Well Ive notced that Charlie Fm is playing 90% 80's music and it sounds like CRAP!! For some reason they have taken out all of the classic rock and motown and replaced it with some VERY STALE 80's songs.
SERIOUSLY HOW MANY TIMES DO WE NEED TO HEAR "YOU SPIN ME ROUND LIKE A RECORD" BY DEAD OR ALIVE???? Talk about a burnt out overplayed 80's song. We were listening to Charlie today at work and ended up turning back to KGON. Im afraid the corporate suits have gotten a hold of the music. Nothing but burnt out stale 80's songs with a few burnt out stale 90's songs by The Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20. I'll give them a few more days and then if this stale playlist continues Im done. They are starting to sound like the Buzz and I can't stomach the music on the Buzz.
If you're bragging about how big your playlist is, THAN PROOVE IT!!!

Can you YELL A LITTLE LOUDER?!?!

HOW'S THIS? IT'S ALL IN THE PROCESSING.

I didn't know the Buzz played stale 80s music.

What's stale is the damn top 40 list that is at least 25 years old from that era. Jeeeez, toss in a few different tracks and artists once in a while, take a chance and play something fresh, not stale and moldy with green growing on it like all of the science projects in the break room refrigerator!

buns sez: "it sounds like CRAP!!"


Your steely buns are sagging, grandpa!

It's one of the weirdest phenomenons in radio.

Historically, stations with a tight playlist - ones that play those so-called "burnt-to-a-crisp songs" over and over - always get better ratings than if they loosen the playlist.

Prove that assertion wrong - with NUMBERS, not emotions - and you'll get Charlie to open up their list.

The ironic part is that Charlie's entire marketing strategy is based upon their claim that they play a LARGER playlist than anyone else. A few days of listening to them, however, proves this to be a laughable farce. When they first started out, they played an acceptable mix of 60s, 70s, a little 80s and 90s, and a neutered HotAC mix. Other than "Charlie Girl"s call-in show, the playlist now is repetitive, predictable, and HEAVILY slanted towards 80s overplayed hits.

Charlie FM: We play everything **




** For purposes of this marketing campaign, Charlie FM reserves the right to redefine the word 'everything' to mean any quantity of music up to and including .001% of all recorded music. Additionally we have redefined "rare" to mean "ubiquitous," "lost" to mean "ever-present," and "Dr. Doug & Skippy" to be "funny."

The phenomenon is not that wierd, 1lossir! Those tunes are not "burnt-to-a-crisp" with the vast majority of listeners. They aren't in the radio biz. They don't pay much attention. They want to hear their favorite songs.

Consider how successful the old Seinfeld (or MASH or Cheers...yada yada) is compared to the overwhelming majority of fresh, new series that hit TV each year. I'm sure most TV programmers don't ever want to hear the theme from Seinfeld ever again. But that's where the money/audience is.

I get the feeling Charlie is kinda dead in the water right now, just doesn't seem that they are "in the game" at the moment.

Maybe it's just another indication of how off the radio biz is these days. You see stations like Charlie, Jammin' and Movin' just drifting with no one seeming to care about trying to break space in the market place.

And isn't it strange that you never see Z-100 on the streets? Never see Jammin' out there, or any other radio station for that matter. Street presence is dead, here in Portland at least.

Been channel surfing the morning drive and find Dougy and Skipper annoying to listen to for very long. For those who are occasional listeners the moldy music list is fine but for those who have a desk job with the radio on from morning drive through afternoon drive and into the evening slot you can get tired of the same old same old and begin to predict the song when they tease you with the artist. If "B" sides and new music from classic groups are not for the normal rotation then make a special out of it one day a week, say from 5pm to 7pm. There's tons of "B" side classics that need airing out from time to time and new material needs to be heard as well. Give it 2 hours a week, can't hurt!

"Street presence is dead, here in Portland at least."

Well, it IS the middle of Winter.

The TV rerun comparison is a very good one, that explains a lot! Thanks!

Thank you missing. I studied long and hard at the Michael J. Phillips College of analogies for DJs.

"Imagine that you're dating a flight attendant. A very, very hot flight attendant. She's only in town a few nights a week, and you know her favorite food on earth is Apple Pie. She just loves Apple Pie. So you serve apple pie. You served it last week, you served it the week before. You served it the week before that. Frankly, YOU are getting sick of apple pie. But the hot flight attendant just got to town, and is coming over to your place tonight. Are you going to serve her apple pie? Or are you going to serve her cheesecake....For Variety?!?!"

