Timeless (radio network)

Last updated
Timeless
Timeless (radio) logo.png
Country
United States
Ownership
Owner Citadel Media
(through Citadel Broadcasting)
History
Launch date1981 (1981)
ClosedFebruary 15, 2010 (2010-02-15)
Former names
Stardust, Unforgettable Favorites, Timeless Classics, Timeless Favorites
Links
Website timelessfavorites.com

Timeless was a 24-hour satellite music service of Citadel Media (through Citadel Broadcasting). It has distributed a mix of soft oldies and adult standards to radio stations around the United States. [1] It was a combination of two former formats: gold-based adult contemporary Unforgettable Favorites (also known as "Memories") and adult standards Timeless Classics/Timeless Favorites (originally known as "Stardust"). Since 2007, it was simply known as "Timeless", still using the "Timeless Favorites" branding sparingly.

Contents

The lineup of DJs included Steve Gunn (DJ), Laurie Bandemir, Scott Reese, Debbie Douglas, Vic Thomas, and Mike Matthews on weekdays, and Steve Cumming, Frank Welch, Angie Michaels and Bob Lawrence on weekends, as well as Jack Grady. [2] [3]

Classic artists that were heard on Timeless include The Carpenters, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Barry Manilow, James Taylor, Neil Diamond, Anne Murray, Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley, Carly Simon, The Bee Gees, Glen Campbell, Paul Simon and a dozen more. [4]

History

Satellite Music Network (later taken over by ABC) started the Stardust format in 1981 in the Chicago area, and Eddie Hubbard was one of its first DJs. [5] Past personalities include Jack Davis, Joe Lacina, Jerry Mitchell, Ted Ostrem, Dave Rafferty, Patty Pratt, Larry Carolla, [6] Ron Baxley and Bud Buschardt. The name "Stardust" was taken from a 1927 song called "Stardust" composed by Hoagy Carmichael and performed by Mitchell Parish. For most of its history Stardust was an adult standards format, focusing on the big band era in its early years and evolving over the years to include more oldies and adult contemporary music. The format was called "Unforgettable Favorites" on the air for a while until ABC's Memories, another satellite format from the same company, began using the term. Stardust became "Timeless Classics" and continued to use the term until early in 2007. Among the artists who have recorded standards in recent years that were included in the format: Paul Anka, Michael Bublé, Ray Charles, Manilow, Bette Midler, Ronnie Milsap, Ronstadt, Carly Simon, John Stevens, Rod Stewart, B. J. Thomas, Jamie Cullum, Debby Boone, and Steve Tyrell. [7]

In Summer 2006, Stardust changed to a new sound with the end of Memories, adding a number of that format's songs. The "Unforgettable Favorites" feed was still active as The Christmas Channel on a seasonal basis until 2014.

Close Down

On November 12, 2009, the staff at parent company Citadel Media says that "Timeless" was losing affiliates and became less attractive to advertisers. Citadel Media President John Rosso said it would be discontinued as of February 13, 2010. [8]

This satellite format signed off 2 days after its scheduled date of February 13. The network signed off at 12AM Central Time on February 15, 2010. The last song played on the network was "Kind of a Drag" by The Buckinghams

Former affiliates (listed below) had the option to switch to similar services by Citadel Media, or stay on the current Oldies/Standards format provided locally or by other radio networks, or change their radio formats altogether.

Sample Hour of Programming (Stardust era, date unknown)

Sample Hour of Programming (Timeless era)

Former Affiliates (prior to shut down)

Competitor Networks

Related Research Articles

WBKR is an American radio station broadcasting a country music format. The station is licensed to Owensboro, Kentucky. Its powerful 100,000-watt signal covers much of northwest Kentucky and southwest Indiana, including the Evansville area. The station is owned by Townsquare Media. The station transmits from a tower located near Utica, Kentucky on Kentucky Route 140. The studios are located at 3301 Frederica Street in Owensboro.

Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMTR (AM)</span> Oldies radio station in Morristown, New Jersey, United States

WMTR is an American radio station owned by Beasley Broadcast Group. It is licensed to Morristown, New Jersey and serves Morris County and surrounding areas. The station features "The Morning Team" featuring Alan David Stein, Ginny Otte for middays, and Craig Davis for afternoon drive. From July through December 2008, WMTR employed a satellite oldies format, playing music from mostly 1964 to 1979. The Classic Oldies format was reinstated after Christmas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCSJ-FM</span> Classic hits radio station in Morris, Illinois

WCSJ-FM is a commercial radio station in Morris, Illinois. It airs a full service, classic hits radio format and is owned and operated by Nelson Multimedia Inc. WCSJ-FM's programming includes local news, high school sports, a weekly fishing and outdoor program, and NASCAR racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The True Oldies Channel</span> American radio music network

Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel is a radio network begun in the spring of 2004. Originally distributed by ABC Radio Networks via satellite, the service plays a hybrid oldies/classic hits format comprising music mostly from 1964 to 1979 but also plays selected cuts from the 1955-1963 era and also from the 1980s. As of September 22, 2016, it is distributed via United Stations Radio Networks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOLS</span> Radio station in Waxhaw–Charlotte, North Carolina

WOLS is a Spanish-language FM radio station broadcasting at a frequency of 106.1 MHz serving the Charlotte, North Carolina market. Its programming consists of music and other material distributed by "La Raza," the Regional Mexican radio network.

