An Opinion on 101.9 New Rock

[whatsnew3000]

Being that 101.9 New Rock is Alternative music, does this playlist which was generated from iTunes reflect the type of music that can be played on the station? Could the following songs be played back to back?

Here's the playlist generated by iTunes:

2003 Time Is Running Out - Muse - Absolution
2004 Smile Like You Mean It - The Killers Hot Fuss
1995 Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead The Bends
2005 All At Once - The Fray - How to Save a Life
2004 Chocolate - Snow Patrol - Final Straw
1999 Guerrilla Radio - Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles
2005 My Doorbell - The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
2010 She's Long Gone - The Black Keys - Brothers (Deluxe Version)
1989 Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother's Milk
2004 Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own - U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
1999 Here With Me - Dido - No Angel
1996 Virtual Insanity - Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving
1997 Lucky Man - The Verve - Urban Hymns
2009 Dance In the Dark - Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster
1971 Life On Mars? - David Bowie - Hunky Dory (Remastered)
2010 Moth's Wings - Passion Pit - Manners (Bonus Track Version)
2008 I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You - Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
2000 Sea of Love - Cat Power - The Covers Record
2000 Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of - U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
2000 My Way - Limp Bizkit - Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavored Water
2008 Ready for the Floor - Hot Chip - Made In the Dark
2001 Why Georgia - John Mayer - Room for Squares
2003 Gone - Jack Johnson - On and On
2009 Speechless - Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster
2008 Make It Mine - Jason Mraz - We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

There may be some out-of-this world ones like Lady GaGa and David Bowie, but I'm curious to know.

 

[Frequency Breakdown]

Did you just… make this up or something?

 

[pjc1961]

Apologizing up front for the length of this post:

The list above has some elements of the current RXP format, but there's at least 7 or 8 songs that have no chance of airing on RXP and the two U2 selections are on the fence (I don't think they've played any U2 yet - or very sparingly if they have).
RXP is not meant to be a variety/adult hits/quasi-alternative station as the above list would seem to indicate.

Lists of actual songs played on WRXP below.

While some of the "poppier" selections below would upset the alternative purist (I remember a NewRock1019 Facebook post on Day 1 complaining about the "Z100 songs" on the station), I understand what WRXP's purpose is here. This is likely the only possible way a rock-oriented station in New York can survive: by playing fairly familiar tunes, some of which may stray towards the pop fringe of the format. Better to go in that direction than to go a bit more hardcore/eclectic which would blow off the casual listener. As long as they're consistent (a failure of the former version of this station - call it WRXP 1.0), they could find at least some traction.

Another complaint from purists is that a good number of songs are not "new rock", going by the strictest definition in terms of age of titles. If the station followed that edict, there'd be 40-50 tunes in tight top-40-ish rotation which would lead to people complaining of burnout. This is the trickiest part of the format: picking the right titles from the last 20-25 years that fit musically, tonally, sonically within the era.

From (the very buggy) Yes.com, the top 100 songs for the week for WEMP/WRXP.
(currently listed as WEMP: http://www.yes.com/#WEMP?chart)

Sadly, a lot of titles are missing at the top of the list - likely they're current songs:

