TN HALL OF FAME BANQUET SAT MAY 5

[onetake]

Should be a strong banquet. Ralph Emery, Gerry House, Scott Shannon, Wink Martindale, Luther Massengill all there to be inducted. WSM Station of the year. A who's who of radio. Banquet and dinner at Embassy Suites Murfreesboro. Tickets include one year membership in the Tenn Radio Hall of Fame.  Details at their website or call the Tenn Association of Broadcasters to purchase tickets via credit card.

   

[Don78]

Just one question, If WSM is the station of the year, What year are we talking about? IMHO, WSM has been on a down hill slide for years. It once was my favorite station, but that was when they had "Ole Bud" and the 24 hour news team, Keith Bilbrey, Hairl Hensley, and many more I'm sure I am forgetting. Americana music seems to be another bad choice made. The "Air Castle of the South" ain't as good as it once was.

[olebud]

What year are we talking about? IMHO, WSM has been on a down hill slide for years

I may be wrong...and that's possible...but I think the category is "Legendary" station of the year.  There are a nuimber of them still around that like the "Old Grey Mare, She Ain't What She Used to Be",,,,and I just realized that so many of you youngsters won't have a clue what I'm talking about...but trust me..it was an old song title that is self explanitory.  WSM AM is still carrying on the legend with the Grand Ole Opry...whether you like it or don't.  But it is one of the legendary staions in the nation.  There are legendary stations in many of our cities, not just the large ones..we'd just like to recognize them and to most of us, this was a place to start.  Would like to see more of you join us as we put this together.  Will it be perfect...No...but we're shooting for making it better each year.
Go to tennradiohalloffame.org and lear how to take part...we'd love to have you and your input for next year.  There is also a catagory for people who haven't worked in the business in the state for two years...maybe that's you?

[deltas69]

Man I wish I could do the remote for this gig..."C'mon down..we got a lot going on here"..I'd do it for 1972 level talent fees..which is probably all I'm worth anyway...seriously KA-doo's to all the inductees..Certainly a gathering of "WHO'S WHO"..

[olebud]

Man I wish I could do the remote for this gig..."C'mon down..we got a lot going on here"..I'd do it for 1972 level talent fees..which is probably all I'm worth anyway

[nah...WE wouldn't have to pay anyone, YOU'D have to pay us, and believe me....you couldn't get it for 72 talent fee....we'd determine whether you were worth it or not... if you were /color]

[deltas69]

JUST YOU WAIT !!    I'll do an aircheck tonight and show you !!! LOL   Why I have well over twenty listeners, sometimes all at once !!...more than some AM stations   

[stod]

So WSM-AM plays Americana? Full time?

[oldiesgirl]

They don't play it fulltime.  They play a mix of classic country, today's country, and Americana.  They occasionally throw in some bluegrass.  It's the best when Eddie Stubbs is on the air because he plays a lot of the really old stuff that you don't normally get to hear.

[olebud]

oldiesgirl says

They occasionally throw in some bluegrass.  It's the best when Eddie Stubbs is on the air because he plays a lot of the really old stuff that you don't normally get to hear

I think we all have our own idea of what makes good music and good anouncers, etc..according to our age and what we grew up with.  Several years ago, Dick Layman was the morning news guy on WSM...very quick witted, dry humor, good guy.  The news desk was in the room with my office.  One morning as Dick is standing by, waiting to do the news, the announcer had played one of those old 30s or 40s hits...lots of scratchy fiddle and high pitched 'noise' to Dick.  They came out of that song with a promo saying, "WSM, with the music you don't hear anywhere else."  To which Dick looked over at me and dryly commented, "and there's probably a damn good reason for that."

[deltas69]

You have to wonder  The demo for WSM is getting a bit long in the tooth..I prefer to hear real country..at the odd times I want to hear it..but going back so far in their vault may be playing to an audience that is not there anymore..just like the Big Band format that has all but vanished..and I suspect the music from the 60's/70's that will be gone when the oldsters like myself are but a faint memory..as a some what erstwhile musician back in the day playing for class reunions, parties..etc..we seldom got requests for country earlier than the eighties..and then it was few and far between..wondering if 30 years from now..will today's audience want to hear Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley  etc..at reunions.. ...or will there even be such as thing as reunions..or radio that plays that music