I'm ready for a change in Country music in Nashville. The only Today's Country and the Legends that we have is WSM AM. Markets are not even selling AM radio's anymore. Will WSM AM have a station on the FM in the future? Really wish that a Jack FM type format would come to Nashville that plays everything country!! Do we see it happening in this lifetime?
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Will Classic Country be on Nashville Radio on the FM?
- Thread starter jason99
- Start date
If it's anything like Classic Rock 105.9 then NO THANKS. They play the SAME SONGS over and over.....and over and over........and over.
A person might think Zeppelin, AC/DC, Boston, Bad Company, and Journey only recorded about 4 songs each and that's all.
A Jack FM type classic country station would be better....a little bit. Sometimes I will switch to Jack FM only to hear a song that 105.9 plays over and over.......and over and over.......and over.
I REALLY miss the days when radio was free. You have to go to the internet or pay for satellite to get that anymore.
The only station that's close to what it used to be like is Lightning 100. But most times I find them too acoustic or "college" for my taste.
A person might think Zeppelin, AC/DC, Boston, Bad Company, and Journey only recorded about 4 songs each and that's all.
A Jack FM type classic country station would be better....a little bit. Sometimes I will switch to Jack FM only to hear a song that 105.9 plays over and over.......and over and over.......and over.
I REALLY miss the days when radio was free. You have to go to the internet or pay for satellite to get that anymore.
The only station that's close to what it used to be like is Lightning 100. But most times I find them too acoustic or "college" for my taste.
B
Big98billy
Guest
Classis country has been tried in a handful of markets but never seems to work. Even if it did, the average listener would be out of the "money demo" (25-54) and that would make it a hard sell.
To add on Billy's point: If there is going to be a classic country format on FM, it's going to be more Reba and Rascal Flatts and less Roger Miller and Roy Acuff. Compare it to how the conventional oldies format went through a restructuring in most markets in order to appeal to younger demographics... especially that $$$ demo. Unfortunately, classic country/oldies/nostalgia music and the AM band go hand in hand.
DToTheJ said:
THe 80's were 22 years ago. Just about right for a "Classic" station.
jason99 said:
I doubt it. They are owned by Gaylord, which is "targeting" hotel / convention type of revenue. They sold WSM FM and used the money for a hotel property (Dallas IIRC). IMHO If they could dump WSM AM and the Opry and still fill rooms at their hotel complex, they would in a "New York minute." I am not bashing Gaylord, Radio is "off target" for them. I will give them credit, a lot of Publicly Held Corporations would have "pulled the plug" a long time ago.
If you could turn back the hands of time, Gaylord should have done a "percentage deal" with the folks that run Dollywood. Did the shopping complex really pay off? Gaylord should not have sold CMT and The Nashville Network or included the Radio stations and the Opry in the CBS / Viacom deal.
The demographics are "stacked" against any format that targets 40+. A lot of agencies (with young buyers) do not even consider older demos unless their client demands it. IMHO if it were not for the above average income levels for Conservative Talk listeners, it would not be doing that well.
secondchoice said:
Ironically, that's what they just announced. Their CEO admitted that the shopping mall didn't attract guests to the hotel. At one time, these outlet malls were destinations, but as they proliferated, the attraction went away.
secondchoice said:
CMT and TNN was a partnership deal. Originally with Group W. When CBS bought Group W, they wanted to own 100%. That decision came at a time when Gaylord was getting out of all media, and needed the cash for hotel expansion. The Opry is a very good sales tool for the hotels. Think Las Vegas. All the big Las Vegas hotels have showrooms. The Opry is the showroom for the Opryland hotel. The biggest problem with the Opry is the distance from the hotel. And that it doesn't provide entertainment 7 days a week, with matinees.
The Opry is a very good sales tool for the hotels...not bashing here..but how many people staying at the hotel want to see the opry ??..is the opry still the holy grail for tourists as it once was...i've lived here 60,plus years..only been once at the ryman in 1972 with a dj friend that worked at wkda at time...granted we had the tootsies backroom, opry back door special that most tourists dont get..as well as front row balcony seats...and the place was packed, (and hot)...just wondering out loud here...
