I always wondered why the programming of WSM-AM never moved to 95.5. Over the last fifteen years 95.5 has been every form of country (Nashville 95, Live 95 and all the rest) that it would seem logical to move the Full Service Country/Grand Ole Opry/NASCAR to FM and eventually spin off the AM. Nothing against the tradition of AM 650, that Blaw-Knox tower still radiates a nice signal at night but these days the internet covers the world better and locally the lion share of radio listeners are on FM. This way the tradition continues but with a better delivery system.
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WSM
- Thread starter radiorob2.0
- Start date
radiorob2.0 said:
Not been around here long? A few years ago, when Gaylord still owned both stations, there was a plan to do just that. The AM programming was to move to 95.5, and 650 was to go all sports with Plaster and the gang. But the public outcry was great and emphatic, and Gaylord backed down. After that, ol' Plas got to thinking that all-sports station idea sounded pretty darn good...
Doubt the change would happen now because the AM is owned by Gaylord and the FM is owned by Cumulus, and Gaylord leases the WSM-FM name to Cumulus.
I remember when that happened but thought they were going to abandon the AM programming all together; hence the outcry.
radiorob2.0 said:
Actually, it was going to be more of a hybrid between the AM and FM, and the plan was to syndicate the Opry since 650 wouldn't carry it over half the US any longer. While some of the AM programming would have inevitably disappeared in the melding, the outcry was more over the loss of "country music's radio heritage."
T
Tenn Radio Boy
Guest
Who under the age of 65 listens to WSM or AM for that matter.
Probably, it's just a promotion tool to get geriatrics to come to the opry; sort of like the circus barker in front of the ten.
Probably, it's just a promotion tool to get geriatrics to come to the opry; sort of like the circus barker in front of the ten.
Tenn Radio Boy said:
stay out of my yard you damn kids...
and no...you can't have your ball back, either
G
grandoleopry
Guest
WSM'S PROGRAMMING FILLS A GREAT NICHE IN THE NASHVILLE MARKET.
THE TALENT ON THE STATION IS STELLAR; EDDIE STUBBS EXTENSIVE
KNOWLEDGE OF MUSIC HISTORY MAKES LISTENING TO WSM A UNIQUE
AND VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THAT
STATION DOES A FINE JOB AS WELL.
WHILE A LARGE SHARE OF THEIR LISTENERS ARE OLDER THERE ARE
MANY OF US MYSELF INCLUDED UNDER 40 ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THAT FIND WSM A PLEASANT LISTENING EXPERIENCE . WSM REALLY IS
A GREAT MARKETING TOOL FOR GAYLORD...AFTER ALL WHEN IT COMES TOURISM
AND THOSE WHO HAVE TIME TO TRAVEL AND MONEY TO SPEND WHO BETTER
THAN THE 60+ CROWD. THEY STAY IN THE HOTEL ; GO TO THE OPRY
AND CRUISE ON THE RIVERBOAT. I RUN TOURS EVERY YEAR FROM PENNSYLVANIA
AND MARYLAND AND OUR GROUPS ALWAYS ENJOY LISTENING TO WSM
AND VISITING THE ATTRACTIONS....JUST MY TWO CENTS FROM A RADIO
GUY IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT PROGRAMS A CLASSIC COUNTRY FORMAT
ON AM WITH A STATION THAT MAKES MORE MONEY THAN IT DID 20 YEARS AGO.
THE TALENT ON THE STATION IS STELLAR; EDDIE STUBBS EXTENSIVE
KNOWLEDGE OF MUSIC HISTORY MAKES LISTENING TO WSM A UNIQUE
AND VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THAT
STATION DOES A FINE JOB AS WELL.
