Oldies/Classic Hits Comes To Canadian FM
Written Mar. 4, 2008 by Sean Ross in Content + Terrestrial Radio with 1 Comment
In America, the Jack- and Bob-FM Hot AC/Classic Hits hybrid may have been thought of as the next generation of Oldies. But in Canada, it was the closest thing to an Oldies format that had ever existed on FM. Canadian government regulations required stations to take roughly half their music either from 1981 or later or from songs that weren't top 40 chart hits (easier for a Classic Rock station than an Oldies station).
But as the Oldies/Classic Hits format moved further into the '80s, it was inevitable that it would become easier to do the format on FM. Quebec already has a French-language gold outlet. And this week, Newcap has launched a '60s/'70s/'80s-gold-based format on former Smooth Jazz outlet CIQX Calgary, now known as XL103.
As a longtime fan of Canadian radio and music, this is a launch that I was particularly proud to be involved with. Check it out here.
Reader Comments
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Sean;
Early days for sure but three sixties an hour and the balance split between the 70's and 80's with the occasional 90's or 00 and Joan Baez covering the Band's classic "The Night They Drove old Dixie Down" doesn't sound much like an oldies station. At KRTH the 60's and early 70's dominate. Reviving the old CKXL image (the top 40 powerhouse of the 70's) may attract old-time Calgarians. The archaic hit / non-hit regulation to protect oldies on AM is still taking the shine off what could be a gem of a format north of the 49th too! It'll be interesting to see how XL does up against one of the most successful JACKs.