G
grandoleopry
Guest
The answer to your question at least according to what I've seen with
personal experience is yes. I bring tour groups from Pennsylvania to
the Gaylord Opryland each year and the highlight of our group besides
staying in the Hotel is the Grand Ole Opry whether is be at the Ryman during
the Holiday season or at the Opry House. The Opry experience is still
a big part of selling group tours to Nashville.
personal experience is yes. I bring tour groups from Pennsylvania to
the Gaylord Opryland each year and the highlight of our group besides
staying in the Hotel is the Grand Ole Opry whether is be at the Ryman during
the Holiday season or at the Opry House. The Opry experience is still
a big part of selling group tours to Nashville.
That's good...there's not much of anything left around Nashville that bespeaks the "old days"..even if the Opry lineup is far from vintage now.I'm guessing the crowds that you bring are much younger and are looking to see the newer artists..just wondering how long the Opry will continue as a force in Country Music...Is it as popular with the current generation of fans as it was say..40 to 50 years ago ??
deltas69 said:
That's the package. You stay a certain number of nights, and you get tickets to the Opry. Whether you want them or not. I know someone who was there for a convention, and he got Opry tickets. Never went to a country show in his life, but he went that night because it was something to do. Especially while the mall was closed. If you don't rent a car, there's not much to do out there.
deltas69 said:
You should go on a night when Carrie Underwood plays. It's filled with Carrie fans. She hasn't toured in two years, so it was one of the few places her fans could see her. Same with all the hot acts like Taylor, Rascal, or Urban. The mgmt has built it into a place where the new generation WANTS to play. If they're not doing one of their own shows, they're at the Opry.
I believe, and have for a long time, that WSM-AM and the Grand Ole Opry will eventually be owned by the Country Music Foundation, which owns/operates the CMHOF. I don't know when, and I don't know how, but I firmly believe that will be the end result... if the FCC doesn't take back the AM dial and put all of those stations out of business.
I love the Opry and have a huge collection of books, programs etc. related to the show, but I'm not sure of the future.
The average age of most of the performers is probably 70. The newer members just don't play it often enough. They also kind of missed out on making most of the stars of the 70s and 80s members so you don't have as many performers who are in their 50s and early 60s who are passed their hit making stage who should be a natural for regularly playing the Opry.
The last few times I've been, attendance has been mediocre. They often just have one show on Friday and one show on Saturday. When I was a kid, they always had two shows on Saturday and most of the year two on Friday and all were usually sold out.
I'm not saying the show is going away, but it could be in a very different form 10 years from now. Obviously closing Opryland didn't help, so maybe Dolly's water park will spur attendance. But the age of the Opry regulars should also be a big concern.
The average age of most of the performers is probably 70. The newer members just don't play it often enough. They also kind of missed out on making most of the stars of the 70s and 80s members so you don't have as many performers who are in their 50s and early 60s who are passed their hit making stage who should be a natural for regularly playing the Opry.
The last few times I've been, attendance has been mediocre. They often just have one show on Friday and one show on Saturday. When I was a kid, they always had two shows on Saturday and most of the year two on Friday and all were usually sold out.
I'm not saying the show is going away, but it could be in a very different form 10 years from now. Obviously closing Opryland didn't help, so maybe Dolly's water park will spur attendance. But the age of the Opry regulars should also be a big concern.
No one's said it so I will about the age gap between the "regulars" and Carrie Underwood (under 40's) has been party filled by Branson MO. A lot of the entertainers in Branson lease or own the venues or at least get some kind of "per head" income. Most "family" vacations locations have an amusement park. Being in a flood plain, A gigantic water park is IMHO the best use for that land. It's going to get wet sooner or later. IIRC didn't the Grand Old Opry miss one Saturday Night show due to flooding back in the 1980's? I know they missed one for MLK's murder.
secondchoice said:
Unlike the unwaterproof, expensive operations of the hotel and mall, the land they plan to build the water park on isn't in a flood plain. It's on higher ground on the other side of Briley. Ironic.
http://maps.nashville.gov/empublic_viewer/
It is no secret that the Opry has gone through some tough times lately as Gaylord has put more financial pressure on the Opry's management to keep the show profitable. Some of the decisions are questionable at best. Attendance is down, but so is the quality of some of the shows. But, if one of the superstars of country music is there, such as Rascal Flatts or Carrie Underwood, the Opry House is sold out. Keith Urban is playing the Opry on Friday night and there are very few, if any, tickets available.
For Grand Ole Opry history and information, please visit Fayfare's Opry Blog at www.fayfare.blogspot.com. Lot's of solid information there.
For Grand Ole Opry history and information, please visit Fayfare's Opry Blog at www.fayfare.blogspot.com. Lot's of solid information there.
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