|
|
Post by KittyKat - RIP Luciano on Sept 1, 2005 14:26:23 GMT -5
In Seattle we have this radio station - 96.5 - that has always had problems keeping a format that was popular and made the station money.
Since I've lived here this station has literally gone through at least 10 different owners/managers with formats ranging from old country to being a K-ROCK affiliate. Until recently the station's longest running variations were as an 80s nostalgia station that played everything from Richard Marx to Gary Numan; and as a "funk" station that specialized in playing disco, 70s funk from Parliament Funkadelic etc., 70s Motown, 80s R&B etc.
A couple of months ago another change happenend. I put the station on one morning expecting to find the K-ROCK morning show guy that I sometimes like, and instead found a Jackson Browne song playing. Huh? And then when that song was done they played a Foo Fighters song from their first album, and then after that they played Huey Lewis & The News.
By the time that song was done I was pulling into my office parking space and turned it off, but I was intrigued to say the least.
The new station is called JACK-FM and their "hook" is that they play Whatever They Want. The playlists are the most eclectic mishmashes of musical styles that I've ever heard on the radio. Sometimes I feel like they've gone into my cd collection and taken a random sampling.
The only problem is that I'm feeling a little guilty for loving the station so much because they don't have any DJs. That's right - there's no one physically on the air. They just have the great mix of music, commercials, and a recorded voice that tells the listener what station they're listening to. There are no traffic, weather, or news reports - nothing.
I know many of us have worked in radio as DJs etc. and I wondered how you guys felt about radio stations "without souls", as my dad calls them. On the one hand it makes me sad/angry that stations like this are pushing DJs out of work, and taking the personality and personability out of radio. OTOH, I can't tell you how pleasant it is to turn on the radio and just hear music - no annoying people mugging into the microphone, no stupid banter, no useless talk. And because they don't need a budget for DJ salaries they also have less commercials, there's only about 5 min per hour which is amazing. This station in particular has such a great mix that I can't seem to get enough of, no matter how guilty I feel that some DJ is out of work. Just look at the list of songs they played this morning while I was getting ready for/on my way to work:
Fabulous Thunderbirds - Wrap It Up
ELO - Turn To Stone
Cinderella - Nobody's Fool
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Creed - Arms Wide Open
Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop
Def Leppard - Photograph
John Mayer - Why Georgia
Collective Soul - Listen
KC & The Sunshine Band - Please Don't Go
Heart - Even It Up
Dazz Band - Let It Whip
Audioslave - Like A Stone
Sure, I could live without the Creed or even the John Mayer which I like but am sick of, but seriously, how can you not love a station that plays ELO and Cinderella back to back? I'd love to hear your opinions on this.
|
|
|
|
Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Sept 1, 2005 14:33:00 GMT -5
I wonder if that is syndicated or if JACK is just popular call letters. Our long time oldies station became THE JACK a couple months back!
Other than The Lite, it was the longest lasting station here. Then one morning, I flipped it on and Something About You by Level 42 was on. Now, they'll play Kokomo and You Got it from the 80's, for obvious reasons. They even would play Old Time Rock-n-Roll which peaked in popularity in the 80's, but I knew there was no WAY they'd be playing Level 42. So I waited and found out they changed.
Kitty, did you know or do you remember when I first reported about a "we play anything" station that started here close to a year ago? I believe I posted about it on the Radio Stations board. Check it out!
I just checked out my post, and Tracy (beatles4) mentions that she has a station called THE JACK out of Canada! It HAS to all be the same!
|
|
|
|
Post by H2IZCOOL on Sept 1, 2005 16:04:29 GMT -5
I for one, am not sorry to see the DJ go (except for DJDave; I was sorry when he stopped posting for a week or so. ;D ) DJs, for a long time have stopped doing what they need to do for a long time: Announce the title of the song that you're playing and who the artist is. It's so darn annoying when you are listening to a song, and when it's over you have no idea who was singing it. I know if I were a recording artist, I'd sure as hell want my name and song title mentioned. I thought that was the whole reason for a DJ being there. The rest of the time he's goofing on something. I'd rather hear the music.
