Dance-friendly Rhythmic CHR from the 90's

[justthenumbers]

One of the best Rhythmic CHRs of the 1990's was KKFR "Power 92" in Phoenix. They played a very balanced mix of dance, R&B, and rhythmic pop, including some gold selections.

I have uploaded one of my Power 92 airchecks to Youtube:

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8fl3GqrhHc
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IkAHKhP2Ic
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEc-j2Ji2p4
Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-OrqQSc8n0
Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNTItKCp79A
Part 6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw6a5qqVfRE
Part 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLOd96HT1Y
Part 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2SKGdAGKQI
Part 9 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhmriB_fl5I

This was recorded over Thanksgiving weekend 1995 (listening to the phone conversation about preparing for Thanksgiving dinner in Part 4, it sounds like I recorded it late night Wednesday 11-22-95/early morning Thursday 11-23-95). The on-air personality is Roxanne Steele, who left Power 92 around 1997 (I think) for Chicago's B96 -- she was there until just recently, I believe. I love her voice!

I loved everything about Power 92 at this time - from the music to the personalities to the ReelWorld jingles to the music beds to the voice of the station. Even the commercials tended to be dance-friendly (listen to the stopset in Part 4 to hear what I mean!)

At the start of the 90's, Power 92 had a sound similar to Power 106 LA/Hot 97 NY. But, shortly after KOY-FM (Y95) dropped out of the Mainstream CHR format (9/2/93), Power began phasing in non-rhythmic songs, such as: Bryan Adams "Please Forgive Me", Meatloaf "Anything for Love" (sorry if that's not the correct title), and Duran Duran "Come Undone". I think they were even playing Beavis & Butthead "Come to Butthead"

Then, on 12/16/93, they flipped to Mainstream CHR with a rock lean. Their numbers dropped quickly. They began phasing in more dance and R&B by the Fall of 1994, and by the Fall of 1995, all of the non-rhythmic product had been phased out, resulting in what you hear on the aircheck. (And if I'm not mistaken, Power had their highest-ever 12+ numbers with this approach - something like a 7 share!)

There was very little hip-hop on the station at this time, which made it different from several other Rhythmics at the time. In retrospect, if Power 92 had played more hip-hop in the mid-90's, it might have discouraged competitor "The New 103.9, Arizona's Party Station" (KBZR/KPTY) from signing on in October 1996 with a hip-hop friendly format. Or, at the very least, KBZR/KPTY may not have been as much of a thorn in Power 92's side if Power had been more hip-hop friendly.

The New 103.9 was enough of a pest to force KKFR to go all hip-hop/R&B in June 1997, making Power 92 once again sound similar to Power 106 & Hot 97.

 

[limin]

The only station that I can remember is B96 in the 90's WBBM-FM Chicago.

Their mixshows includes

10 Clock Remix monday to thursday

Street Mix

10pm to 5am

 

[Mid West Clubber]

I know the history of KKFR pretty well,,, but also 103.9 although mostly hip hop did play some Dance, and had mostly Dance Mixshows on weekends... Now the valley has no Dance outlet at all,, But im glad that KNRJ was the first station to debut a Classic Hip Hop format and that Bea Duran got to remain.. It sucks to loose the dance, but at least its just not all current hip hop like 101.5 and 98.3..The new and NOT IMPROVED kkfr..... Bonneville was stupid to sell off that station, and had they kept the 92.3 KKFR flame thrower,,, it may have made KNRJ stick around a bit longer since im sure 98.3 doesnt make it into alot of Home stereo's and offices.... and 101.5 is a POP friendly Rhythmic,, which if were lucky maybe Movin or Jamz might add a few Dance currents... Keep your fingers crossed.

 

[DJ_Perry]

I loved listening to those Power airchecks, thanks for posting. Makes you wish radio could go back 15 years! Was much more creative back than (even tho, at the time I prolly complained about the amount of urban....what was I thinking!)

 

[Mid West Clubber]

I know what you mean Perry,, I used to complain about too much rap on B-96 Chicago during the mid 90s and also Power 96 Miami,,, If you remember correctly B-96 and Power 96 pretty much went to a regular NON Dance intensive stations for a short time in the mid to late 90s and their ratings suffered because of it...

You bring up a good point though Perry, just like how alot of us say Party 105 plays too much Urban, but at least they are still playing dance,, and toward the end of 95.3 Party Orlando we all complained because it was only one or two OLDER dance songs an hour,,, but I think thats cause we all knew where they were gonna be headed... and they did

Id like to have alot of those past Urban friendly Dance outlets back these days, especially since Urban music is getting better now, less thuggish, and fits in better with the dance music.