WXLA is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Dimondale, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan. It is owned by MacDonald Broadcasting and airs a soft adult contemporary radio format. It uses the branding "Easy 93.3". The dial position refers to WXLA's FM translator, W227DO at 93.3 MHz in Lansing.

America's Best Music is the on-air branding of a soft oldies and adult standards 24-hour radio network, formerly known as AM Only. The service is syndicated by Westwood One, a subsidiary of Cumulus Media. It was one of the original Transtar Radio Networks formats. Despite its old name of AM Only, "America's Best Music" is no longer exclusive to AM stations and is carried on some FM stations.

WMHG was a radio station in Muskegon, Michigan. It broadcast a MOR/Oldies format. WMHG used ABC Radio Networks' satellite-delivered "Timeless Favorites" format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFNT</span> Radio station in Flint, Michigan

WFNT is a commercial AM radio station in Flint, Michigan. It is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts a talk radio format. The studios and transmitter are on East Bristol Road in Burton.

WLCO is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format, as a simulcast of WQUS 103.1 FM Lapeer. Licensed to Lapeer, Michigan, it first began broadcasting under the WTHM call sign in 1962. Until December 2019, it broadcast a country music format using Westwood One's Real Country, which combines classic country favorites with select current titles. Prior to that, as WLSP, the station had aired satellite-fed adult standards from ABC, and, prior to that, Talk and Sports formats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMRX-FM</span> Radio station in Beaverton, Michigan

WMRX-FM is a radio station licensed to Beaverton, Michigan in the United States, broadcasting a classic hits format. In January 2021, the station began branding as "Mid-Michigan's Favorite Hits". The station also is an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers Radio Network. Black Diamond Broadcasting is the owner of WMRX-FM.

WEST is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Easton, Pennsylvania, and serving the Lehigh Valley. It airs a rhythmic contemporary radio format simulcast with AM 1600 WHOL. Both stations are owned by Major Keystone LLC. The studios and offices are on Colorado Street in Allentown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJRD</span> Radio station in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

WJRD is a radio station licensed to serve Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. The station is owned by JRD, Inc. WJRD simulcasts on FM translators W271AM and W276DP in Tuscaloosa.

WNIL is an AM radio station located in Niles, Michigan and broadcasting to the Niles-Buchanan region airing a soft adult contemporary format. It broadcasts on AM frequency 1290 kHz and 107.5 MHz; it is under ownership of Marion R. Williams.

Unforgettable Favorites was a satellite driven format distributed by ABC Radio Networks. Unforgettable Favorites was a middle-of-the-road station and featured music from The Carpenters, Neil Diamond, Carly Simon, James Taylor, The Bee Gees, The Beatles, Linda Ronstadt, The Beach Boys and many others.

WTOC is a radio station licensed to Newton, New Jersey. Owned by Centro Biblico of NJ, Inc. with a Spanish-language Christian format. Until August 17, 2011, they aired an oldies music format with songs from the 1960s and 1970s along with a small number of oldies from 1955 to 1964 and a small number of hits from the 1980s, a full-time affiliate of Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel from ABC Radio. The station was owned by Clear Channel Communications from 2001 until 2011. From the station's 1953 sign-on until July 1, 2008, the radio station was known as WNNJ.

The Christmas Channel was an American radio network that primarily aired traditional and popular Christmas music to 35 affiliate radio stations across the United States. The Christmas Channel was a property of Cumulus Media Networks and was active from the day before Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WERT</span> Radio station in Van Wert, Ohio

WERT is a radio station broadcasting adult standards featuring soft oldies from the 1940s through today. Licensed to Van Wert, Ohio, United States, the station serves Van Wert primarily but is considered part of the Lima market. The station is currently owned by First Family Broadcasting and broadcasts from its studios on the Lincoln Highway just east of Van Wert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNCO (AM)</span> Radio station in Ashland, Ohio

WNCO – branded Fox Sports 1340 – is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Ashland, Ohio. The station serves the Ashland, Mansfield and Mount Vernon areas, collectively identified as the Mid-Ohio region. The station is under ownership of iHeartMedia, Inc.

References

  1. ↑ Retrieved on 2007-11-06.
  2. ↑ Retrieved on 2007-11-06.
  3. ↑ Retrieved on 2008-11-03.
  4. ↑ Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  5. ↑ Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
  6. ↑ Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
  7. ↑ Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
  8. ↑ "Big changes at syndicator Citadel Media: 'Timeless' to expire, hirings and layoffs". Radio-Info.com. November 12, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Archived" . Retrieved 2023-05-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[ dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.