Active Rock/Alternative Rock = 1 station??

[acheron1982]

I live in Atlanta and I toss between Project 96.1 and 99.1 (99x). Sometimes I want some Five Finger, Stained, Three Days Grace and Skillet but then there are times I want to hear some Muse, Silversun Pickups, and that new one from Joy Formidable.

The problem with the active rock station 96.1 is that they play Disturbed and slipknot over and over and over again.
The problem with the Alt rock station 99.1 (99x) is that they play Oasis and Cage the Elephant over and over again.

Why not save modern mainstream rock (active rock), classic alternative and alternative stations (90's 2k and today's rock) and combine them into one format. The station could lean more one way vs the other depending on the day or whatever but I really think it would work. About the closest I have seen to this is 105.7 the point in St. Louis but it leans mostly active now.

Thoughts??

 

[Schuyler]

I'd enjoy a station like that, but I'm not the general public. You'd have to do an awful lot of promotion designed to educate listeners as to what this 3-in-1 station was all about, and even then you would never hear the end of complaints: "You don't play enough this, you play too much that." We all know musical taste is subjective, but it's amazing how many people genuinely believe that the music they like is the only stuff that is good, and everything else is garbage.

No FM station owner is going to take the bait. Why some AM stations with nothing to lose don't try new format ideas is beyond me. I'm well aware that "AM sounds like crap" (not on a clear day with good processing on a decent receiver, it doesn't) -- but people used to turn to the internet for alternatives back when they had dial-up and the audio was terrible. Go figure.

 

[upstate29651]

Acheron, that's how it used to be in the 90's...and it was grand!

Then some dopey consultant/pseudo-programmer decided, "Hey, why don't we move the harder edged tracks to a new format, along with some harder edged geezer rock songs? That'll bring out the M 18-34's!" Thus, Active rock was born & it hasn't been the same since.

To this day, I maintain your average Linkin Park or Godsmack listener has more in common with a Muse fan than they do with a fan of Aerosmith or Black Sabbath. It's this lack of basic understanding that is killing rock radio nationwide. To merge alternative & active back together as they once were is not only a no brainer, it may be what saves the overall format. Now that may not bode well for hipster poser bands like Mumford & Sons, but no one really likes them anyway .

G

 

[atlantaboy]

I just don't know a lot of people that love both Mumford & Sons and Avenged Sevenfold - and I think a lot of people that listen to Project 96.1 think Death Cab is "soft wussy stuff", and a lot of people that listen to 99X/Dave FM think Godsmack is "dumb and unintelligent"

There are smaller market stations that try to run both sides of the Active/Alternative fence, but I think they usually end up having to leave out most of the Indie stuff

 

[atlantaboy]

Acheron, that's how it used to be in the 90's...and it was grand!

That was before the Extreme Active stuff starting coming out though (Korn, Godsmack, early Limp Bizkit, etc.) - by the very late 90s, you would've had an Alternative station playing Sarah McLachlan followed by Korn, which IMO wouldn't have a been a good idea

 

[hubcity]

So, with whatever degree of success I'm having, I'm programming a Modern Rock station. Having cut my teeth in the college/modern rock days of the 80's, I've got some general guidelines:

- If it sounds like metal, I don't play it (exception: metal-funk fusion, at least until it started becoming its own cliche.)
- If it's too damn sleepy, I don't play it (Sorry, Bon Iver, though Mumford & Sons managed to have enough energy to slip past. Death Cab occasionally gets a pass, but it's not a guarantee.)
- An entertaining track with a steady beat trumps a track where the band seems to be mostly entertaining themselves. (Sorry, Battles.)
- Challenge me. Don't annoy me. Make me think.

In short, if it convinces me that WLIR would have aired it if it somehow landed in their desk in 1983, it's in. With some exceptions.

(You can hear my version of this at Altrok 90.5 HD2, or check out Ferris O'Brien's station in OKC...)

 

[Saladressing]

Agreed with all of the indie/soft music comments here, but in the select few markets that have only an Active Rocker, it is baffling that these stations don't play some, any, or more of artists such as Muse, Incubus, Bad Religion, Sublime, Silversun Pickups, Rise Against, 311, Social D, Weezer and more, instead choosing to stick to a lot of the non-melodic sludge. It would seem they are missing out on a huge share of new people who would tune in if they mixed it up a lil.

