XM High Standards 73

[Chuck]

Even though it isn't fashionable, I actually enjoy a lot of music that is labeled as "Standards." Unfortunately High Standards puts me to sleep. Am I alone in that evaluation?

I may be mistaken, but I'll bet that 90%+ of XM listening is done in a car. That's hardly a place where I need coma inducing music. Out of the thousands of really great songs out there that people identify as Standards, it shouldn't be too hard to find a couple of thousand that are "toe tappers." Somehow that seems more appropriate for something that is mostly a driving companion.

 

[smashedcd]

i have 3 xm radios. all 3 are used in my house. 1 is used in my truck also. so no not nessarily is most listning done in cars. as for the standards its for old people. you are not old or you wouldnt be on here ;D there are 68 other commercial free music channels i am sure you can find some toe tappers on the 40s on 4 or 50s on 5

 

[jefflaurence]

Wow smashedcd that's harsh..A lot of younger people enjoy some of the older vintage music. I like that stuff on "Simply Sinatra" on Sirius, and High Stadnards on XM. Not old, and like it. What a mean thing to say. Gonna go out an kick a puppy?

 

[smashedcd]

Wow smashedcd that's harsh..A lot of younger people enjoy some of the older vintage music. I like that stuff on "Simply Sinatra" on Sirius, and High Stadnards on XM. Not old, and like it. What a mean thing to say. Gonna go out an kick a puppy?

come on you know i wasnt serious but its a known fact that the format is aimed at the older 55+ crowd. and most older people do really like the slower songs. i worked witha guy that had lots of that stuff. he preferred the slower stuff. he had tons of airchecks of a standards station in new orleans in the 80s. all the music was slow and lifeless ;D most people think of standards today and include kenny rogers and dan folgelberg. but if you look at the roots of the format that would have been heavy metal in 1974! ;D

 

[Chuck]

Wow smashedcd that's harsh..A lot of younger people enjoy some of the older vintage music. I like that stuff on "Simply Sinatra" on Sirius, and High Stadnards on XM. Not old, and like it. What a mean thing to say. Gonna go out an kick a puppy?

come on you know i wasnt serious but its a known fact that the format is aimed at the older 55+ crowd. and most older people do really like the slower songs. i worked witha guy that had lots of that stuff. he preferred the slower stuff. he had tons of airchecks of a standards station in new orleans in the 80s. all the music was slow and lifeless ;D most people think of standards today and include kenny rogers and dan folgelberg. but if you look at the roots of the format that would have been heavy metal in 1974! ;D

You are right, a lot of what passes for Standards these days was considered Rock back in the 1970's. I don't mind if a station chooses to play those songs, but think that's a different format. I'm talking about real standards, the stuff written by Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, etc. There is a ton of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Steve and Eydie, Nancy Wilson, Nat Cole, etc. songs that are great. It is not rocket science to come up with a very good play list. Even Dino has a new album that kicks butt. Tony Bennett is alive and well, and lots of new artists are on the scene like Michael Buble, Diana Krall, John Pizarelli, Harry Connick Jr. and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. The music isn't hard to find, and it is very good stuff that transcends several generations. What’s wrong with widening its appeal? Listening to Standards does not have to be a near death experience.

Almost anyone who posts on these forums would have to be considered "non-typical," so I'll still bet that you are usual in having several XM Radios in your house. I'm sure that some people also listen to XM via satellite TV or even on line too. That's nice, but since XM comes standard on many cars, it seems to me that a lot of listening is done at 60-70 mph. If people like what they hear in their car, there is little reason they won't like it in their homes as well. If you happen to like what XM is doing, that's OK, but I think it would attract more listeners if it were programmed a bit better. Love it or not, it is still a sleepy format that does not have to be that way.

 

[amlover]

xm-73 High Standards is the worst standard channel I have ever heard. I have sent emails and letters to XM and to the programers about the music and requested certain artist's and they refuse to play anything except what they want according to their personal taste. If they don't like it, well you can forget it. THEY WON'T PLAY IT! It's rare you hear two good standards in a row. You hear all this BS music from opera,caberet and N.Y. lounge singers because that's what Jonathan Schwartz likes and he thinks he's this music guru. I got xm to hear some good standards music because for the most part terrestrial radio has abandoned the format but I'm sorry but xm-73 is a HUGE disappointment. I agree it's to sleepy and boring and Jonathan is a boring host. PLUS they simulcast his Sunday Show from WNYC on Sunday 12 noon to 4pm and he plays all this eclectic crap that's NOT Standards. I'm paying to hear standards and nothing else, but like I said they DON'T care. So if you want standards don't count on xm-73. They don't deliver the goods.

