Radio is very often a copycat medium, and it hasn't escaped some Nashville insiders that several markets across the nation have seen the resurrection of a once-popular format in the past few months. I'm told of at least two local GMs who have wondered out loud with their staff just what format from Nashville's past might be worth resurrecting. No one's gone past wondering to planning -- yet. But who could resurrect what? Many think first of resurrecting KDF as Rock, but that wouldn't work away from the frequency or call letters, and I doesn't seem present management is interested there. So what's next? Can you resurrect "Y" without "107" or "Kicks" without "104"? What about the all-too short-lived "Kiss"? Or do we go back to the days of "The Good Guys"?
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Will Nashville Follow the Trend to Resurrect A Once Popular Format?
- Thread starter jetfli
- Start date
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scottwmro
Guest
jetfli said:
Like I always have said, what do I know about programming? It's been 20 years or so since Kicks 104 has been around, and 107 is really what it's always been since 1984 or so. ABC will not change KDF anytime soon, so forget about that.
It's sort of a redicious idea to want to resurrect old formats and station slogans because times change, people change or die off. It's like 20 years from now, would we want to bring back the stuff Bill Barry plays on 1200 WMAB on Sunday afternoons on a FM or XM channel? I don't think so. My thoughts are let the old nicknames of stations and formats R.I.P. and let's move on to more creative ideas in programming without looking back at the past, but what do I know?
Some folks in my opinion live in this old turtle shell and won't give new talent a chance. That why I like 100.1!
I like the idea of bringing back a station from the past, like "KDF" or "Rock 106", but the thing about it is you can't find any good ROCK music anymore. All this "so called" rock stuff they have out today is a bunch of crap in my opinion. It all sounds the same. That's why these stations like "Lighting 100" and "102.9 The Buzz" never crack the Top 10 in the ratings books, or no where near it.
105.9 The Rock is a classic rock station but they more than double what "The Buzz" or "Lightning 100" does in the ratings books.
Now an old top 40 or country station from the past would be a different story.
105.9 The Rock is a classic rock station but they more than double what "The Buzz" or "Lightning 100" does in the ratings books.
Now an old top 40 or country station from the past would be a different story.
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scottwmro
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junebaby62 said:
What consultants are looking for are "Fresh" ideas. Example: Do you want to turn the hands of time back and be driving a 1971 Ford LTD with no Power Breaks, No A/C, etc. Heck No!!! The same is view in music formats and even TV Programming as well with the major networks.
What I feel Lighting 100 is doing is great. They play old cuts from the past, and mix it in with songs from new artists. If all the radio stations in the country play nothing but old songs, new artist won't have a chance and the music industry might as well shut down. Actuallly it is in such as mess that the greedy RIAA is causing major trouble. Well, I'm getting of the subject here, so bring back old formats can hurt you more than help you, business wise. Listeners are a whole different story.
When you said "resurrect" an old format, I thought you meant like oldies or something, since Nashville has been without an oldies station for about a year now.
I am against returning stations to their former formats or former names just for the sake of nostalgia. First of all, that ship has sailed, and second, I have only lived in the Nashville area since 1992, although I listened to stations here when passing through prior to that.
You can't really go back to the way things once were, without also bringing those DJs back, and many of them are retired, deceased, or just not interested in reliving the past.
It would be interesting, however, if some stations could occasionally play old tapes of past broadcasts, if they still have anything archived from years gone by. We would all marvel at how announcing styles have changed since way back when. Listen to old footage of announcers from the war years. That type of larger-than-life, talking slightly over the heads of the listeners style would not fly now, just as going back to black and white footage for no good reason also wouldn't work.
Additionally, if stations still have their old jingles, those would be cool to hear again, too.
I am against returning stations to their former formats or former names just for the sake of nostalgia. First of all, that ship has sailed, and second, I have only lived in the Nashville area since 1992, although I listened to stations here when passing through prior to that.
You can't really go back to the way things once were, without also bringing those DJs back, and many of them are retired, deceased, or just not interested in reliving the past.