WHILE A LARGE SHARE OF THEIR LISTENERS ARE OLDER THERE ARE
MANY OF US MYSELF INCLUDED UNDER 40 ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THAT FIND WSM A PLEASANT LISTENING EXPERIENCE . WSM REALLY IS
A GREAT MARKETING TOOL FOR GAYLORD...AFTER ALL WHEN IT COMES TOURISM
AND THOSE WHO HAVE TIME TO TRAVEL AND MONEY TO SPEND WHO BETTER
THAN THE 60+ CROWD. THEY STAY IN THE HOTEL ; GO TO THE OPRY
AND CRUISE ON THE RIVERBOAT. I RUN TOURS EVERY YEAR FROM PENNSYLVANIA
AND MARYLAND AND OUR GROUPS ALWAYS ENJOY LISTENING TO WSM
AND VISITING THE ATTRACTIONS....JUST MY TWO CENTS FROM A RADIO
GUY IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT PROGRAMS A CLASSIC COUNTRY FORMAT
ON AM WITH A STATION THAT MAKES MORE MONEY THAN IT DID 20 YEARS AGO.
S
scottwmro
Guest
Tenn Radio Boy said:
You're incorrect on that one. WSM-AM has an audience of 30 plus, and is one of the few left that has keep a great tradition going. I have a pre-set button in my car set to WSM-AM and I'm 43 years old. When all hell breaks loose with weather, news, etc. I always find myself going to 650 AM. As far as the Opry is concern, moving it to XM is great, gives you a chance to hear it like you are sitting right there in the audience, but it must sell ads, and even today, I find that WSM-AM and the Opry must work hand-n-hand to sell ads on the Opry. Having the Opry on XM alone will kill the Opry, it must have WSM-AM to sell it.
As AM dies off, I can see the day, after I'm dead and gone, that WSM-AM moves totally to satellite and WSM-AM will become a World Wide Insitution. It was just a few years ago, Gaylord wanted to take WSM-AM all sports. There was public protest, and this all took place after 911. WSM sounds good right now the way it is, they play country titles I know, the Opry is on it, it's a leader for news, weather, and sports, so I say LEAVE IT ALONE!
I am 27 and I listen to WSM-AM on a daily basis. It stays on my radio in the office. It is the leader of news, weather, and great country music. The ole dogs and new stars are on that station. I never have to hear the same song again in one day, and they mix the music up. Plus there radio personalities don't say the same stuff over and over. It's a great station to listen too and keeps me going throughout the day. Plus if bad weather or news breaks out, there always the ones to turn to. Also I like that they give the traffic reports all day. It's a live body in the chair and you know there live.
Keep WSM-AM the way it is.
Keep WSM-AM the way it is.
I am told the WSM jsa deal with cumulus is about over and a sales staff has been hired, the cord will be cut in march. That will be the end of those stupid cumulus jobs dot com ads thank God. It seems cumulus has gone out of their way to make sure that deal won't be renewed.
E
Evangelist
Guest
icecube said:
He's still around. Cumulus for some reason dropped Metro Networks to do their own in-house stuff. Richard Thomas is still on WSM-AM and also does some work for Metro.
scottwmro said:
If you recall, WSM was on Sirius Satellite Radio up until September of 06.
S
scottwmro
Guest
livingfruitvirus said:
Yes, I recall when WSM-AM was on Sirius. But now we have this deal infront of not only the FCC, but the DOJ and Congress to merge the two. Just in my opinion, XM seems to be more stable of a group than Sirius, so it's best for WSM-AM to be on XM full time, along with 650 AM.
WSM-AM over it's life has been something for everybody. In the mid 70's, WSM-AM was AC/Top 40 during the day, and Country at night. During the day on WSM-AM in that 70's era, you heard the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Elton John and even a little KC & the Sunshine Band Disco. Radio was different then, and of course that would not work today. I never want to see the day WSM-AM plays "Give Me Give Me, Wanna Wanna".....Britney Spears (HA!), but I've heard some news reports on WSM-AM making fun of her, but I guess the gal needs help. She'll never make to the Opry!
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