The Oldies format is continually evolving. 20 years ago, most music was from the 50's to mid 60's. These days, most music is from the late 60's to mid 80's.
Adult Contemporary? Same thing. The 70's are now almost off limits.
Country? You'll be hard pressed to hear anything before Y2K, and especially before 1995.

When I was growing up, there was about a 10 - 12 year spread between the median song age at Classic Rock vs. Oldies.
Today, there is almost no difference.

My question is very simple: why has Classic Rock been slower to youthen its playlist than other adult-oriented formats? The average classic rock song era these days seems to be late 70's / early 80's. Is Classic Rock becoming the de facto Oldies outlet in many markets?

I have some thoughts of my own on the matter, but would be curious to hear what others have to say first.

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Dave & Chuck are two no-talent hacks.

now classic hits and Adult contemporary overlap in some stations, like the new soft rock 105.1 or FM 106.5 in k-zoo.

Then I guess for those like me, we're out of the loop if they're not going to cater to the pre-60's material.

Simple: Classic Rock is associated with that baby boomer group. 60's and 70's was their time.

Generation X (the generation after the boomers) won't respond to the classic rock moniker. Just like the Boomers disliked the whole "Cool Gold" or "Oldies" monikers. Also, look at the garbage that was being put out in the early 80's. Hair band music isn't deep enough to justify a format.

When it will get really interesting is when the iPod (Gen Y and Millenniums) become the main income target. Radio will still be clinging to Classic Rock and some of the similar formats.

The "Active Rock" station in our market has a playlist with 50% + of the rotation coming from the 90's and grunge stuff. I just don't think there is enough music being created today that is worthy of a broadcast rock format.

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"Actually that's kind of the problem with Radio, for every real legend, you get about fifteen tired old gasbags who stick around too long."

WCSX seems to be an exception- they still regularly play 60s, even as far back as 1964! (You Really Got Me and House of the Rising Sun come to mind)

Oldies - Classic Rock or whatever isn't evolving as much as following a moving target. The target is people 25 to 49. The format is the music they listened to when they were (roughly) 12 to 24 (give or take). The appeal of the format doesn't change. Just the people listening and the artists being programmed.

There is a lot of junk rock out there no doubt about that, but there is a lot of good stuff being made, however it's just a matter of getting stations to play it. There is a saying, you have to have stuff that sucks to have stuff that is cool.

Yes the audience keeps changing. I worked an Oldies format in the late 90's and didn't like the introduction of Mid 70's material....traditionalist I guess. Same reason "Music of Your Life" and any nostalgia formats are virtually non-existant.....My son is 28 and likes Classic Rock, that's his "Oldies". Plus, many choices out there than to just listen to traditional radio stations. Sad but obvious.

I have to agree with Fred. Radio programs to an audience they can sell advertising for and that age is creeping forward every year. The "Golden Age" (12 to 24 give or take) is the target for radio stations. To sell advertising, they need to move into that target group. The music has to change as the target age changes. That's the reason "Music of Your Life" is all but gone. Not many businesses advertise to people over 70!

Figure the "Golden Age" of your favorite station to see what their target age is and you'll see what we mean.

They'll have to suck it for all I care!


Sadly true.

I hope the generation that comes next will get it in their heads what we're putting up with now.

I think this is a good point. "Classic rock," more than other formats, seems to indicate a specific time period of music to baby boomers. This may be true to some extent with other formats, but it seems like there's less resistance to the music of other formats becoming continuously newer.

I also feel like I'm not very sure what the "Oldies" format truly consists of anymore. I'm under the impression that WOMC no longer plays a straight Oldies format; it seems to be more of an Oldies/Classic Hits mix. Are there still stations that play traditional oldies? And what does that consist of? Do those stations delve into 1980s music?

I can tell you even CKWW has altered their playlist. There's barely any 50s played at all, being replaced with titles up to about 1979.

Not sure if I've heard a title from 1980 on, but I know for a fact they've played some from 1979.

Using the internet, satellite radio, or buying an I-pod with the songs you like are all solutions to this. Once you figure out the technology it can be a lot of fun.

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It doesn't matter what you call it - oldies, classic hits, classic rock, nostalgia ....

The concept is always the same: Pick a target age demo. Play the stuff they grew up with, went to school with and dated with. People's taste in clothes, grooming and music are formed between 12 and 24 (give or take) - from when they first start thinking about sex to when they start raising kids and taking on adult responsibilities. At that point, people stop listening or paying attention to CHR, AAA or Top 40 and want to hear the music from back in the day, over and over. At this point and for the next 20 years, they are in the money demos.

When they leave the money demos, the music they like gets bumped down to some weaker stick and the advertisers are financial planners, drug companies, travel agents with cruise packages. This is where boomer oldies reside now. Having displaced nostalgia-MOR-standards their parents listen to.

We are all on treadmill to oblivion (Fred Allen's phrase) passing through the money demos on the way.

I couldn't have said it better. As I mentioned before, I generally call the 12 to 24, the "Golden Age". The target demo for a station would be about the middle of that Golden Age.