atlantaboy rightfully noted that the Alternative and AAA charts are churning slowly. However, the increasing significance and frequency of the crossovers Alternative has sent to pop (CHR/HAC) formats over the last 18 months indicates increased vitality at the Alternative format. The Lumineers, Foster The People, Neon Trees, Fun., Alex Clare and Gotye have all had major crossovers; even without mainstream radio support, Mumford & Sons and the Black Keys are two of the most critically acclaimed bands around (and radio is showing signs of getting with the program re: M&S), and Imagine Dragons, Linkin Park, Of Monsters & Men and Grouplove have all made respectable crossover showings. I'd argue that there's more interest in Alternative than there has been in years, but whether the format is viable independently (i.e., not packaged amongst Hot AC or pop material) in the Atlanta market is highly questionable.
If Alternative is ever going to make a comeback on Atlanta radio, it's going to have to be a very accessible, hit-driven station (look at X102-9/Jacksonville's playlist for guidance, or to Cities 97/Minneapolis for a more AAA approach). Atlanta is a musically conservative market, and anything that strikes listeners as too outlandish won't fly. Meanwhile, Star 94 has the opportunity to own anything resembling Alternative in this market. They're the only station in Atlanta playing Of Monsters & Men, Mumford & Sons and Imagine Dragons, and until this week, they were the only ones playing Ed Sheeran. It's a tertiary benefit for them, but as a Top 40/HAC guy whose second favorite format is Alternative, it works for me.
I'm very familiar with the so-called AAA in Savannah, Q105.3, and it's by no means AAA in the Dave FM vein. It's very classic hits-driven - you are just as likely, if not more so, to hear Rod Stewart or Jimmy Buffett as you are to hear Mumford & Sons. Another huge variable is that WRHQ is one of the ever-dwindling locally-owned commercial stations; in fact, the owner is the afternoon jock. The station has cultivated enormous goodwill and loyalty amongst longtime Savannahians, with a tremendous emphasis on community involvement. In summary, it's a situation that will never, ever emerge in Atlanta radio given the current landscape and industry trajectory.
