Timeless (radio network)

Infobox Network

network_name = Timeless
country = United States
network_type = Radio network
available = National
owner = ABC Radio Networks
(through Citadel Broadcasting)
key_people =
launch_date = 1981
founder =
past_names = Stardust, Unforgettable Favorites, Timeless Classics, Timeless Favorites
brand =
website = [http://www.timelessfavorites.com timelessfavorites.com]

Timeless is a 24-hour satellite music service of ABC Radio Networks (through Citadel Broadcasting) distributing a mix of soft oldies and adult standards to radio stations around the USA. [http://www.abcradionetworks.com/article.asp?id=341457, Retrieved on 2007-11-06.] It is 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 is now simply known as "Timeless".

The current lineup of DJs includes Steve Gunn, Laurie Bandemir, Scott Reese, Vic Thomas, and Mike Matthews on weekdays, and Steve Cumming, Frank Welch, Angie Michaels and Bob Lawrence on weekends, as well as Jack Grady. [http://www.mix106.net/meetthetalent.html, Retrieved on 2007-11-06.] Classic artists 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, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley, Carly Simon, The Bee Gees, Glen Campbell, Paul Simon and a dozen more. [http://www.timelessfavorites.com/songsweplay.asp, Retrieved on 2008-04-13.]

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. [http://www.wlezfm.com/index.php/site/Press/, Retrieved on 2007-04-12.] Past personalities include Jack Davis, Joe Lacina, Dave Rafferty, Patty Pratt, Larry Carolla [http://www.wlsp.am/gpage3.html, Retrieved on 2007-04-12.] , 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 Buble, Ray Charles, Manilow, Bette Midler, Ronnie Milsap, Ronstadt, Carly Simon, John Stevens, Rod Stewart, B. J. Thomas, Jamie Cullum, Debby Boone, and Steve Tyrell. [http://www.timelessfavorites.com/songsweplay.asp, Retrieved on 2007-04-12.]

In Summer 2006, with the end of the Memories format, Stardust changed to its current sound, adding a number of songs from that format. The "Unforgettable Favorites" feed is still active as The Christmas Channel on a seasonal basis.

Criticism

Although (after the "Stardust"/"Unforgettable Favorites" merger) this network plays a combined Oldies/Standards format, it's slowly becoming more like the "Unforgettable Favorites" feed.

ample Hour of Programming (Stardust era, date unknown)

*"I've Got You Under My Skin" - Frank Sinatra
*"Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles
*"You Light Up My Life" - Barbra Streisand
*"The Girl From Ipanema" - Stan Getz featuring João and Astrud Gilberto
*"Chances Are" - Johnny Mathis
*"Hello, It's Me" - Todd Rundgren
*"Unforgettable" - Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
*"Copacabana (At the Copa)" - Barry Manilow
*"Cherish" - The Association
*"(They Long to Be) Close to You" - The Carpenters
*"How Can I Be Sure?" - The Rascals
*"Mack the Knife" - Bobby Darin
*"Moon River" - Andy Williams
*"To Love Somebody" - The Bee Gees
*"Can't Help Falling in Love" - Elvis Presley
*"She's Always a Woman" - Billy Joel
*"Summer Rain" - Johnny Rivers [ http://www.yes.com/station/WLEZ.]

ample Hour of Programming (Timeless era)

*"Please Baby Don't" - Sergio Mendes with John Legend
*"Only the Lonely" - Roy Orbison
*"We've Only Just Begun" - The Carpenters
*"I Hear a Symphony" - The Supremes
*"Hello It's Me" - Todd Rundgren
*"Suspicious Minds" - Elvis Presley
*"Bridge over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel
*"For Once in My Life" - Stevie Wonder
*"Behind Closed Doors" - Charlie Rich
*"Do You Know the Way to San Jose" - Dionne Warwick
*"Theme from 'Love Story'" - Henry Mancini
*"Rocky Mountain High" - John Denver
*"Sugar, Sugar" - The Archies [http://www.yes.com/station/WLEZ, Retrieved on 2008/09/18.]

Affiliates

*Ashland, Ohio - WNCO-AM
*Batavia, New York - WBTA
*Beacon, New York - WBNR
*Beaverton, Michigan - WMRX
*Burlington, Vermont - WJOY
*Cedar Rapids, Iowa - KMRY
*Concord, North Carolina - WEGO
*Crescent City, California - KPOD-AM
*Ellsworth, Maine - WDEA
*Fairfield Bay, Arkansas - KFFB
*Flint, Michigan - WFNT
*Grafton, West Virginia - WVUS
*Hesperia, California - KRAK
*Hendersonville, North Carolina - WTZQ
*Jackson, Mississippi - WLEZ-LP
*Kingston, New York - WGHQ
*Lakeland, Florida - WONN
*Lansing, Michigan - WXLA
*Midland, Michigan - WMPX
*Minden, Louisiana - KASO
*Morehead, Kentucky - WIVY
*Mount Sterling, Kentucky - WMST
*Mount Vernon, Ohio - WMVO
*New Bedford, Massachusetts - WNBH
*Oneonta, Alabama - WCRL
*Ord, Nebraska - KNLV
*Owensboro, Kentucky - WVJS
*Peekskill, New York - WLNA
*Penn Yan, New York - WYLF
*Red Bluff, California - KBLF
*Robbins, North Carolina - WLHC
*Sandusky, Ohio - WLEC
*Somerset, Kentucky - WTLO
*Sulphur Springs, Texas - KSST
*Troy, Alabama - WTBF-FM (nighttime hours only)
*Van Wert, Ohio - WERT
*Washington, Indiana - WAMW-AM
*Waterloo, Iowa - KWLO
*West Warwick, Rhode Island - WLKW
*Wildwood, New Jersey - WCMC-AM

Competitor Networks

*Music of Your Life by Planet Halo, Inc.
*America's Best Music by Westwood One/Dial Global
*The Lounge by Waitt Radio Networks

References

External links

* [http://www.timelessfavorites.com Timeless - Official website]