Another new Cox translator for Greenville?

[carolinaradio]

I have not seen it show in any of the trends yet, and it hasn't been on for a full book, so I really have no idea. It took a couple of books for the 97.7 signal to show up. I am starting to wonder if Cox will ever be able to unload these stations.

Metric was one of the final pieces of the puzzle. They NEED to be playing them. Flo & The Machine, Paramore, etc. would be nice to hear but I don't think they are as big of a deal. I was thinking about Paramore the other day. I don't think they have had anything significant on any format in several years. I remember Hayley Williams did vocals in a rap song a couple of years ago, but that's it. Florence & The Machine have a couple of good tracks for Alternative, like "Dog Days Are Over" and "Shake It Out." I think even MY played the former for a while after they came on.

 

[awp69]

I have not seen it show in any of the trends yet, and it hasn't been on for a full book, so I really have no idea. It took a couple of books for the 97.7 signal to show up. I am starting to wonder if Cox will ever be able to unload these stations.

Not sure what kind of money Cox is looking for but you'd think there would suitors for the rocketship that is JAMZ. Just from word of mouth and the response they've even been getting on their Facebook page I think X98.5 is doing pretty well. Most of the compalints I've seen have been about the fact that they indeed can't get the station in the extremities of the Upstate.

Whoever buys them, I think, would be stupid to throw the format away even if they still are just a blip in the first book or two. I really do think the station is good enough for a real higher wattage tower. If not the first book, I think there will be an effect on the already lowly rated Planet. With alternative making somewhat of a comeback, I think a lot of people are tired of the same drivel on Active Rock stations.

 

[carolinaradio]

I have not seen it show in any of the trends yet, and it hasn't been on for a full book, so I really have no idea. It took a couple of books for the 97.7 signal to show up. I am starting to wonder if Cox will ever be able to unload these stations.

Not sure what kind of money Cox is looking for but you'd think there would suitors for the rocketship that is JAMZ. Just from word of mouth and the response they've even been getting on their Facebook page I think X98.5 is doing pretty well. Most of the compalints I've seen have been about the fact that they indeed can't get the station in the extremities of the Upstate.

Whoever buys them, I think, would be stupid to throw the format away even if they still are just a blip in the first book or two. I really do think the station is good enough for a real higher wattage tower. If not the first book, I think there will be an effect on the already lowly rated Planet. With alternative making somewhat of a comeback, I think a lot of people are tired of the same drivel on Active Rock stations.

I forgot to come back here last week and respond to this. My opinion about the sale is that Cox is asking more than most operators are willing to pay....they don't have to get rid of them (they aren't needing the money, it's not time-sensitive), they're just wanting to get out of these markets since they're adjusting their focus. Since they're trying to sell Greenville along with other markets like Richmond, Birmingham, Louisville, Honolulu, etc., likely not the most desirable markets at the moment, it's going to be difficult. We don't know the price, but I would think it's pretty high for all of these markets. If they'd sell markets individually, at value, I think we would have seen activity.

I would think Alternative is a pretty slow-growth format on a station, especially in a market that is rather unfamiliar with the format, and not to mention it's a new frequency. I wish they would swap with 98.1 if it does well, but then again, there are probably spots, mostly in the east, where 98.5's signal is better. I think it will stay around for a while. I think X will outlast MY.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Florence & The Machine have a couple of good tracks for Alternative, like "Dog Days Are Over" and "Shake It Out." I think even MY played the former for a while after they came on.

Just curious. Can you hear Florence and the Machine in Florence?

The only rock stations I know about there are classic hits (The Fox) and a station whose only objective is to be as loud as possible (The Dam). From what I've heard about The Planet, and from what I've heard of The Planet while in the mountains, The Planet and The Dam are similar.

 

[awp69]

Florence & The Machine have a couple of good tracks for Alternative, like "Dog Days Are Over" and "Shake It Out." I think even MY played the former for a while after they came on.

Just curious. Can you hear Florence and the Machine in Florence?

The only rock stations I know about there are classic hits (The Fox) and a station whose only objective is to be as loud as possible (The Dam). From what I've heard about The Planet, and from what I've heard of The Planet while in the mountains, The Planet and The Dam are similar.

