92.3 not so now with the music

[sdol]

I tuned into 92.3 NOW today and heard Tone Loc. Is this supposed to be music of NOW? I really am not sure who there demo is if this is an example of what their target audience might like. I just know I kept thinking God how old is this song and so not NOW.

 

[CHRles]

It is kinda stupid the way some of their liners will knock Z-100 for playing Toni Basil's "Mickey" back in the 80s (when the song was hot), or still play Goo Goo Dolls "Iris" as a Gold in current rotation. Yet Now 92.3 has no problem playing Sir Mix A Lot's hit from 1992, or a Tone loc hit from (gasp!) 1989.

 

[TonySantiago]

It is kinda stupid the way some of their liners will knock Z-100 for playing Toni Basil's "Mickey" back in the 80s (when the song was hot), or still play Goo Goo Dolls "Iris" as a Gold in current rotation. Yet Now 92.3 has no problem playing Sir Mix A Lot's hit from 1992, or a Tone loc hit from (gasp!) 1989.

I agree. If this station is supposed to be "NOW" and recurrents play a factor in this, the tunes should go back as far as 5 years MAX (actually 2 or 3 years would be optimum).

 

[DToTheJ]

I was sifting through Yes.com to see what "recurrents" they were playing, and noticed that the album cover displayed next to the song "So What" by Pink, is... "Dark Side Of The Moon" by Pink Floyd.

Early this morning at 12:51 am, they played "Jump Around" from House of Pain. (Is the song suddenly popular again, thanks to a video remix on YouTube lampooning Rush Limbaugh? Hmmm...)

I also noticed a half-hour period at around 3:30 am where no songs were logged. Did they run an infomercial? Hmmm...

As of today, if you click on the "Top Songs" tab, the songs of the old K-Rock are starting to work their way out. Pearl Jam's "Brother" currently ranks No. 34. A few rock songs sprinkled in behind it, of course, but that's the highest ranking song from the old format.

But here are the "recurrents" that are being played "to death" on the station:

Nelly - Ride Wit Me (rank: 41)
DMX - Party Up (Up In Here) (rank: 42)
Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back (rank: 44)
The Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize (rank: 45)
The Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems (w/ Mase & Puff Daddy) (rank: 46)
Naughty By Nature - O. P. P. (rank: 47)
Biz Markie - Just A Friend (rank: 50)
House Of Pain - Jump Around (rank: 51)
Tone Loc - Wild Thing (rank: 54)
DJ Kool - Let Me Clear My Throat (rank: 57)
Fat Joe - What's Luv (w/ Ashanti & Ja-Rule) (rank: 59)
City High - What Would You Do (rank: 60)
50 Cent - In Da Club (rank: 61)
Nelly - Country Grammar (rank: 62)
Ludacris - Stand Up (rank: 63)
Beyonce - Baby Boy (rank: 67)
The Beastie Boys - (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (rank: 68)
Rihanna - Pon De Replay (rank: 69)
Eminem - Lose Yourself (rank: 71)
Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started (rank: 72)
Next - Too Close (rank: 74)
Jay-Z - Big Pimpin' (rank: 81)
Wreckx-N-Effect​ - Rump Shaker (rank: 82)
Juvenile - Back That Thang Up (w/ Lil Wayne & Mannie Fresh) (rank: 87)

I personally found it amusing to see a song like "Rump Shaker" (year of release: 1992!) mixed in with tracks from AC/DC and Def Leppard. ;D

 

[DesiArnez6]

I would think that the New York Audience would love those throwbacks once and awhile. Maybe its because I'm in my early 20's, but Im sure we are the bigger target than the 14 year olds Either way, I doubt that staying 100% current would do well in New York, not even Z100 is 100% current. If they were, they know that they wouldnt do well in New York. A top 40 in Utah could not carry its format over to New York unchanged. So far, I like those songs on the list. This would certainly win back some of the anti radio I-pod group. Now 92.3 still has plenty of currents to be considered a CHR.

