After The Red Sweaters Are Hung Back In The Closet...Then What?

[awp69]

Forget what I said about Delilah.  A lot of CC stations didn't run her last night.  No changes at either AC, but MY really isn't sounding 'fresh' at all - same old currents as before Christmas, and they just played Gloria Gaynor.  Sigh.  Seems if they were ever going to get closer to Hot AC, they would have now.  They still consider "Secrets", "Rolling In The Deep", and "Perfect" as currents that deserve to be amongst the station's most played.

I've been enjoying ChuckFM most of the day.

Yep, listened to them today as well. Still about the same as far as Hotter AC, but far from being straight Hot AC. I had hoped they would dump the 70s slow and/or disco songs. I still listen because of the 90s/2000s they play just because I do like things like All-American Rejects, OneRepublic, Fall Out Boy and Death Cab for Cutie (all things I heard at one point or another on MY). But as soon as one of those slow and/or disco songs that don't mesh well at all with the other stuff comes on, I switch to Chuck and continue down my line of presets. I still wish Chuck was a bit more like Charlie in also mixing in 2000s and currents along with the older variety. I'd listen to it more. But honestly, they play quite a few older songs that I'm just not into (even though they are generally all more upbeat).

So, I'm just stuck flipping around the dial. But if I compared the end of 2010 with the end of 2011, overall, I'm happier with my choices. Flipping will continue since there's no station that I'm 100% happy with (or even 75% happy with). The more stations that at least play some songs I like, the more of a chance they'll be at least one song at a particular time that I find "listenable".

Maybe MY will eventually get more Hot AC and I hope they do. But, as you say, now would have been the time to do it. I'll be anxious when 7 p.m rolls around and see if Delilah is still on. I hope she's not. I don't know what their contract is with her, however. It could be that January 1 could have her out the door.

We'll see. Am I happy with radio in the Upstate compared to other places I've lived (Atlanta, Philly and Washington, DC)? No, far from it. But the only time I ever really did like a station almost constantly was with 103X (which I know a lot of people around here probably don't agree with). It's just my taste in music. At least for now, though, I can manage without cringing even after flipping. There should be something for me -- it just won't be one station that has it all.

 

[carolinaradio]

Basically, it's unchanged from before they went all-Christmas. I was hoping at least they would have put some of the currents in the rotation that I mentioned earlier before they switched back, but no such luck.

Are you sure you didn't hear Fall Out Boy online? Some of the stuff like that they play for fillers online. I've never heard them play anything like that, but I'd like to. I agree that I like it mostly for the 2000s music, as well as some of the 90s (actually, if you listen long enough, most of the 90s music they play and more can be heard on Chuck). I just worry that if they keep Delilah, and don't freshen the playlist (even just by adding more current music), it'll be the death of them. Chuck and Charlie are different - Chuck's much safer, IMO.

I like newer stuff like you mention, as well as older stuff from the 70s (just not on the same station) - so I like Chuck, since I haven't heard a lot of the songs in a long time. I used to live in Raleigh and Augusta - and radio is better here, actually. 106.5 The End in Charlotte is a decent rock/alt. station. I was getting them last night somehow.

It's 7:14 and Delilah's on. Ugh.

 

[awp69]

It's 7:14 and Delilah's on. Ugh.

That sucks. I haven't tuned in yet, but now I know not to. As far as Chuck being safer than Charlie, that doesn't bother me. I just wish they'd play some newer music as well. I have liked a lot of the 80s and 90s stuff that they've been playing. I even like some of the 70s rock songs, but they've played others (like the occasional disco song or even something like Michael Jackson) that I just have to switch off. The older lean will likely do better than Charlie.

As I mentioned though, at least there's more to choose from. And 96.1 has been coming in great now so that's another one on the list (third down the line) since they're not quite as rhythmic as B93.7.

Still have hope that Delilah is a contract issue and that whenever it's up she'll get the boot. And, fingers crossed, that may be why they still play some of the older stuff so she still blends a bit into their "fresh" format.

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Well,...(southern prefix)...I said well,...just as expected...Status Quo. Both of them...Status Dose! Both Red Sweaters hung back in each respective Christmas closet, until next year, and we can only hope that someone generously pays the moth mafia to hit-hard during the next eleven months! However, I do have my New Year's prediction: I do see it changing a bit for the better. Each have ankled from their staffs, and I feel that they will have to fill those gaps to operate at a level of sweatless comfort. The salaries for those hires will be, however, well within budget, and shamefully cheap. To me, this can lead to more hires, as they begin to scratch heads on...Running it...because we certainly can't...sell it!

 

[awp69]

Are you sure you didn't hear Fall Out Boy online? Some of the stuff like that they play for fillers online. I've never heard them play anything like that, but I'd like to.

Meant to answer this yesterday, but it was actually on-air yesterday. Pretty sure it was "Sugar, We're Goin' Down".

