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Cumulus chills out on "Warm," launches a refreshed "Ninety Nine X" @ 98.9
- Thread starter atlradio16
- Start date
Popped over to the Atlanta threads to see what's new and was surprised to see yet another 99X attempt.
I do feel for Alternative fans in Atlanta. It's kind of like you get toyed with. No alternative for a while. A station or two pops up but really is pretty crappy, like Radio 105.7.
I once longed to be back in Atlanta (I'm now in Greenville, SC) just for Alternative and 99X when it was in its prime. Now, I'm relieved that I actually have a decent alternative (X98.5 but on a fairly weak translator that I didn't think would last but has now been on almost 3.5 years). 105.7 had a shot to bring it to the format's glory days, but it seems way too conservative.
Alt's revival with crossovers like Imagine Dragons has waned so not sure what to think at this point.
I do feel for Alternative fans in Atlanta. It's kind of like you get toyed with. No alternative for a while. A station or two pops up but really is pretty crappy, like Radio 105.7.
I once longed to be back in Atlanta (I'm now in Greenville, SC) just for Alternative and 99X when it was in its prime. Now, I'm relieved that I actually have a decent alternative (X98.5 but on a fairly weak translator that I didn't think would last but has now been on almost 3.5 years). 105.7 had a shot to bring it to the format's glory days, but it seems way too conservative.
Alt's revival with crossovers like Imagine Dragons has waned so not sure what to think at this point.
I'm sure we have to give it some time but so far, while 99x leans newer, it's still conservative and limited with the same songs over and over. The "give it some time" didn't work for Radio 105 nor did it work for x107. Conservative may work for hip hop, country, mainstream rock and even pop - Alternative should be anything BUT conservative. It goes against what the format stands for. If they want to stick with being safe, stop it with alternative and do adult rock or AAA. 99X was the alternative beaken for years and once cumulus for a hold of it, station lost its way. I'm holding on hope but before another failed attempt at a crappy version of so called "alternative" is made, I'd rather 98.9 go classic hits, hip hop, country or even liberal talk radio. Oh I'm grumpy....
Completely agree. Alternative definitely is a format that is or should be about taking risks. That's why I fell in love with WHFS in the 80s. And 99X in the 90s carried that same attitude.
I feel like radio programmers don't understand that any more and playing it safe is what they think is the only way to make it. That may be the case for just about every other format but I truly think the most successful alternative stations are the ones that expose new artists and make people want to listen to see what's new. Not hear the same artists 20 times a day.
I feel like radio programmers don't understand that any more and playing it safe is what they think is the only way to make it. That may be the case for just about every other format but I truly think the most successful alternative stations are the ones that expose new artists and make people want to listen to see what's new. Not hear the same artists 20 times a day.
It's not the 80s or the 90s. People don't buy albums. It's a very different time, and what's called alternative is not the same as it was in the 80s. It's a different format. If you expect this station to relive the 90s, you're going to be disappointed. That's not what it's aiming for. It sounds like you want college radio. That's not what this is.
That may be true, but that doesn't mean that wasn't the original basis for alternative. They really should call today's stations alternative hits.
I don't expect that stations will play everything under the sun. Even the old 99X in the 90s did not play even close to everything on college radio. But it did take risks and was a station that made a lot of bands successful by being among the first to play them.
They were still commercial enough to not be completely off the wall.
Also, there is definitely a spectrum even amongst today's alt stations. Radio 105.7 does not play a lot of the music found on other stations like even WKZQ in Myrtle Beach or X98.5 in Greenville, SC. It is very conservative.
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The word "alternative" isn't really a radio format, it's a genre of music. The radio stations play it. At least that's how today's generation sees it. By that, I mean the people who were too young to have listened to radio in the 80s and 90s. Those are the people this format aims at. There is a Billboard chart for the format, so there is some form to it. So yes if you want to call it "alternative hits," that's fine. Call it whatever you want. There seems to be a commitment by the station for "music discovery." They used those words in the press release. But at the same time, a format, by definition, involves a certain amount of repetition.
WEQX - Independent but not college radio & KRBZ - Kansas City owned by Entercom - Two very impressive alternative stations that are not college radio stations. Defining alternative is next to impossible but many of these legendary stations like WNNX and WHFS were more locally programmed for the listener than they are today. Even KROQ in LA was more local based and introduced us to up and coming bands that are huge today. Today, these so called alternative stations are basically Alt 40. I wouldn't be against a modern rock station that brought modern active and alternative rock music together. Even the majority of your active rock stations are about 50% 90s and older. Here is a list of current top 50 alternative spins on radio. Note the bottom 15 of the list are songs that you will never hear on either of the two alternative stations in Atlanta. http://americasmusiccharts.com/index.cgi?fmt=R3&rtmref=americasmusiccharts
Actually, you can argue the bottom 30 songs are not played on either of the Atlanta "Alternative" stations.
I was comparing Radio 105.7's Mediabase playlist with X98.5 in Greenville (WJMZ-F2). There's some stuff that 105.7 plays that X doesn't and vice versa. But the biggest difference is in older alternative. 105.7 plays much more grunge than X does. I like X's variety in that regard.
But since X just recently started reporting to Mediabase, I have a feeling they will be a little slower on the draw with new music.
You're right. 99% of today's stations are essentially "Alt 40". But there are definitely still wide differences in "leans" when it comes to the rest of the playlist. Those that have more grunge are usually apt to include some active.
