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WCBS-FM will return to the oldies format sometime next week, according to an industry insider with knowledge of the decision. A spokeswoman for the station's operator, CBS Radio, declined to comment.
In a bid for younger listeners, WCBS abandoned oldies music two years ago, flipping to the iPod-like Jack format and firing heritage on-air staffers like Bruce Morrow, a.k.a. Cousin Brucie, and Harry Harrison. The station, 101.1, had been playing oldies for 33 years.
The move to Jack also hurt ad billings. Revenue for 101.1 plunged 31% in 2006, to $16.1 million, according to BIA Financial Network....
The revived oldies format may be modified to appeal to a slightly younger crowd says the industry insider, who expects the station to hire some veteran deejays. A rumor that WCBS would be switching back to oldies was first reported on Thursday by Radio Business Report's online newsletter.
Sure, it's not flipping to "KEXP-E" or anything, but it's hard to not be excited; CBS-FM was one of the stations I grew up with--upon reading this news, the doo-woppy "we play your fa-a-v'rite o-o-ldies" jingle got stuck in my head, and then I texted my parents to let them know--and its on-air personalities at least had personality, instead of the robo-doofosity supplied by Jack-FM's pre-recorded bumpers. Let's hope that CBS will allow the station to retain some of its local personality--and allow the stations that inevitably replace the Jacks/Freds/etcs. in other markets to do the same. In a bid for younger listeners, WCBS abandoned oldies music two years ago, flipping to the iPod-like Jack format and firing heritage on-air staffers like Bruce Morrow, a.k.a. Cousin Brucie, and Harry Harrison. The station, 101.1, had been playing oldies for 33 years.
The move to Jack also hurt ad billings. Revenue for 101.1 plunged 31% in 2006, to $16.1 million, according to BIA Financial Network....
The revived oldies format may be modified to appeal to a slightly younger crowd says the industry insider, who expects the station to hire some veteran deejays. A rumor that WCBS would be switching back to oldies was first reported on Thursday by Radio Business Report's online newsletter.
WCBS to return to oldies format [Crain's New York Business]
WCBS-FM Airchecks And Jingles [wbcsfm.org]
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