 

[carolinaradio]

Unfortunately, MY has not really made any changes this week. I believe this is as "hot" AC as it's going to get. No new songs, either, that I've heard. This "fresh new sound" seems to be getting more and more stale. I can probably think of 20 new Hot AC (heck, even some AC) songs they could be playing instead of the same, stale ones.

Since Delilah is syndicated by Premiere, who is also owned by Clear Channel, it seems to me that they could get out of her show easily, if they wanted to.

I still like the station, but worry that the lack of changes, retaining Delilah, and remaining slow, older songs could put a nail in their coffin.

 

[awp69]

I really don't know station budgets, but I was wondering if the New Year could bring in some newer songs with it. I assume that the newer the song, the higher the royalties are that the station pays for airing it. If WMYI is on an annual budget cycle for Jan-Dec., maybe that's why they're not making many moves on newer songs...cash shortage.

Still, no matter what, they need to get better at getting new adds or face a drainage of listeners (and advertising to follow).

 

[carolinaradio]

I'm not really sure if that's it. Other stations are adding new songs. If they did have a cash shortage, that certainly isn't good.

Between 12am and 5am or 6am when they run the national playlist, they are absolutely straight up Hot AC - LMFAO, Gym Class Heroes, new Coldplay (Paradise), Cobra Starship, new Gavin DeGraw (Not Over You), new Fray (Heartbeat), new Hot Chelle Rae (I Like It Like That), new Adele (Fire to the Rain), new Florence/Machine, and a lot of other goodies - if they sounded like that all day, it would be fantastic.

Agree, if they continue to say "fresh new sound" and go this long with nothing new, they're not going to keep getting 6 and a half shares like their numbers spiked to in the summer, and will fall back below Magic. I really want it to work, but I'm starting to get concerned.

 

[freqdev]

stations pay annual fees based on market size to ascap and bmi for the rights to broadcast songs. the fees are collected on behalf of the songwriter and not the performer. it has nothing to do with how much new music a station plays. it licenses the station to play whatever they want as long as it is not in violation of fcc indecency rules

 

[awp69]

Between 12am and 5am or 6am when they run the national playlist, they are absolutely straight up Hot AC - LMFAO, Gym Class Heroes, new Coldplay (Paradise), Cobra Starship, new Gavin DeGraw (Not Over You), new Fray (Heartbeat), new Hot Chelle Rae (I Like It Like That), new Adele (Fire to the Rain), new Florence/Machine, and a lot of other goodies - if they sounded like that all day, it would be fantastic.

I haven't listened to them between those times, but that sounds exactly what they should be playing/adding. It was kind of ironic, last night I went out for a few minutes and it was after 7 p.m. and I heard Coldplay's Paradise. I was like wow, even though it's hardly new, it's something I hadn't heard before on MY. The sad thing was that it was during Delilah's show!

 

[carolinaradio]

It just makes no sense to me why they won't add anything new. Their most played songs, which happen to be "currents" (duh) (in order) are: Mr. Know It All, Rolling In The Deep, Someone Like You, Tonight Tonight, Edge Of Glory, Moves Like Jagger, Good Life, Pumped Up Kicks, Last Friday Night, Secrets, and Perfect.

The ones in italics, I would no longer play to death. They play 11 currents at a time, which are the songs listed above - for example, when one is added, one of those 11 will be taken out of the "current" rotation. Two "currents" are played an hour. Several of the above songs have been played that often since they went "fresh" in the summer. So, actually, they aren't much faster on new music than Magic. I don't understand, and I'm afraid we won't see anything change going in to next year.

 

[bugz]

Not saying I agree with it, but here is the common thinking on this from corporate programming types. When you go all Xmas, you get a bunch of listeners you wouldn't normally have. So when you go back to regular format, you only play the tried and true (and in our world, burned) songs to try and convert as many of those Xmas listeners (new cume) to regular listeners. So they don't play anything brand new. Only familiar stuff.

 

[freqdev]

i am with you bugz. i don't necessarily agree, but people hate change and playing songs they know and love won't get you into trouble and safe is what the corporate world wants. on the other hand because it is new doesn't necessarily mean it is good. charts are run by the labels. #1 songs can really suck. what do the listeners think? that is what amuses me about this thread that certain stations need to play more new music to be successful. there is no formula, only opinions.

 

[carolinaradio]

Actually, I disagree with Hot/fresh AC stations going all-Christmas in the first place. Hardly any do. We'll let the ratings speak for that, the closest way to know what the listeners think.

As far as music, it's more of an issue of looking back in the past - my point is that they're continuing to be slow on new music, just as they were before. I was hoping for more of a Hot AC direction after Christmas. About 9 new adds in 5 months, since they made the switch. Sad. The station was slow on new music before Christmas, so I'm not surprised. I want to see the station succeed, but I worry if they keep playing it this safe, they'll fail.

