WDEA Slight Format Change

[amguy]

WDEA AM 1370 Ellsworth, ME switched from "Music Of Your Life" to Dial Global's Adult Standards format 4/26. Looks like a good move.

 

[radiome]

Back on Jan 5th Jlehmann said "They could've switched to the Dial Global's Adult Standards, which is a lot like Timeless Favorites was." He had it right ! Thank you WDEA for the "switch". Now you need to get the word out to get your listeners back !

 

[JIBGUY]

Haven't been able to hear either one of those services in quite a long time. Which one is better? Which one is more 'traditional', and which one more contemporary?

 

[Gregg]

Dial Global's format is more like the Soft AC of 20 years ago... Kenny Rogers, Beatles, Fifth Dimension, Neil Diamond with a few Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole type songs in the mix.

Music of Your Life has been adding more recent interpretations of Adult Standards by Michael Buble, Diana Krall, Rod Stewart, etc. And MOYL plays some Barry Manilow/Carpenters/Anne Murray type music. But their mix is still more conservative than Dial Global's. There might be a 15 minute stretch where you hear only pre-1960 stuff, then a few contemporary songs in a row. Dial Global is more careful in its hourly music selections.

MOYL DJs are more foreground and might talk longer in a segment. Of course, as time goes by, both formats are losing affiliates. It's hard to find these stations in major markets. I think stations owners are being short-sighted. A station playing Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgereld will be very hard to sell. But an AM station playing Beatles, Neil Diamond, Streisand and Dionne Warwick should be sellable. Where did all the people who were listening to Soft AC in 1990 but don't want to hear Pink or Nickelback go? Maybe they don't rate a full-power FM station aimed at them, but surely an AM or weaker signaled FM can make some money programmed to them.

Gregg
[email protected]

 

[JIBGUY]

But an AM station playing Beatles, Neil Diamond, Streisand and Dionne Warwick should be sellable. Where did all the people who were listening to Soft AC in 1990 but don't want to hear Pink or Nickelback go? Maybe they don't rate a full-power FM station aimed at them, but surely an AM or weaker signaled FM can make some money programmed to them.
Gregg
[email protected]

Thanks Gregg, for the descriptions of each of the services. And true, there is some short-sightedness amoungst AM station owners. But those owners generally would prefer a 0.2 (ratings) full of 40-years olds listening to angry talk, than a 2.0 full of 65-year-olds; even in a place like Coastal Maine, where there are a lot of retirees and older people with 2 homes; one here and the other in Florida or other southern place. Amazing, huh? - But on the other hand, 65-year-olds don't fall as easily for the deceptive advertising heard on many AM's these days, making advertising less effective. The problem herein is that still too many AM stations are owned by entities which are concerned with the bottom-line only, and do not have a love for good muisic nor a love for radio. That may change in time, as AM stations' values and effectiveness decline even further. But on the other hand, perhaps not, as money-centric entities may just hold on to what they have so that no one else can have them.

 

[amguy]

Nice post, JIBGUY! Excellent analysis from someone who's been doing it right for decades. There really is a market for this kind of music and some companies recognize this and continue to play music for the 'older' generation.