David's comments are valid. His explanation of the evolution of the Rock format is correct. The "Progressive Rock" format started on FM stations no longer simulcasting their AM counterparts. It was where DJs assembled their own playlist and could comment on events going on in the turbulent 60s. It was supposed to be the FM Alternative to Top 40 with its overbearing, always happy-talking DJs, numerous commercials, reverb and jingles. Stations like WNEW-FM New York, KMET LA, WMMR Philadelphia tried hard NOT to sound like Top 40. DJs never talked over the songs, they played several songs in a row without talking and there were no jingles or reverb. They could play anything from Judy Collins to Steppenwolf. But because they were targeted at college students who likely invested in owning an FM radio, they avoided any sort of bubblegum or rhythmic music.
With the success of Progressive Rock, as FM radios became more commonplace, the Superstars format was born. I believe WCOZ Boston was one of the first. They had a set playlist, tightly controlled. I suppose you might say they applied Top 40 music selection to the previously free-form Rock format. I believe it was Radio & Records magazine that coined the term "AOR - Album Oriented Rock." It was no longer "progressive" because the songs were all researched and only the most popular were aired.
Then I believe it was a station in Dallas started the "Classic Rock" format, and an AM station at that. Dallas already had a couple of successful AOR stations. An owner of one of them didn't know what to do with his AM station, IIRC it is today KLIF 570, 5000 watts 24/7. He went with the format that became "Classic Rock" so as not to compete with his more profitable FM AOR station, but sell it in combination. Only the best Rock songs from the 60s and 70s were played. But none of the newer songs that older guys didn't want to hear.
Here's something that nobody has mentioned, as to why I don't see Classic Rock dying anytime soon. When we grew up, we could listen to Top 40, AOR, Country and Urban formats. But unlike Top 40, Country and Urban, AOR was never really driven by new material. On a Top 40, Country or Urban station, you'd expect to hear mostly songs that were currently on the charts, with maybe two or three hits per hour of the recent past. AOR was totally different. Rock stations ALWAYS played mostly library material. Even in the 80s and 90s, The Beatles, Zeppelin, The Who, etc. were still core artists. Maybe after 1990, stations split between Classic Rock, Alternative and Active or Hard Rock. But before then, only a few songs per hour were current.
If you look at the songs played on an average Classic Rock station, you'll see most of the music comes from the mid-60s to the mid-80s, with maybe a Red Hot Chili Peppers or Nirvana song once in a while. In most formats, nobody wants to hear songs whose release date pre-dates their high school years. But Rock is totally different. Your favorite Rock station growing up played PLENTY of songs that were recorded before you were born.
We could debate if it's because that era of Rock was better, or those artists were geniuses, or good Rock and Roll never dies. But for whatever reason, men in their 30s, 40s and 50s are happy hearing The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix and The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac and so many other artists who are older than their dads.
With the success of Progressive Rock, as FM radios became more commonplace, the Superstars format was born. I believe WCOZ Boston was one of the first. They had a set playlist, tightly controlled. I suppose you might say they applied Top 40 music selection to the previously free-form Rock format. I believe it was Radio & Records magazine that coined the term "AOR - Album Oriented Rock." It was no longer "progressive" because the songs were all researched and only the most popular were aired.
Then I believe it was a station in Dallas started the "Classic Rock" format, and an AM station at that. Dallas already had a couple of successful AOR stations. An owner of one of them didn't know what to do with his AM station, IIRC it is today KLIF 570, 5000 watts 24/7. He went with the format that became "Classic Rock" so as not to compete with his more profitable FM AOR station, but sell it in combination. Only the best Rock songs from the 60s and 70s were played. But none of the newer songs that older guys didn't want to hear.
Here's something that nobody has mentioned, as to why I don't see Classic Rock dying anytime soon. When we grew up, we could listen to Top 40, AOR, Country and Urban formats. But unlike Top 40, Country and Urban, AOR was never really driven by new material. On a Top 40, Country or Urban station, you'd expect to hear mostly songs that were currently on the charts, with maybe two or three hits per hour of the recent past. AOR was totally different. Rock stations ALWAYS played mostly library material. Even in the 80s and 90s, The Beatles, Zeppelin, The Who, etc. were still core artists. Maybe after 1990, stations split between Classic Rock, Alternative and Active or Hard Rock. But before then, only a few songs per hour were current.
If you look at the songs played on an average Classic Rock station, you'll see most of the music comes from the mid-60s to the mid-80s, with maybe a Red Hot Chili Peppers or Nirvana song once in a while. In most formats, nobody wants to hear songs whose release date pre-dates their high school years. But Rock is totally different. Your favorite Rock station growing up played PLENTY of songs that were recorded before you were born.
We could debate if it's because that era of Rock was better, or those artists were geniuses, or good Rock and Roll never dies. But for whatever reason, men in their 30s, 40s and 50s are happy hearing The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix and The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac and so many other artists who are older than their dads.
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