1 -
2 M83 - Midnight City
3 Of Monsters And Men - Little Talks
4 -
5 -
6 -
7 -
8 Coldplay - PARADISE
9 -
10 Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks
11 Gotye - SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW
12 Awolnation - Sail
13 Cage The Elephant - Shake Me Down
14 Foster the People - Don't Stop (Color On The Walls
15 -
16 IMAGINE DRAGONS - IT'S TIME
17 Black Keys - HOWLIN' FOR YOU
18 Foo Fighters - These Days
19 Naked and Famous - Young Blood
20 Dirty Heads - Lay Me Down f/Rome
21 Young The Giant - Cough Syrup
22 LUMINEERS - Ho Hey
23 -
24 Florence + The Machine - NO LIGHT, NO LIGHT
25 Awolnation - Not Your Fault
26 Fun. - We Are Young f/Janelle Monae
27 -
28 Neon Trees - Animal
29 Alabama Shakes - Hold On
30 Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over
31 Thirty Seconds To Mars - The Kill
32 Grouplove - TONGUE TIED
33 Florence + The Machine - SHAKE IT OUT
34 Rise Against - Satellite
35 Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
36 Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling
37 Black Keys - LONELY BOY
38 Neon Trees - Everybody Talks
39 Coldplay - CHARLIE BROWN
40 Black Keys - Tighten Up
41 Foo Fighters - Walk
42 Foster the People - Helena Beat
43 Bush - The Sound Of Winter
44 Silverchair - Tomorrow
45 Mumford n Sons - Little Lion Man
46 Staind - It's Been Awhile
47 Blink 182 - What's My Age Again
48 Third Eye Blind - Jumper
49 Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
50 Beck - Where It's At
51 Cake - Never There
52 Incubus - Nice To Know You
53 Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows
54 Phoenix - 1901
55 White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
56 Bush - Everything Zen
57 Tonic - If You Could Only See
58 Sublime - Santeria
59 Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc
60 Fuel - Shimmer
61 Marcy Playground - Sex And Candy
62 Cake - Short Skirt/Long Jacket
63 Collective Soul - The World I Know
64 Third Eye Blind - How's It Going To Be?
65 Lit - My Own Worst Enemy
66 Local H - Bound For The Floor
67 Pearl Jam - Alive
68 Weezer - Pork And Beans
69 Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Face Down
70 Pearl Jam - Daughter
71 Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
72 Muse - Uprising
73 Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
74 Everclear - SANTA MONICA (WATCH THE ...)
75 Alice In Chains - Would?
76 Smashing Pumpkins - Today
77 Killers - Human
78 Sublime - Caress Me Down
79 Blink 182 - All The Small Things
80 Third Eye Blind - Graduate
81 Offspring - COME OUT AND PLAY
82 Pearl Jam - Elderly Woman Behind The...
83 Weezer - Buddy Holly
84 Sublime - Wrong Way
85 Live - I Alone
86 Radiohead - Creep
87 Nirvana - Come As You Are
88 Modest Mouse - Float On
89 Everlast - What It's Like
90 Bob Marley n The Wailers - Jamming
91 Muse - Time Is Running Out
92 AFI - Miss Murder
93 Beck - Loser
94 Blind Melon - No Rain
95 Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song
96 Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye
97 Collective Soul - Shine
98 Foo Fighters - Best Of You
99 Offspring - Self Esteem
100 Bush - Little Things

The most recent 4-hour block on Wed. 7/25/12
(based on the above list, there could be titles missing, but going by the times being close together and allowing for commercial breaks, maybe not):