It would be interesting, however, if some stations could occasionally play old tapes of past broadcasts, if they still have anything archived from years gone by. We would all marvel at how announcing styles have changed since way back when. Listen to old footage of announcers from the war years. That type of larger-than-life, talking slightly over the heads of the listeners style would not fly now, just as going back to black and white footage for no good reason also wouldn't work.
Additionally, if stations still have their old jingles, those would be cool to hear again, too.
Actually, a 71 LTD was a fine car with power brakes and A/C. Plus, if you watched "The Streets of San Francisco" you knew those beast could take a jump better than the "General Lee".
But seriously, you can resurrect any concept and modernize it. Remember when they said Top 40 radio was dead? A few years later it was called CHR. At one time it was said the situation comedy was a thing of the past but "The Cosby Show" proved that wrong. The same thing applies to anything, the concepts are cyclical and it's just a matter of bringing it back at the right time and promoting like it's the next best thing.
I do agree that the name doesn't make it the next best thing. You can slap a set of call letters or a name to a station and it stops there. It's all about heart and soul.
jetfli said:
When we think about the stations we loved in the past, we often forget that we loved them "in context." We loved them because we worked there and had fond memories, we listened to it when we met our soulmate or some other memorable event. It generally was the entertinment of choicce for the best time of our lives. Nostalgia stations, of whatever stripe, generally fail because while the music may be right, the context isn't. Our situations have changed, our lives have changed, we have moved on. We have countless other enterianment choices now delivered at high speed to our TV's, computers, even our cell phones.
It's fun to occasionally revel in our nostalgia. We play the vinyl recirds, listen to the CD's seek out old airchecks. But (overused cliche alert) at the end of the day, the bottom line, when push comes to shove, etc., This is now and not then. THe past is behind us. Let's figure out how to make today better. Then let's begin work on tomortrow.
Nicely said Journeyman
Wow... not what I intended. Wasn't wanting to start a radio business philosophy discussion or generate a defense of current formats. There's industry buzz because WCBS successfully went back to its Oldies format, Pittsburgh saw the return of B94, Louisville got WAKY again, etc., etc., and I was reporting that said buzz has gotten the attention of at least two local GMs.
So let me try to redirect this thread by asking "Is there really a format from the past that can be revived here?" WSM-AM's still around. WLAC wouldn't change, but could a Night Train work somewhere? Then there's certainly no need to bring back Gerry House, 'cause he's still around. What about bringing back 92Q? Oh yeah, that's still being used. Joy 106? Who, what, when, where, and how could we see this phenomenon recreated in Nashville, if we would see it at all?
So let me try to redirect this thread by asking "Is there really a format from the past that can be revived here?" WSM-AM's still around. WLAC wouldn't change, but could a Night Train work somewhere? Then there's certainly no need to bring back Gerry House, 'cause he's still around. What about bringing back 92Q? Oh yeah, that's still being used. Joy 106? Who, what, when, where, and how could we see this phenomenon recreated in Nashville, if we would see it at all?
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scottwmro
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Journeyman said:
Finally, there is someone on this board that has some sence. I've always said that Nashville was at least 15-20 years behind the times, being we are in the heart of the "Bible Belt". I felt this board was drawing older people over 60, coming here just trying to find a place to B****, and some of them (I won't mention names) are still working in the industry, come on here and complain, or talk about the past. Retire and move on. I came from the error where MTV played only music videos (instead of reality shows like what they do now), and yes I miss that era very much, but I do not come here and discuss it all the time! I discuss the future and give the new and upcoming artist a chance.
You that are 65 and over need to remember this, Elvis Presley was a nobody UNTIL somebody gave him a chance, and back then, YOU were teenagers. Back then, the demo of 55 plus complained about Elvis and stations going rock-n-roll like WMAK, WKDA, WHBQ, WLS, etc. Now YOU'RE sitting in that boat just like your elders of the past who hated the change in music during the 50's & early 60's.
