Another new Cox translator for Greenville?

[carolinaradio]

Wow. Could do without all of those. So much good material being ignored. I've been an advocate for a 90s feature on there for quite a while. I think a 90s weekend or even a 90s hour throughout the week would be a great addition.

I don't even think of most of these groups as being fundamental parts of '90s Alternative. Not even like the grunge acts. The stuff they're playing from the '90s are all traditional Cox Alternative staples. They played "Kiss Off" by the Violent Femmes and "Cannonball" by The Breeders this afternoon, two more tracks I haven't heard on there until now.

Interestingly, "No Rain" by Blind Melon (a really light, even AC-friendly Alternative song) has been a staple of their playlist all of this time. I don't understand the aversion to other, similar sounding songs (such as Blues Traveler or Dave Matthews Band). One thing, though, is you can't complain about their current selection.

 

[awp69]

I heard those two as well. Actually like The Breeders, especially in comparison to stuff like Sponge.

Agree with you about Blind Melon. Never really understood the fascination with that song, even on Hot AC, when groups like DMB are ignored.

Perhaps, as you mentioned before, when the Cox sale is finalized we'll see more flexibility.

 

[carolinaradio]

Nobody else other than myself or awp69 probably cares, but this is new in Atlanta, of course patterned after the Philly station:

http://www.radio1057.com/main.html

This is the new Alternative that launched in Atlanta. They are being very gold-heavy, like X 98.5 was, but they are playing a much better variety of 90s music. Just now I see they've played Blues Traveler ("Hook") and Goo Goo Dolls ("Slide") recently. They aren't ignoring the pop-alt 90s material. Quite a change from 99X, who was edgier/more grunge-friendly (although they had started to move away from it some).

 

[awp69]

Nobody else other than myself or awp69 probably cares, but this is new in Atlanta, of course patterned after the Philly station:

http://www.radio1057.com/main.html

This is the new Alternative that launched in Atlanta. They are being very gold-heavy, like X 98.5 was, but they are playing a much better variety of 90s music. Just now I see they've played Blues Traveler ("Hook") and Goo Goo Dolls ("Slide") recently. They aren't ignoring the pop-alt 90s material. Quite a change from 99X, who was edgier/more grunge-friendly (although they had started to move away from it some).

I'm sure the folks in Atlanta are happy. I know it was a blow when they lost both 99X and Dave-FM (variety hits, but really more AAA).

 

[awp69]

To add to our X98.5 discussion, it seems X has already dropped "Stompa", which I thought was strange. Guess maybe getting some negative feedback on it? Haven't seen any complaints on Facebook at least. I actually kind of liked the song even though it may have been a little more AAA oriented.

And, while I like the song, it's funny how Dinner and a Suit's "Too Late," which is a very CHR friendly song, is getting alternative play while -- as you had mentioned earlier -- the more alternative friendly Phillip Phillip's "Home" went straight to CHR.

 

[awp69]

Posted in the Atlanta thread as well, but listened to 105.7 for a while today and I do like that they play a little more pop-friendly '90s alternative, but overall I was surprised at how safe they seemed to be playing it. Just wasn't getting that same independent vibe that I get when listening to Radio 104.5. And never thought I'd say this, but our station here in Greenville, X98.5 has been going out pretty far with their new music with things like Vampire Weekend and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Radio 105.7 seems to be sticking with most of the big guns. It's a decent mix though. Still got your occassional active track like Incubus, a little grunge and a lot of alternative hits outside of grunge (something I'd like to hear more on X, but I do appreciate that they do not seem conservative in the music they add). It'll be interesting to see how it evolves.

I care more about how X continues to evolve, of course, and pray that it sticks around.

 

[carolinaradio]

Well, ideally, I would like X's currents with Radio's golds. I would do with a little less current stuff on X if we could have a better gold selection.

IMO, Atlanta could definitely support a cutting edge, hit-driven Alternative station (99X was a HUGE influence on the format in the 90s, and was pretty much the gold standard for the format alongside stations lie WHFS, KROQ, Q101 Chicago, etc). I would expect it will evolve in to a more current format as it is established. I just wonder what it is about Philadelphia that it has a station like Radio 104.5 that is corporate owned but has such a unique playlist.