Now, I guess that the Jack station(s) don't announce the artist and title either...but at least they're getting rid of superfluous patter.
As for the playlist... I love the idea of mixing up genres, but I'd prefer more of a mix that included oldies as well. If you are going to play "everything" consider ther fact that pop music "turned-over" in the mid 50s. Then play everything since then.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dawn on Sept 1, 2005 17:00:11 GMT -5
Cool topic!
I'm pretty sure the JACK format is syndicated. There aren't any in my area yet, but there is one in Los Angeles - Mark and I had it on for a while in the car when we were there. It's an interesting mix, but most of what I heard then was songs that get pretty regular play on other formats. Still, if I'd listened longer, I'm sure I would have heard some deeper cuts, and would welcome such a format if it came here.
About the DJs - my feelings are mixed. Like you, I hate to see DJs lose their jobs because of syndication and streaming. But locally here at least, the announcers are very annoying - talking into songs, getting artists wrong, and wasting too much time with "on location" promotions for advertisers. It's aggravating to the point that we're looking into getting XM or Sirius.
|
|
|
|
Post by KittyKat - RIP Luciano on Sept 1, 2005 17:20:59 GMT -5
I wonder if that is syndicated or if JACK is just popular call letters. Our long time oldies station became THE JACK a couple months back! Other than The Lite, it was the longest lasting station here. Then one morning, I flipped it on and Something About You by Level 42 was on. Now, they'll play Kokomo and You Got it from the 80's, for obvious reasons. They even would play Old Time Rock-n-Roll which peaked in popularity in the 80's, but I knew there was no WAY they'd be playing Level 42. So I waited and found out they changed. Kitty, did you know or do you remember when I first reported about a "we play anything" station that started here close to a year ago? I believe I posted about it on the Radio Stations board. Check it out! I just checked out my post, and Tracy (beatles4) mentions that she has a station called THE JACK out of Canada! It HAS to all be the same! I just re-read your old radio post and I agree that it's probably the same franchise of affiliate stations. |
|
|
|
Post by KittyKat - RIP Luciano on Sept 1, 2005 17:30:16 GMT -5
Now, I guess that the Jack station(s) don't announce the artist and title either...but at least they're getting rid of superfluous patter. As for the playlist... I love the idea of mixing up genres, but I'd prefer more of a mix that included oldies as well. If you are going to play "everything" consider ther fact that pop music "turned-over" in the mid 50s. Then play everything since then. In general the JACK station in Seattle doesn't do much in regards to giving artist/title info. They do have "testimonial" recordings from voicemail messages that listeners have left, that they play throughout the day. They encourage people to call and voice their opinions about the station. Occasionally these testimonials will be on the order of "I love your station, I haven't heard ________ in years." And then they follow that by playing the song that the person was talking about. But otherwise you pretty much have to already know what you're listening to. As far as the music mix, you're right - they should include more stuff from the 50s and 60s. Seattle has a VERY popular oldies station that takes care of that, so I don't know if they tailored this JACK affiliate because of that. |
|
|
|
Post by KittyKat - RIP Luciano on Sept 1, 2005 17:31:39 GMT -5
Cool topic! I'm pretty sure the JACK format is syndicated. There aren't any in my area yet, but there is one in Los Angeles - Mark and I had it on for a while in the car when we were there. It's an interesting mix, but most of what I heard then was songs that get pretty regular play on other formats. Still, if I'd listened longer, I'm sure I would have heard some deeper cuts, and would welcome such a format if it came here. About the DJs - my feelings are mixed. Like you, I hate to see DJs lose their jobs because of syndication and streaming. But locally here at least, the announcers are very annoying - talking into songs, getting artists wrong, and wasting too much time with "on location" promotions for advertisers. It's aggravating to the point that we're looking into getting XM or Sirius. My boyfriend's new car has XM in it. It's pretty awesome! Definitely worth the 9 bucks a month. |
|
|
|
Post by Ken on Sept 1, 2005 18:01:41 GMT -5
In Vancouver we have a "Jack" station as well. It started about 2 years ago replacing the city's light rock station KISS FM. Yes as others have mentioned these JACK stations seem to be all over the place now.I was quite impressed with the playlist when they started and still am. Although I have to admit it's been awhile since I've listened to it.