There is a sort of new & upcoming artist that has a hit on the charts. She goes by Fergie. She sings good (NO RAP), and her latest CD is good music for all. Now you 65 plus folks on here should listen to her latest hit, "Big Girls Don't Cry", and no she didn't redo the old Four Seasons verison. Mix 92.9, along with some of the other decent FM's in the market are playing her music, so give some of the GOOD (NO RAP/HIP HOP) ARTIST a chance!
Wasn't Oldies 96.3 trying to tap into some type of nostalgia when they changed their call letters to WMAK? Other than calling themselves "Oldies 96.3, WMAK," nothing really changed there (until they went "Jack"). They didn't suddenly become a top 40 station, they just played the same tunes that WMAK (AM) had played in their top 40 heyday. They didn't even add "WMAK" to their ubiquitous license plates. They paid big $$$$ to get the WMAK call letters, then gave them up to become "Jack." ???
Even if these stations could return to their former formats, they might not be able to buy back their old call letters. And then there is the possibility that these stations might have fans under their current format, and not want them to change!
WLS in Chicago did some type of one day trip down memory lane on Memorial Day. Did anyone listen to it? What was it like? What did they do? Did any of their old announcers return? Did they play music?
A one-day flip back to the past might work, but otherwise, forget about it!
Even if these stations could return to their former formats, they might not be able to buy back their old call letters. And then there is the possibility that these stations might have fans under their current format, and not want them to change!
WLS in Chicago did some type of one day trip down memory lane on Memorial Day. Did anyone listen to it? What was it like? What did they do? Did any of their old announcers return? Did they play music?
A one-day flip back to the past might work, but otherwise, forget about it!
scottwmro said:
This reminds me of the morning Nancy Jones called Gerry House and gave him crap for not playing George Jones anymore. I still listen to George Jones - right over on 650 when I'm in the mood to. Everybody is pretty sentimental about the good 'ol days when they are getting hit right in the wallet. It is funny that you never hear anyone call Woody and Jim and start yelling at them for not playing Cyndi Lauper and Tears for Fears.
Like firepoint525 said - let's take a station (say 96.3) and give them a heritage call sign (maybe WMAK) and start playing the oldies and see how successful that is. Oh, wait......
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scottwmro
Guest
The 80's music will never be played on the 107.5 again. It's too old for the target demo. Thier idea of retro or what some of you that are 65 plus call it "Oldies" is the 90's. They were doing that on Sunday Nights. By now Cyndi Lauper probably needs a face lift, Tears for Fears is split up, and poor Bret Michaels of Poison is trying to make it on VH-1 with 30 something wore out strippers chasing him. Posion is NOW an Oldies Band as far a many of us are concern.
Today, if Oldies 96.3 was to return, forget playing the 60's. Late 70's, 80's and some early 90's CHR is the BUYING AUDIENCE that the ad folks are looking for.
Today, if Oldies 96.3 was to return, forget playing the 60's. Late 70's, 80's and some early 90's CHR is the BUYING AUDIENCE that the ad folks are looking for.
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bub
Guest
So am I. In fact, when MTV first signed on, it was believed that MTV and VH-1 was going to signal the death knell for radio as an industry. Remember the first video that aired on MTV when it first signed on? The Buggles: "Video Killed The Radio Star." After watching it for some time, I didn't think radio had anything to worry about, since MTV, imoh, was garbage back then, but I digress.scottwmro said:
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scottwmro
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bub said:
OH YES! I do remember! I loved MTV when it signed on! MTV signed on of course before VH-1. MTV was play more CHR and VH-1 was created for the older crowd, but I love it too! I was one of those "New Wave" Guys that had the "Spiked Hair Cuts" and loved Adam Ant, Squeeze, The Police, B-52's, etc. Oh by the way, I still like Poison, and Bret Michaels and he still rocks (we are the same age).
Unlike some folks on this board, I have realized the 80's are now oldies, (Buddy Sadler would disagree with me) but the 80's music is getting past 25 years old. What I'm trying to say is this, word "OLDIES" means more than the 60's. The 80's music is now OLDIES as well. Buddy, don't you remember when Poison/Bret Michaels did ""Every Rose Has Its Thorn"? Sorry OLDBUD, but this 43 year old says that's OLDIES, not just everything from 1960-69.