 

[Chuck]

I'm paying to hear standards and nothing else, but like I said they DON'T care. So if you want standards don't count on xm-73. They don't deliver the goods.

I guess that's my point. I'm actually PAYING for this, and I think it is very poorly done.... I'd have a better time listening to some CD's or my iPod. I know I can do that at any time, but I'd like satellite radio to succeed.

Even the 50's channel gets it wrong, playing lots of 60's stuff instead. Some of it is good, but it isn't as advertised."

 

[smashedcd]

xm-73 High Standards is the worst standard channel I have ever heard. I have sent emails and letters to XM and to the programers about the music and requested certain artist's and they refuse to play anything except what they want according to their personal taste. If they don't like it, well you can forget it. THEY WON'T PLAY IT! It's rare you hear two good standards in a row. You hear all this BS music from opera,caberet and N.Y. lounge singers because that's what Jonathan Schwartz likes and he thinks he's this music guru. I got xm to hear some good standards music because for the most part terrestrial radio has abandoned the format but I'm sorry but xm-73 is a HUGE disappointment. I agree it's to sleepy and boring and Jonathan is a boring host. PLUS they simulcast his Sunday Show from WNYC on Sunday 12 noon to 4pm and he plays all this eclectic crap that's NOT Standards. I'm paying to hear standards and nothing else, but like I said they DON'T care. So if you want standards don't count on xm-73. They don't deliver the goods.

sirius does. on siriusly sinantra. but the bad pat is its mostly sinatra.

 

[cyberdad]

I enjoy listening to standards....the traditional definition thereof. "The Great American Songbook" as its frequently hyped.

However, I find XM 73 hard to take and disappointing. I didn't know it was possible for arrogance to come through on a satellite music channel, but for my ears, this presentation manages to do just that.

Plus, IMHO, they play too many "downers". As far as I'm concerned they could re-brand "High Standards" as "The Bringdown Channel".

Speaking just for my own personal taste, I much prefer Brad Chambers Martini in the Morning channel or AOL's "Sinatra Style"...or even XM's "Escape" or "On The Rocks" (online only).

 

[amlover]

Brad does a great job with the standards from his web site. I've been a fan since he programed Fabulous 570/690 "The Lounge". I only hope that if XM and Sirius become one unit they will offer a much better standards channel than xm-73. I agree too about xm-5. They play some good standards but I don't like it mixed in with Little Richard.

 

[Chuck]

Plus, IMHO, they play too many "downers". As far as I'm concerned they could re-brand "High Standards" as "The Bringdown Channel".

I must be a little more of a "dark" thinker. I've called the "Makes you want to slash your wrists channel."

Speaking just for my own personal taste, I much prefer Brad Chambers Martini in the Morning channel or AOL's "Sinatra Style"...or even XM's "Escape" or "On The Rocks" (online only).

Martini in the Morning is really good. I'd go for it anytime over the stuff XM is doing. Maybe XM should hire him. Hell, I think even I do a better job at standards than they guys I'm paying. www.kzqx.com

 

[amlover]

Hey Chuck,
I enjoy your station online too. I listen to you, Brad and MOYL online a lot. Of course I have xm playing all the time in my home office and listen to xm-4 for the big band stuff. I'm good friends with Don Kenndy of BBJ fame here in Atlanta. XM-73 is just so bad most of the time. Maybe with Sirius and XM in a possible merge we can get a better standard channel.

 

[gerald]

It pains me to admit that I have to agree with you guys, the mix on High Standards is not very interesting. And unfortunately I also have to admit that it's because of Schwartz, who was one of my idols growing up when he was on the legendary WNEW-FM. Now that the Sinatra family took their "franchise" to Sirius and Jonathan has to program more of a mix, he hits clunkers as often as hits. I guess the answer is to phase him out and bring in another programmer.

It IS odd to simulcast his NYC terrestrial show on Sundays. Lazy and more proof that XM has abdicated the channel to him to do with as he pleases.

