Who will pick up the oldies format?

[oldies4ever]

This has been discussed at length (beat to death??), but who will pick up the oldies format abandoned by CBS-FM and run with it??

Had a similar situation here in Poughkeepsie; Oldies 97.7 ( cumulus media)flipped and went to Mess - I mean Mix 97. It took a few months, but Clear Channel picked up the ball and has oldies on 92.9. They took some jocks from 97.7, took the friday nite jukebox show, and if I'm not mistaken, use the same voiceover talent for the jingles that oldies 97.7 used. So the station sounds just like oldies 97.7; and the programming variety is very good- not a lot of repitition.

Point I'm making is- Cumulus dumped the oldies format (or moved up the years), and Clear channel felt that it was of enough value to pick it up and run with it. yeah, granted, 2 different markets, obviously- but make no mistake- if they did it up here they will do it in NYC....

Fire away!!!

oldies4ever

 

[radiolover78]

> This has been discussed at length (beat to death??), but who
> will pick up the oldies format abandoned by CBS-FM and run
> with it??
>
> Had a similar situation here in Poughkeepsie; Oldies 97.7 (
> cumulus media)flipped and went to Mess - I mean Mix 97. It
> took a few months, but Clear Channel picked up the ball and
> has oldies on 92.9. They took some jocks from 97.7, took the
> friday nite jukebox show, and if I'm not mistaken, use the
> same voiceover talent for the jingles that oldies 97.7 used.
> So the station sounds just like oldies 97.7; and the
> programming variety is very good- not a lot of repitition.
>
> Point I'm making is- Cumulus dumped the oldies format (or
> moved up the years), and Clear channel felt that it was of
> enough value to pick it up and run with it. yeah, granted, 2
> different markets, obviously- but make no mistake- if they
> did it up here they will do it in NYC....
>
> Fire away!!!
>
> oldies4ever
>

I was paying attention to the situation with 97.3 and 97.7 in Poughkeepsie when it happend a few years ago. I really didn't listen to Oldies 97, but I don't know why the station flipped. It was one of the only FM oldies outlet in the Hudson Valley, but I will say Mix 97 is an excellent station in my opinion.

On the subject of New York Radio, I don't see anyone picking up the oldies format, at least for a while. Lots of theories were said. We can rule out 1027 and 923 switching. 95.5 WPLJ, Kiss 987, and CD101.9 were the main picks to become oldies. I don't think Kiss was mentioned that much, but it was suggested. WPLJ has nothing to lose, but they just made a lot of changes with the "new music mix". Also, it was suggested that Lite FM add more oldies or have a weekend oldies show.

Personally, I think WPLJ should switch, especially with Scott Shannon's show. They are a great radio station, but they just aren't doing well in ratings. Add revenue is doing real well with PLJ, so that is one thing probably keeping ABC Radio from switching the station. 101.9 should switch, but then there would be no smooth jazz station. I'm not sure though. New York radio is just a big mess right now though.
<P ID="signature">______________
Kevin</P>

 

[OldiesCat]

oldies in NYC

There are no parallels between Poughkipsee (sp?) and New York City.

That being said, Infinity would be nuts not to put it on 102.7, which is a real mutt. They'd be heroes for bringing Oldies back (albiet on a different freq)
and be able to have the double-barrell goodwill of putting on the new JACK station and listening to Big Apple Oldies lovers who want their music back.



> This has been discussed at length (beat to death??), but who
> will pick up the oldies format abandoned by CBS-FM and run
> with it??

 

[RadioFreak965]

>101.9 should switch

Yeah, Oldies on 101.9 would work nicely. Jazz would work better on a non-commercial station. I think there is much more demand for the Oldies format than Jazz (No offense to Jazz fans!) I doubt that it'll happen, though....But, after CBS-FM flipping I'll believe anything.

 

[oldies4ever]

Re: oldies in NYC

> There are no parallels between Poughkipsee (sp?) and New
> York City.
>
> That being said, Infinity would be nuts not to put it on
> 102.7, which is a real mutt. They'd be heroes for bringing
> Oldies back (albiet on a different freq)
> and be able to have the double-barrell goodwill of putting
> on the new JACK station and listening to Big Apple Oldies
> lovers who want their music back.
>
>
>
> > This has been discussed at length (beat to death??), but
> who
> > will pick up the oldies format abandoned by CBS-FM and run
>
> > with it??
>

AS I SAID- 2 Different markets but the idea is the same. Infinity is done with oldies. you missed the point...

oldies4ever

 

[OldiesCat]

oldies in NYC

I do get the point- I just don't agree.

>
> AS I SAID- 2 Different markets but the idea is the same.
> Infinity is done with oldies. you missed the point...
>
> oldies4ever
>

 

[peppertree]

Re: oldies in NYC

Who would play the Oldies? The same people? Not the Cuz.