I can't find "Stompa" on the chart anymore, so I'm guessing it wasn't the hit we thought it was going to be. Depeche Mode has the new track on the charts now so it will be interesting to see if they can do, considering they've been around for what, 25 years? The problem with "Home" is that an Idol winner released it, so it naturally went straight to CHR.

 

[awp69]

Well, ideally, I would like X's currents with Radio's golds.

Yeah, that would be a dream come true. But really, there's very few stations in the country that fit that bill -- with Radio 104.5 being one of them. Although 99X was probably the biggest commercially successful station in a big market when it came to Alternative, I still -- having gone to college in Washington, DC -- have to give it to WHFS as being probably the broadest alternative station I ever listened to (and it was a sad day when I heard that it was changing formats), even surpassing Radio 104.5. In some ways, it was almost like a college station on a commercial signal with as much flexibility they had in their playlist.

I can't find "Stompa" on the chart anymore, so I'm guessing it wasn't the hit we thought it was going to be. Depeche Mode has the new track on the charts now so it will be interesting to see if they can do, considering they've been around for what, 25 years? The problem with "Home" is that an Idol winner released it, so it naturally went straight to CHR.

Yeah, it is still strange with "Stompa". Doesn't seem like it was given much of a chance. I can still see it possibly being pushed to Hot AC and CHR though. Since X has been playing some Depeche Mode lately, I was hoping they'd pick up DM's new track. I haven't heard it yet. It's been so long I'm curious to hear what they come out with -- probably need to search the net to get a listen.

 

[awp69]

^^ Actually heard "Stompa" tonight for the first time in three days or so, so it's not completely dead yet.

 

[awp69]

One thing that's getting a little annoying about X is that they are slow to change out their gold playlist. I admire that they listened and actually started playing some non-grunge 90s, but once again about the same 10-12 songs are rotated through the day for at least two weeks. They need to change it up more. Throwing in The Breeders and then playing the same song for weeks without adding any other 90s tunes doesn't quite cut it. It''s still the currents that keep me listening.

On that subject, it's still early but Radio 105.7 in Atlanta seems to be reducing the number of '90s songs they play. They actually are sounding more and more like X98.5 ....but without as many really new currents. Radio 105.7, so far, is closer to X98.5 than Radio 104.5. The people in that thread complaining that it's like Hot AC are off base. The imaging is definately low key. But most of the songs that put them on the lighter side of the spectrum are the new groups like Fun., Of Monsters and Men, Grouplove and the like. These are songs that are on straight alt stations too. Any Hot AC or even Adult Alternative wouldn't be playing Soundgarden and Incubus.

The only bands I see that X98.5 aren't playing are things like Snow Patrol, Death Cab for Cutie and a broader mix of Coldplay, bands that I wouldn't mind X playing. They're also a little lighter on grunge. It's a good station. Just seems closer to X98.5 than Radio 104.5 (which I would prefer the latter as far as the mix). Right now, I still prefer X98.5 over Radio 105.7 due to the better mix of currents.

 

[carolinaradio]

I think a lot of the 90s mainstream Alternative is being avoided due to Chuck FM playing almost all big, mainstream hits from the genre in the 90s. That's the best explanation I can come up with. Add in too that it's a Cox station so you can't expect much as far as variety goes. Cox hates wide playlists.

Personally I would slightly take the Radio 105.7 mix over the X-98.5 mix. The better gold selection is worth it, IMO. I think what that station might be trying to do is take some listeners from the Hot AC (which does very well) by sticking with a sound that may be popular with some of the Hot AC audience even though the HAC format may not play a lot of the songs (if that makes any sense) on Radio 105.7. So, why they may not overlap a ton in sound, they may have the potential to share audience.

I noticed a big X-98.5 billboard next to the Red Lobster on Wade Hampton Blvd. It must be fairly new as I've never seen it.

 

[awp69]

I think a lot of the 90s mainstream Alternative is being avoided due to Chuck FM playing almost all big, mainstream hits from the genre in the 90s. That's the best explanation I can come up with. Add in too that it's a Cox station so you can't expect much as far as variety goes. Cox hates wide playlists.