COLLECTIVE SOUL - Shine 25.7.2012 2:32pm
MUSE - Supermassive Black Hole 25.7.2012 2:35pm
AWOLNATION - Sail 25.7.2012 2:39pm
GREEN DAY - Oh Love 25.7.2012 2:44pm
BLIND MELON - No Rain 25.7.2012 2:47pm
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Guerrilla Radio 25.7.2012 2:51pm
CAGE THE ELEPHANT - Shake Me Down 25.7.2012 3:01pm
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - By The Way 25.7.2012 3:04pm
VERVE PIPE - The Freshmen 25.7.2012 3:09pm
KILLERS - Runaways 25.7.2012 3:13pm
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - No One Knows 25.7.2012 3:17pm
BLACK KEYS - Tighten Up 25.7.2012 3:21pm
M83 - Midnight City 25.7.2012 3:25pm
TEMPLE OF THE DOG - Hunger Strike 25.7.2012 3:28pm
GOTYE - Somebody That I Used To Know 25.7.2012 3:33pm
MGMT - Kids 25.7.2012 3:40pm
IMAGINE DRAGONS - It's Time 25.7.2012 3:44pm
NIRVANA - Come As You Are 25.7.2012 3:47pm
NEON TREES - Animal 25.7.2012 3:50pm
WEEZER - Perfect Situation 25.7.2012 3:54pm
ALEX CLARE - Too Close 25.7.2012 3:58pm
CURE - Friday I'm In Love 25.7.2012 4:01pm
FOSTER THE PEOPLE - Don't Stop (Color On The Walls) 25.7.2012 4:04pm
SPACEHOG - In The Meantime 25.7.2012 4:09pm
COLDPLAY - Speed of Sound 25.7.2012 4:13pm
ALABAMA SHAKES - Hold On 25.7.2012 4:17pm
PEARL JAM - Better Man 25.7.2012 4:22pm
KINGS OF LEON - Use Somebody 25.7.2012 4:26pm
LIVE - Lightning Crashes 25.7.2012 4:31pm
THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS - Kings & Queens 25.7.2012 4:36pm
NAKED AND FAMOUS - Young Blood 25.7.2012 4:40pm
SILVERSUN PICKUPS - Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings) 25.7.2012 4:43pm
GREEN DAY - Longview 25.7.2012 4:47pm
JANE'S ADDICTION - Jane Says 25.7.2012 4:52pm
YOUNG THE GIANT - Cough Syrup 25.7.2012 5:02pm
OFFSPRING - The Kids Aren't Alright 25.7.2012 5:05pm
INCUBUS - Pardon Me 25.7.2012 5:09pm
WALK THE MOON - Anna Sun 25.7.2012 5:12pm
FOO FIGHTERS - All My Life 25.7.2012 5:16pm
JAMES - Laid 25.7.2012 5:19pm
FOSTER THE PEOPLE - Helena Beat 25.7.2012 5:21pm
OF MONSTERS AND MEN - Little Talks 25.7.2012 5:27pm
SNEAKER PIMPS - 6 Underground 25.7.2012 5:30pm
DIRTY HEADS - Lay Me Down f/Rome 25.7.2012 5:34pm
NINE INCH NAILS - Head Like A Hole 25.7.2012 5:39pm
KILLERS - Mr. Brightside 25.7.2012 5:43pm
AWOLNATION - Not Your Fault 25.7.2012 5:47pm
COLDPLAY - Clocks 25.7.2012 5:51pm
BUSH - The Sound Of Winter 25.7.2012 5:54pm
JEFF BUCKLEY - Last Goodbye 25.7.2012 5:59pm
M83 - Midnight City 25.7.2012 6:02pm
PARAMORE - Misery Business 25.7.2012 6:06pm
BLACK KEYS - Howlin' For You 25.7.2012 6:09pm
WEEZER - I Want To 25.7.2012 6:13pm
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - Scar Tissue 25.7.2012 6:16pm
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - No Light, No Light 25.7.2012 6:20pm

 

[whatsnew3000]

Thank you for the input on this.

I didn't make it up. I have nearly 7,000 songs and I have a lot of Rock and alternative on here. I was curious based on what iTunes Genius gave me would upset alternative listeners. I guess Apple has a lot of work to do from now until September.

 

[WNTIRadio]

Apple isn't trying to build TSL and sell to advertisers. They don't care if you play a song 1000 times or 0, as long as you bought it in iTunes.

 

[MarkO]

Personally I'd also like to hear some current "indie" tracks (Peaking Lights, Dirty Projectors, Liars, Ariel Pink, etc, etc) as well as some airworthy current EDM, but I realize that probably would be thinking too far outside-the-box for a programmer of a big major-market commercial station.

As it is, they're doing a fine job of focusing on the very pop-oriented alternative artists who are seeing a lot of chart action at the moment.

This is certainly preferable to the 80s/90s/00s "classic alternative" rut which other stations in the format have fallen into in attempts to remain viable.