(He also had an excellent one involving a pickle....)

The TV thing can also be looked at a different way. A TV show is on at a specific time. I know what time my favorite re-runs are on but I will look for something in the program maybe a little more interesting and if I find it i'm there. When you listen to radio about 50 hours a week that is a little different than a TV show re-run. Why do you think Mash got canned on channel 12 and replaced with that POC TMZ. Program Flip. Mash while a great program was getting tiresome and probably was tanking in that slot while I am sure trash TV is doing quite well. Same thing with a 30 year old top 40 playlist. There are some songs that when played I either turn off the radio, change stations, or fire up the Zune for some Tunes. There are just to many other choices available to have to suffer through stale music. I ain't saying to dump it but expand it some. IMHO of course.

Edit Add:
Serve Both. She can still enjoy her apple pie while you get some cheesecake.

I will risk taking the stew to Jakes for the hot berry cobler with vanilla ice cream and steal her away from you!

In your analogy look at the guy. The poor sap has to suffer through the apple pie (stale music) in order to get the stew (occasional fresh music). By serving up the apple pie and cheesecake you get the best of both worlds and everyone is happy. And you never know, one day she may want to partake of the cheesecake, but if you quit serving it and insist on only serving the pie, she may wander to another who does (different station). Peoples tastes do change over time. Embrace those listeners who offer feedback about radio as you know they are listening while those that don't or quit offering feedback are likely no longer tuned into you.

Due to the writers strike,

the tdanner post regarding apple pie is a reprint from an earlier thread.......

Serve the cheese cake and take your chances, but have the pie ready just in case........

LOL@Roger

I'm hoping Mork & Mindy makes it back on the tube due to the writers strike!

When you listen to radio 50 hours a week you are so far out on the tail of the bell curve that you're rubbing elbows with Ron Paul.

And "the poor sap" isn't trying to please himself, or please the next flight attendant to wander by. He's trying to get laid by the one who's arriving tonight. And she's made it clear that she loves apple pie.

And roger... I did everything but footnote... quotes, source, etc. Get over yourself.

Not that this has anything to do with the title of this post, but I remember a certain flight attendant who was so pissed at KFRC for introducing The Game Zone that she was forced to begin listening to Talk radio on her one hour commute home and has never stopped. (Now NPR mostly.) AND, yes, she likes apple pie!

Got a desk job so it's either turn the radio on or listen to other people's phone conversations.

OK. I see your point, but what happens after 30 years of apple pie when the Stew starts to get tired of it and begins asking for more of a selection? Do you still only serve apple pie and let her walk? Peoples tastes change and too much of a good thing can ruin it forever.

The reason why I started this thread is because I have always been impressed with Charlies playlist. One of the best stations Ive ever heard! Im the type who does like all types of music 70's 80's 90's and today.
But lately Im beginning to hear a much tighter playlist with A TON of Daughtery and Pink CRAP!!! How much of that stuff do we really need to hear???
Lets not forget that when these Charlie/jack/ dave stations came on the air they were all about playing the deeper tracks, not just the worn out hits, AND THEY WERE!!! But lately Ive been really unimpressed with the music variety. I love 80's music BUT I don't want to hear just 80's music, and they seem to be playing a TON of it. What about the 60's and what about the 70's????? They need to practice what they preach. THANK GOD they have the random request hour with Charlie Girl, that show ROCKS and is by far the best two hour of music on the radio, because they really do play pretty much everything, within reason.
As far as the morning show goes, I like Dr. Doug and Skippy but that show needs direction. "the Worlds easiest trivia quiz" is by far the biggest snooze/ Tune out. That show needs some content and prep. The show has potential but it is not living up to it. Maybe bring Dan Clark aboard and that show would really take off. Just a thought!

I'm not a great judge about Charlie as I am only an occasional listener of it, my comments were not really directed at any one station but they all have similar traits. I totally agree that stations need to water down the top40 list with slightly deeper tracks but not to obscure as to lose peoples interest. Oh ya, don't forget about the new music from older established groups that never catches any airtime either.

ok, first off, The variety of music on Charlie is still pretty damn impressive in my book. Was listening to the Random Request Hour with Charlie Girl and was totally satisfied with the song selections, the other day. I heard Alice in Chaines, followed by The Doobie Brothers. LOVE IT! Thats the type of variety I love.
Charlie Kicks ass! But yes I have to agree, a little less Daughtery and Pink would be nice, that stuff is soooooo BORING!