 

[videokilledtheradiostar]

NOW means what came out recently. Not nineteen years ago?????? What the heck are they doing???????
They keep that ridiculous music mix up and they will be history.

 

[trock]

I think u guys are over analyzing this a little bit. The stations been on less than a week.

 

[CHRles]

I think u guys are over analyzing this a little bit. The stations been on less than a week.

If they're going to bash Z-100 for playing older titles they might as well practice what they preach. The truth is that Now 92.3 is the one playing much older titles (especially the Beastie Boys), more frequently, and again we're talking about a station billing itself as the NOW station.

 

[jeffdfw]

I was sifting through Yes.com to see what "recurrents" they were playing, and noticed that the album cover displayed next to the song "So What" by Pink, is... "Dark Side Of The Moon" by Pink Floyd.

Early this morning at 12:51 am, they played "Jump Around" from House of Pain. (Is the song suddenly popular again, thanks to a video remix on YouTube lampooning Rush Limbaugh? Hmmm...)

I also noticed a half-hour period at around 3:30 am where no songs were logged. Did they run an infomercial? Hmmm...

As of today, if you click on the "Top Songs" tab, the songs of the old K-Rock are starting to work their way out. Pearl Jam's "Brother" currently ranks No. 34. A few rock songs sprinkled in behind it, of course, but that's the highest ranking song from the old format.

But here are the "recurrents" that are being played "to death" on the station:

Nelly - Ride Wit Me (rank: 41)
DMX - Party Up (Up In Here) (rank: 42)
Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back (rank: 44)
The Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize (rank: 45)
The Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems (w/ Mase & Puff Daddy) (rank: 46)
Naughty By Nature - O. P. P. (rank: 47)
Biz Markie - Just A Friend (rank: 50)
House Of Pain - Jump Around (rank: 51)
Tone Loc - Wild Thing (rank: 54)
DJ Kool - Let Me Clear My Throat (rank: 57)
Fat Joe - What's Luv (w/ Ashanti & Ja-Rule) (rank: 59)
City High - What Would You Do (rank: 60)
50 Cent - In Da Club (rank: 61)
Nelly - Country Grammar (rank: 62)
Ludacris - Stand Up (rank: 63)
Beyonce - Baby Boy (rank: 67)
The Beastie Boys - (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (rank: 68)
Rihanna - Pon De Replay (rank: 69)
Eminem - Lose Yourself (rank: 71)
Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started (rank: 72)
Next - Too Close (rank: 74)
Jay-Z - Big Pimpin' (rank: 81)
Wreckx-N-Effect​ - Rump Shaker (rank: 82)
Juvenile - Back That Thang Up (w/ Lil Wayne & Mannie Fresh) (rank: 87)

I personally found it amusing to see a song like "Rump Shaker" (year of release: 1992!) mixed in with tracks from AC/DC and Def Leppard. ;D

Sounds to me like they just packed up the songs from MOViN' here in Dallas and sent them to NYC when they dropped the MOViN' format in faveor of Mega... :

 

[radiolives]

Seems they play the older songs as they don't want to touch songs from The Fray, Kelly Clarkson, 3 Doors Down, Taylor Swift, David Cook, etc. So they need to play other songs then the new songs I guess. I still think NOW FM can play some new pop and rock as Fresh 102.7 won't play those songs that much as their going to mix new AC songs with somewhat older AC songs. NOW FM would play those current hits about every hour as they are a POP station so I don't see that hurting Fresh 102.7 at all.

 

[Jeffrey]

Seems they play the older songs as they don't want to touch songs from The Fray, Kelly Clarkson, 3 Doors Down, Taylor Swift, David Cook, etc. So they need to play other songs then the new songs I guess. I still think NOW FM can play some new pop and rock as Fresh 102.7 won't play those songs that much as their going to mix new AC songs with somewhat older AC songs. NOW FM would play those current hits about every hour as they are a POP station so I don't see that hurting Fresh 102.7 at all.

