[jlehmann]

Jim Ryan, also PD of Fresh 102.7 is the new CBS-FM program director. As has been discussed before, he is in love with Reel World. This could get real ugly…

[glen]

Yep!

[tyty21]

of course! hopefully he’ll understand that jam is like the landmark of CBS-FM, and that’s a legend!

[bobgreenradioMember]

maybe.
but then again; he just might be very good at what he does. clearly they have been in the dumps for quite some time now….
whatchathink? he wants numbers? numbers to insure job security? and the crud theyve been doing hasnt worked now has it?
-any body for a little “jack”?-

if i was him, id jump at a reelworld custom. at least it has some life to it.

[jlehmann]

CBS-FM’s ratings are the highest they’ve been in years. They have absolutely NOT been “in the dumps.”

[mjb1124Member]

Wow, I did not see this coming. If anything, I would have thought they’d go with Rick Gillette, who programs their other NYC FM sister station 92.3 Now, and previously did great things for CBS Classic Hits station KOOL-FM in Phoenix (with JAM jingles to boot). Or that they would have APD/MD Lenny Bloch or nighttime guy Ron Parker (who has programming experience). I don’t doubt that Jim Ryan has done good things in the ratings for the AC stations he programmed, but does he have any significant experience with Classic Hits?

And yes, he’s made it clear that Reelworld is his favorite jingle company. So I can only hope that he’ll recognize that JAM jingles are an integral part of the station’s iconic sound that has brought them plenty of success, INCLUDING recently. (And for the record, I think the current CBS-FM jingles have plenty of “life” to them.) At least there’s some solace in the fact that outgoing PD Brian Thomas will continue to be the VP of Classic Hits programming at CBS, and therefore will still have a say about what goes on the air at 101.1.

Again, I’m not going to deny Jim Ryan’s programming talent, or that Reelworld jingles may work well on other formats. I just can’t see anything by them possibly working on CBS-FM.

[glen]

But he will try to make them work.

[bobgreenradioMember]

just looked at the nyc numbers. cbs-fm clearly has a lot to worry about. granted; theyre not sitting next to wor’s (a total waste of electricity it seems) but the latest book clearly shows they will have serious neck strain looking upward.
viacom wants money. the pd change will get it, or? youll all get to see another new pd.

[jlehmann]

just looked at the nyc numbers. cbs-fm clearly has a lot to worry about. granted; theyre not sitting next to wor’s (a total waste of electricity it seems) but the latest book clearly shows they will have serious neck strain looking upward.
viacom wants money. the pd change will get it, or? youll all get to see another new pd.

What numbers are you looking at? Here’s the overall numbers. showing CBS-FM at number 2:

http://www.radio-info.com/markets/new-york

I have seen posted elsewhere that they are also doing quite well 25-54, even ahead of Fresh 102.7. Clearly you have something against CBS-FM and are not willing to talk about reality.

[mjb1124Member]

I’m thinking Bob must have been looking at the WCBS *AM* ratings. Yes, CBS-FM has been a solid #2 for a long time (except for the two or three months where they hit #1!). Also, for the record, the PD change was only because Brian Thomas is relocating to Tampa to oversee an *entire cluster* of stations. AND he’s still the main person in charge of the Classic Hits format at CBS. So clearly they didn’t see anything wrong with what he was doing.

In fact, the more I think about it, I’m cautiously optimistic that CBS-FM’s sound will not change much under Jim Ryan. Thomas will probably still have a lot of say on the station’s output, and Jim Ryan was probably chosen because he’d be able to keep the day-to-day operations running smoothly. I’m guessing Fresh will still be more of his “baby”. Also keep in mind that Ryan’s programming history has been largely with the AC format, so he may have different imaging preferences for the Classic Hits format. Judging from the comments he made, it does seem like he has great reverence for the station’s legacy and was pleased with the way Brian Thomas was running the show.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/jim-ryan-joins-wcbs-fm-program-director-brings-expertise-n-y-radio-article-1.1089693

[mjb1124Member]

Over a year after Jim Ryan became PD, CBS-FM is still using JAM jingles. And this morning I woke up to a new JAM ID for Dan Taylor – cut 14 from Warp Factor, complete with sonovox. I’ve been listening for about two hours since then and haven’t heard any other new cuts, but stay tuned!