Even having been a fan of grunge back in the 90s, I feel like as a whole grunge spun into active rock despite its alternative roots.
Radio 105.7 is still alternative in its overall mix so it's better than nothing.
I personally find that modern rock stations that split active and alternative skip almost everything on the lighter side of the spectrum and miss a ton of great music as a result.
So, yeah, I realize that alternative as a format probably will never be as inclusive as it once was. But I'm still thankful that over the past five years, we've at least gotten to the point where some alt stations don't feel the need to backfill with active tracks as many did in the early 2000s. Something like Nathaniel Rateliff or Chvches probably wouldn't have gotten anywhere even on alt stations back then (save something like Radio 104.5 in Philly).
But since X just recently started reporting to Mediabase, I have a feeling they will be a little slower on the draw with new music.
You're right. 99% of today's stations are essentially "Alt 40". But there are definitely still wide differences in "leans" when it comes to the rest of the playlist. Those that have more grunge are usually apt to include some active.
Even having been a fan of grunge back in the 90s, I feel like as a whole grunge spun into active rock despite its alternative roots.
Radio 105.7 is still alternative in its overall mix so it's better than nothing.
I personally find that modern rock stations that split active and alternative skip almost everything on the lighter side of the spectrum and miss a ton of great music as a result.
So, yeah, I realize that alternative as a format probably will never be as inclusive as it once was. But I'm still thankful that over the past five years, we've at least gotten to the point where some alt stations don't feel the need to backfill with active tracks as many did in the early 2000s. Something like Nathaniel Rateliff or Chvches probably wouldn't have gotten anywhere even on alt stations back then (save something like Radio 104.5 in Philly).
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Personally I see no motivation to add any of those songs to a playlist in a Top 10 market. Those are songs that may never get much higher than where they are.
I understand what you are saying. I really do, however, your comment would work well in CHR logic talk. Something being popular is important in alternative (alternative and indie stations are different) but alternative should also introduce new songs. No, that doesn't mean put them in constant rotation but an introduction to a new release or new artist should be part of the mix and not waiting until it climbs the charts some. I think with the exception of entercom, larger corps should get out of the business of alternative. Stick with adult Rock or active and send it back to college radio.
I think that's their intention. Maybe one spin after 7 PM, and see what happens. That's what they seem to do in other formats.
Hi everyone! I know it's been 2 weeks since 99X got resurrected from the dead, but I would like to make a correction from the post I posted 2 weeks ago. The DJ I was talking about who was doing afternoon drive during the Warm 98.9 era, her name is Bobbi Maxwell. She is one of many DJs from the THYF Network (Today's Hits/Yesterday's Favorites) Network. Here is a list of affiliates that are with the network:
92.7 FM KTWA Ottumwa, IA http://www.ktwafm.com/
96.9 FM KMFY Grand Rapids, MN http://www.kozyradio.com/kmfy-radio/
101.3 The Coast WHLG-FM Port St. Lucie, FL-Stuart, FL-Ft. Pierce, FL http://www.coast1013.com/
KCRE 94.3 FM Crescent City, CA http://www.kcrefm.com/
My 93.9 WMRV-FM Dansville, NY http://geneseenow.com/on-the-radio/wmrv/
WLKM The Mix 95.9 FM Three Rivers, MI http://www.wlkm.com/
You are more than welcome to listen to those affiliates online. No, I do not work for the THYF Network.
Anyway, that is all.
Yeah, I went on a premature rant against 99X a few weeks ago due to their lack of unique qualities BUT as of the last few weeks, they have proved me wrong. THey are playing new mainstream stuff first and including local artists which is what alternative is all about. I'm impressed so far....
VERY glad to read this. Nice to see 99X possibly return to its roots.
That's one thing that X98.5 in Greenville doesn't do (and really can't do) is anything local (being a talking-headless translator). I have been lucky enough to give some help to their PD with the classic alt rotation (not that he needs the help, but I enjoy that he lets me give input), which now plays everything from The Smiths and New Order to Peter Murphy and the Psychedelic Furs. I LOVE alt stations that don't consider grunge as the only source of 80s and 90s tracks.
Is the new 99X playing much classic alt? I used to love their lunch hour back in the 90s playing lots of great New Wave, punk and retro, but they always did a good job mixing stuff in with the main playlist too. That's something 99X failed to do much of in their dying days, with the exception of grunge.
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The times I've listened to the new 99X it's all been new alt--not 90s and certainly not 80s.
I do agree with you, I love it when an alt station plays classic alt from the 80s. Not many do; 99X (the original) did at first but then centered on a 90s-and-newer playlist.
TOSOTR plays some 80s; I heard "Radio Clash" by The Clash this morning.
I do agree with you, I love it when an alt station plays classic alt from the 80s. Not many do; 99X (the original) did at first but then centered on a 90s-and-newer playlist.
TOSOTR plays some 80s; I heard "Radio Clash" by The Clash this morning.
Yeah, not surprised. It took me a long time to convince our local station to do it, although they did have a Throwback Thursday, which still plays more deeper classic alt than the regular playlist.
My argument has been that a lot of the non-grunge classic alt actually fits in better with today's alt than grunge itself, which most alt stations focus on for older tracks.
WKZQ in Myrtle Beach is another station that does this. I just think it's a nicer mix. And the X98.5 gets positive response to TBT so it makes sense to sprinkle it in the regular playlist as well.
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