Classic Hits radio needs to focus on the artists and the quality of their music, and not obsess over its age so much, whether it is older or newer music. The Internet is leveling the playing field, and radio should use this to its advantage. There is a great chasm of music quality which Classic Hits radio cannot and should not attempt to cross. 1993 is a great example, where things really scraped bottom, but that is just the worst example of what characterized the entire decade, and it happened again in 2001 and again in 2010 -- all of them horrible years for music! And the bright spots in other recent years have been few and far between.
The Beatles, the Eagles, Elton John, Diana Ross, ELO, Queen, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Chicago, Eric Carmen, Foreigner, and Fleetwood Mac are all examples of artists that will never lose their appeal because they created a monolithic musical mountain which established a musical standard unattainable today. To supplant them, they will first have to die (which will generate renewed interest in their music, as always) and then their gifts can be passed on to others. But that cannot happen as long as artists such as these are still alive and well!
By focusing on the artist instead of the age of the music then you can start playing Eric Clapton's "Change the World" and Cher's "Believe" instead of arbitrarily limiting the playing of that artist's music to only within a certain decade or two. Artists like Madonna made great songs in 1985 ("Crazy For You"), 1995, ("Take a Bow"), and 2005 ("Hung Up"). If she makes another one in 2015, why discriminate against a newer song?? If they are a Classic Hits artist with a decent song, play their newer hits too!! And the same goes for those few newer artists whose sound is compatible with '60s-'70s-'80s music. What can perhaps also be done is "cherry picking" artists such as Fastball, Maroon 5, Spice Girls and a few select others as they come along in order to generate appeal for the younger age groups and thereby broaden the audience. Those groups sound just fine alongside the Beatles & Stones.
) They replaced her with local announcers on weekday evenings, and Tom Kent on Friday and Saturday evenings. Kent plays '80s on Friday evenings, and party music on Saturday evenings. We actually listen to Tom Kent, especially on Saturday evenings, because it sure beats complaining about all the reruns on TV! I have missed Tom Kent ever since he was on the oldies stations (one of which is Mix 92.9's sister station), which dropped him when they changed formats. So they (Mix 92.9) have actually gained listeners with us on Saturday evenings. We wouldn't be listening if "Duh-lilah" were still on. I have made it a point to occasionally praise them on their Facebook page (while at the same time dissing the "Duh-lilah" complainers) for bringing Tom Kent back to Nashville radio. We need him!
