of course!

[Dan Strassberg]

WBOQ DID NOT do Big Bands!!! That was the beauty of it. The songs were
standards, but the artists were current, mostly jazz, artists. It was a
blend of (pardon the expression) a smooth jazz presentation and standards
content. Instead of the junk that typical smooth jazz stations play (no
discernible melody, saxophone lead in EVERY cut), it was an eclectic
combination of recognizable, melodic music and up-and-coming artists. Just
the idea that talented people are out there still recording that incredible
material--much of it with vocals of urbane, literate lyrics by the likes of
Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, and many others--is an inspiration.
Unfortunately, that material is no longer on the air--here or anywhere else
that I know of--except maybe on XM and Sirius.

But your response perfectly encapsulates the kind of conformist thinking I
wrote about. You had never heard the station and yet you KNEW--just
KNEW--what WBOQ was doing. And you were absolutely, 100% WRONG! Clearly, you
are ready to be a Vice President (at least) at some major group owner.

--
Dan Strassberg, dan.strassberg@att.net
eFax 707-215-6367

----- Original Message -----
From: SteveOrdinetz <steveord@bit-net.com>
To: Boston Radio Interest <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: of course!


> Dan Strassberg wrote:
> >Well, WBOQ was obviously targeting the Volvo set and was apparently doing
it
> >very successfully. The MANY spots were clearly targeted at the
sensibilities
> >of an upscale suburban audience that would appreciate the unique--and in
my
> >opinion, wonderful--selection of music. I figure that the new format
> >basically targets the folks who live in (and keep setting fire to) the
> >rooming houses in Lynn.
>
>
> Huh?  I've never lived in Lynn and have no idea who does live there, but
> since when does an oldies format specifically target low lifes?  If WBOQ
> was very successful targeting the Volvo crowd, my guess is that it would
be
> still doing what it was.  More likely if the studio monitor was turned
down
> they lost half their audience, and if you weren't listening there went the
> other half.  Most people I know who drive expensive foreign cars like
> Volvos don't listen to big bands/standards.  Maybe that was part of the
> problem?
>
>
> >I guess this isn't news, but the US radio industry (or at least
> >radio-industry management) seems to be populated by some of the dumbest
> >conformist suits on the planet. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but
how
> >can one not be continually astounded by the herd mentality?
>
>
> Not to mentioning trying to reach an audience that isn't particularly
> interested in "unique" formats.  No matter how "wonderful" a format is, if
> there's no one in the coverage area that wants to hear it, you're gonna
fail.
>