From the Wednesday, February 13 Charlotte Observer:
Sinatra style dropped in favor of ad-attracting oldies
Aiming to snare a younger demographic, WNMX-FM (106.1) abruptly changed formats Tuesday, moving from adult standards like Tony Bennett to the "oldies" music of the '60s and '70s.

From the Friday, February 15 Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO):
Dizzying changes in Denver radio
Denver going through a radio daze? Yes, if you listen to Martini on the Rockies. "We felt the place to go was a little bit younger," Keeney said about format changes. "That's where better revenue opportunities are."


All this despite the fact that Baby Boomers, the group purchasing Frank Sinatra music at the Chairman’s fastest sales pace since the 60’s; the group that represents 29% of the US population and controls 57% of all discretionary spending, is gravitating to “Standards” faster than they flocked to rock in the 60’s. “It’s a lifestyle thing,” says Brad “Martini” Chambers, Chief Creative Officer at The Standard Media Group, a North Hollywood, CA based company operating MartiniInTheMorning.com, one of the most listened to Internet Radio Stations of its kind. As Frank Sinatra belted out " I did it my way " so too have the Baby Boomers. Now in their 40's and 50's, this generation still wants it their way- whether it involves the vacations they take, the clothes they wear, or the music of course.

Music has always been and will continue to be the cornerstone of this generations lifestyle. “We Boomers still love our Rolling Stones and Beatles CDs. But we’ve heard all those songs over and over.” Chambers points out that Boomers in radio created the short playlist, fast turnover Top 40 radio format. “We love those songs but they’re not making many new rock ‘n roll oldies. So we go looking for something new – especially in social situations,” he adds. “We have friends over, we’re making martinis and ‘Brown Sugar’ by the Rolling Stones doesn’t cut it.  But Sinatra’s ‘One for My Baby,’ does!

Enter MartiniInTheMorning.com. The 2-year old outgrowth of an abandoned Clear Channel L.A. radio station is a combination of classic “Standards” like the aforementioned Sinatra saloon song – and contemporary recordings like a version of the same song on a recent CD from harmonica legend Toots Thielmans, featuring 28 year old British Jazz wunderkind Jamie Cullum. Chambers adds, “It’s amazing the list of artists who identify “Standards” as their inspiration…from Elton John (whose cover of George and Ira Gershwin’s ‘But Not for Me’ is heard opening the 1994 big screen hit Four Weddings and a Funeral) to Rod Stewart. Stewart’s Great American Songbook series is closing in on 20-million units in sales and gave the 63 year old rocker his first Grammy. Ever.

Tony Bennett Duets – An American Classic, Bennett’s 80th birthday CD and TV gift to music lovers, featuring duets with the likes of Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Christina Aguilera and Michael Buble was Bennett’s highest charting release in his career. Ever.  That career spans 6-decades. Buble in particular has attracted a whole new audience to the genre. Chambers said:  “We played Frank Sinatra’s 1966 pop hit That’s Life, and a 40-something woman from Alabama wrote -  I heard that you mentioned something about a listener from Mobile who didn't know that Frank Sinatra did "That's Life". One of my co-workers came up to me and said, "was he talking about you?" I should have denied it, but I didn't...

Like so many listeners new to the genre, she thought Michael Buble’s version was the original! While The Standard Media Group’s MartiniInTheMorning.com is available 24/7 without a subscription, the company has chosen to forgo traditional radio commercials and is, to date, totally listener supported.

Contact: Brad Chambers
The Standard Media Group LLC
(818) 766-7664
www.MartiniInTheMorning.com

###