 

[justthenumbers]

I loved listening to those Power airchecks, thanks for posting. Makes you wish radio could go back 15 years! Was much more creative back than (even tho, at the time I prolly complained about the amount of urban....what was I thinking!)

LOL - I did the same thing! I left Phoenix in August '95 for a year to go to school out of state (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor). At that time, Power didn't play as much R&B (and they played almost NO hip-hop) as they did in that aircheck (which isn't very much to begin with!) I remember coming home for Thanksgiving (which is when I recorded that tape) and kind of being disappointed in their new sound...looking back on it, WTF was I thinking?

BUT...with that said, Power was still WAY better than Ann Arbor/Detroit radio at the time. The only thing remotely close to a CHR (never mind dance music) in Detroit at that time was WKQI "Q-95-5". It evolved from a pretty good sounding Hot AC (as simply "Q-95", if I recall correctly) to a bit of a Modern AC type station (as "Q-95-5") during the year I was there. WVKS "92.5 Kiss-FM" from Toledo was better, but pretty much a standard Midwestern CHR (although the playlist would widen considerably -- even to include dance selections -- after Midnight). Competitor WTWR "Tower 98" from Monroe, MI was a much more interesting station all-around...they had 2 Unlimited "Do What's Good for Me" and Weird Al "Amish Paradise" in regular rotation! (I gotta find that tape and Youtube it as well.)

I'm glad you liked the airchecks. I have plenty more that I will try to post...I'll start digging through my collection. It just takes a while to record these to MP3, and then convert to a video file so that Youtube can accept it.

 

[Mid West Clubber]

Didnt Detroit have DRQ 93.1 for Dance at that time, or was that later, like 97-98,,, I remember when Tower 98 was still a Monroe Michigan station,,, it was weak in Toledo back then,, but didnt tower 98 have like a Satelite Hot AC format in the Overnights at that time.. Also,, if im not mistaken, Toledos, Urban 107.3,,Cant remember the name then, but its called Juice now,, Didnt they play some Dance Mixes of urban songs, and on mixshows slip in songs like Jomanda-Got a Love for you from the early 90s.. Also,,, way back in the late 80s, Detroit used to have a Dance Friendly rhythmic on 97.9 and 96.3,, but I think 97.9 was full blown Urban by then, and 96.3 was a mod AC as Planet 96.3....

 

[2Son]

One of the best Rhythmic CHRs of the 1990's was KKFR "Power 92" in Phoenix. They played a very balanced mix of dance, R&B, and rhythmic pop, including some gold selections.

I have uploaded one of my Power 92 airchecks to Youtube:

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8fl3GqrhHc
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IkAHKhP2Ic
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEc-j2Ji2p4
Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-OrqQSc8n0
Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNTItKCp79A
Part 6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw6a5qqVfRE
Part 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLOd96HT1Y
Part 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2SKGdAGKQI
Part 9 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhmriB_fl5I

This was recorded over Thanksgiving weekend 1995 (listening to the phone conversation about preparing for Thanksgiving dinner in Part 4, it sounds like I recorded it late night Wednesday 11-22-95/early morning Thursday 11-23-95). The on-air personality is Roxanne Steele, who left Power 92 around 1997 (I think) for Chicago's B96 -- she was there until just recently, I believe. I love her voice!

I loved everything about Power 92 at this time - from the music to the personalities to the ReelWorld jingles to the music beds to the voice of the station. Even the commercials tended to be dance-friendly (listen to the stopset in Part 4 to hear what I mean!)

At the start of the 90's, Power 92 had a sound similar to Power 106 LA/Hot 97 NY. But, shortly after KOY-FM (Y95) dropped out of the Mainstream CHR format (9/2/93), Power began phasing in non-rhythmic songs, such as: Bryan Adams "Please Forgive Me", Meatloaf "Anything for Love" (sorry if that's not the correct title), and Duran Duran "Come Undone". I think they were even playing Beavis & Butthead "Come to Butthead"

Then, on 12/16/93, they flipped to Mainstream CHR with a rock lean. Their numbers dropped quickly. They began phasing in more dance and R&B by the Fall of 1994, and by the Fall of 1995, all of the non-rhythmic product had been phased out, resulting in what you hear on the aircheck. (And if I'm not mistaken, Power had their highest-ever 12+ numbers with this approach - something like a 7 share!)

