WRFF

[andygradel]

I honestly think WRFF is spinning library cuts way too often. Was looking at their playlist the other day and they're playing "The Reason" by Hoobastank 2x a day and "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush 3x. (I know it was in Stranger Things, but that was 6 months ago at this point...)

There's so much they could be playing instead of "Sex and Candy" or "Chasing Cars" over and over again... Hated those songs 20+ years ago and still hate them now, so they really stand out when I hear them.

I know a band like Nirvana is practically classic rock now, but the fact that they only played "Heart Shaped Box" - and no other Nirvana tracks - over the past 24 hours is almost criminal. That's one of the few alt-rock bands that actually spans generations. They could practically play almost any track off of Nevermind and probably have less risk of tune-out than half their library cuts.

WRFF, to me, sounds like what you get when a station sells its soul to music research and ultimately loses any sense of identity in the process.

 

[MarkW]

I know a band like Nirvana is practically classic rock now, but the fact that they only played "Heart Shaped Box" - and no other Nirvana tracks - over the past 24 hours is almost criminal. That's one of the few alt-rock bands that actually spans generations. They could practically play almost any track off of Nevermind and probably have less risk of tune-out than half their library cuts.

This. 100 percent.

To me, WRFF's music choices are rock averse. They seem more interested in appealing to fans of pop music than rock music.

 

[davideduardo]

And right there is the problem with WRFF and so many other failing alt/rock stations. Put 10 rock “fans” together in a room and you won’t be able to get them to agree on what should/should not be played, or how the station should sound, or what sort of personalities/morning show the station should or should not have.

If there’s no consensus that results in significant listenership in key demos, it’s game over. WRFF will just be a placeholder until something better comes along.

Well said. "Put 10 rock “fans” together in a room and you won’t be able to get them to agree on what should/should not be played, or how the station should sound, or what sort of personalities/morning show the station should or should not have."

 

[RStacey1990]

I dont think many people will dis agree that WRFF was better before the name change. Radio 104.5 between 2007 and 2013 was amazing. Changing the name was just the first mistake. Remember Fuzz 92.1 in Hazleton? Same concept. They went down hill when they changed to Alt 92 as well.

 

[luperm]

I dont think many people will dis agree that WRFF was better before the name change. Radio 104.5 between 2007 and 2013 was amazing. Changing the name was just the first mistake. Remember Fuzz 92.1 in Hazleton? Same concept. They went down hill when they changed to Alt 92 as well.

Great. So add “station name” to my previous post. Another thing rock fans can’t seem to agree on.

 

[JH_Radio]

"97-5 PST: Trenton and Philadelphia's New Rock Experience."
heh. right. That'll never happen any more than "The New Sound of Y100."

 

[MarkW]

I think 104.5's ratings issue is primarily misguided programming strategy, not factionalism within the alternative genre.

This is a station that used to be at or near the front of the pack in some meaningful demo categories not all that long ago. The same factionalism issues existed in alternative then.

93.3 plays a much better selection of alternative gold titles than 104.5. 104.5 seems more interested in playing wannabe CHR artists.

 

[tvk5195]

104.5 seems more interested in playing wannabe CHR artists.

"Wuss Rock" is what I call it. It's time to argue about what should be considered alternative rock!

 

[luperm]

I think 104.5's ratings issue is primarily incompetent programming strategy, not factionalism within the alternative genre.

If it was just that simple, don’t you think that iHeart would just throw some of its considerable programming talent at it? I am sure that they are not pleased that the stations languishes in the mid 1s.

 

[luperm]

"Wuss Rock" is what I call it. It's time to argue about what should be considered alternative rock!

It’s actually more practical to throw it all out and program something that’s easier to sell to advertisers.

 

[MarkW]

If it was just that simple, don’t you think that iHeart would just throw some of its considerable programming talent at it? I am sure that they are not pleased that the stations languishes in the mid 1s.

Their "considering programming talent" is responsible for the station's current situation, I would surmise.

Coincidentally, the prior PD at WRFF went to Dallas and in a short span of time doubled KVIL's AQH share and moved it into the top five in some rather important demo categories.

