A local AC station, KXXO Olympia WA, often plays "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth. Here's the radio version for you. The interesting thing is KXXO doesn't edit out the rap portion of the song. How many other AC stations (not including Rhythmic AC) play rapping in their songs, and which songs?
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Rapping on Hot AC/Modern AC
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WEZV Myrtle Beach (mainstream) played what the DJ called "Macklemore and Kesha". I looked that up and that must have been "Good Old Days". I was just using the scan function seeing what everyone was doing while I was in the neighborhood. It was quite a shock to hear them call it "Easy" and then hear THAT.
I think there's one other song I've heard online at home that had rap in it. Not counting "I Feel for You" by Chaka Khan.
I think there's one other song I've heard online at home that had rap in it. Not counting "I Feel for You" by Chaka Khan.
Partially, since familiarity can lead to a greater level of comfort. But there's also the fact that rap has been present on mainstream CHR/Top 40 radio for well over two decades, and those late 90s CHR listeners are now aging into the AC demographic. Essentially, the same factor as to why we started hearing some rap on Hot AC stations about ten years ago.
I think that it is also the case that stations may play relatively "soft" rap that would avoid the harder stuff, just as AC stations back in the eighties would play songs that had some of the rock guitar sound while avoiding songs that went all-in on the crashing rock guitar sound.
I remember the other song, or one of them. "Black or White" by Michael Jackson.
KXXO likes to play versions of songs that are a little different from other local stations. They did something similar with the song "Stay with Me" (where they often play the duet with Mary J Blige) and "All of Me" where John Legend omits a verse.
Demo's have to be a factor here. AC Stations and CHR's have to adapt to changing demos one way or another.
In addition to the examples that I already cited, you'll sometimes hear alternate renditions of popular songs on KXXO as well. Specifically, I've heard a rendition of "Listen to your Heart" by D.H.T. in addition to the original by Roxette. I would say that most AC stations in metropolitan areas tend stick close to the "tried and true" versions of popular songs, while smaller stations that don't serve the entire metropolitan area can take a few creative liberties.
I've heard Katy Perry's "California Gurls" on Hot AC both with Snoop Dogg's rap and without. The rap in that song is playful, about as unthreatening as rap can be, and Snoop's image is far more family friendly now than at the start of his career. If I can find the song listenable, and even fun, with the rap included at my age (65), then certainly the 40-year-old in the middle of Hot AC's target demo can.
I believe that the rap-less version of "California Gurls" is also played on Mainstream AC. I find it interesting that both versions of "California Girls" peaked at #3 but "California Gurls" topped the chart! It makes me think of that great song, "I Put a Spell on You!".
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