They played We Belong by Pat Benetar on KZOK

[Cobra14]

The problem here is that every station probably plays some songs that are going to turn off a few people. It's the way it's always been. You either turn the radio down, turn it off, switch the station, or just ignore the song you don't like until the next one comes on. It's always been that way.

I remember people complaining about softer, poppier songs on rock stations when I was in HS and college and the rock format was still considered AOR. It didn't keep the stations from playing those songs, because obviously they were big enough sellers, the albums were big sellers, or the songs tested well in research, or whatever.

The only big change in that formula has been the move from OTA radio to streaming services, where the listener often creates their own playlist, where that sort of thing doesn't happen.

People leaving radio for other services. See younger demo.

 

[boombox4]

People leaving radio for other services. See younger demo.

Yeah, and the demographics are a bit more complicated than it was in the past when it comes to 'core' artists on rock radio formats. The Alternative Rock format is an example -- it's not like it was in 1993 or 1994, when their demos pretty much agreed on Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and other 'core' artists.

With classic rock, it's probably easier. Either a song was a big hit in 1985 or it wasn't. If it was, and it tests OK, it may work on the station. With newer rock it's not so cut and dried, as rock has been slowly fading as a popular format for new music.

 

[seatownmedia]

KZOK has a somewhat long local ownership history quickly turned to major broadcast owners and things changed. I do remember a bunch of format fluctuations in the 80’s and 90’s, indeed trying to find something that would stick. But they still seem to being doing well today.

 

[Cobra14]

Thanks for your participation in the thread. With your help we reached a solid goal of 100+ responses with this topic. With your continued support we may have a discussion board that doesn’t go dormant for extended periods of time. Congrats to all. You get a prize of self satisfaction and recognition for your contribution. Keep the topics coming. We need you! Even if we don’t agree, who cares!

 

[boombox4]

KZOK has a somewhat long local ownership history quickly turned to major broadcast owners and things changed. I do remember a bunch of format fluctuations in the 80’s and 90’s, indeed trying to find something that would stick. But they still seem to being doing well today.

The one I miss most from that era is "Quality Rock". I'm still trying to figure out what exactly "Quality Rock" is, but it sure sounds like a heavy duty format. Even if it lasted maybe a year....

 

[davideduardo]

Which of these doesn’t fit. Apple, avocado, orange. Not too complicated.

Yet to me, the mis-fit is "Apple" as the other two grow in the tropics and apples do not; I had both an avocado tree and an orange tree in my backyard in San Juan, in fact!

 

[davideduardo]

I charge money for specific numbers. (Or I should). Sound familiar? But you can always hang out at a construction site or other location that has roughly 20-50 men in the area listening to a classic rocker and let us know what happens when that song comes on. Ask them if they’d rather be hearing something like (insert classic rock song here).

If you did that today at any construction site in the Southwest and big parts of the Northwest, Midwest and South and you'd practically never hear classic rock or any kind of rock. You'd be hearing Pepe Aguilar, Rauw Alejandro, Banda La Misma Tierra and Calibre 50.

 

[Cobra14]

Yet to me, the mis-fit is "Apple" as the other two grow in the tropics and apples do not; I had both an avocado tree and an orange tree in my backyard in San Juan, in fact!

How’s an avocado with apple salad go down the old hatch? Sounds like it might be tasty in a We Belong by Pat Benatar alongside a Black Sabbath sort of way. Thanks for contributing to the thread.

 

[Cobra14]

If you did that today at any construction site in the Southwest and big parts of the Northwest, Midwest and South and you'd practically never hear classic rock or any kind of rock. You'd be hearing Pepe Aguilar, Rauw Alejandro, Banda La Misma Tierra and Calibre 50.

Or even some areas around here. I’m sure there’s a few songs in that mix those workers would rather not hear either. Maybe they should be on a radio discussion board voicing their opinions.

 

[Bongwater]

However, in the rock era, we didn't have people questioning whether or not someone is a rocker.