I'm sure you were being sarcastic. But I'm also fairly sure that Florence & the Machine has never been heard on the airwaves in Florence. Not sure about The Dam, but your description of a station "whose only objective is to be as loud as possible" suits The Planet just perfectly. Better off finding white noise and blaring it as loud as possible. It'd be just as good. ;D

 

[vchimpanzee]

Florence & The Machine have a couple of good tracks for Alternative, like "Dog Days Are Over" and "Shake It Out." I think even MY played the former for a while after they came on.

Just curious. Can you hear Florence and the Machine in Florence?

The only rock stations I know about there are classic hits (The Fox) and a station whose only objective is to be as loud as possible (The Dam). From what I've heard about The Planet, and from what I've heard of The Planet while in the mountains, The Planet and The Dam are similar.

I'm sure you were being sarcastic. But I'm also fairly sure that Florence & the Machine has never been heard on the airwaves in Florence. Not sure about The Dam, but your description of a station "whose only objective is to be as loud as possible" suits The Planet just perfectly. Better off finding white noise and blaring it as loud as possible. It'd be just as good. ;D

I think it is possible to pick up WKZQ in parts of the Florence market. WJMX and WSIM are Hot ACs which might possibly play the group.

 

[upstate29651]

I can't believe this thread had lasted as long as it has. It's almost become a giant alternative circle jerk!! :

I for one lament that alternative has swerved towards a pop sound, away from her aggressive rock roots. Alternative was, at one point, exactly that...alternative...not something that happens to be CHR-friendly.

Oh well.

G

 

[awp69]

I can't believe this thread had lasted as long as it has.  It's almost become a giant alternative circle  jerk!!  :

I for one lament that alternative has swerved towards a pop sound, away from her aggressive rock roots.  Alternative was, at one point, exactly that...alternative...not something that happens to be CHR-friendly.

Oh well.

G

To each their own, but I think it's that CHR has come around more to alternative than the other way around. Don't you remember when grunge was big? CHR was even all over it at that point. Just comes around in circles. Alternative still has rock roots and there's plenty that doesn't cross over.

My son, for instance, really does not like X98.5, but is all over B93.7 even though there may be a song here and there that is played on both stations (Fun. probably being the biggest). And even though it's Alternative "rock", to me not all alternative is rock. Take Mumford & Son's "I Will Wait" -- more bluegrass sounding than rock, but it's huge on alt stations. And groups like Of Monsters & Men are definately "alternative" in that they aren't typical rock/pop. The bands that have crossed over probably wouldn't have seen the light of day on CHR if they hadn't been hits on alternative stations first just because they are different. Even earlier in alternative history, songs by bands like The Cure and Depeche Mode were not aggressive rock.

All that said WTF is up with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis being played on X98.5?!?!? Their new song may have some slightly edgy lyrics, but it's still clearly more of an Urban rap than other rap bands that have thrived on alternative (like the Beastie Boys). Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' last song was a #1 song on R&B and Urban stations. I'd be curious if this single, "Thrift Store", is being played on other alt stations and if it's being pushed out to them.

As for the thread, it's here for people that enjoy talking about it so feel free to ignore it if you have no interest.

 

[awp69]

On the subject of "alternative", I found this article to be a really interesting read and totally agree with it. Alternative isn't hard rock. It's music that has a different sound. And, interestingly enough, they mentioned Macklemore & Ryan Lewis so guess they really are being pushed on alternative stations -- even though in that particular case, I don't think they sound alternative enough (others obviously disagree).

http://www.billboard.com/column/cha...-new-acts-soften-alternative-1008003322.story

 

[vchimpanzee]

I once read a comment that active rock was the dictionary defintion of alternative.

That was during the late grunge rera, though.

 

[carolinaradio]

All that said WTF is up with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis being played on X98.5?!?!? Their new song may have some slightly edgy lyrics, but it's still clearly more of an Urban rap than other rap bands that have thrived on alternative (like the Beastie Boys). Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' last song was a #1 song on R&B and Urban stations. I'd be curious if this single, "Thrift Store", is being played on other alt stations and if it's being pushed out to them.

This song is absolute trash - second worst song this year to Gangam Style, only because it's in English at least - I don't care what people say, but I don't think it fits on Alternative. Garbage. How does it belong on a station calling itself the new "ROCK" alternative?
I guess I am narrow minded, but I would rather just hear Alternative rock and not this kind of stuff. I'll go down to 98.1 to hear it. I notice it's near the top of the charts on Spotify and iTunes. I don't know what the fascination is.