 

[XCountry285]

If they dare change anything I'm going to be angry. It's absolutely perfect with the music that they are playing. However I'd like to add that they should play some newer tracks from the alternative library i.e. new Grouplove, Atomic Tom, Angels & Airwaves (yet to hear them), Older Foo Fighters & Older Green Day (i.e. Dookie) but they did play a song off Kerplunk. Less stuff like the Lumineers and other AAA artists that don't belong on Alternative would be nice. Strictly 100% alternative. Make mornings music intensive with traffic & weather (even in the afternoon) No talk, no syndicated garbage. Personally all I care about is the music. I like the liners and no real need for the IDs but ID every song even if it's old newer listeners that never heard it before or don't remember it can know who sang it etc. Also, your request line doesn't work I left a message, I believe that they got it because they played Jack Johnson which I thank them for that. However, answer your phones. I called the sales department to ask them if I could request a song there they said no try the number I said I did she said she doesn't know why that's happening. Also, their music skips i.e. American Idiot & they got alternate versions of songs Weezer's Perfect Situation. Lay off the liners with the curses in them with the first one "whoever had that $*#($*(# saying" & the songs too American Idiot one of the words wasn't edited out. Have it much like WRRV in Middletown & Radio 104.5 in Philly. Both are exceptional stations the better one is WRRV because of their legacy in the HV.

 

[ProducerGuy]

If they dare change anything I'm going to be angry.

Face it, you're going to be angry in two weeks anyway. Otherwise you wouldn't get to make pretend playlists and play PD.

Not trying to be mean, just saying that this kind of nitpicking is what convinces programmers to not give formats a proper shot to succeed. Listeners that call stations all the time trying to tell the people who work there how to do their jobs are the worst. Just listen and buy stuff from the sponsors. We don't need you to tell us that the signal is weak on the east side of town or that we're not playing enough Snow Patrol.

I can't tell you how many old people I had to talk down from a ledge every time my last station switched hosts. We get it. You miss Savage. Now leave me alone. I'm trying to do my job.

 

[leethalweapon]

If they dare change anything I'm going to be angry. It's absolutely perfect with the music that they are playing. However I'd like to add that they should play some newer tracks from the alternative library i.e. new Grouplove, Atomic Tom, Angels & Airwaves (yet to hear them), Older Foo Fighters & Older Green Day (i.e. Dookie) but they did play a song off Kerplunk. Less stuff like the Lumineers and other AAA artists that don't belong on Alternative would be nice. Strictly 100% alternative. Make mornings music intensive with traffic & weather (even in the afternoon) No talk, no syndicated garbage. Personally all I care about is the music. I like the liners and no real need for the IDs but ID every song even if it's old newer listeners that never heard it before or don't remember it can know who sang it etc. Also, your request line doesn't work I left a message, I believe that they got it because they played Jack Johnson which I thank them for that. However, answer your phones. I called the sales department to ask them if I could request a song there they said no try the number I said I did she said she doesn't know why that's happening. Also, their music skips i.e. American Idiot & they got alternate versions of songs Weezer's Perfect Situation. Lay off the liners with the curses in them with the first one "whoever had that $*#($*(# saying" & the songs too American Idiot one of the words wasn't edited out. Have it much like WRRV in Middletown & Radio 104.5 in Philly. Both are exceptional stations the better one is WRRV because of their legacy in the HV.

I'm baffled as to why you wouldn't have the Lumineers, yet you want Jack Johnson.... Listening to the station, I can't fault it. Just looking at Last weeks Mediabase Alternative chart, I saw a lot of material that was/is in the AAA charts. So, I'd say that they are doing a great job "playing the hits".

 

[XCountry285]

But their signal always works in those areas even when it was CD 101.9. There's something wrong on their end not mine. I never call stations and tell them that they suck.

 

[Frequency Breakdown]

But you do produce a shocking amount of run-on sentences! Nevertheless, I do agree with Lee's "baffleness," not only because Jack Johnson is "lighter" than the Lumineers, but AAA IS Alternative. And having those tracks blend together makes for a very strong sounding New Rock station.

 

[mjb1124]

The Lumineers' "Ho Hey" is currently in the top 15 of the Alternative chart. So the argument about whether or not they should play AAA hits is moot here.

 

[chrocket87]

Radio 104.5 plays a bunch of AAA, so I don't get why it sucks in NY but is praiseworthy in Philly, especially since the top 15 of Alternative is full of tracks that are shared with AAA.

 

[MoldaMania182]

Radio 104.5 plays a bunch of AAA, so I don't get why it sucks in NY but is praiseworthy in Philly, especially since the top 15 of Alternative is full of tracks that are shared with AAA.

