty weekends and a 3 or 5 hour request show on Saturday Nights and Brother John..etc..) KRTH severely limited their playlist after 1989 I believe, due to a PD change or an ownership change and it got me upset at the time. They took away the themed shows and played far less. This lasted thru the 90's.

So I've always wanted a return to what KRTH "used to do", therefore when I hear WCBS..it reminds me of KRTH, with it's vast selection of songs and countdowns..etc..

And yes, I get the point about the two stations...but I only wish KRTH had a wider playlist ,like when Bob Hamilton was PD!! Those were good times on KRTH.

I wonder how Majic 102 in Florida is doing?? That's where Bob is now, correct?

 

[davideduardo]

I used to live on the LEFT / West Coast (50 miles south of L.A) from 1978 thru 2005 and I remember how KRTH was in the early-mid 80's (lots of hits played with holiday specialty weekends and a 3 or 5 hour request show on Saturday Nights and Brother John..etc..) KRTH severely limited their playlist after 1989 I believe, due to a PD change or an ownership change and it got me upset at the time. They took away the themed shows and played far less. This lasted thru the 90's.

The reason why there was a change in the 90's was that the station, in the Beasley years (88 to 93), had started doing very poorly. They cut the playlist, reinforced with some good talent even on weekends, and the station did very well for many years.

So I've always wanted a return to what KRTH "used to do", therefore when I hear WCBS..it reminds me of KRTH, with it's vast selection of songs and countdowns..etc..

That was a decade and more ago... the listener group that such appealed to is now way over 55, and unappealing to advertisers.

And yes, I get the point about the two stations...but I only wish KRTH had a wider playlist ,like when Bob Hamilton was PD!! Those were good times on KRTH.

The early Infinity years were very good... the oldies audience was still in a sales demo, and the talent like Steele and Morgan were still alive.

I wonder how Majic 102 in Florida is doing?? That's where Bob is now, correct?

They just had the worst book since Summer of 2001... below a 3.0 for the first time in 7 years. It's been slipping for a long time. In 25-54, they are hovering around 11th and 12th in the market.

 

[cartman1964]

I'm curious to know why they have their billboards placed on highways that are 60 miles away from NYC, in the direction heading away from NYC.

There is a CBS-FM billboard in Hackettstown,NJ on Route 46 westbound (where B-101 Philly already wins the signal war). I found that surprising. Until I drove 15 miles further west on Route 46 and saw another CBS-FM billboard just a few miles shy of the Pennsylvania state line.

Maybe they should be placed on the EASTBOUND side of Rt 46?