The True Oldies Channel

Infobox Network

network_name = The True Oldies Channel
country = United States
network_type = Radio network
available = National, through small, mid-sized, large, and major media market affiliates.
owner = ABC Radio Networks
(through Citadel Broadcasting)
key_people =

launch_date = "Unknown at this time"
founder = Scott Shannon and ABC Radio

past_names =

brand =
website = http://www.trueoldieschannel.com|True Oldies

The True Oldies Channel is a syndicated radio programming stream, hosted by American radio personality Scott Shannon. Distributed by ABC Radio Networks (through Citadel Broadcasting) via satellite, the service plays an oldies format comprising music mostly from 1964 to 1979 but also plays select cuts from the 1955-1963 era and also from the 1980's. The Channel is now leaning towards classic hits.

The service currently has over 60 affiliate stations across the United States. The service is available 24 hours a day. Some stations run the format full-time 24/7 while a few others run it on overnights only. Many member stations, however, generally break away from the program feed at some points during the day to air some local programming, either a local morning show, a local afternoon show, or both. A few even air "Imus in the Morning".

Modifications

Initially, the True Oldies Channel featured only music from 1955 to 1969 with less than ten from 1970 to 1973 (for example "Tears of a Clown" and "Burning Love"). The format was 60% 1964 to 1969 and 40% 1955 to 1963. By 2005, oldies from the early 1970s were added in moderation. The pre 1964 material was cut back slightly. In 2006, more late 1970s music was added and the pre 1964 product was cut down to 2 or 3 songs per hour. In March of 2008, the pre 1964 product was cut down to one per hour during the day and twice an hour on overnights and the hits from the late 1960s and early to mid 1970's was played in equal amounts. A few 1980s cuts were also added.

On July 7, 2008, The True Oldies Channel further modified its format, dropping all but a couple pre 1964 titles and added a large amount of music from the 1980s, playing a couple per hour. The format was then more of a Classic Hits format and was oldies in name only. This change was very short lived and by the end of July they backed off the 1980s music and by August most 1980s music was gone. A moderate amount of pre 1964 material was also reinstated.

Growth

The True Oldies format is experiencing significant growth in exposure following cost-cutting measures across Citadel's payroll. Lower performing stations owned by Citadel, such as WYAY Atlanta and WJZW Washington, are being switched over to True Oldies, sometimes with "Imus in the Morning" as the morning show. WLS-FM Chicago, however, only runs True Oldies Channel on Overnights with a similar local oldies format for the rest of the day.

Sample hours of programming

February 4, 2007

*"Somethin' Stupid" - Nancy & Frank Sinatra
*"A Beautiful Morning" - The Rascals
*"Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops
*"What'd I Say" - Ray Charles
*"This Diamond Ring" - Gary Lewis and the Playboys
*"Respect" - Aretha Franklin
*"Unforgettable" - Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
*"Twist and Shout" - The Beatles
*"Rock the Boat" - Hues Corporation
*"All Day and All of the Night" - The Kinks
*"(They Long to Be) Close to You" - The Carpenters
*"Bus Stop" - The Hollies
*"That'll Be the Day" - Buddy Holly
*"Hippy Hippy Shake" - Chan Romero
*"Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys
*"Hey Paula" - Paul & Paula
*"Jumpin' Jack Flash" - The Rolling Stones

July 9, 2008 (short lived modification)

1 p.m. hour

*"Fun, Fun, Fun" - The Beach Boys
*"Boogie Oogie Oogie" - A Taste of Honey
*"Devil with a Blue Dress On" & "Good Golly Miss Molly" - Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels
*"Hello It's Me" - Todd Rundgren
*"It's the Same Old Song" - Four Tops
*"Sara" - Jefferson Starship
*"Love the One You're With" - Stephen Stills
*"Along Comes Mary" - The Association
*"O-o-h Child" - Five Stairsteps
*"Good Lovin'" - The Young Rascals
*"Philadelphia Freedom" - Elton John
*"Let's Hang On" - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
*"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" - Jimmy Ruffin
*"Private Eyes" - Hall & Oates
*"Let Your Love Flow" - The Bellamy Brothers