It sounds like X-98.5 has dropped it. I haven't heard it and I don't see it being played on the website's recently played history.

 

[awp69]

All that said WTF is up with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis being played on X98.5?!?!? Their new song may have some slightly edgy lyrics, but it's still clearly more of an Urban rap than other rap bands that have thrived on alternative (like the Beastie Boys). Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' last song was a #1 song on R&B and Urban stations. I'd be curious if this single, "Thrift Store", is being played on other alt stations and if it's being pushed out to them.

This song is absolute trash - second worst song this year to Gangam Style, only because it's in English at least - I don't care what people say, but I don't think it fits on Alternative.  Garbage.  How does it belong on a station calling itself the new "ROCK" alternative? 
I guess I am narrow minded, but I would rather just hear Alternative rock and not this kind of stuff.  I'll go down to 98.1 to hear it.  I notice it's near the top of the charts on Spotify and iTunes.  I don't know what the fascination is.

It sounds like X-98.5 has dropped it.  I haven't heard it and I don't see it being played on the website's recently played history. 

Yeah, there were some complaints about it in their Facebook page. And yes, I was one of them. They actually asked me a few days later about it again and I said I didn't think it fit. Haven't heard it since. So they seem to listen to their listeners.

It's strange though that they've seemed a little uneven lately. One day I'll hear quite a bit of grunge and active rock. The next they'll be very little with more focus on straight alternative and new stuff. Also haven't heard Metric in days. Hope they don't think - well, we're playing the female-led Churchill so we've met our female quota. I do like the Churchill song though. Still a very good station overall and when I'm listening to local radio, it's X probably at least 90% of the time.

 

[carolinaradio]

Yeah, since they are available to a somewhat limited audience (compared to 100kw FM's), they are more than likely able to get away more with listening to their listeners versus having to listen to an armchair consultant thousands of miles away. I think it's quite refreshing to have a station that pays attention their listeners. I can't think of another station around here that would. I wonder when their power upgrade will be completed? I can't tell any signal difference so I assume they haven't done anything.

I've been noticing some Christmas music, which was quite interesting. I had to look some of the artists up online out of curiosity. I never knew Fun. or The Killers did a Christmas song. It's a pretty interesting touch. I forget that I get SiriusXM with my Dish subscription (not really ideal to be held hostage to the TV to listen), but I listened to Alt Nation for a little while the other day....don't think their music mix is THAT much better than X, other than somewhat minor things like including more female bands, not really any active stuff (from what I heard), etc. Overall, I just wasn't that impressed considering it was on satellite.

I mostly listen to several stations these days - X, B, Channel (they are playing some early Alternative crossovers like Imagine Dragons and Of Monsters & Men) - can't say I even miss MY since they went all-Christmas like I did last year. Might be different if they did a better job with the format.

 

[awp69]

I mostly listen to several stations these days - X, B, Channel (they are playing some early Alternative crossovers like Imagine Dragons and Of Monsters & Men) - can't say I even miss MY since they went all-Christmas like I did last year.  Might be different if they did a better job with the format.

I'll be interested to see what MY does after Christmas. If they make any more tweaks, keep going with what they were doing or -- while it may still be too soon -- do another flip. What frustrated me about them was they would seem to get better for a while, then start throwing in a few older songs again that didn't fit. Never as bad as when they first flipped, but still seemed like they were trying to please everyone. And, if they do stick with the format, that's gotta stop or they're just going to keep dwindling. I'd like to see them go adult CHR.

Still think B could be taken on. They're another station that doesn't want to stick with one identity. About a month ago it seemed like they were playing more of the rock hits. Last few weeks, it seems they've cut that down and are going back in the other direction. I've heard Imagine Dragons on B but never Of Monsters & Men (but don't listen enough to know whether they have or haven't).

Oh well, I'll stick to X most of the time. Unless it's an Active Rock song that I can't stand or grunge song that I'm just tired of hearing. I don't mind them throwing some harder edge stuff in -- like the new Deftones (which is borderline alt/active). Just don't want to hear the Tool and other Active stuff that if I wanted to hear I'd be listening to The Planet. Overall, they've got a pretty good mix. Certainly glad to have them.

