There's a bit of an adolescent argument going on in one of the posts and the following thoughts occurred to me as I perused it. I didn't want these heaven-sent comments to get lost on page three or four of another post so, I have started a new thread to address this issue (I hope that's not considered "bad form?"). Here's my brief two-cents worth.
Oldies is a format different from any other in that the presentation is as important as the music. People are reminiscing when listening to this unique format. So it stands to reason that the entire environment of the station should evoke the memories the listener seeks - especially to include the jox. This would also embrace many other elements not found on today's contemporary stations, or found in a different form. To include:
But, when you ask what's most important to the operators, guys like Dan Mason, that's going to always come down to the revenue. Revenue is a confluence of ratings and the skills of the AEs to convince advertisers that they will move product by advertising on the station regardless of the numbers. So to exclude or dismiss out of hand, people over 50 or 60 or even 70 as some have, may be shortsighted. Though not Arbitron's favorite folks - believe me, they spend money. IMHO a station offering the totality of the oldies experience will be a lot easier to sell than a bland, music-only product.
If a listener wants to just listen to the music without the surrounding environment of a true NY Oldies Station, there are many internet stations (for the time being anyway), satellite and other delivery systems where they can have pure music - no atmosphere.
I had inquired about guys like Dan Ingram. A young snot-nose said, "But he's 72!" So what, being 72 doesn't make you dead! And I'll take a 72-year-old jock with the quality of content, pacing and timing as an Ingram, over some of the bland crap I hear lately, any day. I use Dan as an example, there may be reasons of his or the station's that don't make his specific appearance possible. But I think you catch my drift.
As long as they've still got a tongue and larynx - and can hold themselves upright for a few hours without drooling on the equipment, get as many of the old-timers as you can and encourage any new jox to emulate that sound. And... thanks for listening ;<)
Oldies is a format different from any other in that the presentation is as important as the music. People are reminiscing when listening to this unique format. So it stands to reason that the entire environment of the station should evoke the memories the listener seeks - especially to include the jox. This would also embrace many other elements not found on today's contemporary stations, or found in a different form. To include:
- the music,
- the peripheral presenters (news, traffic, wx etc),
- the pacing,
- the jingles,
- the promos,
- the contests,
- even the spots when possible, et al.
But, when you ask what's most important to the operators, guys like Dan Mason, that's going to always come down to the revenue. Revenue is a confluence of ratings and the skills of the AEs to convince advertisers that they will move product by advertising on the station regardless of the numbers. So to exclude or dismiss out of hand, people over 50 or 60 or even 70 as some have, may be shortsighted. Though not Arbitron's favorite folks - believe me, they spend money. IMHO a station offering the totality of the oldies experience will be a lot easier to sell than a bland, music-only product.
If a listener wants to just listen to the music without the surrounding environment of a true NY Oldies Station, there are many internet stations (for the time being anyway), satellite and other delivery systems where they can have pure music - no atmosphere.
I had inquired about guys like Dan Ingram. A young snot-nose said, "But he's 72!" So what, being 72 doesn't make you dead! And I'll take a 72-year-old jock with the quality of content, pacing and timing as an Ingram, over some of the bland crap I hear lately, any day. I use Dan as an example, there may be reasons of his or the station's that don't make his specific appearance possible. But I think you catch my drift.
As long as they've still got a tongue and larynx - and can hold themselves upright for a few hours without drooling on the equipment, get as many of the old-timers as you can and encourage any new jox to emulate that sound. And... thanks for listening ;<)
parapharasing here) Father time changes us all, even our vocal chords. And sometimes the older guys simply lose their ability to enounciate as well. I heard it happen to Dick Clark before the stroke. It is an interesting point.