Winkster Exits Radio Syndicator

[geno57]

Financial problems at the Adult Standards formatted Music Of Your Life network have resulted in some big names leaving the syndicator.  The program director and ops manager left last week, and now Wink Martindale has resigned.  In addition, Gary Owens has cut himself back to weekends only.

The Winkster cited "too much mediocrity on the network" and too many people "with little radio experience".  He does add that Peter Marshall is still doing his "terrific show".

[The Ol' Guy]

As someone who worked a station using Music Of Your Life, that is so sad and so true. 98% of music radio bites because of it's blandness, constant repetition and chicken shicks (Foster Brooks) who are either paid to play junk or too scared to try a couple of songs not listed on R&R. But isn't it interesting that every time I read some music news, another current or fading contemporary artist is cutting an album of standards. Carly Simon recently tied Rod Stewart with 4. Perhaps in time someone will marry these new recordings with the cream of the classics and come up with a blend that even someone in their 20s might like.

Rant over.
All the best, Wink and Gary. And good luck MoYL.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' post=\'152341\' date=\'May 15 2007, 03:02 PM\']
As someone who worked a station using Music Of Your Life, that is so sad and so true. 98% of music radio bites because of it's blandness, constant repetition and chicken shicks (Foster Brooks) who are either paid to play junk or too scared to try a couple of songs not listed on R&R. But isn't it interesting that every time I read some music news, another current or fading contemporary artist is cutting an album of standards. Carly Simon recently tied Rod Stewart with 4. Perhaps in time someone will marry these new recordings with the cream of the classics and come up with a blend that even someone in their 20s might like.
[/quote]
See, let me say that the idea of the MoyL format simply does nothing for me. I realize my musical tastes are somewhat whacked anyhow, but they're not *that* far afield from those of people around my same age.

The contemporary artists cutting MoyL albums are doing it for one reason: because they sell billions of copies to people with a lot of money to burn. And also because someone like Rod Stewart, who could fetch maybe $40 a ticket standing up there singing "Infatuation" at the county fair, can turn it into "An Evening With Rod Stewart In A Tuxedo At Your Big Arena" and now charge the $250 per that concerts in the Barbra Streisand price range fetch.

In all honesty, I suggest that the MoyL format is dying off because its listeners are dying off. Eventually my generation will start dying off and that will do it for the Jack stations, too.

/now get the hell off my lawn

[Chelsea Thrasher]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'152348\' date=\'May 15 2007, 05:26 PM\']
In all honesty, I suggest that the MoyL format is dying off because its listeners are dying off. Eventually my generation will start dying off and that will do it for the Jack stations, too.

/now get the hell off my lawn
[/quote]

One benefit both formats may have in the coming years is the programming diversity allowed by subchannels as broadcasters transition over to digital transmission of their signals.  While it doesn't make sense to program the Music of Your Life format when you've only got one signal with one channel of audio going out, and the audience of that format dying off more each day - when you suddenly have 4 channels available in the same format, you then have the option to broadcast an "oldies" format on the 3rd subchannel at 98.3.

Of course, the problem is getting older individuals to purchase a new radio, since the aforementioned subchannels are only available on newer equipment.  That's where a challenge would be, since older consumers on the whole tend to avoid change when possible.  

/I suppose you could send people onto their lawn, then break into their house and/or Cadillac and change out all the radios...
//Kidding
///Puts away crowbar.

[The Ol' Guy]

I don't disagree at all. We sent out tons of postcards for an audience poll (over 5 years ago), and I'll bet 50% have passed on.  It's a currently unsustainable format as it is currently going. And some are saying the traditional "Oldies" stations are next as their listeners ages rise.
And yes, many ex-rockers and rappers went to tap that older money and sold themselves out - but there are a few who genuinely enjoy them or are starting to appreciate them. Mr. Stewart should have stopped after his second Songbook disc. The rest were uninspired and certainly for the cash. How did his recent recording of 60's songs fare?

[mcsittel]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'152348\' date=\'May 15 2007, 05:26 PM\']
In all honesty, I suggest that the MoyL format is dying off because its listeners are dying off. Eventually my generation will start dying off and that will do it for the Jack stations, too.
[/quote]

My wife wondered if every town had a Jack FM.  As we drove west seems most markets had 'em... even places like Holdrege, Nebraska and Elko, Nevada.  She was relieved to find out in Portland, OR it was Charlie FM instead.  

Omaha's "106.9 Bob FM" didn't last more than a couple of years... replaced by that hip younger music I can't relate to.  After we lost our AAA format outlet, I really didn't listen much.  Now I have XM and rarely listen to terrestrial radio except on vacation just to sample each market's stations.

