I have a question that some of you folks in radio would know the answer to. I have been "corrected" by several members here for daring to criticize the current WGRR and it's present format. I just wondered it anyone of you would remember what kind of ratings in had in 90 or 91, or even 92 in it's first years of operation when it actually was an Oldies Station. Would there be a source that I could read that may have that information. What audience was the programmers targeting then, and is it the same as now? Thank you all in advance, and hope you all have a Merry Christmas.
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WGRR It's Early Days
- Thread starter FRR
- Start date
FRR said:I have a question that some of you folks in radio would know the answer to. I have been "corrected" by several members here for daring to criticize the current WGRR and it's present format. I just wondered it anyone of you would remember what kind of ratings in had in 90 or 91, or even 92 in it's first years of operation when it actually was an Oldies Station. Would there be a source that I could read that may have that information. What audience was the programmers targeting then, and is it the same as now? Thank you all in advance, and hope you all have a Merry Christmas.
When it first started out, it was mostly goofy '60s oldies. And when I say goofy, I mean they were goofy. (Like other oldies stations at the time, it was mostly pop/rock, but pre-AOR.) It wasn't really approaching the classic hits format like it is now.
The 1991 M Street Directory shows it only had ratings in the 3 to 5 range (a drop from what it was when it was WBLZ).
I alweays called those tunes, "Nerdy-white-kids-in-love" songs. More Buddy Holly than Little Richard; more Monkees than Motown. Seems to me, most of the 90's saw them in the 5th or 6th slot most dayparts for 25-54. Remember, some of that time was pre-Star 64 Tower. They were on the Motorola tower in Winton Woods and the signal had some river valley problems.
Arbitorn said:I alweays called those tunes, "Nerdy-white-kids-in-love" songs. More Buddy Holly than Little Richard; more Monkees than Motown. Seems to me, most of the 90's saw them in the 5th or 6th slot most dayparts for 25-54. Remember, some of that time was pre-Star 64 Tower. They were on the Motorola tower in Winton Woods and the signal had some river valley problems.
I could pick them up much better in Campbell County back then than I can now. In Bellevue now it's almost hopeless unless you have your antenna placed exactly right (with the stereo indicator off). Usually I just get the Clear Channel pirates impinging on its signal.
Even when I came back to this area in 1996, the music tended to be largely pre-64. Even then I thought they could have afforded to have inched forward more toward the mid to late 60s. They did have great personalities...at the same time I can see why they couldn't afford to stay "frozen in time" until the last baby boomer hit the nursing home.
What I do remember about their early days is that WGRR did a great job of creating what I like to call "the illusion of depth." While their playlist length was pretty standard for the time, they never tried to "rewrite history". When there was reason to go deeper into the playlist and feature a song not often heard on the station, they did, but it was always well explained. And, the station did a great job of tying into the history of Cincinnati Top 40 radio, with the "local" hit product you occasionally heard.
And, with many of the old WGRR staff now at WDJO, they, too...do a good job with the above. It's the mark, in my humble opinion of what makes a great "oldies" station.
That's no knock, by the way, of today's WGRR. They are "Classic Hits". It's 2 distinct and different formats.
And, with many of the old WGRR staff now at WDJO, they, too...do a good job with the above. It's the mark, in my humble opinion of what makes a great "oldies" station.
That's no knock, by the way, of today's WGRR. They are "Classic Hits". It's 2 distinct and different formats.
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