I guess my concern isn't so much the volume of '90s alternative that X is playing or even the depth of it. I'm fine with the fact that they seem to want to pick about a dozen songs to mix in. My issue is that they can't pick those songs and keep them in the playlist for weeks and weeks. They really should be rotating a new group of '90s alt in weekly IMO...two weeks at the most. When you hear a song like Social Distortion's cover of "Ring of Fire", it's a cool change of pace. But when you hear it numerous times over an extended period, the novelty wears off and it's easy to see that they're just repeating the same group of '90s throwbacks over and over again. I was looking back at the posts on Facebook and the latest group of songs (including "Ring of Fire" as well as things like, The Breeder's "Cannonball", R.E.M.'s "Crush With Eyeliner", etc.) were put into the rotation almost exactly a month ago. They need to switch it up more often even if it is just 10-12 songs in their playlist.

 

[awp69]

^^ In response to my own response, listening today, I also have noticed a decrease in the more active rock tracks as well as grunge. They still play it, but I've listened for longer stretches without cringing

BUT that makes the small '90s playlist and the fact that they haven't changed it at all in over a month stick out even more. I like less active / grunge, but if you don't replace it with something, you're going to sound more and more repetitive.

Oh well, I've given up on using FB as a tool, I feel like I'm nagging even though they did respond to our concerns by adding things like the Dave Matthews Band and R.E.M. I just have to remind myself how much worse radio in this area was before X98.5 (at least for my musical tastes).

 

[carolinaradio]

I don't understand the fascination with leaving odd one-hit-wonders and less-popular tracks in the playlist, myself. If they aren't going to update the older portion of the playlist more often, I'd prefer they at least had big hits that have had a lot of popularity in there instead of some lesser-known acts and tracks

"Crush With Eyeliner" wasn't even a very big hit. I would personally prefer they play more of R.E.M.'s earlier, bigger hits ("Man On the Moon", "Losing My Religion", "Stand", etc.) if they aren't going to update it more often.

The unfortunate thing is if it's going to continue to be controlled by former Cox employees on the corporate side, I don't see that anything will change. :/ Cox playlists can be so dang tight. I ought to see how 97X in Tampa is sounding with their new "pick the music" approach.

 

[awp69]

The unfortunate thing is if it's going to continue to be controlled by former Cox employees on the corporate side, I don't see that anything will change. :/ Cox playlists can be so dang tight. I ought to see how 97X in Tampa is sounding with their new "pick the music" approach.

One interesting thing about that is right before they announced the Summit Media group's purchase plans, one of the Cox managers "liked" a Facebook post saying that there should be more of a focus on music that The Planet doesn't play (ie., less active/grunge, more 90s hits besides grunge, and of course, continuing to add new material. Not sure if all of that was said, but that was the gist.

After the announcement, I wondered whether that manager was one of the ones leaving Cox to form Summit, which gave me hope that they'd set themselves on the course of less overlap with The Planet (the active/grunge) and more variety in 90s gold tracks.

We'll see. Haven't heard anything new as far as when the sale will close. And also was a little concerned about the poster who said the stations may be flipped for a profit to Apex Broadcasting out of Charleston (which from what I see only has a very Planet-like station in Dustin, FL, as far as rock goes.)

 

[awp69]

After the announcement, I wondered whether that manager was one of the ones leaving Cox to form Summit, which gave me hope that they'd set themselves on the course of less overlap with The Planet (the active/grunge) and more variety in 90s gold tracks.

Just took a peek at The Planet's playlist again to see if they've changed any more. In short, as far as new music, no -- aside from the very strange addition of one of the more mainstream alt bands, Imagine Dragons, to their playlist. But as far as gold tracks, it's kind of scary how much the two stations share in common in both grunge and even non-grunge tracks (Dishwalla, Sponge, Cranberries, older Green Day, Blind Melon, Oasis, etc.).

Granted, The Planet is still horrific overall with its Sevendust, Jackyl and other crappy thrashing redneck rock. And why do they play stuff like Kenny Wayne Shepherd that doesn't fit in at all? I couldn't stand to listen to that station even for the occassional decent alternative track.

