> > >
> > > The total cume for radio has not varied more than a few
> > > thenths of a percent from the 70's. It is currently at
> > > between 94% and 96% of all persons, depending on the
> > market.
> >
> >
> *>
> ************************************************************
>
> >
> >
> >
> > I think that you are dancing with us, David. Remember, we
>
> > are (former) listeners, NOT advertisers. The original
> > thread pertained to former Oldies listeners coming back to
>
> > Oldies radio sometime in the future. My post referred
> > specifically to the drop in commercial MUSIC radio
> listeners
> > in the last 10 years.
>
> Correct. The reach of radio, whether by format or in general
> has not changed in the last 10 years. There are differences
> based on formats... if you go back further in time, a
> leading music format was "eautiful music"... but the number
> of total listeners (as a percentage of th epopulation) has
> not varied from year to year, from decade to decade, or from
> the late 60's to today.
>
> There are always some people who don't listen, and some who
> listen lightly. But, remember, nearly no one listend just to
> CBS-FM. Or, for that matter, to any oldies staiton anywhere.
> the average Arbitron diary has three different staitons in
> it... so when an oldies staiton is lost and not replaced,
> the normal, non-whiney listener just uses the other choices
> more.
>
> When NY lost country, usage of radio did not decline. The
> people who liked country just settled on thier other
> choices. Today, radio usage will NOT decline. It will just
> redistribute itself. There are only a small handful of folks
> as passionate about oldies as you are, and, statistically,
> you don't count. Thanks for playing.
>
***Stands and applauds***
Amen. Oldies aficianados better go burn their 45s to CD...cause Classic Rock is the new oldies. I read the posts here from the 'outraged' minority.
Doo-wop? Been dead since the Beatles hit. The people that lament the death of CBS-FM and WJMK are the same people that were crying about the Oldies shift to 60's and 70's. Well, guess what, kids. The "Real Oldies" Oldies geeks often refer to as the heart of the 'true' Oldies format aren't relevant, or in many cases, even recognizable to anyone under, say....50. Think McDonalds gives a damn about selling senior citizens coffee and playing bingo? Nice extra income, but Happy Meals are their guarantee for future earnings. Same with radio. Gotta go where the money and the interest lies. How many people burn CD's and listen to I-pods with elevator music (sorry, Beautiful Music) on them? Didn't think so.
Is there an audience for the Oldies Format still? Yes. Is there money to be made in the format? Again, yes. Is Lawrence Welk still viable and profitable to his company, and to the PBS stations airing the show? Yes. Is there enough interest to sustain the show in the competitive marketplace? Not a chance. Just Like Welk's EZ listening music, Oldies is fading away. You can fight it, but it'll still happen. And the fact that you still buy things doesn't matter to radio advertisers. Why not? Cause you'll buy what you want, without regard to advertising...just like you listen to what you like (songs from 30, 40, and 50 years ago) without regard to current trends.
The 'average' listener (not the 50 people that grumble on these boards) will, as David so aptly pointed out, eventually find another station to listen to. No one outside the business particularly cares. Formats come and go. Radio will go on. David is right.
(Former) Oldies listeners will continue to listen...just not to Oldies. They won't come back to Oldies....cause Oldies isn't going to be an option.