There was very little hip-hop on the station at this time, which made it different from several other Rhythmics at the time. In retrospect, if Power 92 had played more hip-hop in the mid-90's, it might have discouraged competitor "The New 103.9, Arizona's Party Station" (KBZR/KPTY) from signing on in October 1996 with a hip-hop friendly format. Or, at the very least, KBZR/KPTY may not have been as much of a thorn in Power 92's side if Power had been more hip-hop friendly.

The New 103.9 was enough of a pest to force KKFR to go all hip-hop/R&B in June 1997, making Power 92 once again sound similar to Power 106 & Hot 97.

I remember Power 92 in '91-92, and they played a pretty decent mix of dance then as well. In fact, there was a live mix show called "Planet Dance" which would air on Sunday evenings at both Power 92 in Phoenix, and a station in Paris, France.

 

[2Son]

I also remember Markus Schulz mixing it up in the Valley at the Works every weekend (the Edge Factor), which aired on the Edge from 1993-2000.

 

[szorn]

Didnt Detroit have DRQ 93.1 for Dance at that time, or was that later, like 97-98,,, I remember when Tower 98 was still a Monroe Michigan station,,, it was weak in Toledo back then,, but didnt tower 98 have like a Satelite Hot AC format in the Overnights at that time.. Also,, if im not mistaken, Toledos, Urban 107.3,,Cant remember the name then, but its called Juice now,, Didnt they play some Dance Mixes of urban songs, and on mixshows slip in songs like Jomanda-Got a Love for you from the early 90s.. Also,,, way back in the late 80s, Detroit used to have a Dance Friendly rhythmic on 97.9 and 96.3,, but I think 97.9 was full blown Urban by then, and 96.3 was a mod AC as Planet 96.3....

Yes, WDRQ was Dance Radio Detroit back around 1997-98. Didn't last long but sounded great! I got several hours of airchecks on it back then but have since lost them! I remember 96.3 being very dance friendly back in the 80s. I didn't think 97.9 was dance friendly for a time. All I remember about them were TV commercials with a strong african american pumping iron with that tagline: pumping 10 strong songs in a row! Great stuff for back then. Always thought it was urban but I lived in Lansing and not Detroit, so only visited during Pistons/Tigers ball games!

 

[2Son]

One of the best Rhythmic CHRs of the 1990's was KKFR "Power 92" in Phoenix. They played a very balanced mix of dance, R&B, and rhythmic pop, including some gold selections.

I have uploaded one of my Power 92 airchecks to Youtube:

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8fl3GqrhHc
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IkAHKhP2Ic
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEc-j2Ji2p4
Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-OrqQSc8n0
Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNTItKCp79A
Part 6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw6a5qqVfRE
Part 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLOd96HT1Y
Part 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2SKGdAGKQI
Part 9 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhmriB_fl5I

This was recorded over Thanksgiving weekend 1995 (listening to the phone conversation about preparing for Thanksgiving dinner in Part 4, it sounds like I recorded it late night Wednesday 11-22-95/early morning Thursday 11-23-95). The on-air personality is Roxanne Steele, who left Power 92 around 1997 (I think) for Chicago's B96 -- she was there until just recently, I believe. I love her voice!

I loved everything about Power 92 at this time - from the music to the personalities to the ReelWorld jingles to the music beds to the voice of the station. Even the commercials tended to be dance-friendly (listen to the stopset in Part 4 to hear what I mean!)

At the start of the 90's, Power 92 had a sound similar to Power 106 LA/Hot 97 NY. But, shortly after KOY-FM (Y95) dropped out of the Mainstream CHR format (9/2/93), Power began phasing in non-rhythmic songs, such as: Bryan Adams "Please Forgive Me", Meatloaf "Anything for Love" (sorry if that's not the correct title), and Duran Duran "Come Undone". I think they were even playing Beavis & Butthead "Come to Butthead"

Then, on 12/16/93, they flipped to Mainstream CHR with a rock lean. Their numbers dropped quickly. They began phasing in more dance and R&B by the Fall of 1994, and by the Fall of 1995, all of the non-rhythmic product had been phased out, resulting in what you hear on the aircheck. (And if I'm not mistaken, Power had their highest-ever 12+ numbers with this approach - something like a 7 share!)