Incidentally, they are using Reelworld for their non-sung imaging – they’re the pilot station for the newly-launched Production Vault Classic Hits. I do think the new imaging sounds good, and it has that 80’s feel that will blend well with the classic Z100 cuts if there are indeed more on the way.

[jc_djmac]

I agree. you know what? maybe WCBS-FM could upgrade to reelworlds WODJ or WLOL packages since they both fit with their classic hits format. since they are using reelworlds production vault classic hits service, I was thinking either packages could fit perfectly with their music!
I don’t know how long they have been using jam, but I’m thinking it’s time for an upgrade. besides, I listened to both the WLOL and the WODJ packages, and I think the WODJ package could fit perfectly with their music, since they play classic hits. don’t you agree? I even have an idea as to how the WODJ package would sound like for WCBS-FM
“the gratest hits of all time, 101.1, CBS-FM.”

[glen]

What’s wrong upgrading Jam?

[MarcMannetje]

I don’t agree JC: creating a DNA for a station takes years and years. People tend to register a recognizable sound in their brains before having a preference for that station. Like KOST did with AC, CBS-FM evolved very well into a modern oldies station just by focussing on a steady sound for years and years.

Flipping to a different style of jingles (like Reelworld) would make the station sound too different. I agree with Glen: a further evolution together with JAM would do the trick…

[LenGroat]

JC:

your comment:

“I don’t know how long they have been using jam”

…explains your opinion. Most of us value ‘heritage’ radio stations ~ if the last few are ruined, and then swept away by financially motivated US or UK groups, there will be NO quality radio left.

At present Reelworld are a mere shadow of JAM; they cannot be ‘judged’ fully for at least another 15 years!

Congratulations to Jon on continuing to provide time-tested idents that have kept WCBS FM ‘at the top’ – or as the JAM singers sang it….

… “Cee Bee Yessssss!! Eff Emmm” ! ! (Have a listen to DIA) !

[mjb1124Member]

If RW did a custom for CBS-FM, I’d listen with an open mind. But I don’t think that the WODJ/WLOL packages (or anything else in their current library) would sound right on CBS-FM at all. And I agree with the three posters above – as long as they periodically update the jingles, there’s no reason JAM can’t keep the station from moving forward. I’m sure that 80’s JAM resings and/or a new JAM custom would freshen up the sound sufficiently, if it even needs freshening up. Why mess something that works so well?

[GrahamCollins]

Absolutely, why waste money on a new custom. Keep JAM resings and maybe add a few each year as the playlist moves forward in time.

I really do hope that CBS-FM do not get a Reelworld package as JC will be here endlessly requesting copies of it…….

[glen]

Lets be honest would you rather listen to the Jam vocals or the screechy RW vocals??

[WAVAMember]

I’m going with Jam on this one.
Reelworld won’t fit the sound of CBS-FM.

[tophour_brianMember]

I don’t know how long they have been using jam, but I’m thinking it’s time for an upgrade.

For what CBS-FM does, staying with JAM is the smart play. One jingle company does not fit all. Despite the tiresome “ReelWorld sucks” screeds around here, they are the gold standard for CHR at present, but that doesn’t mean they’re right for every situation. Same for JAM or any other company.

[bobgreenradioMember]

BULLSEYE!

you are completely correct. if i had to pick a source for a hot fprmat this minute? i would start with reel.
its a no brainer

kinda like dumping an oldsmobile for a new toyota. grandma is dead. the olds sits in the garage, rusting away…..
its time for “now”, not way back “then”

[glen]

Or fingernails on a chalkboard.

[tophour_brianMember]

Or fingernails on a chalkboard.

Ah, look…there’s one of the aforementioned tiresome “ReelWorld sucks” screeds now. SMH.

[mjb1124Member]

I admittedly have had some pretty harsh words for RW in the past, but now I’ll concur that their style is well-suited to stations focused on today’s music. Seems like most of us are in agreement that they’re not the best choice for a station like CBS-FM, though.

Here’s the Dan Taylor Warp Factor cut recorded off the stream. It’s still the only new CBS-FM jingle I’ve heard thus far, but I will continue to keep my ears peeled.

https://soundcloud.com/mjb1124/jam-warp-factor-cut-14-for

[cdwilke85]

I can’t believe everyone is overlooking the obvious. CBS-FM needs to continue in the “Right Direction” and there is only place that can do that for them.

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