eptember 4, 2008

4 a.m. hour

*"For What It's Worth" - Buffalo Springfield
*"You Don't Mess Around with Jim" - Jim Croce
*"Needles and Pins" - The Searchers
*"Grazing in the Grass" - Hugh Masekela
*"Stand by Me" - Ben E. King
*"Some Kind of Wonderful" - Grand Funk Railroad
*"Just Like Romeo & Juliet" - The Reflections
*"My Baby Loves Loving" - White Plains
*"Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
*"Wonderful World" - Sam Cooke
*"Maggie May" - Rod Stewart
*"And When I Die" - Blood, Sweat & Tears
*"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" - Elton John
*"Mony Mony" - Tommy James & The Shondells
*"I Go to Pieces - Peter and Gordon
*"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" - Marvin Gaye
*"Maybe I'm Amazed" - Paul McCartney and Wings
*"Devil Woman" - Cliff Richard
*"Stop! In the Name of Love" - The Supremes
*"American Woman" - The Guess Who
*"Hot Fun in the Summertime" - Sly & The Family Stone
*"Little Town Flirt" - Del Shannon

11 a.m. hour

*"Hair" - The Cowsills
*"Monday Monday" - Mamas & The Papas
*"Loco-Motion" - Grand Funk
*"Catch Us If You Can" - The Dave Clark Five
*"You Make Loving Fun" - Fleetwood Mac
*"Ronnie" - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
*"Reelin' In the Years" - Steely Dan
*"One" - Three Dog Night
*"Black Water" - The Doobie Brothers
*"Think" - Aretha Franklin
*"Palisades Park" - Freddy Cannon
*"Don't Worry Baby" - The Beach Boys
*"She Loves You - The Beatles
*"Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor
*"I'm Stone in Love with You" - The Stylistics

Affiliates

* Abilene, Texas - KFGL
* Atlanta, Georgia - WYAY
* Bainbridge, Georgia - WMGR
* Bemidji, Minnesota - WQXJ-FM
* Centerville, Iowa - KCOG
* Chattanooga, Tennessee - WDOD-AM
* Chicago, Illinois - WLS-FM
* Clemson, South Carolina - WAHT
* Coos Bay, Oregon - KJMX
* Davenport, Iowa - KJOC (new affiliate)
* Denver, Colorado - KYOL
* Dover, Delaware - WIBF
* Duluth, Minnesota - KQDS
* Evansville, Indiana - WSJD
* Glasgow, Kentucky - WOVO
* Gooding, Idaho - KQLZ
* Huntsville, Alabama - WLOR (AM)
* Jamestown, New York - WKSN
* Jesup, Georgia - WIFO-FM (Weekends)
* Keaau, Hawaii - KBGX
* Knoxville, Tennessee - WOKI
* Ladysmith, Wisconsin - WJBL
* Macon, Georgia - WAYS
* Hudson, Wisconsin (Minneapolis Market) - WMIN
* New Castle, Colorado - KJEB
* New York, New York - WPLJ-HD3 (HD Radio)
* Newton, New Jersey - WTOC-AM
* Newton, North Carolina - WNNC
* Oxford, Alabama - WVOK (AM)
* Peoria, Illinois - WPMJ (to go dark on the evening of October 9)
* Picayune, Mississippi (New Orleans,La. market) - WMTI
* Providence, Rhode Island - WPRV
* Rapid City, South Dakota - KKLS
* Reading, Pennsylvania - WRAW
* Ridgefield / Danbury, Connecticut - WREF
* Saint Augustine, Florida - WSJF (new affiliate)
* Salt Lake City, Utah - KKAT
* Spring Hill, Florida - WJQB
* Springfield, Massachusetts - WMAS
* Stevens Point, Wisconsin - WSPT-FM
* Tampa, Florida - WJQB
* Tulsa, Oklahoma - KQLL-HD2
* Terre Haute, Indiana - WAXI
* Ventura, California - KVEN
* Walhalla, South Carolina "(move to Lithia Springs, Georgia pending)" - WWOF
* Waukon, Iowa - KHPP
* Wells, Texas - KVLL
* Weston, West Virginia - WHAW
* Whitesburg, Kentucky - WTCW
* Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania - WARM-AM
* Woodbridge, Virginia (Washington, D.C. market) - WJZW

ee also

*Classic Hits
*Timeless

External links

* [http://www.trueoldieschannel.com/ The True Oldies Channel]