It's too bad DJ's in some cases are being phased out. I remember a station out of Bellingham, Washington - KNWR FM that I used to listen to back in the mid 80's it was the first "automated" station I was aware of. Every few songs a voice would come on and do the station I.D. "This is KNWR - Bellingham's Best" or something like that.
From what I understand many stations now don't even use CD's.All the music is loaded into a computer hard drive and it spits out a playlist.
|
|
|
|
Post by djdave on Sept 1, 2005 22:30:57 GMT -5
Hate to see the DJ's go, but the JACK format sounds awesome.
I pretty much do the exact same thing on my computer at home--playing whatever I want from a computer hard drive. At least it's be interesting to hear the JACK actually on a radio--sounds like a winning format for Clicksters!
|
|
|
|
Post by KittyKat - RIP Luciano on Sept 2, 2005 14:01:22 GMT -5
sounds like a winning format for Clicksters! It's right up our alley Dave. This morning I was treated to another awesome mix featuring - KISS, Buffalo Springfield, The Spinners, Loverboy, Journey, and Green Day. |
|
|
|
Post by Pete70s on Sept 2, 2005 14:20:45 GMT -5
We have a "We Play Everything" station here in MA. The one thing I realize, though, is that there should be a disclaimer, or maybe a fine print that adds "....as long as it's a hit!" Being a person who much prefers finding deep album cuts I like as opposed to radio favorites, I've enjoyed AAA (Adult Album Alternative) stations better.
But I have listened to the WPE station and was impressed by the diversity and the fact that I've never heard the same song twice. WEIRD train wrecks, though, once they played Procol Harem's "Whiter Shade Of Pale" and followed it up with Paula Abdul.
As for Ed's complaint about DJ's not saying what the songs were, all I can say is this: Back when the station I currently work at was a music station, we were told by the PD not to "back announce" songs, because you want to constantly "look ahead", not back. I thought it was bullshit, myself, but never called him on it.. But that's how the radio industry works, I guess. No wonder nobody listens anymore..
|
|
|
|
Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Sept 2, 2005 14:21:22 GMT -5
sounds like a winning format for Clicksters! It's right up our alley Dave. This morning I was treated to another awesome mix featuring - KISS, Buffalo Springfield, The Spinners, Loverboy, Journey, and Green Day. What BS song?? |
|
|
|
Post by H2IZCOOL on Sept 2, 2005 16:02:15 GMT -5
As for Ed's complaint about DJ's not saying what the songs were, all I can say is this: Back when the station I currently work at was a music station, we were told by the PD not to "back announce" songs, because you want to constantly "look ahead", not back. I thought it was bullshit, myself, but never called him on it.. But that's how the radio industry works, I guess. No wonder nobody listens anymore.. I understand about looking ahead, Pete. But the DJs didn't even announce the song and artist at the START of the song. You'd get something like a jingle that went: "WSUX - 6 in a row!" And then they'd play six songs in a row with no announcement at all. |
|
|
|
Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Sept 2, 2005 16:05:09 GMT -5
As for Ed's complaint about DJ's not saying what the songs were, all I can say is this: Back when the station I currently work at was a music station, we were told by the PD not to "back announce" songs, because you want to constantly "look ahead", not back. I thought it was bullshit, myself, but never called him on it.. But that's how the radio industry works, I guess. No wonder nobody listens anymore.. Wow, here they always recap the setlist! I know they for sure announce the artist and I think more often than not, name the song as well. |
|
|
|
Post by m c dornan on Sept 2, 2005 19:16:26 GMT -5
DJs became useless many years ago, after the disappearance of free-form "underground" radio. Once, on a few stations, DJs could play what they wanted, and share their actual thoughts with their audience. But today, DJs play off a tight playlist picked by corporate owners, and have nothing interesting to say.
That "and whatever we want" is a chain, too. We have one of those stations here,too. And "whatever we want" comes off a pretty tight playlist anyway.
On local digital cable, you can get about 25 stations, each with a specific type of music, with no DJs, and no ads. Tha's likely to be the future of radio, unless micro-watt pirate stations can become more popular.
|
|
