history and heritage dont pay the bills
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WSM-AM Iconic
- Thread starter BruceB
- Start date
history and heritage dont pay the bills
The format it has now isn’t paying them either
This gets back to the WSM situation. The format doesn't pay the bills there either. But when you combine the platforms of an AM station, a music venue, a video streaming service, and a bigger operation with a hotel and convention center, then you have something. The original purpose of WSM when it began in 1925 was to help sell life insurance. Radio alone isn't enough to cover the costs. It's not self-sustaining. It never was.
If you go to an Opry show, you watch entertainers, but you're also watching a live radio show. On the left side of the stage is a podium, where the WSM announcer speaks to both the audience in the theater, and the radio audience. He will also do live commercial reads that are heard both in the theater and on air. Imagine going to a concert, and every three songs, an announcer comes on stage to read a few commercials. That's what you get at the Opry. That combined revenue is what makes it work.
Back in the 1970's when they were Chicken Rock daytime, I believe they did OK. They could do a spoken word format days and still do the Opry at night. Supposedly their app is doing well. I thought apps are going to replace towers.
This isn't the 1970's anymore.
WSM did very well with the split format in the 1970s, often with ratings in the double digits.
Spring 73–11.0
Spring 74–11.2
Spring 75–11.8
Spring 76–8.2
Spring 77–8.1
Spring 78–9.3
Spring 79–7.9 (last split format book)
Spring 73–11.0
Spring 74–11.2
Spring 75–11.8
Spring 76–8.2
Spring 77–8.1
Spring 78–9.3
Spring 79–7.9 (last split format book)
But are not apps the future. iHeart continues to push it's app on air.
In fact if I was running that show, I would have a "channel" on the app for pre 1970, 1970's and 1980's, 1990's early 2000's and current channel all with the WSM or Opry brand. Monetize their history.
Those live performances aren't free. They own the archives but the cost of putting it on the internet exceeds the money they'd make.
I probably would stick with the regular 45 versions. The costs wouldn't be that high. There are hundreds if not more folks running "streaming stations" with few commercials. 650 has the advantage of a current sales staff to "pry a few more bucks" out of current advertisers. Think Pandora only with "national" advertisers. Ready the simplest solution would be to bring in someone like Town Square to run their Internet sales if not the whole thing. Of course the Opry's preservation would have to be part of the deal.
Have you listened to WSM? Have you been to their site? That's what they're doing.
I was trying to answer your those "live performances aren't free". I get them in North Georgia regularly. Except for the actual Opry I have never heard a non record company song played on 650 except some commercial jingles.
Just the expense of cataloging 60+ years of tape* would prohibite but there could be some gems in there.
*Assuming they didn't tape over the early stuff like ABC did.
They've done it. At one time, they mixed in classic Opry performances with the records. You talk about monetizing it, and they monetize the archives for use on TV. They have a deal with NBC and use the archive there. Wait til the 100th birthday of the Opry. You'll see all the archives monetized across all platforms then. There are lots of ways to monetize content besides radio.
When did start recording the on Opry for TV? When I went with the family to the Sat. Night shows at the Ryman during the mid to late 1960's I didn't any TV equipment. I know the new place had the TV capabilities. BTW The old Ryman was not Air Conditioned back then. My sister got my Mom's Opry fan went we cleaned out my parents house after her death. Dad was a huge fan and we soon learned the best time to go to the Opry was the 2 Saturdays before Christmas. A lot of "big" touring acts would be in town for Christmas and did the Opry then.
Remember TNN? The Nashville Network ran the Opry on TV starting in 1980. The Opry currently has a streaming network:
Experience the Opry | Opry
Can you watch the Opry live on your TV from home? Yes, you can! Watch Opry Live any time on Circle TV and tune in to see when you can catch the live show.
But they've been recording Opry shows for years, first on film, then on TV. There was an ABC TV series in the 50s. There were other network deals over the years. The OP mentioned Ken Burns, and he had access to various archive footage from the show. Not every show is recorded, but a lot of them are.
I was very excited to see the antenna just outside of Nashville when I visited there last winter. It was cool to get to see the tower putting out the Opry broadcasts I've been listening to in PA for the past couple of years. Amazing to think that Johnny Cash and many other country greats went out live through that same antenna.
I do believe I've seen estimates (perhaps on this site, I don't recall exactly where) that the station bills (bills - not makes after expenses payed) no more than a few hundred thousand a year. That does seem awful low for a 50kw AM, but I agree with the sentiment of this thread - the station isn't meant to be a big money-maker. It's a heritage thing. Hopefully it does continue to be preserved for future generations. WSM is a very special piece of history for sure.
While I would love to hear heritage performances over the AM in the overnight hours, I would think that the licensing would be a huge hurdle there. Even if they own the tapes, I'm not sure if that gives them the clear to broadcast them.
Assuming they have a tape archive, you can bet your buttons they've already digitized it or are in the process of doing that if they're smart, as audio tape doesn't last forever. I have quite an archive myself and while if stored decently it can last a while, digitization along with preserving the originals is definitely the way to go.
I do believe I've seen estimates (perhaps on this site, I don't recall exactly where) that the station bills (bills - not makes after expenses payed) no more than a few hundred thousand a year. That does seem awful low for a 50kw AM, but I agree with the sentiment of this thread - the station isn't meant to be a big money-maker. It's a heritage thing. Hopefully it does continue to be preserved for future generations. WSM is a very special piece of history for sure.
While I would love to hear heritage performances over the AM in the overnight hours, I would think that the licensing would be a huge hurdle there. Even if they own the tapes, I'm not sure if that gives them the clear to broadcast them.
Assuming they have a tape archive, you can bet your buttons they've already digitized it or are in the process of doing that if they're smart, as audio tape doesn't last forever. I have quite an archive myself and while if stored decently it can last a while, digitization along with preserving the originals is definitely the way to go.
When an artist becomes a member of the Opry, they sign a blanket rights agreement to the Opry and WSM. The agreement covers various payments for broadcast, including the payments to the musicians union. It's not free use.
I remember in 1971 while in highschool trying to sneak in backstage at the Ryman thru back entrance on a dare. We each had old guitar case, sunglasses, had not shaved in a week and had ill fitting sequin jackets from the thrift store. Actually got past the door guy (off duty police or security guy who was distracted talking to a lady) by following a band in. Was about one step past the door threshold and there was a line where the nice guy ahead who apparently been there before asked if this was our first time. I said yes and he said to get your card out because there was a guy who checks your union card. I said we left them in the motel room and got out the door took 5 steps and took off running.
There was a girl I tried to date from Isaac Litton high who said she had a backstage pass from her uncle and got thru that door and got to set in the bleachers in the back of the stage.
There was a girl I tried to date from Isaac Litton high who said she had a backstage pass from her uncle and got thru that door and got to set in the bleachers in the back of the stage.
Just saw this today:
www.countryinsider.com
WSM-AM To Begin Airing ‘The Backstage Pass’ Podcast.
Brandon Morrell will bring his entertainment podcast “The Backstage Pass (Powered by The Sports Guys Podcast)” to the airwaves via a new partnership with Ryman Hospitality WSM-AM Nashville (650). WSM-AM
Hopefully they’re not paying for that time slot. I produced a radio show that aired during that time. The time slot was donated 🤣Just saw this today:
WSM-AM To Begin Airing ‘The Backstage Pass’ Podcast.
Brandon Morrell will bring his entertainment podcast “The Backstage Pass (Powered by The Sports Guys Podcast)” to the airwaves via a new partnership with Ryman Hospitality WSM-AM Nashville (650). WSM-AM
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