Many radio stations change their format each year, but I just learned of a format change that is hitting very close to home and has me on the verge of tears.
WCBS-FM 101.1 out of NYC has changed format - after 33 years as an oldies station - to "Jack." "Jack" is a format in which there are no disc jockeys, and the station has a much larger playlist than other stations - about 1200 compared with other stations' 300 or 400. I haven't found any concrete stats on this, but I've also heard that just about all songs on any given "Jack" station were at one point in the Top 40.
Now, don't get me wrong - top 40 nut that I am, I love "Jack" stations. But CBS?!?! I remember dancing to CBS around the kitchen with my mom. Every Sunday night after dinner, my parents would turn on CBS we'd all listen to Cousin Brucie. I remember my parents joking that even though the music played was from three decidedly different decades, Cousin Brucie always started his show with a 50s song. CBS is one of the radio stations that always let me know I was home. It was just as much a fixture of my childhood as going to Grandma's on Christmas Day.
:( {sniff}
Posted by beenie at June 5, 2005 09:20 PMAs I was driving down the coast on Sunday, I was listening to walk (?) from LI all through CT. I felt horrible listening to a clear channel station but I didn't have any other music with me. Coming through NJ I picked up Jack. I liked it but I can see how changing from what you remembered would be a bummer. They kept playing clips of folks calling in saying how much they liked the change, though - propaganda, I know.
Posted by: Malia at June 8, 2005 12:37 PMThere's a Jack station here and I love it - but it was changed from a station that couldn't seem to make up its mind what exactly it wanted to play. I {heart} the Jack format, but WCBS-FM was an institution.
Posted by: beenie at June 8, 2005 08:57 PM