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WBOS now a '90s oldies station
By adamg on Sat, 02/02/2008 - 1:20pm
David Tomm reports that WBOS started calling itself Radio 92.9 around 6 p.m. yesterday and that it now features a playlist of golden oldies from the early '90s.
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Comments
WBOS
Howie Carr of WRKO-AM and the Boston Herald occasionally takes calls on the subject of "standing heads"...a newspaper term for frequently recurring headlines that they used to have ready in the manual typeset days. Examples would be "Multi-alarm fire breaks out in Lawrence" or "Rap star arrested on gun possession charges". One standing head for the radio industry hereabouts would be: "WBOS Changes Format".
WBOS
"Golden Oldies" of the early 90's?! Wow, I must be getting old. I remember when the 'oldies' were the 50's & 60's! Ouch.
Radio's last hope
It sounds like they're targeting the last generation to care even a little bit about music on terrestrial radio. My high school students haven't so much given up on radio as they have never really used it in the first place. For them, there was no appeal. But, I don't even blame mp3's. I blame dimwitted egotistical program directors and consultants. Consultants killed FM. Consolidation made it happen faster and more uniformly across the country.
WBOS
Agreed. FM radio wacks it. Betwixt commercials and the people who are in charge, they've destroyed radio. I will leave it tuned off (or listen to news and traffic) while I drive. Too bad.
Plenty of good FM stations remain
Have you tried WMBR, WERS, WHRB, or WUMB, for instance?
I only listen to college radio
When I first came to Boston in 1993 I at least gave WFNX a chance. That didn't last long. I went right to WMBR, WZBC, WBUR, and WHRB. I worked at WERS but admittedly didn't listen much in my off hours. I also was involved with the movement to legalize Lower Power FM community radio in the 90's. Radio Free Allston/Allston Brighton Free Radio. Radio Free Cambridge... those were fun times! Success...was partial.
satellite radio
i LOVE Sirius satellite radio. I've had it for 2 years now, and I couldn't be happier. No commercials on the music stations!
isn't that only for cars, though?
How well does it work in buildings? Does it require attaching a dish antenna to your window?
Change for the worse
Just a quick thought on the change at WBOS...It caught me off guard to hear the crap they were playing...As I was driving home from work I found myself immersed in this "music" the only thing missing was the spiked Kool-aid and the teens running around the rave....Sad day for Boston radio....R.I.P.- W.B.O.S You guys were the best.
bos
im from rhode island and listen to bos all the time i was very unhappy about the change and agree that the change was a bad move! sorry to say i dont listen to bos anymore.
92.9 Off My Programmed Selections
Well said, couldn't agree more!
It used to be my absolute favorite. I even managed to get my teenager duaghter to like it, but now it's off my programmed selections. I wish 92.5 had better reception in downtown Boston.
'90's? Really?
Because I'm pretty sure the song they're playing right now is "Lazy Eye" by Silversun Pickups, and that album came out in 2006.
Oh, OK
"The music of our lives, from the
'80s,'90s and today!"More WBOS details
Jessica Heslam reports on the axing of the DJs (George Knight does keep his Sunday-morning show):
Earthfest backing will continue.
The comments on Heslam's article so far are all negative, including this one:
Bob Marley == '90s huh?
he died in 1981 so how can he be considered '90s music?
two clicks to the left
you will find 92.5 the river.pretty close to what wbos was at one time witha bit of the old wfnx flavor.nice mix of newer and older.give it a try if you haven't already.
I have been a faithful
I have been a faithful listener to WBOS for years and why? because the music was well balanced and awesome and the DJ's were informative I couldnt believe the station changed and 92.9 is now crap. I'll be going to 92.5 the River. Very disapointed. Why did you mess with perfection?
WBOS change
I was away last week on vacation. When I returned to work yesterday and turned my radio on and heard that WBOS changed, first thing - VERY VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED. I like the mix of music they played and don't get the River (92.5) at work.
I've switched over to WZLX because most of what this new Radio 92.9 was playing is stuff that I didn't care much for.
Sorry...seems like I listened to WBOS for years. A good thing was ruined.
Bye bye BOS
I've been a faithful BOS listener for 17 years and will miss it very much. Can't stand the new format so far but some of the music is okay. At least we still have the 92.5 the River. I hope George Knight goes there so I can make a complete break.
Apparently, if you are not a
Apparently, if you are not a part of the Hannah Montana demographic, you're considered an oldies listener.
Aaaahhh...
Kinvara/Green Briar cover band music. Oh, the memories (or lack thereof).
The Change
YUCK!!!
They're targeting my demographic
...with the music that was popular when I was in high school and college.
And yet I'm not interested.
Here's part of the reason ....
Well, you can't argue the ratings.
These are old (last May) but probably didn't change much ...
Mornings, 25-54 age group
1. KISS (Matt Siegel) with a 7.8 share
2. WBZ (Ed Walsh)with a 6.6 share
3. WEEI (Dennis and Callahan)with a 5.8 share
4. JAMN (RAMIRO & PEBBLES)94.5 FM with a 5.2 share
5. WMJX (Mike Addams) with a 5.1 share
6. WROR (Loren and Wally))with a 4.2 share
7. WODS (Dale Dorman) with a 3.7 share
8. WTKK (Imus) and WAAF (Greg Hill)(107.3 FM) tied with a 3.4 share
10. WBMX (John Lander) with a 3.3. share
11. WKLB (JW)with a 3.1 share
12. WBCN (Opie and Anthony)(104.1 FM) with a 2.9 share
13. WMKK (Mike)(93.7 MIKE FM) with 2.5 share
14. WZLX (Karlson and McKenzie,)with a 2.4 share
15. WBOS (More Music Morning Show)(92.9 FM) with a 2.2 share
16. WRKO (Tom Finneran)(680 AM) with a 1.6 share
Overall, 25-54 age group
1. WMJX - (106.7 FM) with a 6.8 share
2. KISS - 108 FM with a 6.3 share
3. WJMN - (94.5 FM) with a 5.5 share
4. WEEI - (850 AM) with a 5.1 share
5. WBZ - (1030 AM) with a 4.6 share
6. WODS - 103 FM with a 4.5 share
7. WKLB - Country (102.5) with a 3.7 share
8. WROR - (105.7 FM) with a 3.5 share
9. WZLX - (100.7 FM) and WBMX (98.5 FM) tied at ninth with a 3.3 share
Source: Boston Radio Blog - http://bostonradio.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive...
