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WCBS-FM Overlifed.

I

ItalianAce

Guest
Hey folks:
This topic might be merged into one of the other threads. But, being its a little off beat I decided too start it out as a separate threat.
I'll probably be torn up for saying this but WCBS-FM lasted many years than it should have, and it was a dead overtired station. Truth be told the station should have flipped years ago. The 60s & 70s oldies format, tired DJs, aged JAM jingles, dragging sound, annoying echo. It was only a matter of time.
I'm a 50s/60s oldies fan but this station was too tired out; kind of like a chair that was sat in so many times it ended up becoming a back hurter. I don't care for the format that's taken its place but I'm only surprised WCBS Oldies didn't go dark ten years ago. In fact, when KCBS-FM Oldies 93.1 in Los Angeles went Arrow 93.1 Classic rock in 1993 hitting it big for awhile with that Classic Rock Oldies format, I thought WCBS would follow the same format and become one of the "Arrow" stations that lasted a good twelve years in the LA market. Actually, I was very surprised they didn't reformat at that time.
Okay, so KCBS-FM 93.1 in Los Angeles is now Jack-FM and WCBS-FM 101.1 in NY is now Jack-FM. I think they got a good market going with the cost too cost programming; the two CBS's having their Jack-FM in New York and Los Angeles. I can already hear the promotions on both ends..."We play what we want from New York to Los Angeles."
Will Jack-FM make it? That I don't know. CBS-FM followed what a various oldies stations are facing, and thats reformatting out of the oldies market.

Anthony--
 
> Hey folks:
> This topic might be merged into one of the other threads.
> But, being its a little off beat I decided too start it out
> as a separate threat.
> I'll probably be torn up for saying this but WCBS-FM
> lasted many years than it should have, and it was a dead
> overtired station. Truth be told the station should have
> flipped years ago. The 60s & 70s oldies format, tired DJs,
> aged JAM jingles, dragging sound, annoying echo. It was only
> a matter of time.
> I'm a 50s/60s oldies fan but this station was too tired
> out; kind of like a chair that was sat in so many times it
> ended up becoming a back hurter. I don't care for the format
> that's taken its place but I'm only surprised WCBS Oldies
> didn't go dark ten years ago. In fact, when KCBS-FM Oldies
> 93.1 in Los Angeles went Arrow 93.1 Classic rock in 1993
> hitting it big for awhile with that Classic Rock Oldies
> format, I thought WCBS would follow the same format and
> become one of the "Arrow" stations that lasted a good twelve
> years in the LA market. Actually, I was very surprised they
> didn't reformat at that time.
> Okay, so KCBS-FM 93.1 in Los Angeles is now Jack-FM and
> WCBS-FM 101.1 in NY is now Jack-FM. I think they got a good
> market going with the cost too cost programming; the two
> CBS's having their Jack-FM in New York and Los Angeles. I
> can already hear the promotions on both ends..."We play what
> we want from New York to Los Angeles."
> Will Jack-FM make it? That I don't know. CBS-FM followed
> what a various oldies stations are facing, and thats
> reformatting out of the oldies market.
>
> Anthony--
>
I liked CBS-FM as an occasional visitor but I can see how even a fan of the oldies could get tired of the station. Being an ex-radio guy who got out of the business just months before turning 40 I can also sympathize with your feelings with regard to the "tired" presentation and jocks. Those old-timers did a great job for many, many years and yet it's time to hang up the headphones and move on. If there's anything that bothers me about NYC radio it's hanging on to these old, tired presentations. WNEW-FM (Where Rock Lives) should've been killed off many years before it was for example.

Be it Oldies, "Jack", Classic Rock, Rock, Hot AC or Alternative, the New York market has long needed a major jolt. While Rhythmic outlets flourish the more Rock and Pop outlets dawdle, not only in New York, but nationwide. I'm not much of a "Jack" fan but blowing up a longtime major player like WCBS-FM took some cajones. Not nescessarily a bad thing.
 
I think the problem with WCBS-FM in its later years was the shortening of its playlist. They played too many burnouts liek Mony Mony, Respect, People Got to be Free, Groovin', When a Man Loves a Woman, I Heard it through the Grapevine, and others. Long time oldies listeners were just burned out listening to the same 400 or so hits. The station abandoned pre Beatles hits for the 70s. In its glory days (c.1985-96) WCBS-Fm thrived by using a deep playlist. The Jack format is another fad like Jammin' Oldies, the 70s format, and the ARROW format. I only hope that Infinity executives will come to their senses and bring the oldies back to 101.1 FM.
 
Not only that. Back in the seventies during non-drive times, the breaks consistend of no more than 1.5 minutes of spot advertising. Then back to the Solid Gold. At least three songs, often more.

What did CBS-FM become? One long spot with interruptions of music.

> I think the problem with WCBS-FM in its later years was the
> shortening of its playlist. They played too many burnouts
> liek Mony Mony, Respect, People Got to be Free, Groovin',
> When a Man Loves a Woman, I Heard it through the Grapevine,
> and others. Long time oldies listeners were just burned out
> listening to the same 400 or so hits. The station abandoned
> pre Beatles hits for the 70s. In its glory days (c.1985-96)
> WCBS-Fm thrived by using a deep playlist. <P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
however

despite all the chinks in their armor they still managed to be Top 10 in the #1 market (of well over 50 signals).

Cats, every radio station has it's imperfections. There are a lot of stations that would love to be #8 in the Big Apple.


> Not only that. Back in the seventies during non-drive
> times, the breaks consistend of no more than 1.5 minutes of
> spot advertising. Then back to the Solid Gold. At least
> three songs, often more.
>
> What did CBS-FM become? One long spot with interruptions of
> music.
>
> > I think the problem with WCBS-FM in its later years was
> the shortening of its playlist. They played too many burnouts
>
> > liek Mony Mony, Respect, People Got to be Free, Groovin',
> > When a Man Loves a Woman, I Heard it through the
> Grapevine, and others. Long time oldies listeners were just burned
> out listening to the same 400 or so hits. The station
> abandoned pre Beatles hits for the 70s. In its glory days (c.1985-96)
> > WCBS-Fm thrived by using a deep playlist.
>
 
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