I hate the reality shows on MTV, but my wife, believe it or not just turned 40, and loves those silly shows! I've adjusted and enjoy the newer pop stuff that is out there now. There ARE good artist out there that have hits on the CHR & Hot AC Charts that IS NOT HIP HOP OR RAP! I learned to weed out the good from the bad. Nicklelback is a current new group that has had good songs on the charts this year.
"WLS in Chicago did some type of one day trip down memory lane on Memorial Day. Did anyone listen to it? What was it like? What did they do? Did any of their old announcers return? Did they play music? "
It was Great! You can hear parts of it here:
http://www.airchexx.com/markets/chicago/big-89-rewind-part-6-wls-chicago-memorial-day-2007
It was Great! You can hear parts of it here:
http://www.airchexx.com/markets/chicago/big-89-rewind-part-6-wls-chicago-memorial-day-2007
Could someone transfer that to a file that I can actually download? I was not able to install the missing plugins to listen to this one myself! Grrrrr!!!!Nashsound said:
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scottwmro
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Nashsound said:
WABC in NYC does the same thing. They revisit thier old Top 40 days on Memorial Day each year, thanks to NYC radio buff Alan Sniffen (I think that's how his last name is spelled). Cousin Brucie, and the the old from WCBS, WNBC, WINS, WMCA, etc, gather at the current WABC studio and for the day, 770 WABC goes from news/talk back to old Top 40.
The first day they did it back in the late 90's, the ops, manager said it was wierd waking up hearing disco music back on the air on WABC.
My thoughts, it's o.k. to revist the past, but lets not try to go backwards and relive it on a daily basis. Progress gets nowhere and if we continued to live in the past, the internet may have never came around for public use.
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SwissVol
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Forgive me if inject a few comments about FM 100.1. For a station no one listens to, their fans, what few of them there are, get riled up if too much criticism is directed at that station. I know, I work with a guy who loves this station. When I tel him that they get a new album in the studio and feature one cut for a few weeks, then break out another fresh track from that CD, how is that different than Top 40 radio, other than being more selective to what the National forums call Adult Alternative.
I have never understood how they could call their station progressive. As one who came up in progressive radio, that station does not sound progressive to me.
He gets riled up when I bring up that argument. XM's XM Cafe does a much better job at delivering what I think the format should be. Either that or "The Loft, or a cross between those two channels.
I have never understood how they could call their station progressive. As one who came up in progressive radio, that station does not sound progressive to me.
He gets riled up when I bring up that argument. XM's XM Cafe does a much better job at delivering what I think the format should be. Either that or "The Loft, or a cross between those two channels.
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SwissVol
Guest
Like it or not, but the days of these , as someone called them, "Heritage formats" is long gone from regular FM radio. Satellite radio is the place where you can find these formats, however, there is one problem though. Except a few hours a day, the DJs are voice tracked. That spontaneous live DJ thing is gone. The good news is that the deep musical selections more than make up for those lost elements.
I e-mailed one of the KMET FM and KPPC FM progressive radio jock (Cosmos Topper) sometime back. He told me that until a station can play what they want, when they want to play that song, radio will never be the same again. I just do not see programmers being that adventurous ever again. When guys I worked with tell me that The Grateful Dead is not rock and Def Leppard or Boston is the real stuff, well you can determine the state of radio the last several years. Satellite is the new wild wild west. I hope satellite takes off and soars.
I e-mailed one of the KMET FM and KPPC FM progressive radio jock (Cosmos Topper) sometime back. He told me that until a station can play what they want, when they want to play that song, radio will never be the same again. I just do not see programmers being that adventurous ever again. When guys I worked with tell me that The Grateful Dead is not rock and Def Leppard or Boston is the real stuff, well you can determine the state of radio the last several years. Satellite is the new wild wild west. I hope satellite takes off and soars.
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