 

[wibgradio99]

"97-5 PST: Trenton and Philadelphia's New Rock Experience."
heh. right. That'll never happen any more than "The New Sound of Y100."

Not to far fetched, about 10 years ago when they decided to go HD and add a sub it was speculated the HD2 was going harder Alternative. But we all know their HD got scrapped and until a few months ago were the only area full time signal with no HD.

 

[Radio Wreck]

I honestly think WRFF is spinning library cuts way too often. Was looking at their playlist the other day and they're playing "The Reason" by Hoobastank 2x a day and "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush 3x. (I know it was in Stranger Things, but that was 6 months ago at this point...)

There's so much they could be playing instead of "Sex and Candy" or "Chasing Cars" over and over again... Hated those songs 20+ years ago and still hate them now, so they really stand out when I hear them.

I know a band like Nirvana is practically classic rock now, but the fact that they only played "Heart Shaped Box" - and no other Nirvana tracks - over the past 24 hours is almost criminal. That's one of the few alt-rock bands that actually spans generations. They could practically play almost any track off of Nevermind and probably have less risk of tune-out than half their library cuts.

WRFF, to me, sounds like what you get when a station sells its soul to music research and ultimately loses any sense of identity in the process.

I don’t listen to 104.5 but the fact that they are supposedly an Alt Rock station and only played Nirvana once in 24 hours tells me all I need to know.

 

[Miguelito]

I heard them play Harry Styles once. I love Harry Styles, but he seems a tad out of place on an alleged Alt Rock station (IMHO).

 

[atthestars]

Their "considering programming talent" is responsible for the station's current situation, I would surmise.

Coincidentally, the prior PD at WRFF went to Dallas and in a short span of time doubled KVIL's AQH share and moved it into the top five in some rather important demo categories.

What helped KVIL is that one of their closest competitors in KEGL flipped from Rock to Hot Talk, and Allers positioned KVIL perfectly to absorb as many lost KEGL listeners as possible.

I heard them play Harry Styles once. I love Harry Styles, but he seems a tad out of place on an alleged Alt Rock station (IMHO).

A handful of other Alt stations played "As it Was." Honestly, in a purely sonic and sound opinion, I thought the song fits fine with the sound of the station. Most are just hesitant because Harry's name is synonymous with pop radio

 

[atthestars]

I don’t listen to 104.5 but the fact that they are supposedly an Alt Rock station and only played Nirvana once in 24 hours tells me all I need to know.

If tests of the target demographic shows the station that songs by Nirvana do not test well... why play them? Just because they were 25 years ago a major Alternative rock name?

That would be like saying Q102 should be playing Elvis because he had a bunch of #1 hits at Pop radio before.

 

[Radio Wreck]

If tests of the target demographic shows the station that songs by Nirvana do not test well... why play them? Just because they were 25 years ago a major Alternative rock name?

That would be like saying Q102 should be playing Elvis because he had a bunch of #1 hits at Pop radio before.

That’s a bit of a stretch. Nirvana fits 104.5’s playlist but I doubt anyone is tuning into Q102 to hear Suspicious Minds or Jailhouse Rock.

 

[MarkW]

KVIL's ratings improvement began several months before KEGL's format flip. Most of the improvement occurred prior to KEGL's flip, in fact.

I would be stunned if Nirvana does not test well.

 

[davideduardo]

I would be stunned if Nirvana does not test well.

Stations do not test artists, they test individual songs. Even the most popular artist will have songs that don't test, never tested, tested some time ago but wore out or turned negative.

Music tests don't even give respondents the artist name or song title to keep responses impartial. They just play the hook and request a score.

 

[leethalweapon]

I heard them play Harry Styles once. I love Harry Styles, but he seems a tad out of place on an alleged Alt Rock station (IMHO).

Considering Harry Styles history, I was kind of surprised, but also not that his music was pushed to Alternative. Surprised, because he came out of a purely pop driven reality TV contest. Not surprised, because he came at a time when the Alternative format was on a heavy pop curve, driven in part by Audacy stations. I truly believe that the pop phase existed to attract females, and also try and broaden the idea of what listeners think of when they hear "Alternative"...