Comments on Star

[tragic1027]

I have been wanting to comment on Star 94 for most of this year. If you go back to the way they sounded right after their format flip to “The Rhythm of Atlanta” to the way they sound now, it’s quite different. Originally they played a substantial amount of more 90s and even some early 2000s dance hits: Nicki French, KWS, Gina G, Alice Deejay; a bit more 80s freestyle: Steve B, Sweet Sensation; and more new wave: Erasure, more Pet Shop Boys than just West End Girls. Now it seems almost all of that is gone. What hasn’t gone is all the R&B and hip hop of those decades.

Did that music test horribly? I can’t believe it because they were all familiar hits – especially if they are appealing to the new Atlanta with its diverse and tolerant culture they talked about when they format flipped. They seem to not be serving the gay population at all anymore….were they ever? I guess you could argue that the music wasn’t helping them perform, well you could if removing that extra variety from their playlist led to an increase in ratings. But the ratings haven’t improved over those first months, in fact they seem to be stuck or trending down.

Yet they continue to just spike all the tired hip hop and R&B songs – many of which don’t “make you feel good”. I heard them play that liner once into Changes by 2Pac. LOL. Yes, a song about racism and how it will never end absolutely should make everyone feel good! (not).

I think part of the problem was the variety was jarring. I think it was only because it was new. People needed more time to get used to. I used to think better imaging would be to play off the variety of genres with liners like:

Bounce to the rhythm of Atlanta into the hip hop cuts
Groove to the rhythm of Atlanta into the R&B cuts
Dance to the rhythm of Atlanta into the club, pop/dance cuts

Also, they keep focusing on saying feel good throw backs but so is Q997 now – word for word. And B98.5 says feel good. Also Q countered with many of the R&B and hip hop oh wow songs Star was trying to make a name for itself by spiking back onto the airwaves. Q is eating their lunch. The only thing that could once again differentiate Star is to add that dance product back in – and stick with it. It might not work, but what they have done and become now isn’t either. Thoughts?

 

[RadioDoogie]

I have been wanting to comment on Star 94 for most of this year. If you go back to the way they sounded right after their format flip to “The Rhythm of Atlanta” to the way they sound now, it’s quite different. Originally they played a substantial amount of more 90s and even some early 2000s dance hits: Nicki French, KWS, Gina G, Alice Deejay; a bit more 80s freestyle: Steve B, Sweet Sensation; and more new wave: Erasure, more Pet Shop Boys than just West End Girls. Now it seems almost all of that is gone. What hasn’t gone is all the R&B and hip hop of those decades.

Did that music test horribly? I can’t believe it because they were all familiar hits – especially if they are appealing to the new Atlanta with its diverse and tolerant culture they talked about when they format flipped. They seem to not be serving the gay population at all anymore….were they ever? I guess you could argue that the music wasn’t helping them perform, well you could if removing that extra variety from their playlist led to an increase in ratings. But the ratings haven’t improved over those first months, in fact they seem to be stuck or trending down.

Yet they continue to just spike all the tired hip hop and R&B songs – many of which don’t “make you feel good”. I heard them play that liner once into Changes by 2Pac. LOL. Yes, a song about racism and how it will never end absolutely should make everyone feel good! (not).

I think part of the problem was the variety was jarring. I think it was only because it was new. People needed more time to get used to. I used to think better imaging would be to play off the variety of genres with liners like:

Bounce to the rhythm of Atlanta into the hip hop cuts
Groove to the rhythm of Atlanta into the R&B cuts
Dance to the rhythm of Atlanta into the club, pop/dance cuts

Also, they keep focusing on saying feel good throw backs but so is Q997 now – word for word. And B98.5 says feel good. Also Q countered with many of the R&B and hip hop oh wow songs Star was trying to make a name for itself by spiking back onto the airwaves. Q is eating their lunch. The only thing that could once again differentiate Star is to add that dance product back in – and stick with it. It might not work, but what they have done and become now isn’t either. Thoughts?

Yes they have eliminated all of the 70s and 80s hits altogether. The playlist has tightened up and they are playing newer stuff. I used to never hear the same song for awhile but I hear the same stuff over and over. I noticed their ratings have dropped significantly as well. I never listen to Star anymore because of this. I agree with you and wish they would bring that original playlist back.

 

[A_b_m_90]

Atlanta radio is the worst. No variety at all.

 

[MarkW]

There are still some 80s songs on 94.1. Look at the music log. That era isn't played often, but it is certainly represented.

 

[MrRadio]

Change the calls back to WQXI-FM, call it "The Classic Sound of Quixie," and use the HD2 format.

 

[Bill Zurmuehl]

Change the calls back to WQXI-FM, call it "The Classic Sound of Quixie," and use the HD2 format.

It can only happen if there is permission & consent (and possibly a few bucks$$$$$)
WQXI is owned by another company.

 

[secondchoice]

They had a "bad" month 6+. I don't have access to the "money" demos. They could be good revenue wise. If the billing goes down only then look for some changes. This could be true for most Atlanta stations. IMHO with lack of "completive" market covering commercial signals you really have to really mess up badly to affect revenue.