Timeless is Dead

[PTBoardOp94]

Radio-Info.com reports that Timeless Favorites will cease to exist in February 2010.

This is part of more sweeping changes at Citadel Media Networks Dallas-based operation, where all of their 24 hour formats originate.

http://www.radio-info.com/news/

I'm wondering what all these little AMers that run Timeless will do for programming.  Probably just pull something off of a hard disk at the station.

[Alan McCall]

Just another reason why it pays to have a locally-based format plan in place. Especially if you're using
a full-time format from what appears to be unstability at Citadel.

[passtheword]

Radio-Info.com reports that Timeless Favorites will cease to exist in February 2010.

I'm wondering what all these little AMers that run Timeless will do for programming.  Probably just pull something off of a hard disk at the station.

Many of them will probably switch to other ABC programming. There wil probably be a lot of defectors (of adult standards) come February.

[Scholarm1111]

Wow, it does have a lot of affiliates, especially in smaller towns. Well, there are 2 other services that could use some more affiliates - Music of Your Life and the new Hit Parade Radio. Dial Global seems to have plenty.

This could be taken as another statement about the unattractiveness of the older demo in today's broadcasting environment.

[publisher]

Good think I didn't take the time to finish that monster Timeless playlist survey a few weeks back.

I was aiming to post this tidbit earlier in the week, but it applies in this topic: I noticed WLEZ LPFM in Jackson, MS dropped Timeless recently. The station reverted to a true standards format, and appears (or sounds) to be programmed locally. An improvement, in my opinion. I was not aware Timeless was on death watch when I first noticed it had been dropped locally. WLEZ streams at wlezfm.com.

I had noticed, however, that the playlist on Timeless of late had appeared to veer a little more toward the territory covered capably by DG Adult Standards.

[Oldbones]

I was aiming to post this tidbit earlier in the week, but it applies in this topic: I noticed WLEZ LPFM in Jackson, MS dropped Timeless recently. The station reverted to a true standards format, and appears (or sounds) to be programmed locally.

I thought LPFMs were supposed to be programmed locally all along.  How did they deal with the network spots considering that LP's are all non-comms?

[Paige Turner]

Good think I didn't take the time to finish that monster Timeless playlist survey a few weeks back.

LOL - maybe that's what did them in  .  Either no one did the survey or those who did panned the music.

I haven't really heard them for any length of time in recent months, but whenever I would listen to a station, I thought the music mix was rather bland... too highly concentrated with soft hits from the '70s & '80s, or, as I like to say, mired in '70s sludge.  A victim of updating itself right out of existence.

[publisher]

I was aiming to post this tidbit earlier in the week, but it applies in this topic: I noticed WLEZ LPFM in Jackson, MS dropped Timeless recently. The station reverted to a true standards format, and appears (or sounds) to be programmed locally.

I thought LPFMs were supposed to be programmed locally all along.  How did they deal with the network spots considering that LP's are all non-comms?

WLEZ uses underwriters rather than sponsors. All commercial spots are PSAs and community features. I assume this is how they skirted the issue with FCC. Nevertheless, a healthy portion of the schedule (particularly lunch hours, evening drive and weekends) is filled with locally-produced talk shows and music programs.

[scottwmro]

Thursday was a bad day. My little AM station, WMRO-AM, (Magic 1560) is on Citadel's Hot AC Format.

The P.D. of the Hot AC Format, Dan Lopez, was fired. My affiliate relations director from Citadel told me on the phone lots of people have been let go. From what I understand from her, I believe Citadel has filed Chapter 11. Chapter 11 is to allow a business to reform, let go of unnecessary staff, and help make the business pay its debt.

A station up the road from us had Timeless from Citadel. I think they are going to the True Oldies Channel, but I not sure yet.

The person on here that made the comment about stations being local with D.J.'s has no idea what is going on with radio. The economy has hit the radio business hard, big and little stations. If ANY little AM station is going to run with a full staff, especially with an AM without a full class (not translator) FM station is NUTS.

The cost of running stations is going up by the day and little AM's are going dark and turning in their licenses. Clear Channel even has done this with underperforming AM's. I would love to see that guy who made that comment about running a full staffed AM station try to make it work. He would go broke in 6 to 8 months.

This can’t be done with a little AM station in 2010, this is NOT 1960 folks, technology, hard drive and satellite automation will save what little AM stations are still left, hanging on. Hell, I know!  I live it everyday! Being Local comes with a price tag and small businesses in small towns are not doing good to buy advertising from a small AM station. We live in a Wal-Mart world now!

[scottwmro]

My revision to my last post:


Thursday was a bad day. My little AM station, WMRO-AM, (Magic 1560) is on Citadel's Hot AC Format.

The P.D. of the Hot AC Format, Dan Lopez, was fired. My affiliate relations director from Citadel told me on the phone lots of people have been let go. From what I understand from her, I believe Citadel has filed Chapter 11. Chapter 11 is to allow a business to reform, let go of unnecessary staff, and help make the business pay its debt.

A station up the road from us had Timeless from Citadel. I think they are going to the True Oldies Channel, but I not sure yet.

The person on here that made the comment about stations being local with D.J.'s has no idea what is going on with radio. The economy has hit the radio business hard, big and little stations. If ANY little AM station is going to run with a full staff, especially with an AM without a full class (not translator) FM station is NUTS.

The cost of running stations is going up by the day and little AM's are going dark and turning in their licenses. Clear Channel even has done this with underperforming AM's. I would love to see that guy who made that comment about running a full staffed AM station try to make it work. He would go broke in 6 to 8 months.

This can’t be done with a little AM station in 2010, this is NOT 1960 folks, technology, hard drive and satellite automation will save what little AM stations are still left, hanging on. Hell, I know!  I live it everyday! Being Local comes with a price tag and small businesses in small towns are not doing good to buy advertising from a small AM station. We live in a Wal-Mart world now!