Chicago Stations Find New Format

Have you ever heard of the new "play anything and everything" format called JACK? Apparently, a crazy idea started to combat those people who have been using iPods and Win Media Players who like a wide variety in their music styles.

I hate it. If this catches on, a lot of other broadcasters will be out of work. When stations today can just employ a powerful computer to broadcast everything 24/7, actual hosts will no longer be required. That's why my goal was always to make it in the news/talk format.

Here's an AP story that talks about the trend. Make up your minds for yourselves.

CHICAGO (AP) -- The posters hanging on the walls of the broadcasting booth at Nine FM are as eclectic as the music the radio station plays -- Pink Floyd and Aerosmith sharing space with the Marx Brothers, the Rat Pack and the Beatles.

Bob Perry, a veteran radio programmer, started the variety format on the Internet radio station JACK.FM in 2000 and later licensed the name for terrestrial stations in Canada and the U.S.

Sinclair's variety stations have done well in the Arbitron ratings, and only one -- in Honolulu -- has fizzled. Bob Sinclair notes Bob FM in Austin, Texas, has rated No. 1 in its market's 25-54 demographic.

Links of interest:


• Jack FM


• Bob FM


• Variety

[Via: Yahoo! Biz News]