 

[freqdev]

"hardly any do" means you think they shouldn't because the others don't.

the ratings will say what they'll say however with arbitron accuracy i think that four to six books will give the best indication when averaged.

i wonder if being aggressive on new music hasn't been the downfall of most hot ac stations. it takes lots of plays to make a song familiar. the record label is telling the programmers it is a smash. what if people hate it? safe has some validity. a good hot ac station can be great through it's image and not necessarily how many new songs it plays.

i have not heard any country on chuck fm and they claim to play everything.

 

[awp69]

Still have hopes that they at least get a little more aggressive with adds. There are plenty of "safe" adds (something like Coldplay's "Paradise" or Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" come to mind). As carolinaradio mentioned, one of the songs they play ALOT is OneRepublic's "Secrets" so what's wrong with "Good Life"? That's about as safe as you can get.

Yes, familiarity may be good, but not adding new material is going to quickly burn out listeners as well. Heck, at this rate, I'd take just one new song a week. And there are plenty to choose from that shouldn't offend their listeners.

What's funny is that even though "Pumped Up Kicks" has been a big hit and MY plays it all the time, it's hardly a "safe" song at all. It's written from the perspective of a teenage killer!!

Anyway, maybe MY is playing it's cards right by sticking with what it had before Christmas to, maybe, get some of the listeners from the Christmas season. But I completely agree with carolinaradio that if they continue to even be remotely Hot AC and want to keep listeners, they're going to have to bring in new songs with it. All the songs he mentioned from their overnight feed would be great additions and if they're trying to be "fresh", those songs shouldn't be turning people away. If anything, it'll bring them back instead of switching to something like B93.7 just to hear a song or two they like that are "new".

If there's any sign that MY is not going in the right direction, it's that Magic has been adding songs faster. I don't listen to Magic because I don't like a lot of the slower, older stuff they do play, but it's sad if a traditional AC is quicker at adding new hits than a supposedly "fresh" station, regardless of whether they're going Hot AC whole hog or not.

 

[freqdev]

What's funny is that even though "Pumped Up Kicks" has been a big hit and MY plays it all the time, it's hardly a "safe" song at all. It's written from the perspective of a teenage killer!!

some songs trancend the format and become novelty quickly. it is that way in every format.

 

[carolinaradio]

Still have hopes that they at least get a little more aggressive with adds. There are plenty of "safe" adds (something like Coldplay's "Paradise" or Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" come to mind). As carolinaradio mentioned, one of the songs they play ALOT is OneRepublic's "Secrets" so what's wrong with "Good Life"? That's about as safe as you can get.

They've actually been playing "Good Life" since before Christmas. Took them forever to add it, though. They still consider "Secrets" a 'current.' That song is not fresh in any way, shape, or form, sorry.

Anyway, maybe MY is playing it's cards right by sticking with what it had before Christmas to, maybe, get some of the listeners from the Christmas season. But I completely agree with carolinaradio that if they continue to even be remotely Hot AC and want to keep listeners, they're going to have to bring in new songs with it. All the songs he mentioned from their overnight feed would be great additions and if they're trying to be "fresh", those songs shouldn't be turning people away. If anything, it'll bring them back instead of switching to something like B93.7 just to hear a song or two they like that are "new".

I agree totally, with everything you say. However, this not adding many new songs is nothing new - as I said, it took them forever to start playing "Good Life" (they've added about 2 new songs per month since launch, so about 8 new songs since July, actually not much better than Magic), and it looks that this practice is going to continue. If they don't step it up with the new music going in to the new year (OK, I'll give them a free pass this past week), I really question what they are trying to do. Typical AC's add more than 2 new songs a month. As I listen to other Hot AC's, the more stale MY sounds. There is NOTHING 'shocking' or 'offensive' about "Not Over You", "Brighter Than The Sun", or "The One That Got Away" (holy crap, that's less 'offensive' than Katy's last hit they play to death, Last Friday Night). I honestly do not think those songs are going to turn any listener off. For their format, I think Magic is more on top of things than MY's.

I have doubts about their strategy. Some will defend it regardless. Would be interesting to know how often they listen. I just think they can be a little "fresher" without going full Hot AC if they don't want that format. It seemed to have so much promise when it started, but it's starting to get frusturating because they are lagging on new music, and were before the holidays even aside from a couple of songs. I really don't think things are going to get much better after the new year. Thanks to New Years, I've been listening to the national playlist on MY tonight, and it's fantastic. They're playing "Heartbeat" right now.

 

[carolinaradio]

i have not heard any country on chuck fm and they claim to play everything.

I've heard Hank Jr. several times and The Bellamy Brothers (although "Let Your Love Flow" was somewhat of a crossover).

 

[awp69]

It does seem like MY is playing less of the 70s stuff than they were before Christmas, but geez, not much variety with their "currents". Ashame, hope something changes soon.