CBS tends to do more rhythmic leaning CHR's. I like the fact they have their own identity and don't sound too much like Z.
They should keep it rhythmic.

 

[mjb1124]

I agree that their playing these songs isn't a bad thing in and of itself. But I do also agree that it goes against the idea of slamming Z100 for playing old songs. And what the heck is the point of saying Z100 played "Mickey" in 1983? I'm sure some of what they're playing now will be considered more embarrassing 25 (or even 5) years from now. If anything, it would make sense to call Z100 out for playing more soft or downbeat music, since they're obviously striving for a more youthful, rhythmic sound.

 

[CHRles]

Actually CBS Radio is best known for its broad-based/Active Hits sounding CHR/Pop stations. Kiss 95.1 Charlotte, B-94 Pittsburgh, Hot 95.7 Houston, Kiss 106.1 Seattle are the main examples. Some of its Rhythmics in recent months have actually BROADENED their sound as is the case with B-96 Chicago and especially 98.5 KLUC Las Vegas.
Soooo, Now 92.3 can be a Rhythmic leaning CHR/Pop, but sprinkle in a few more mass appeal Pop/Rock titles. I mean, if Z-100 (the competition) isn't afraid to play the Fray, and neither is Hot 95.7 Houston (a Rhythmic leaning CHR/Pop station owned by CBS Radio) then so can Now 92.3. If Z-100 (the competition) can play The Veronicas and so can 98.5 KLUC Las Vegas (a CBS-owned Rhythmic leaning CHR) then so can Now 92.3

As others have pointed out, this isnt Detroit. Channel 95-5 Detroit's Rhythmic sounds works over there not just due to a great on-air lineup but also b/c
A) Detroit doesnt have another CHR/Pop station
B) Detroit doesnt have a Rhythmic CHR
C) Detroit doesnt have a Rhythmic AC

New York City, on the other hand, is used to a broader sounding CHR/Pop station.

And as others have also pointed out, this isnt a medium sized market in Ohio so you cant just import the playlist and library of a Rhythmic leaning Kiss-FM type of station (like say Kiss FM Youngstown).

I think that the on air lineup and some of the imaging on Now 92.3 are great. I also think a Rhythmic leaning approach might work, but I'm surprised Now isn't taking its musical cues from Amp Radio in L.A.
Amp is playing songs like Pitbull's "I Know You Want Me" that could obviously work in New York as well, Jamie Foxx "Blame It", the hot new Kanye West joint, Keri Hilson, Kid Cudi, as well as records by the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift are also absent from Now yet receiving significant airplay on Amp radio.
The Recurrents/Gold are also spot on for a station in L.A. whereas those on Now 92.3 at times seem like they were plucked from a Movin or Kiss-FM station (as others have pointed out).

And yet after pointing all that out you can rest assure that Now 92.3 will work out all the (musical) kinks in a very short amount of time. They did play Jay Z's "Big Pimpin" earlier today, and playing songs like City High's "What Would You Do" (still a hot Recurrent at rival Z-100), meaning the Gold/Recurrents are sounding better and better for a NYC Rhythmic leaning CHR/Pop station.

One final note. Anyone else find it ironic that Z-100's PD Sharon Dastur is also currently holding down the PD job at Channel 95-5 Detroit, which was last manned by Now 92.3's new PD?

 

[htowler]

FYI Do NOT go by yes.com music rankings for at least 1 week after a format change. It will NOT be accurate as the old stations spins are still weighted in.

This goes for ANY Station not just this 1.

yes.com should "flush" Spins when a station flips but they dont

 

[TonySantiago]

Here's a crazy idea....if they are going to play recurrents that far back, they could do a sweeper in this fashion...

"92.3 NOW.....Z-100 THEN", and go right into that classic track.