So, last weekend, I was chatting with this D.J. from one of the Springfield stations and I asked a question that went something like…..
So, what kind of format are you guys running over there?
To which, she replied…
“Timeless Rock”
Now, I know what you’re thinking…You are thinking that I looked at her and calmly and cooly said…
Timeless Rock!!?? Hunh?
I didn’t do that, I’m still a little bit slicker than that. Not much but a little. And, it happens that I have a passing knowledge of the history of radio station formats and, even though my track record doesn’t really reflect it; I also understand a few things about marketing. Which, is really what a radio station format and a label for a radio station format is all about.
So, I instead said something along these lines…
Really….that’s a good idea, “Timeless Rock”.
It’s not much of a story, I know but, it does lead to tonight’s conversation starter of a format inspired topic….
Classic Rock or Oldies?
Related posts
Tags: dancing about architecture, Friday Night Cage Match/Fondue Party/Evolving Conversat, Hunh?
Sans Direction wrote,
Is the question “which is the proper term?” or “which is preferable?”?
To me, the dividing line is Rubber Soul. When the Beatles were the British Crickets with two or three Buddy Hollys, they were Oldies. Good songs done well, even great songs done well, but with a very narrow set of sounds. Classic Rock begins when Rock starts and Rock’n'Roll ends, which means hyphen-rock. Folk-Rock. Country-Rock. Jazz-Rock. “We rock, but we also know this other genre.”
The key to remember is that for all this, what we hear now has been culled. They recorded hundreds of songs in the Oldies era, and we get dozens of them on the Oldies station playlist. They recorded thousands of songs in the Classic Rock era, and the playlist can be similarly small. For example, at the time, the Beach Boys were considered the closest to the Beatles at the forefront of progress in rock, but they’re almost totally kicked out of Classic Rock.
Consider, for a moment, Scott Joplin. The defining issue of Ragtime is the syncopation, how compared to the music of it’s time, it was more rhythmically free. But you listen to it today, it sounds stiff, because we’re used to even more rhythmically free music. Everything that rock’n'roll was leaning toward, Classic Rock accomplished. When I listen to music from before 1965, I generally listen to music from before 1940. So, I’ll go Classic Rock.
Link | September 26th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
J wrote,
I’d say it’s a generational thing. My parents are “Oldies”. I’m Classic Rock. If you’re younger than me, don’t be calling my generation’s music “Oldies”…I may be over 40, but I can still kick some butt!!
Link | September 27th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Pribek wrote,
hmmmmmmmm……..hhhhhhhunnh
See, that’s the whole thing right there; “Classic Rock” is “Oldies”. The fact that people have been driving around listening to oldies for 20 years or so, and calling it “Classic Rock” is clear evidence that the sales job worked. Best execution of a marketing plan since the Cold War, I say.
“Timeless Rock” is 1. Evidence that some people have caught on to the fact that “Classic Rock” is really “Oldies”. 2. Nothing more than an attempt to temporarily divert those who have caught on whilst the marketing team figures out a new way to pimp the produce and, at the same time, start mixing in Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Oasis……
Go home and crank up some CSN! PISS OFF THE KIDS!
Link | September 27th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Pat Darnell and Friends wrote,
Fresh Fruit in the Basket at Grandma’s = Rock
Rotten Fruit in the basket at Grandma’s = Oldies
Onyx stone carved in shapes of fruit on Grandma’s table = Timeless Rock
It’s either Rock and Roll, or it ain’t nothing !! Shelf life is the answer, my final answer.
Link | September 28th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Col wrote,
I am becomig concerned that Classic Rock magazine seems to be turning into classic metal magazine. It’s doing my head in, especially since I am a subscriber!!!
Link | September 28th, 2008 at 1:23 pm