Blogging up a storm on the format change
Pamela Rosenthal has been writing quite a bit about the new format - none of it positive:
Tell me why??????
I can't stand the new format! I miss my old 'Bos and will not listen to the station anymore. I WAS a longtime fan. I will miss what was my favorite station.
when did...
the 90s become 'oldies'??
This is why I stopped listening to 92.9, WBCN, and FNX - they all just suck now. I switched to WERS and now actually hear some interesting and different music.
Editorial license
Back when I was a young'un, "oldies" meant stuff from the 50s and early '60s, or starting about 15 years back (yes, I am a boomer). So by that yardstick, something recorded in 1990 is an "oldie."
And, yes, WERS rocks, although I'd pitch in to help them get some new station IDs besides that woman endlessly repeating that "music for the independent mind" mantra.
College Radio
It can be insanely quirky at times, but I avoid the major stations M-F on those rare times my butt graces the driver's seat of the car.
See also: WZBC, WMBR, and WMFO
My favorite WZBC promos: (hyped up rock station male voice)WZBC - STAY TUNED FOR THE START OF ANOTHER COMMERCIAL FREE DECADE
and, while sitting in my office at HSPH a few years back ... WZBC - ROCKING THE FOUNDATIONS OFF THE HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH! (rofl!)
Good-bye WBOS!
I started listening to WBOS when I was at home on maternity leave and loved it. I did notice in the past couple months, the format had gone downhill. Less new music from the slightly off mainstream bands, more bad songs from the '80's that seemed to be on every time I got in the car. I had started to give up on it already when this happened.
HATE the new format -- moved
HATE the new format -- moved here from chicago, and fell in love with WBOS -- loved the community involvement, the musical variety, the DJs, etc. -- if you have internet access, please check out www.wxrt.com - a chicago station that is very similar to WBOS - easygoing DJS, and a great playlist -- i'm going straight back to WERS and 91.9 (the folksy station)
The station sucks now.
The station sucks now. They've lost me as a listener. If anyone lives towards the cape try 92.7 WMVY. It's a Martha's Vineyard station that is a better version of what WBOS was.
Changes
After a week of this "noise" coming from my former favorite station, no. 1 button on my station choices, I have permanetly deleted 92.9 as a selection. Even if I cared for it I don't think it would be tolerated in my office. Everyone tells me to switch to the River 92.5. I only wish I could receive it in the Foxboro area. I'll miss the DJ's and their commentary and insight to new music and upcoming events. I'd wish the new station good luck, but I don't think they deserve it. My teenage and early twenty something kids don't care for it either. Same with my thirty something friends. What audience is it your targeting anyway???
Hate the new BOS
I am mourning. I miss my BOS. I'm like a lost puppy with no home.
BOS a Disappointment
Hello,
Like many, many people in the Boston area, I woke up last Saturday with a big surprise. I thought at first that WBOS had a new alternative rock show and/or a new DJ...but as time went on, I found out the very bad news. I have been a VIP and a dedicated listener for over 10 years...but with many listening attempts and much regret, I have changed my #1 buttons in my cars and my house to other channels (I still haven't found an absolute favorite yet). I have sent BOS feedback on their site and I have asked family and friends to do the same. I hope they will at least reconsider their music mix...
What the???
I concur with the sentiments of bigbobbyb...
I have been a faithful listener and fan of WBOS for what seems like decades. They've always had such an ecclectic mix and the BEST DJ's around (George - where are you?!) I was on vacation this week so I was listening more than usual - at first I thought I had accidentially hit WFNX or something...what was all this "noise?" Then, I figured BOS was just "mixing it up" a bit. Alas, much to my complete shock and utter dismay, I heard them say "Radio 92.9" and then I knew it was the end of an era. And without any kind of "verbal notice" to their dedicated listeners? WHAT is this crap they are playing?? It's not even tolerable for more than two songs!! My #1 button is being updated immediately - thankfully, I get WXRV 92.5 FM in my area, I know many don't! Greater Media should really re-think this decision -WBOS has so many loyal listeners! They already have a DJ-less radio station, it's called MIKE FM (yuck) this isn't a new and/or improved concept!? I too will leave feedback on the new 92.9 web (which is also pretty depressing to look at) but I honestly doubt they'll post the negative feedback - so far, it's only the pro Radio 92.9 listings posted. The question still remains.. WHAT was (is) Greater Media thinking?? There's an excellent article written by John Chesto about this change -check it out if you have time: http://www.dailynewstribune.com/state/x565319162
Bleurgh
Hmph. I moved out to western MA a couple of years ago but make the trek in to Boston 5 or 6 times a year. Today, on my way in to Brookline, I was bemused by the Radio 92.9 stuff coming out of my radio. I quickly figured BOS had gone the way of Mike FM - a radio station I can take for about 5 minutes before it makes me want to rip my ears off my head. Sadly, the same holds true for this new Radio 92.9 crap. Now it's just another a nameless, faceless station, no different than any other.
I guess I'll stick to 92.5 The River while I'm in the Boston area now. I'd preferred them to BOS for the last few years anyway.