It was a free for all until around 1983 when weird 40 year old guys with sideburns and sunglasses started showing up at parties, saying things like "Hello fellow rockers! What do you think of that Huey Lewis?" and everybody getting busted for weed a couple days later that the first rocker purity tests began in the Northwest. And they were very strict. To be a rocker invited to parties in Puget Sound, one must have all of the following;

- A black leather jacket (or well worn denim.)
- You must listen to KISW.
- You had to be under 25.
- Some object of S&M studded black leather (typically bracelets, leather jackets, belts, gloves and codpieces. The studs had to be of real metal, not plastic.)
- Big long hair.
- No facial hair.
- Ripped (not torn) jeans.
- A collection of heavy metal concert t-shirts
- A huge boombox with cassette case filled with approved tapes.

Violation of one or more of these things could render you the dreaded "poseur" status. However, these rules were actually too strict as many rockers (especially those of lower incomes) were often shunned.

It was the snobbishness of the purity rocker scene that inspired the rejects to form grunge. And once grunge took over the mainstream, the purity rockers suddenly found themselves as the outcasts struggling to fit into a standard they didn't make the rules to. And the purity tests were gone.

 

[Kelly A]

KZOK has a somewhat long local ownership history quickly turned to major broadcast owners and things changed. I do remember a bunch of format fluctuations in the 80’s and 90’s, indeed trying to find something that would stick. But they still seem to being doing well today.

Okay here's a Seattle radio history quiz: Who owned KZOK in the 80's and early 90's? No fair Googling it.

 

[seatownmedia]

Sterling Recreation Organization? Honestly did not look this up. Mr. Danz as we called him came by KIOK in Tri cities once a year. He had gravitas.

 

[Mike Raffone]

Best response to this thread.

WTUE is a Dayton station...

 

[seatownmedia]

Thanks for your participation in the thread. With your help we reached a solid goal of 100+ responses with this topic. With your continued support we may have a discussion board that doesn’t go dormant for extended periods of time. Congrats to all. You get a prize of self satisfaction and recognition for your contribution. Keep the topics coming. We need you! Even if we don’t agree, who cares!

What is this, a Jerry Lewis telethon?

 

[Harvey_Dogg]

WTUE is a Dayton station...

Correct! WTUE is in Dayton. A friend of mine, Marshall Phillips was on the air there. Marshall was found dead in his apartment eight years ago.

WEBN was the Cincinnati progressive rock station back in the day.

 

[Harvey_Dogg]

There are old dudes who will argue that classic rock is the progressive rock recorded between 1967 through 1975. The people who grew up with this music may be 70 years old or older now.

Even if you were a punk rocker you are around 65.

Most advertisers don't want us old phart's. So that's why classic rock station are adding newer artists and bastardizing the format to attract listeners under 55.

 

[TheBigA]

There are old dudes who will argue that classic rock is the progressive rock recorded between 1967 through 1975. The people who grew up with this music may be 70 years old or older now.

That may be, but today's classic rock covers a different era, mostly 80s-90s AOR with occasional legends from the 70s. In that way, it attracts a younger audience, and KZOK often does well in 18-34.

 

[Harvey_Dogg]

That may be, but today's classic rock covers a different era, mostly 80s-90s AOR with occasional legends from the 70s. In that way, it attracts a younger audience, and KZOK often does well in 18-34.

The purist's would say that's not classic rock. However, I've been known to bastardize formats many times because even us older dudes get tired of hearing the same thing daily after 50 years.

 

[TheBigA]

The purist's would say that's not classic rock. However, I've been known to bastardize formats many times because even us older dudes get tired of hearing the same thing daily after 50 years.

Every generation has it's own definition of classic. These stations are aiming to reach a specific audience, not to satisfy music purists.

 

[Cobra14]

What is this, a Jerry Lewis telethon?

No but it should be! If we get to 500 comments everyone gets...........NOTHING!!! Hahahahaha! Well maybe I’ll take everyone out for milk and cookies!