The True Oldies Channel:
The True Oldies Channel is a syndicated radio programming stream, hosted by American radio personality Scott Shannon. Distributed by ABC Radio Networks (through Citadel Broadcasting) via satellite, the service plays an oldies format comprising music mostly from 1964 to 1979 but also plays select cuts from the 1955-1963 era and also from the 1980's. The Channel is now leaning towards classic hits.
The service currently has over 60 affiliate stations across the United States. The service is available 24 hours a day. Some stations run the format full-time 24/7 while a few others run it on overnights only. Many member stations, however, generally break away from the program feed at some points during the day to air some local programming, either a local morning show, a local afternoon show, or both. A few even air Imus in the Morning.
[edit] Modifications
Initially, the True Oldies Channel featured only music from 1955 to 1969 with less than ten from 1970 to 1973 (for example "Tears of a Clown" and "Burning Love"). The format was 60% 1964 to 1969 and 40% 1955 to 1963. By 2005, oldies from the early 1970s were added in moderation. The pre 1964 material was cut back slightly. In 2006, more late 1970s music was added and the pre 1964 product was cut down to 2 or 3 songs per hour. In March of 2008, the pre 1964 product was cut down to one per hour during the day and twice an hour on overnights and the hits from the late 1960s and early to mid 1970's was played in equal amounts. A few 1980s cuts were also added.
On July 7, 2008, The True Oldies Channel further modified its format, dropping all but a couple pre 1964 titles and added a large amount of music from the 1980s, playing a couple per hour. The format was then more of a Classic Hits format and was oldies in name only. This change was very short lived and by the end of July they backed off the 1980s music and by August most 1980s music was gone. A moderate amount of pre 1964 material was also reinstated.
It was the network's original mission to avoid the trends of other oldies outlets and remain committed to the music produced from the beginning of the rock-and-roll era to the disco era (1955 to 1979), purposefully drawing the line of what they would never air at 1980.
[edit] Growth
The True Oldies format is experiencing significant growth in exposure following cost-cutting measures across Citadel's payroll. Lower performing stations owned by Citadel, such as WYAY Atlanta and WJZW Washington, are being switched over to True Oldies, sometimes with Imus in the Morning as the morning show. WLS-FM Chicago, however, only runs True Oldies Channel on Overnights with a similar local oldies format for the rest of the day.
[edit] Sample hours of programming
February 4, 2007
[edit] July 9, 2008 (short lived modification)
1 p.m. hour
[edit] September 4, 2008
4 a.m. hour
11 a.m. hour
[edit] Affiliates
- Abilene, Texas - KFGL
- Atlanta, Georgia - WYAY
- Bainbridge, Georgia - WMGR
- Bemidji, Minnesota - WQXJ-FM
- Centerville, Iowa - KCOG
- Chattanooga, Tennessee - WDOD-AM
- Chicago, Illinois - WLS-FM
- Clemson, South Carolina - WAHT
- Coos Bay, Oregon - KJMX
- Davenport, Iowa - KJOC
- Denver, Colorado - KYOL
- Dover, Delaware - WXXY
- Duluth, Minnesota - KQDS
- Evansville, Indiana - WSJD
- Glasgow, Kentucky - WOVO
- Gooding, Idaho - KQLZ
- Huntsville, Alabama - WLOR (AM)
- Jamestown, New York - WKSN
- Jesup, Georgia - WIFO-FM (Weekends)
- Keaau, Hawaii - KBGX
- Knoxville, Tennessee - WOKI
- Ladysmith, Wisconsin - WJBL
- Macon, Georgia - WAYS
- Hudson, Wisconsin (Minneapolis Market) - WMIN
- New Castle, Colorado - KJEB
- New York, New York - WPLJ-HD3 (HD Radio)
- Newton, New Jersey - WTOC-AM
- Newton, North Carolina - WNNC
- Oxford, Alabama - WVOK (AM)
- Picayune, Mississippi (New Orleans,La. market) - WMTI
- Providence, Rhode Island - WPRV
- Rapid City, South Dakota - KKLS
- Reading, Pennsylvania - WRAW
- Ridgefield / Danbury, Connecticut - WREF
- Saint Augustine, Florida - WSJF
- Salt Lake City, Utah - KKAT
- Spring Hill, Florida - WJQB
- Springfield, Massachusetts - WMAS
- Stevens Point, Wisconsin - WSPT-FM
- Sturgis, Michigan - WMSH-FM
- Tampa, Florida - WJQB
- Tulsa, Oklahoma - KQLL-HD2
- Terre Haute, Indiana - WAXI
- Two Rivers, Wisconsin - WGBW (new affiliate)
- Ventura, California - KVEN
- Walhalla, South Carolina (move to Lithia Springs, Georgia pending) - WWOF
- Waukon, Iowa - KHPP
- Wells, Texas - KVLL
- Weston, West Virginia - WHAW
- Whitesburg, Kentucky - WTCW
- Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania - WARM-AM
- Woodbridge, Virginia (Washington, D.C. market) - WJZW
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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