@Tdanner: You are quite welcome!

I'm mulling around Dark's introduction of specific programs at specific times...

Due to the writers strike,

the tdanner post regarding apple pie is a reprint from an earlier thread.......

Serve the cheese cake and take your chances, but have the pie ready just in case........


LOL! That is the damn funniest thing I have ever read! Danner sure loves her apple pie! LOL!

Darktemper>>Mash got canned on channel 12 ... while a great program was getting tiresome and probably was tanking in that slot

I don't think the M*A*S*H analogy works. M*A*S*H still runs at 12:30am and has been picked up by both TV Land and Hallmark TV.

Perry Mason has been at noon for 35 years, and Star Trek would probably still be on if they still had the rights to it.

"Stairway to Heaven," anyone?

Ya you might be right but i'll bet you that the trash TV show TMZ is scoring huge numbers for them in that time slot compared to MASH. I personally cannot watch and/or stomach it.

What bugs my about the station is the random not funny characters. Titsy mcgee, some word guy and stoner guy? Who cares, and it's waaaayyy old. I like the music, but agree that the station should mix it up more. It seemd like it was more all over in the beginning. I like the doug and skippy show. As far as local morning shows I thin they are pretty good. What that station needs is more live dj's. Charlie girl should do afternoons for a full 4 hours. They should hire someone to do middays, and nights, and voicetrack a overnight dj. Keep the music unpredictable.

I agree with jonb..the random jocks on the station are a tune out. random blurbs from these people are every 5 mins and a tune out.I think the music and the morning show sounds alot better the past few months on 97. I was a hater at first and at times I still am with them but compared to other local a.m. shows it is not bad.

I think the Stoner voice guy on Charlie is hilarious. The music is not as good as it used to be. I've noticed that they are starting to play a lot more of the new crap that the Buzz is playing. I don't mind hearing some new music on charlie, infact I think its awesome that they are playing the latest single from bruce springsteen, but don;t overkill the station with Pink, Daughtery and Gwen Steffani CRAp that the Buzz is playing. Play more of the lost songs that you never hear anymore, dig deeper charlie!
The charlie girl Random request Hour is a ton of fun to listen to. Great music with a great jock. Speaking of Jocks, that station needs more LIVE DJ"S!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring some personality to the station. Dr Doug and Skippy need to work on their show because at times that show can be extremely painful to listen to. Worlds easiest Trivia Quiz- AWFUL and extremely boring. Birthday shout outs??? WTF?? Talk about listener tune out!!!! Your average listener does not give a CRAP that it is JOE SHmo's birthday!
Get rid of it! OPEN PHONES- WTF???? Get rid of it. Get some show prep boys! You have the potential to have a killer morning show, but the lack of content is turning people away!!
And last but not least, be more Random with the music!!!!!!!!!

I just heard new liners on charlie this morning, and they sounded like the exact liners that are on "the Buzz" infact for a second I thought I was listening to the Buzz. They have women shouting "goo Goo Dolls, " Matchbox 20" ect, than it says WE PLAY EVERYTHING.
Hmmm, thats not playing everything, that is taking the Buzz and playing there music. How many stations need to play that CRAP, seriously!
Im listening to "the Random request hour" than turning back to KGON. Charlie is starting to sound like Hypocrites. Where are the "lost tracks" Charlie?I sure don't hear them anymore.
Where is the alternative rock?
Where is the classic Rock?
Where is the Motown?
The random request hour is the 2 most enjoyable hours on the radio, why can't the whole station sound like this??
Hearing "entersandman" By Metallica followed by "Ring of Fire" By Johnny Cash sounds so damn good! Heard that the other day on the random request hour and thought to myself "this is so good!" If the music variety was this good all day, I would never turn o my IPOD and listen to the radio 24/7.

Aren't 97.1 and 105.1 owned by the same company? Why would they want two stations that are so similar?

So Beano and BOS it's time to listen to another station don't ya think???

I love you all. - Charlie Girl

Random Request Hour(s) on Charlie RULES!!!!!!!!!!
Best two hours of music on the radio. Charlie Girl RULES!!!!!!!

Welcome to the board, Shel. Your input will be valuable.

Bunsofsteel said, "The random request hour is the 2 most enjoyable hours on the radio, why can't the whole station sound like this??"

Because that would require a staff!

The Random request Hours are the only time I will listen to Charlie.
Its the only time I can hear a good variety of hits. If they didn't have the Random request hours, Charlie would be off my dial!