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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Citadel Media (throughCitadel Broadcasting) |
| History | |
| Launch date | 1981 (1981) |
| Closed | February 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 ofCitadel Media (throughCitadel Broadcasting). It has distributed a mix of softoldies andadult standards to radio stations around the United States.[1] It was a combination of two former formats: gold-basedadult contemporaryUnforgettable Favorites (also known as "Memories") and adult standardsTimeless Classics/Timeless Favorites (originally known as "Stardust"). Since 2007, it was simply known as "Timeless", still using the "Timeless Favorites" branding sparingly.
The lineup ofDJs includedSteve Gunn (DJ),Laurie Bandemir,Scott Reese,Debbie Douglas, Vic Thomas, andMike Matthews on weekdays, andSteve Cumming, Frank Welch,Angie Michaels andBob Lawrence on weekends, as well asJack Grady.[2][3]
Classic artists that were heard on Timeless includeThe 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]
Satellite Music Network (later taken over byABC) started the Stardust format in 1981 in the Chicago area, andEddie Hubbard was one of its firstDJs.[5] Past personalities includeJack Davis,Joe Lacina,Jerry Mitchell,Ted Ostrem,Dave Rafferty,Patty Pratt,Larry Carolla,[6]Ron Baxley andBud Buschardt. The name "Stardust" was taken from a 1927 song called "Stardust" composed byHoagy Carmichael and performed byMitchell Parish. For most of its history Stardust was anadult standards format, focusing on thebig band era in its early years and evolving over the years to include moreoldies andadult contemporary music. The format was called "Unforgettable Favorites" on the air for a while until ABC'sMemories, 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, andSteve 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 asThe Christmas Channel on a seasonal basis until 2014.
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 networksigned off at 12AM Central Time on February 15, 2010. The last song played on the network was "Kind of a Drag" byThe 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.