Right now there is a lot of crossover between AAA and Alternative; more than usual anyway. Radio 104.5 is careful to not play too deep AAA as 1) they primarily are Alternative top hits and 2) Philly has XPN. Similarly in (most of) NY you have 107.1 the Peak doing AAA. Emmis' RXP played deeper cuts of AAA than Merlin is right now, and it probably will stay that way.

 

[WNTIRadio]

Also, your request line doesn't work I left a message, I believe that they got it because they played Jack Johnson which I thank them for that.

If you really believe that your request got played because you left a message, I have a bridge to sell you that spans the East River.

What a request line is for, 99% of the time, and especially with an automated station such as 101.9 is right now, is a cheap form of listener research. If lots of people call to request a song, then it gets factored into all of the other research for the playlist.

It just happened that Jack Johnson was coming up on the playlist after you called.

 

[davideduardo]

What a request line is for, 99% of the time, and especially with an automated station such as 101.9 is right now, is a cheap form of listener research. If lots of people call to request a song, then it gets factored into all of the other research for the playlist.

I have not witnessed a station that even tabulated calls or requests for the last three decades or so. The total randomity of calls removes any and all statistical significance, and the negative factors that are sometimes at work can kill a station.

Anyone who has been on the air and taken a request for a song that is either being played that very moment or was just played five minutes ago knows that requests and prize pigs are the scourge of having a phone in the studio.

A very 60's or early 70's trick was to have everyone on the station staff call a competitor and request stiffs. By the mid 70's when some of us actually had callout research, we really knew what apparently good songs were very damaging so that requests to a competitor were even more brutal.

 

[Just Me]

The Station can Easily exist on Three Current,2 Re-Current,A couple of Recent Gold Catagories(up to around 4-5 years) and a Couple GOLD Catagories going back maybe 5-10 years and 10 Plus Years. Don't try to be Everything to Everyone and Ignore Classic Rock...You do not need Pink Floyd played on an Alt Rock Station all you are doing is creating confusion...stay focused,stay tight & play the Alt Hits.Nobody is going to complain about hearing their favorites song twice everytime they turn the station on...in fact that is what keeps them coming back.

 

[Brooklyndon]

I heard rxp, last night, before I realized how late it was and that I had to turn off the radio and go to sleep, play that awful Nu Metal song "Head strong, I'll take on anyone."

If I had any advice, at all, for the new RXP, it would be beware the new metal, even after 11, it's the genre that, locally and nationally, helped end all the old heritage, and nearly-heritage, rockers that infinity once made millions on.

I've always been of the opinion that, in New York anyway, anyone who want to hear in-your-face music will put on power 105.


Play nu metal at your own risk.

 

[MoldaMania182]

I heard rxp, last night, before I realized how late it was and that I had to turn off the radio and go to sleep, play that awful Nu Metal song "Head strong, I'll take on anyone."

Trapt is hardly nu-metal. And yes how DARE RXP play a former #1 Rock song, #16 Pop song, award winner, and Billboard selected #1 song alternative song of the decade. WHAT WHERE THEY THINKING?!? ???

I've always been of the opinion that, in New York anyway, anyone who want to hear in-your-face music will put on power 105.

Oh yea, that's it, without a doubt fans of hard rock music will turn on RAP music immediately. ;D

 

[Macker]

The Station can Easily exist on Three Current,2 Re-Current,A couple of Recent Gold Catagories(up to around 4-5 years) and a Couple GOLD Catagories going back maybe 5-10 years and 10 Plus Years. Don't try to be Everything to Everyone and Ignore Classic Rock...You do not need Pink Floyd played on an Alt Rock Station all you are doing is creating confusion...stay focused,stay tight & play the Alt Hits.Nobody is going to complain about hearing their favorites song twice everytime they turn the station on...in fact that is what keeps them coming back.

I agree. I think on the weekends though, they open up the catalog a little more. 2 Sundays ago I heard Bob Marley "Jammin". That's the only time they've played anything classic. I think they're playing it pretty well right now. Hopefully they don't mess with it.