Classic Hits include 50s?

[DavidEduardo]

Let me correct my statement: The 55+ MUSIC audience has moved on.  Most 55+ that listen to radio are listening to Talk. 

That's just not true. You are developing a habit of making statements not borne out in fact.

I took one market with a very successful AM talker... Los Angeles In 55+, that station is, in fact, #1, but with a bit over a 10 share. Add all the other spoken word stations, like KNX, KABC, KPPC, etc., and talk has about 30% of all listening.

Music stations are responsible for 70% of 55+ listening in LA. AC stations, Classic Hits stations, Spanish AC stations, and one and on.

Then to New York, the leading talker has just over a 6 share in 55+. The all news stations have 19 shares, and sports has 7 shares. The other talkers have a few shares, too. But overall music stations get two-thirds of the listening.
 

[TheFonz]

While many 55+ households have more spendable income than they did when raising kids, that does not mean that they are all rushing out to buy a Lexus.

Looking at the stock market over the last few days, they're not rushing out to buy anything.  But we won't get into politics here.

[landtuna]

If you look at the income figures for the general population in the 55-64 demo today, you find the vast, vast bulk of households at or below the national household income average. In 65+, about half of that mostly-retired group is living off Social Security alone, and has no assets save for, possibly, some equity in a home used as a residence.

I don't know about everywhere but I do know about here and your statement fits my area about as closely as it fits Beverly Hills.  If you looked at my income you would find only SS + the pittance my wife earns.  But that would not be anywhere near what we actually earn.  I'm absolutely certain that I am not alone in using the current tax system to my advantage.  The gubmint cannot tax what it cannot see.  Let's just say I have Romney beat. 

While many 55+ households have more spendable income than they did when raising kids, that does not mean that they are all rushing out to buy a Lexus.

Of course not but they are spending more on the kids (or grandkids), recreation, entertainment, home upgrading/remodel and vehicles in general (although like me, would never waste money on image-centric cars like Lexi).  Go into any upscale watering hole around here and you will see two groups of people predominate - the Yuppie Puppies (corporate carpet dwellers) and the gray hairs.  The YP's are having beer and nachos.  We OTOH are having $30 steaks and scotch.

You know the great part of getting older?  ALL my income is spendable.  I will consider myself a huge success if the check to the funeral home bounces.   

[willdav713]

If you look at the income figures for the general population in the 55-64 demo today, you find the vast, vast bulk of households at or below the national household income average. In 65+, about half of that mostly-retired group is living off Social Security alone, and has no assets save for, possibly, some equity in a home used as a residence.

I don't know about everywhere but I do know about here and your statement fits my area about as closely as it fits Beverly Hills.  If you looked at my income you would find only SS + the pittance my wife earns.  But that would not be anywhere near what we actually earn.  I'm absolutely certain that I am not alone in using the current tax system to my advantage.  The gubmint cannot tax what it cannot see.  Let's just say I have Romney beat. 

While many 55+ households have more spendable income than they did when raising kids, that does not mean that they are all rushing out to buy a Lexus.

Of course not but they are spending more on the kids (or grandkids), recreation, entertainment, home upgrading/remodel and vehicles in general (although like me, would never waste money on image-centric cars like Lexi).  Go into any upscale watering hole around here and you will see two groups of people predominate - the Yuppie Puppies (corporate carpet dwellers) and the gray hairs.  The YP's are having beer and nachos.  We OTOH are having $30 steaks and scotch.

You know the great part of getting older?  ALL my income is spendable.  I will consider myself a huge success if the check to the funeral home bounces.   

Or in the case of my grandfather watching and buying 2 of the same items off the Home Shopping Network.  He bought the very first GO Video Dual Deck VCR. Along with a Sunsetter Awning which sat in the Garage until the day he died (we ended up giving it away to an electrician who in turn knock off the fee for installing a new Electrical Panel in my parents house) He had a fight over the bill with both Time Warner and Dish Network, and would all he would do is listening to the Bose Wave Radio which was either on 790 KBME, or KTRH 740. Around 1 1/2 years later he got DirectTV.