> That being said, Infinity would be nuts not to put it on
> 102.7, which is a real mutt. They'd be heroes for bringing
> Oldies back (albiet on a different freq)
> and be able to have the double-barrell goodwill of putting
> on the new JACK station and listening to Big Apple Oldies
> lovers who want their music back.
>
>
>
> > This has been discussed at length (beat to death??), but
> who
> > will pick up the oldies format abandoned by CBS-FM and run
>
> > with it??
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>

 

[CHRles]

The definition of Oldies Radio Was Different 20 Years Ago

If back in the 1980s you had Oldies stations focusing on 50s and 60s hits, then shouldn't today's Oldies stations be based mainly on 70s and 80s hits?

50s and 60s music are now moving off the FM dial in many markets, just as 1940s Adult Standards moved off the dial in the 80s.

Think about that one for a second...<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by CHRles on 06/22/05 11:39 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[OldiesCat]

definition of Oldies

You are somewhat correct. It's a bit more complicated than that, though.
The 50s/60s approach worked VERY well for about 15 years but when the core listeners began falling out of the 25-54 sweetheart sales demo, that's when all the trouble started. At that point, the smart stations began evolving out of 50s and into the early 70s; a few years later (this past year or 2) it was evolving out of the early 60s and into the mid 70s.

So, just doing the math, if you want to continue to show well 25-54 (meaning, in reality, being top 3 45-54), you should have a 10 yr era core from about 1966- 1976 or so, with the sweet spot being around 1971-72. And mixing in some of the right 80s music is also fine at this point.



> If back in the 1980s you had Oldies stations focusing on 50s
> and 60s hits, then shouldn't today's Oldies stations be
> based mainly on 70s and 80s hits?
>
> 50s and 60s music are now moving off the FM dial in many
> markets, just as 1940s Adult Standards moved off the dial in
> the 80s.
>
> Think about that one for a second...
>

 

[radiolover78]

Re: definition of Oldies

> You are somewhat correct. It's a bit more complicated than
> that, though.
> The 50s/60s approach worked VERY well for about 15 years but
> when the core listeners began falling out of the 25-54
> sweetheart sales demo, that's when all the trouble started.
> At that point, the smart stations began evolving out of 50s
> and into the early 70s; a few years later (this past year or
> 2) it was evolving out of the early 60s and into the mid
> 70s.
>
> So, just doing the math, if you want to continue to show
> well 25-54 (meaning, in reality, being top 3 45-54), you
> should have a 10 yr era core from about 1966- 1976 or so,
> with the sweet spot being around 1971-72. And mixing in
> some of the right 80s music is also fine at this point.

Correct. Although, so far I haven't heard any oldies stations mixing in 80s (probably because there really aren't any around me)

>
> > If back in the 1980s you had Oldies stations focusing on
> 50s
> > and 60s hits, then shouldn't today's Oldies stations be
> > based mainly on 70s and 80s hits?
> >
> > 50s and 60s music are now moving off the FM dial in many
> > markets, just as 1940s Adult Standards moved off the dial
> in
> > the 80s.
> >
> > Think about that one for a second...
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Kevin</P>

 

[BRNout]

> On the subject of New York Radio, I don't see anyone picking
> up the oldies format, at least for a while. Lots of theories
> were said. We can rule out 1027 and 923 switching. 95.5
> WPLJ, Kiss 987, and CD101.9 were the main picks to become
> oldies. I don't think Kiss was mentioned that much, but it
> was suggested. WPLJ has nothing to lose, but they just made
> a lot of changes with the "new music mix". Also, it was
> suggested that Lite FM add more oldies or have a weekend
> oldies show.
>
Kiss doesn't get mentioned because it does quite well. In NY, it would appear that CD101.9 is the best candidate for oldies.

 

[Chris_Hammond]

Re: The definition of Oldies Radio Was Different 20 Years Ago

It's "Programming 101." An "Oldie" is any reprogrammable hit from the past. The formula for this is to calculate "peak music awareness" which basically covers the high school and college years of the listener. This is the period where listener's musical tastes are formed. I once worked for a GM who refused to undertsnad this. He just assumed that people automatically became Sinatra fans when they hit 30. He grew up in the big band era and just expected people to like what he liked. I was prograaming an Ac at the time and directed to "get mature" with the musc. You know, add Tony bennett, Sinatra and Peggy Lee. Then that same GM cried on my shoulder when he saw nothing but women with blue hair and guys in Haband pants at our remotes!
If you were 18 in 1970, you're now 53 and already out of the "money demo" as they say. So oldies stations, or "gold driven stations" as I like to call them must update every so often as listeners fall out of the money demo. This is what happened to CBS-FM. It was inevitable. At least there are stations like New Jersey's WMTR, Connecticut's WKHL, and Long Island's WLNG or WHLI to pick up some of the slack.

 

[radiophile]

Re: definition of Oldies

When I do the math, I get a range of 1969-1978 with a sweet spot of 73-74.
Shouldn't "oldies" for the current 45-54 set (born 1951-1960) really be a 70s based station with a small smattering of 1967-1969 and a sampling of 1980-1984?

 

[peppertree]

Re: definition of Oldies

Yeh, they have a name for that format, it is ARROW.