Matt

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'mcsittel\' post=\'152372\' date=\'May 15 2007, 09:20 PM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'152348\' date=\'May 15 2007, 05:26 PM\']
In all honesty, I suggest that the MoyL format is dying off because its listeners are dying off. Eventually my generation will start dying off and that will do it for the Jack stations, too.
[/quote]

My wife wondered if every town had a Jack FM.  As we drove west seems most markets had 'em... even places like Holdrege, Nebraska and Elko, Nevada.  She was relieved to find out in Portland, OR it was Charlie FM instead.  
[/quote]
Norfolk/Hampton Roads doesn't have Jack, that is, the radio station...okay, we don't have Jack in general. ;-)

We do have Bob FM, though.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'152373\' date=\'May 15 2007, 06:30 PM\']
We do have Bob FM, though.
[/quote]
Bob and Charlie and whatever are the exact same animal, they're just not licensing the Jack format directly from Rogers.

[TimK2003]

[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' post=\'152361\' date=\'May 15 2007, 08:05 PM\']
I don't disagree at all. We sent out tons of postcards for an audience poll (over 5 years ago), and I'll bet 50% have passed on.  It's a currently unsustainable format as it is currently going. And some are saying the traditional "Oldies" stations are next as their listeners ages rise.[/quote]

True, "Oldies" stations (which I define as 50's & 60's music) are rapidly being replaced by either other formats (Jack replaced CBS-FM in NYC) or the "(Fun) music of the 60's and 70's" format -- they try to avoid the 'oldies' moniker nowadays.

However, many people believe that the demise of 60's music will level off soon, as a good chunk of the music strongholds from Beatlemania onward is still popular with all generations.  You'll see the weaker songs drop off, but I don't foresee the Fab Four, The Stones, or the Motown heavy-hitters being retired and ignored in 10 years.  

But then again, corporate radio and their shareholders have already killed off the weaker songs by defining a 30-year range of Rock & Roll music to 300 or 400 songs tops.


In 1989, a bunch of us on a college radio show said the following:

"Just think of it...In a few decades from now, senior citizens in nursing homes will be jamming in their wheelchairs to Jimi Hendrix and the Dead Kennedys!"

/And by 2045, nursing homes will be filling up with gray haired rappers!/
//70 year old's will roam the halls singing "My Humps"//

[GameShowFan]

they're just not licensing the Jack format directly from Rogers.

This is the single most jaw-dropping statement I've heard on this board in a long time.

How hard is it to set up an automation system with 2,000 songs and set it on "Shuffle Repeat All." A PowerMac and iTunes will do the trick.

'Brian

/turning up the XM

[Chelsea Thrasher]

[quote name=\'GameShowFan\' post=\'152389\' date=\'May 15 2007, 10:12 PM\']

How hard is it to set up an automation system with 2,000 songs and set it on "Shuffle Repeat All." A PowerMac and iTunes will do the trick.

[/quote]

It's not so much buying one of their iPod minis (after completion of 3* sponsor offers), so much as it is paying for the rights to use the trademarks, getting the voice tracks of Howard Cogan, etc.  Rogers wants money for those, so some stations/station groups are  simply making their own Jack-like brands.  Same format, largely the same playlists - just owners electing not to pay Rogers the green (or in Canada, the other 6 colors of the rainbow as well) and go their own way.

*Sponsor Offers may not actually be eligible for the free iPod promotion.  Some restrictions apply.   Lemon's Olde Tyme Gazpacho may be hazardous to health.  Bed, Bath & Beyond not responsible for damages.  Winners must pay taxes.  Void where prohibited - see our ad in Recurring Joke Monthly for more details.

[tvrandywest]

And Rogers licenses the service-marked name "Jack" and the service-marked "Playing what we want" from Bob Perry, the true creator of the format. Before he started getting the monthly checks Bob was a PD and jock who occasionally went by the moniker "Cadillac Jack". And he's a game show fan as well as frequent visitor to TPiR-Live!!!!!!

Randy
tvrandywest.com

[geno57]

The "Jack" format isn't really quite like an iPod on shuffle.  Like every other radio format, they'll have the songs distributed into various categories, some of which play more often than others.

[Chelsea Thrasher]

[quote name=\'geno57\' post=\'152395\' date=\'May 15 2007, 11:17 PM\']

The "Jack" format isn't really quite like an iPod on shuffle.  Like every other radio format, they'll have the songs distributed into various categories, some of which play more often than others.
[/quote]

I'm fairly aware.  The local "Sam" station has a fixation on "I Can't Drive 55", the song which was playing when I got my speeding ticket.  I've been paranoid when that song plays ever since :-P  

I've known more  a few people to load iPods with a copy of the same song a dozen-plus times, allowing for more frequent playing during Shuffle mode.  It really does get to feel like the Jack/Sam/Bob/Cletus/Ahmed format after awhile.

[BobbyLankford_83]

In Sacramento, KCTC 1320 had Music of Your Life and Wink, Gary and Peter until 2004, when  that Air America and Al Franken replaced Music Of Your Life. Now 1320 just last year changed to KCTC 1320 ESPN Radio. Now Sacramento has two all-sports stations KHTK 1140, owned by CBS and radio home of the NBA Kings, and KCTC 1320 which got ESPN Radio from KHTK.

I wish Wink the best in whatever he does next.