Back then, music wasn't readily available online at your fingertips. Fifty years ago, we listened to the radio and that's how we knew which records to buy. Radio stations in major music cities like Los Angeles, New York, or Nashville usually set the standard for what music is most popular. New music emerges in their town, then gets played on their local radio stations, and the music becomes a smash hit. Not so at small radio station CKLW in Windsor, Ontario. As television radically changed the radio industry, CKLW had to change to keep pace. This change gave rise to CKLW-The Big 8, a radio station that created new standards in radio hosting as well as rock and roll music. CKLW has influenced not only music throughout North America, but the entire music industry, such as Bill Drake's "Boss Radio" technique and how this station influenced his hometown of Windsor, in Ontario. CKLW evolved from a small urban radio station to become "The Big 8." "a huge national music icon who not only changed the music industry, but the face of radio forever. Windsor station CKOK first went on the air in 1932 and it was a station that played more "friendly, folk" music. In 1933 the call letters were changed to CKLW and in 1941 it moved to its current position of AM800. television changed dramatically and created fierce competition with the radio industry CKLW had to change to stay in the game. One alteration was the change in ownership in 1963, RKO took over the station and CKLW became CKLW. -The Big 8 and they focused on broadcasting contemporary hits and rock and roll music, like us..... middle of paper...... it would be released on a weekly basis These surveys. Top 30 listed the thirty best songs of the week and could be found at any record store or department store such as Sentry or K-Mart. Trombley and his team researched record sales at local stores and request lines to see what kids wanted to listen to, too. For the music industry, the Big 8 Top 30 was their Bible. These free charts were “eagerly snapped up by groovy teenagers”. Decorated in bright colors, these charts allowed local children to follow their favorite song into the Top 30. In March 1970, the Beatles' "Let it Be" was number one on the charts, fell to number 2 four weeks later and on 11 May, it was completely off the charts. Today these charts are "pop music memorabilia" and wild stories have been heard that these Top 30 charts were used as wallpaper in teenagers' bedrooms..