> When I do the math, I get a range of 1969-1978 with a sweet
> spot of 73-74.
> Shouldn't "oldies" for the current 45-54 set (born
> 1951-1960) really be a 70s based station with a small
> smattering of 1967-1969 and a sampling of 1980-1984?
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>

 

[OldiesCat]

Re: definition of Oldies

I actually remember a time when CBS-FM did so and a few others have in the past year or so. Mostly the obvious stuff like Kokomo, You Got It, Uptown Girl,
It's Still Rock & Roll To Me (those are just a few) have been on a handful of Oldies stations' playlists for awhile. And, the right ones sound really good.


> Correct. Although, so far I haven't heard any oldies
> stations mixing in 80s (probably because there really aren't
> any around me)
>

> > > If back in the 1980s you had Oldies stations focusing on
> > 50s and 60s hits, then shouldn't today's Oldies stations be
> > > based mainly on 70s and 80s hits?
> > >
> > > 50s and 60s music are now moving off the FM dial in many
> > > markets, just as 1940s Adult Standards moved off the
> dial in the 80s. Think about that one for a second...

 

[OldiesCat]

definition of Oldies

Well, you're right IF you assume Oldies stations have generally moved their eras along continuously. They did not. For most, what you're now talking would be a format change.

> When I do the math, I get a range of 1969-1978 with a sweet
> spot of 73-74. Shouldn't "oldies" for the current 45-54 set (born
> 1951-1960) really be a 70s based station with a small
> smattering of 1967-1969 and a sampling of 1980-1984?
>

 

[edbeckdotcom]

New York City is more likely to get an All-Broadway-Musical format than
see any WCBS-clone on the FM dial.

Why? Let's put it this way, anybody pick up WQEW's Standards format in NYC?

Anyone pick up Easy 93's format, anyone pick up WVN-Joy? Nope!

One day we'll wake up and there won't be a Z-100, there won't be a Lite-FM. In fact, all the stations we grew up with will eventually be a blip on the screen except for the FAN. Even when the Yanks leave for Montreal, Yeah! The Montraal freakin-Yankees....it'll be all-Mets all the time in the year 2200 with Imus and The Mets.

-ed


>

 

[Markd]

> Had a similar situation here in Poughkeepsie; Oldies 97.7 (
> cumulus media)flipped and went to Mess - I mean Mix 97.

Actually Oldies 97 did not flip to Mix 97 but they evolved very gradually. ACtually the evolution began as far back as 2000. back then they played 60 % 1964-69, 35 % 1955-64, and 5 % 1970-73. They evolved later that year to about 50 % 64-69, 25 % 55-64, and 25% 1970-79.

In the fall of 2001 they added a few 80's songs playing one every few hours. They also cut the pre 64 oldies to about 15%, 50 % 1964-69, 35% 1970-1983. Cumulus took over in the early Spring of 2002. At that point they were called "Oldies 97 The Hudson Valley's Best Music Mix. They went down to one 50's an hour, one 60-64 an hour, 8 64-69 songs an hour, 4 70's an hour and an 80's an hour. By May they were down to a 50's every other hour and an early 60's every other hour, 7 64-69 songs an hour, 6 70's an hour and 2 80's an hour. They also added alot more 80's songs and took out many 50's songs.

In July 2002 they cut the pre 64 songs altogether. They went 40 % 64-69, 40% 70-79, and 20 % 80-89. Still they were "Oldies 97 The Hudson Valley's Best Music Mix". Then that Fall they began playing a 90's an hour. They also dropped the Oldies 97 name. That was when they officially became "Mix 97". They were a 70's/80's oldies format with some 60's. By October they were playing 4 60's songs an hour, 6 70's, 4 80's, and a 90's.

In 2003 they cut down to only 2 60's an hour, 6 70's, 6, 80's, and 2 90's. The Fall of 2003 they added songs from this Century playing a couple of those an hour. By then they were down to one 60's, 4 70's, 4 80's, 3 90's, and a recent per hour. In December 2003 a few currents were added. By mid 2004 they were AC completely. The staff evolved slowly as well. Now it seems they play a 60's, 3 70's, 3 80's, 3 90's, 2 recurrents, and 2 currents an hour on the average.

Also Cumulus bought the lease on 94.3 in December of 2002. They kept the WBPM calls and the oldies format and modified moving some of the Oldies 97 staff there and the former Oldies 97 50's-early 70's oldies format there. The station was called Cool 94.3. At that point Nick Robbins was Mornings. They were about 30 % 55-64, 60 % 64-69, and 10% 1970-73. Ratings did pick up. But in October of 2003 They dropped the format and calls and became WPKX "Kicks 94.3" Playing Country which is still not doing well.

> Point I'm making is- Cumulus dumped the oldies format (or
> moved up the years), and Clear channel felt that it was of
> enough value to pick it up and run with it. yeah, granted, 2
> different markets, obviously- but make no mistake- if they
> did it up here they will do it in NYC....

Clear Channel is mostly automating the format. Also Cumulus dropped oldies gradually from 97.7/97.3 and then abruptly dropped it from 94.3. They put Country there though the top rated station is WRWD 107.3 owned by Clear Channel. The Country format on Kicks fails miserably. Cumulus was hoping to take ratings away from WRWD and at least bring Kicks to 1 3 share but its not happening. I predict the Country format may well be off teh air in a few months if ratings dont pick up this next book.