"All Apologies" by Nirvana, on Rock 92. With a really long ending.
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Classic Rock: Evolve or Die!
- Thread starter semoochie
- Start date
Interesting blog post here. Perhaps, the classic rock format may have trouble evolving?
www.kassof.com/2015/90s-sticking-point-for-classic-rock-2/
www.kassof.com/2015/90s-sticking-point-for-classic-rock-2/
I think we talked about this earlier in the thread. Grunge was not universally accepted (as seen by the poll in the blog). Plus you had the rise of rap-rock. The music splintered into a bunch of sub-genres. This caused MTV a lot of problems, because they wanted to stay true to rock, but didn't want to exclude popular boy bands like Backstreet Boys. I remember one MTV Awards where the emotions were really raw, because the rock rappers hated the boy bands. We thought it would break into physical violence. So yes, classic rock radio hits a brick wall with the 90s.
Would you classic rock programmers agree that if any music is played from the 90's it would be artists that scored most of their success in the 70's or 80's, like Aerosmith, for example?
That's what the poll in the blog you posted said.
WXRC Charlotte has The Temptations. I don't know about the others.
If I were ever polled, I would consider the Monkees, Bee Gees and Temptations as OLDIES and certainly not Classic Rock. All of the Bee Gees songs that test well today on Classic Hits stations are from years 1975-1979 with the exception of "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" from 1971. The only Temptations songs I see are "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and, perhaps, "My Girl." WOMC is spinning "Ball Of Confusion" but of course they are in Detroit. The Monkees have spins with "Last Train To Clarksville" and "I'm A Believer" from what I've seen.
K
K.M. Richards
Guest
Then why are you in this thread and this board?
I am here to express my sour grapes about how Classic Rock Radio formats took over and replaced the Free Form FM radio and Progressive Radio formats of the early to mid 70's.
The classic rock format did not even exist in the early to mid 70's. In fact, many of the classic rock songs of today were currents in those years and by no means "classics".
What did exist were the rather unstructured free-form progressive rock stations that came on the scene as a byproduct of the FCC's mandate to end AM/FM simulcasts in 1967. Owners did not want the newly separated FMs to impinge upon the revenues of the mother lode AM sister stations, so they picked formats that did not compete. Progressive rock, beautiful music and other such creations.
Most of those progressive stations were not too profitable and quite a few did not have impressive ratings. Along came Lee Abrams out of WQDR in Raleigh and he straightened up the act of the sloppy progressive stations, focusing on the hit songs and hit artists of real rock. He called it "superstars" and it beat and replaced nearly every progressive free form station in the country because it got salable numbers and was an environment clients wanted to be on.
And the format was so big the trades gave it a name... AOR for Album Oriented Rock. Classic Rock is the child of AOR and inherited AOR's listeners.
K
K.M. Richards
Guest
Already been done, already been dismissed as irrelevant to the business of radio today. Next?
In the 70's, album tracks were progressive. In 2015, they're classic, and the same tracks they played as new in the 70's.
That's the Problem for me as a fan of good rock music: "The same tracks". I'm not eccentric, but my taste for good rock is not so narrrow as to be confined to the station's playlists. "Four Sticks" from Led Zeppelin IV is just as good as "Going To California", and so should be on the playlist. It's not a "deep" cut.... it's a "good" cut. "Livin' Lovin' Maid" should never be played. It's such a 'great song' that Zeppelin played it in concert -not-. Yet it has been "crowned" as a Classic by the powers that be.
So, the difference between Progressive radio, and CRR.
But, believe me, I know that I am shadow boxing.... boxing the wind, going after 'windmills'...
From today's Inside Radio:
February Was No Fluke for Classic Rock.
After shattering its PPM ratings in a pair of key demos in February, the format has gone back, jack, and done it again. In fact, new Nielsen data show classic rock not only topped its record-breaking February records, it busted through them.
Just shows that the audience has not yet tired of Stairway To Heaven or Sweet Home Alabama.
February Was No Fluke for Classic Rock.
After shattering its PPM ratings in a pair of key demos in February, the format has gone back, jack, and done it again. In fact, new Nielsen data show classic rock not only topped its record-breaking February records, it busted through them.
Just shows that the audience has not yet tired of Stairway To Heaven or Sweet Home Alabama.
K
K.M. Richards
Guest
Look, it's the Classic Rock version of "oldies76" ...
Hey KM, at least I'm not the only one.....
Just think how radio WOULD sound, if they programmed to people who really enjoy music!
There are FAR more of us than you'll ever, EVER realize.
That is true. There are a bunch of us out there. I think what the 'rub' is finding those songs we all want to hear. For example, my best friend and I both have been in to music since we were kids..certainly at least since age 10 or so. His preferences run more toward blues and many artists I really don't care for. There are many songs we surely agree on as well. Most of those songs already get airplay. I think the trick is once you dig deeper, it is harder to find common ground in what folks want to hear.
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