 

[jefflaurence]

Chuck's KZQX may be the most originally programmed station out there..really fun and "predictably unpredictable" Brad Chambers' station is caberet-style with a twist..a lot of Vegas sounding acts, and an attitude of a highball with a raised eyebrow..and a really good cigar. Love them both.

Why could XM not run a style like that? It would be more appealing to younger crowds..man you should see the college agers at the swing-dance nights in Atlanta. Listening to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Brian Setzer etc. and loving it..whils't eagerly enjoying cocktails and discussing how to properly slant a fedora for the ultimate effect.

 

[Chuck]

Why could XM not run a style like that? It would be more appealing to younger crowds..man you should see the college agers at the swing-dance nights in Atlanta. Listening to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Brian Setzer etc. and loving it..whils't eagerly enjoying cocktails and discussing how to properly slant a fedora for the ultimate effect.

That's it in a nutshell. I guess they don't get it.

I was asked to be the MC for something called "Dancing With The Stars Longview." It was a ballroom dancing competition with local quasi-celebrities competing for charity. To be honest, I though it would be a disaster with maybe 75 or 100 people present - most of them relatives of the dancers. This is Longview, Texas, we are talking about. A square dance sounded like a better idea to me.

We promoted the event fairly heavily on our station, since the proceeds went to a local high school educational program. To my amazement, they sold out the place with over 400 people paying $25.00 each. There was standing room only in the small church multi-purpose building. Better yet, the audience spanned all age groups from pre-elementary school kids to senior citizens. The most active group was some high school kids who were having a ball. I didn't see anyone, young or old, who looked like they weren't enjoying themselves. I guess somebody forgot to tell the kids that they weren't supposed to like this music.

 

[cyberdad]

Plus, IMHO, they play too many "downers". As far as I'm concerned they could re-brand "High Standards" as "The Bringdown Channel".

I must be a little more of a "dark" thinker. I've called the "Makes you want to slash your wrists channel."

Chuck....

That's it. You nailed it. My wife feels the same way, and I know she'll laugh and agree. Just sad, IMHO, because I'd have hoped for better given the mix of Jonathan Schwartz and XM's resources.

Speaking of "nailed it". I think you've nailed it with the way you've programmed your station. Bright and entertaining. Great stuff...great listen...great job!

 

[PeteRFNY]

I have issues with 40s on 4 as well...the music mix seems to be OVERLY heavy on ballads and laid-back music during ALL dayparts. The 40s is a decade that is rife with some of the swingingest music on the 20th century, but you'd never know it by listening to XM's 40s channel. Sometimes I think that goofy train gimmick they use symbolizes a slow-moving, uphill chugger...

 

[Chuck]

I have issues with 40s on 4 as well...the music mix seems to be OVERLY heavy on ballads and laid-back music during ALL dayparts. The 40s is a decade that is rife with some of the swingingest music on the 20th century, but you'd never know it by listening to XM's 40s channel. Sometimes I think that goofy train gimmick they use symbolizes a slow-moving, uphill chugger...

Must be the same programmer. Lets face it, crooners singing ballads were BORING when they were new. There is way too much good music out there to have to endure "three in a row" of Dennis Day style stuff.

 

[cyberdad]

I have issues with 40s on 4 as well...the music mix seems to be OVERLY heavy on ballads and laid-back music during ALL dayparts. The 40s is a decade that is rife with some of the swingingest music on the 20th century, but you'd never know it by listening to XM's 40s channel. Sometimes I think that goofy train gimmick they use symbolizes a slow-moving, uphill chugger...

Good point. More or less what I've been thinking. Ditch....or at least cut back on....the "Dennis Day"-type stuff. Still this channel is an easier and better listen than "High Standards".

 

[amlover]

I've noticed that the afternoon show hosted by Jonathan Schwartz at 3pm on High Standards is live well supposedly live how canned it really sounds. He opens with some silly theme tune for a few seconds and then you hear the same opening every day. He's real chatty for the first hour and then you hear the recorded liners with only an occasional bit each hour untill his dull show is over at 7pm eastern with his silly theme song. He never connects with the audience in my opinion and if you are gonna do a live show you should, well BE LIVE! You have a national audience and to me you should take advantage of the vast listeners. You could take request's, talk about happening's in areas of the country and well just connect with the people but he doesn't. It's just dull, dull and of course the music he plays does not help. Why do the powers be at XM give him such a free ride? Do others share my sentiment on this issue?