Anyway, X still stands far away from The Planet in new music, but they still need to separate themselves more in the older music department IMO.

 

[carolinaradio]

Yeah, I punch by The Planet sometimes and catch them playing an older (most of the time) grunge-type song that X98.5 plays. They added a lot of that stuff shortly after X signed on, remember, and dropped the vast majority of pre-1990 stuff. The odd '90s Alternative hits are head scratchers on the Active Rocker. Blind Melon? Really? I don't get the fascination with that song. It's a lot like "Lightning Crashes" by Live, as I've said - it's a staple on so many stations, but there are so many other bigger bands with bigger hits that are ignored (when did somebody last play the Gin Blossoms?).

As sad as it is, The Rise Guys are probably the biggest thing The Planet has going for them, and without a doubt the whole station "sounds" like TRG. Disastrous. The very blue collar, loud sound (much more than most other Active Rock stations) is what they're going after, so I guess they're doing a decent job at it. That's the best compliment I can come up with for them. LOL. Maybe they brought in Kenny Wayne Shepherd as an "oh wow" act since they had to quit playing Led Zep and Pink Floyd.

Imagine Dragons on The Planet is pretty confusing. I have no explanation to offer for that.

I checked out 97X in Tampa just now, and they are still doing their broad, across the board playlist - they're rolling the stuff I talk about a lot ("Mr. Jones" by Counting Crows, "Runaround" by Blues Traveler, "One Thing" by Finger Eleven, "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve, "It's The End Of The World" by REM, etc). I even see The Clash and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's "Same Love." Very eclectic with a significant older lean.

I guess I just don't understand the issue with X98.5 and broadening the horizons with mainstream Alternative hits from the 90s. It doesn't have to be something we've never heard, forgotten about, or a one-hit wonder.

 

[awp69]

Agree with everything you said.

Imagine Dragons on The Planet is pretty confusing. I have no explanation to offer for that.

This is incredibly strange. I mean there's other groups, like even Fall Out Boy's newest single, that would actually fit in better than Imagine Dragons. I don't think they're even playing 30 Seconds To Mars' new single, which I like that band but do see that they could fit into an Active Rock playlist.

Maybe they put Imagine Dragons in there as sort of a test to see how their listeners react and they go to a more Active/Alternative hybrid (which with the older alt they play, they arguably could be considered now). I seriously doubt that'll happen though. Can't see their built in redneck audience with Jackyl and Metallica fans liking Imagine Dragons.

And another WTF moment from The Planet -- looks like they played Eric Clapton earlier today! That station is a mess and I know they for whatever reason have a loyal audience -- probably in the more rural areas of the Upstate than anywhere else -- but I wish someone could take it out to pasture and shoot it dead. One of the worst programmed stations I've heard Active rock or otherwise.

 

[GoldenAvenger]

Amen brother. That has got to be the worst station in recent history. They need to fire the ''back of the classroom'' from their mornings too.

 

[awp69]

Well, the full Winter book ratings are due out today and I fear that X isn't going to fair that well. My concern isn't so much the playlist and whether the station is better than The Planet (which, at least in our opinion, there's no doubt there), but I've been getting more concerned about coverage.

I know the station "covers" the Greenville area and its immediate suburbs, but even on days when the issue may not be weather related, there are drop out points. Ever since the station has come on the air, I've had at least some static pretty much daily in my subdivision (off Hwy. 14 near Woodruff Road so definately in the signal's range). I guess I didn't think of it much because I could deal with it and the occassional static here and there while driving. But I could see others who aren't as devoted to the type of music they play being turned off by static issues.

But when I can pick up a station from Charlotte with little to no static in my own neighborhood vs. X98.5's, I could see where there's an issue. While there were people wishing the signal could be picked up in Anderson/Spartanburg, there was a FB post yesterday mentioning that they wish it came in better in Simpsonville.

It comes in good for me driving around 90% of the time. I guess I just wish it came in even as good as Chuck (which I know has higher wattage) at all times. Doubt it will happen, but I'd like to see it moved to a main signal. That said, I just hope that Cox/Summit/Apex or whoever is running the station going forward realizes the limitations of the translator in respect to its ratings.