 

[carolinaradio]

Greenville is pretty fortunate to have a station like X-98.5. Raleigh, which is much more progressive and Alternative-friendly turf (IMO), did not have any kind of new rock station, Active or Alternative, until Clear Channel finally signed on a low powered translator that is just fed from iHeartRadio and has no localization. I think that's just crazy. 106.5 The End in Charlotte is an Alternative station that is terrible about slipping in Active tracks - more than likely because that market has no Active rocker.
It's just rare to find a GOOD Alternative station in the south. Of course, there are some exceptions like KZQ in Myrtle Beach and the now departed 99X in Atlanta. X is quite a blessing. X-98.1 would be an even bigger blessing.

B-93.7's swing towards a more adult sound is interesting because in late winter/spring, they had a rhythmic lean. I saw a post on the CHR board that they seem to change direction every 6 months. That seems about right to me. I can't help but wonder, though, if they are trying to protect themselves against MY or something this year. B's ratings aren't that great and haven't been for a while. I still like Channel 96.1's CHR playlist more - I would definitely consider them adult-leaning CHR. It would be interesting to hear how a station like that would do when directly targeted to Greenville and competing directly with B.

As for MY, it was great to have somebody go Hot AC, but their attempt just sounds so half hearted compared to the other Hot AC's I have heard. I know I'm not what they (or any other Hot AC) are targeting, but from the Hot AC's I've either streamed or heard, it just doesn't click with me like others do. Not current enough, not cutting edge enough for me, and I've just had to accept they never will be, unfortunately.

 

[carolinaradio]

Since I might have been a little too critical in my last posts about MY, I just thought I would come back here and say that I listened a little while this morning to see what they were doing and thought they sounded pretty good. I didn't hear any 80s and just a few "durable" 90s songs like No Doubt. If they stay on this track I might start back listening a little more with the Christmas music over.

 

[awp69]

Just wanted to say that I listened to MY for a bit this afternoon and didn't even hear anything from the '90s. All of it -- granted only for about an hour -- was 2000s thru today. They REALLY sounded like a true Hot AC. Again, it was short period so I don't know if they've still be throwing in any of the '80s (some '90s is fine with me). Not sure even if they do switch it up and actually sound good as a Hot AC if it'll do much good. I think it's way too late. But at least -- for now -- they're practicing what they preach as far as being "Fresh".

If they stick to it, they'll probably be my next stop after X if there's a song I don't like or a commercial.

 

[carolinaradio]

I turned them on some a few times and liked what I heard, it is definitely the best they have ever sounded since the change last year. Probably about one or two 90s and no 80s. It was mostly recent/current with a nice selection of older 2000s songs. This, IMO, was what they should have done Day 1 last year instead of fooling around with that weird mix including 70s and sleepy AC tracks. I, too, worry it's too late seeing those trends earlier this month. They do have a true Hot AC sound now, somewhat conservative still but along the lines of most Hot AC's in smaller and medium markets. I also noticed they're calling it "Fresh Mix" now instead of "Fresh New Sound."

As long as this continues, I'll be more than happy to tune them in.

 

[pccrw]

I wonder if there will be a name change coming soon, maybe mix 102.5.

 

[awp69]

I wonder if there will be a name change coming soon, maybe mix 102.5.

Well, that was just one of their MANY mistakes when they first made the flip. They really didn't make any effort to rebrand themselves. They should have changed their name with the flip. Jazzing up the "MY" moniker wasn't enough. Of course, the very poor transition to Hot AC didn't help anything (ie., holding onto slower traditional AC songs -- even from the '70s when they first became "fresh").

No matter how they sound now and if they did change their name, it's probably futile at this point. The last year and half (or has it been longer now?) was mostly piss poor in terms of being true Hot AC. They did move in that direction in a stronger way in the Spring/Summer, but then some of those "sleepy" '80s songs started to creep back in. Since the Christmas music ended, it does seem like they truly are pure Hot AC now.

Personally, if I was in their shoes and wanted to try to break free, I think they should veer even further and become an adult CHR with COMPLETE rebranding. B93.7's inconsistency and the fact that even people on this board would much rather listen to the more adult leaning Channel 96.1 from Charlotte makes me think it could work. And with the numbers they've been getting, they wouldn't have much to lose.