Best Tenn. stations of all time

[scottwmro]

Back to the topic. Tennessee stations.

WDIA, WSM, WLAC. Edit: I'll throw in an early WHBQ into that mix also.

All delivering product in a way unique to them. Of course, I mean WLAC in the evenings, as I have no idea what their programming was in the daytime.

WSM remains unlike any other station in America.

WDIA is a good station, I listen to Bobby Ojay every now and then on line, but the problem with WDIA, is there is too much talk and not enough of their heritage R & B Music during the day. I listen to them at night on line, and I enjoy their night format.

WLAC, we'll a duplicate of other Clear Channel's News/Talk stations, who know where they will be 15 years from now.

WSM-AM, in my opinion, will be around for the next 50+ years, so will the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry will need to change to meet the younger audiences that enjoy artist like Keith Urban. The Opry will be around long after all of us are dead and gone because Country Music is coming back, in a new form, and I see it. WSM-AM, playing Classic Country will be around for a long time as well. Nobody needs to worry about the WSM-AM or the Opry. WSM-AM the only Tennessee station that can be rated the best of all times, just in my opinion, but we may see WSM try to get its former FM back from Cumulus. They do need it back.

[scottwmro]

I'm listening to the stream coming from WDIA, in Memphis. They just played "Rainy Night In Georgia", by Brook Benton. Gosh, I haven't heard that song in a long time! I love that song! I recall when I was in my 20's, before I was married, when I broke up with a girl, I would listen to that song. Why can't these so called "Oldies Stations" that everyone wants back play Classics like that, instead of the same old Beatles, Motown, and British Invasion stuff? The same old Diana Ross and Supremes songs play over and over.

Boy, 1070 WDIA has it going on with the Oldies at night, as far as R & B goes! They are playing songs that crossed over to the Top 40 charts when they were new! I don't ever recall Nashville's former Oldies 96.3 playing "Rainy Night in Georgia" by Brook Benton. I've heard it on other oldies stations in other markets. Being this is a "Clear Channel" station, I'm glad that they haven't tried to screw with its sound.

[SchlitzBeer]

East TN:WIVK,WXBQ

Yes.  However, WXBQ is technically a Virginia station.  Just sayin'

[Big Bopper]

I find this thread fascinating, not only from the competitive aspects of station vs. station, but the reasons given by a wide variety of people for their personal selections. 

Question: When determing which stations are "better" than others, how much weight do you give to creativity/originality?  Is it important to you that a station uses slogans, promotions, catch phrases, jock names, etc. that are thought up by that station, or could you consider a "best" station one that copies one or more other station(s)?

One of the best-sounding stations in my home town was a total knockoff of several stations in larger markets.  The local guys did a good job, but there was absolutely nothing on their air that I had not heard elsewhere.

What do you say?  Is it important to be creative, or is a cut and paste radio station worthy of your respect?

[Nock]

SM 95 WSM FM early 80's
KIX 104 early 80's
Lightning 100 during the 90"s
Thunder 94 while they were around
Vanderbilt Universities WRVU back in the 80's known as 91 Rock.  A very tight college station back then.

All Nashville stations

Nock

[Big Bopper]

This thread is a true HOOT!  For 3 months, people gave their opinions about which stations were best.  Then, I asked if creativity matters, and the thread stopped, except for a single posting 3 months later.

Come on, guys, it was a legitimate question.  Or, don't you realize how much of the stuff you hear on radio was stolen, or syndicated by consultants, etc.?  For myself, I'll take originality every time...IF I can find it!

You are shaking my confidence in discussion boards when you hide from such a good question.
Maybe it was too creative, because I did not steal it from someone else.

Oh Baby, That's What I Like!

Your obendient servant,
The Big Bopper

[w9wi]

Thunder 94 while they were around

In terms of creativity, in the 20 years I've been in Nashville I'd certainly give the nod to this one.  As usually seems to happen in this industry it was, unfortunately, too creative to last.

[firepoint525]

Thunder 94 while they were around

In terms of creativity, in the 20 years I've been in Nashville I'd certainly give the nod to this one.  As usually seems to happen in this industry it was, unfortunately, too creative to last.

Ditto the Phoenix.

[Meepster]

There just aren't that many "original" ideas left. Let alone time to actually DO anything creative.
That's all been taken away by corporate suits by making skeleton staffs man several stations in a group. Daily, it gets more difficult to be creative due to most radio folks having to try to cover their arses and just keep a job. Plus, there is much less time for "creativity" when you have to v/t shifts on three other stations in the cluster.
Clusters cut down to one production guy so every spot that's not agency is the same person. (Once in a while there is a different voice, or the production guy/girl DOES get a few moments to try to be creative and at least make it sound like another voice.

The lack of creativity is far more the result of the sad condition of local radio now and much less the lack of creative ability on the part of what's left of radio personel.

[firepoint525]

There just aren't that many "original" ideas left. Let alone time to actually DO anything creative.

It's worth noting that some of the "best Tennessee stations of all time" mentioned here are ones that no longer exist (at least, not in the format that made them great in their heyday) anymore.

That's all been taken away by corporate suits by making skeleton staffs man several stations in a group. Daily, it gets more difficult to be creative due to most radio folks having to try to cover their arses and just keep a job. Plus, there is much less time for "creativity" when you have to v/t shifts on three other stations in the cluster.

Only had to v/t one (the automated FM) while being live on the other (the station was at that time an AM/FM combo).  But they now own five stations in the cluster, including three in that original studio.

Clusters cut down to one production guy so every spot that's not agency is the same person. (Once in a while there is a different voice, or the production guy/girl DOES get a few moments to try to be creative and at least make it sound like another voice.

I never worried about it if my voice was on all the spots.  I figured that that was the GM's problem to worry about.  Although since they are up to five stations in the cluster now, their prod guy could potentially be heard on all five.  But they also have a production director for their two newest properties in the neighboring town, so maybe the workload gets spread around a bit.