 

[atlantaboy]

Agreed with all of the indie/soft music comments here, but in the select few markets that have only an Active Rocker, it is baffling that these stations don't play some, any, or more of artists such as Muse, Incubus, Bad Religion, Sublime, Silversun Pickups, Rise Against, 311, Social D, Weezer and more, instead choosing to stick to a lot of the non-melodic sludge. It would seem they are missing out on a huge share of new people who would tune in if they mixed it up a lil.

Unless the market's got a AAA, cause a lot AAA's in markets without full-signal Alternative stations are covering a good percentage of those bands

 

[Saladressing]

Agreed with all of the indie/soft music comments here, but in the select few markets that have only an Active Rocker, it is baffling that these stations don't play some, any, or more of artists such as Muse, Incubus, Bad Religion, Sublime, Silversun Pickups, Rise Against, 311, Social D, Weezer and more, instead choosing to stick to a lot of the non-melodic sludge. It would seem they are missing out on a huge share of new people who would tune in if they mixed it up a lil.

Unless the market's got a AAA, cause a lot AAA's in markets without full-signal Alternative stations are covering a good percentage of those bands

Yes AAAs are playing the softer stuff from Incubus, 311 etc. but of course no punk rock, no songs from many of the bands listed above or similar acts and very few songs with guitar distortion. But it would be cool to hear Active rockers bring in the full complement of singles from the bands listed above and more.

 

[WBIMDJ]

Agreed with all of the indie/soft music comments here, but in the select few markets that have only an Active Rocker, it is baffling that these stations don't play some, any, or more of artists such as Muse, Incubus, Bad Religion, Sublime, Silversun Pickups, Rise Against, 311, Social D, Weezer and more, instead choosing to stick to a lot of the non-melodic sludge. It would seem they are missing out on a huge share of new people who would tune in if they mixed it up a lil.

Unless the market's got a AAA, cause a lot AAA's in markets without full-signal Alternative stations are covering a good percentage of those bands

Yes AAAs are playing the softer stuff from Incubus, 311 etc. but of course no punk rock, no songs from many of the bands listed above or similar acts and very few songs with guitar distortion. But it would be cool to hear Active rockers bring in the full complement of singles from the bands listed above and more.

Agreed with Salad, all of those bands he listed belong on alternative, no matter what. There's no need for the active rock "sludge" regardless of the existence of an active rocker or not. Godsmack, Avenged Sevenfold, Five Finger whatever DOESN'T belong. It's just NOT alternative/modern rock.

 

[upstate29651]

Agreed with all of the indie/soft music comments here, but in the select few markets that have only an Active Rocker, it is baffling that these stations don't play some, any, or more of artists such as Muse, Incubus, Bad Religion, Sublime, Silversun Pickups, Rise Against, 311, Social D, Weezer and more, instead choosing to stick to a lot of the non-melodic sludge. It would seem they are missing out on a huge share of new people who would tune in if they mixed it up a lil.

Unless the market's got a AAA, cause a lot AAA's in markets without full-signal Alternative stations are covering a good percentage of those bands

Yes AAAs are playing the softer stuff from Incubus, 311 etc. but of course no punk rock, no songs from many of the bands listed above or similar acts and very few songs with guitar distortion. But it would be cool to hear Active rockers bring in the full complement of singles from the bands listed above and more.

Agreed with Salad, all of those bands he listed belong on alternative, no matter what. There's no need for the active rock "sludge" regardless of the existence of an active rocker or not. Godsmack, Avenged Sevenfold, Five Finger whatever DOESN'T belong. It's just NOT alternative/modern rock.

if you can have Social D & Rise Against, you sure as heck can have Five Finger & Godsmack, which is considered "gold" to the format.

G

 

[hubcity]

if you can have Social D & Rise Against, you sure as heck can have Five Finger & Godsmack, which is considered "gold" to the format.

Social Distortion segues with The Clash. The others, not so much.

 

[WBIMDJ]

Agreed with all of the indie/soft music comments here, but in the select few markets that have only an Active Rocker, it is baffling that these stations don't play some, any, or more of artists such as Muse, Incubus, Bad Religion, Sublime, Silversun Pickups, Rise Against, 311, Social D, Weezer and more, instead choosing to stick to a lot of the non-melodic sludge. It would seem they are missing out on a huge share of new people who would tune in if they mixed it up a lil.

Unless the market's got a AAA, cause a lot AAA's in markets without full-signal Alternative stations are covering a good percentage of those bands

Yes AAAs are playing the softer stuff from Incubus, 311 etc. but of course no punk rock, no songs from many of the bands listed above or similar acts and very few songs with guitar distortion. But it would be cool to hear Active rockers bring in the full complement of singles from the bands listed above and more.

Agreed with Salad, all of those bands he listed belong on alternative, no matter what. There's no need for the active rock "sludge" regardless of the existence of an active rocker or not. Godsmack, Avenged Sevenfold, Five Finger whatever DOESN'T belong. It's just NOT alternative/modern rock.

if you can have Social D & Rise Against, you sure as heck can have Five Finger & Godsmack, which is considered "gold" to the format.

G

On active rock, yes. On alternative, not in the least bit. Social D fits on both, Godsmack doesn't.

 

[atlantaboy]

There is a HUGE musical difference between Rise Against and Godsmack

 

[xyz]

WHJY HD - 1 / WHJY HD - 2.

 

[Jacko]

Why did you have to bring HJY into this? There are a handful of stations that do play the active rock/alternative thing and have had a lot of success with it. WAAF here is Boston is one. The Boston area does have a history with being an alternative-friendly, especially with WFNX, WBOS, and the former WBCN around. WAAF is not afraid to play Muse, Kings of Leon, the White Stripes, and other heavier alt acts with their active rock roster, although these days their playlist is pretty tight? Other stations include WJRR/Orlando and WNFZ/Knoxville, which were former alternative reporters but now report active rock but still have alternative leans.

Jacko

 

[xyz]

Why did you have to bring HJY into this? There are a handful of stations that do play the active rock/alternative thing and have had a lot of success with it. WAAF here is Boston is one. The Boston area does have a history with being an alternative-friendly, especially with WFNX, WBOS, and the former WBCN around. WAAF is not afraid to play Muse, Kings of Leon, the White Stripes, and other heavier alt acts with their active rock roster, although these days their playlist is pretty tight? Other stations include WJRR/Orlando and WNFZ/Knoxville, which were former alternative reporters but now report active rock but still have alternative leans.

Jacko

Please read the subject line of this thread. Please tune an HD radio to 94.1, and then listen. Please re-read reply #14 above. QED.

When I'm in Boston, my radio is on 101.7. WFNX has always been committed to Alt. The others mentioned above are fickle, not at all dependable and not worth my waiting for them to throw me a musical sop.

WBOS beat the far superior WBCN by matching them song for song. Why? They STFU and actually PLAY the music!

WAAF with it's big tower move and WKAF kicker is ALMOST cracking a 3 in the ratings! GRRRRRR!!!

WFNX and it's 0.9 ratings that everybody thinks is so hilarious, sports a continual 250,000 cume consisting of virtually 100% P1s. WEEI 850 AM is probably the only guy beating them with DEDICATED P1s.

P.S. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that WHJY is leading it's market with an 11% (that is: ELEVEN%!) AQH. Sorry for the omission.

-

 

[Jacko]

I was merely kidding about my HJY crack. The station is kind of an anomaly, playing the same tired classic rock tracks with some newer dude-rock thrown in. At least they have some live air talent.

Jacko

 

[Jersey Maiden]

Yeah, I remember the days when rock stations were willing to marry those two subgenres. In New York, KRock was a station that kept changing their minds on whether they wanted to be alternative or hard rock. But when I was in high school, its playlist included New Found Glory, Disturbed, Oasis, and even rappers like the Roots. Now that's what I call a perfect balance. Later, they changed to an active/classic hybrid, and then got flipped to CHR in 2009. Grock, a Jersey shore station, was comfortable with having Trapt along with lighter bands like OAR. But it also flipped in 2009 (how that happened is an interesting one that you can read on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WKMK). Since then, no one in my area (unless you count college stations) has been willing to try bringing alt and active rock together. New York doesn't even have a rock station (since 7/15), though 105.5 WDHA (active) is still keeping rock alive in Jersey. Yes, we also have WRAT (a sister of DHA) but the signal blows in my area.

 

[Saladressing]

But when I was in high school, its playlist included New Found Glory, Disturbed, Oasis, and even rappers like the Roots. Now that's what I call a perfect balance.

I would almost agree, with the only exception being the lack of female artists from WXRK's rotation at that time. To me the perfect balance of alt. rock is a balance of singer/songwriter, punk, female acts, some hard rock even, alt. rock of course, some hip-hop, just whatever's good, new and not all mainstreamy.