There was very little hip-hop on the station at this time, which made it different from several other Rhythmics at the time. In retrospect, if Power 92 had played more hip-hop in the mid-90's, it might have discouraged competitor "The New 103.9, Arizona's Party Station" (KBZR/KPTY) from signing on in October 1996 with a hip-hop friendly format. Or, at the very least, KBZR/KPTY may not have been as much of a thorn in Power 92's side if Power had been more hip-hop friendly.

The New 103.9 was enough of a pest to force KKFR to go all hip-hop/R&B in June 1997, making Power 92 once again sound similar to Power 106 & Hot 97.

I remember Power 92 in '91-92, and they played a pretty decent mix of dance then as well. In fact, there was a live mix show called "Planet Dance" which would air on Sunday evenings at both Power 92 in Phoenix, and a station in Paris, France.

I checked an old tape I had of Planet Dance (1992) and Tim Byrd was the host. It also aired in Paris on Voltage FM. Markus Schulz and Andy Starr of PowerHouse Records were also involved. It aired in Paris on Friday nights at 7, and in Phoenix on Power 92 Sunday nights at 10:00. They also did a weekly dance countdown. The number one song that week was "Keep On Pumpin' It Up" by The Vision Masters ft. Tony King & Kylie Minogue.

 

[justthenumbers]

I checked an old tape I had of Planet Dance (1992) and Tim Byrd was the host. It also aired in Paris on Voltage FM. Markus Schulz and Andy Starr of PowerHouse Records were also involved. It aired in Paris on Friday nights at 7, and in Phoenix on Power 92 Sunday nights at 10:00. They also did a weekly dance countdown. The number one song that week was "Keep On Pumpin' It Up" by The Vision Masters ft. Tony King & Kylie Minogue.

I would love to hear this! Any chance you could record it to an Internet-friendly format and make it available online? If you can make it into an MP3, I can explain how to put it on Youtube if you want to take that route...just let me know.

 

[2Son]

Before it got "KISS'ed", KHFI and B93 in Austin played a large amount of dance-friendly alternative and pop music in regular rotation around '89-'92 (KHFI more so). It wasn't unusual to also hear remixes of mainstream songs as well. Both stations were CHR, and KFHI (first K98, then K98.1, K96.7, and lastly 96.7 KHFI) was typically the edgier station, mixing in more dance-friendly songs into their regular playlist.

Anything from:

Anything Box - "Living in Oblivion", "Kiss of Love", "World Without Love"
The Other Two - "Tasty Fish"
Erasure - "Oh L'amour", "Blue Savannah", "Star", "Chorus", "Love to Hate You"
Celebrate the Nun - "Will You Be There"
KLF - "What Time is Love"
The Shamen - "Move Any Mountain", "Make It Mine"
T42 - "Desire", "Don't Let My Love"
Rhythm Device - "Acid Rock"
Stereo MC's - "Elevate My Mind"
Siouxsie & the Banshees - "Kiss Them For Me"
Corina - "Temptation"
TKA - "Louder Than Love"
Candy Flip - "Strawberry Fields Forever"
Xymox - "Phoenix of my Heart"
The Party - "In My Dreams" (sung by Dee Dee)
Depeche Mode - "World in My Eyes", "Sea of Sin", "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", "Policy of Truth", "Dangerous"
Happy Mondays "Step On"
St. Etienne - "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
Soup Dragons - "I'm Free"
Blur - "There's No Other Way"
Lisette Melendez - "Together Forever"
Electronic - "Getting Away With It", "Get the Message", "Disappointed"
Cause & Effect - "You Think You Know Her", "What do you see"
Yaz(oo) - "State Farm" (Madhouse Mix Edit)
Utah Saints - "Something Good"
Apotheosis - "O Fortuna"
Sunscreem - "Love U More"
Dee-Lite - "What is Love"
2 Unlimited - "Get Ready For This", "Twilight Zone"
LA Style - "James Brown is Dead"
Thompson Twins - "Come Inside"
The Beloved - "Hello", "Your Love Takes Me Higher"
Book of Love - "Alice Everyday", "Sunny Day"
Camouflage - "Love is a Shield"
49ers - "Touch Me"
Nine Inch Nails - "Head Like A Hole"
Eon - "Spice"
Impedance - "Tainted Love"
Lil' Louis - "French Kiss"
Lords of Acid - "I Sit On Acid" (Edited of course)
Moev - "Crucify Me"


as well as the typical Black Box, C&C Music Factory, Stevie B, PM Dawn, Latour, KLF, etc. type songs...

 

[2Son]

I checked an old tape I had of Planet Dance (1992) and Tim Byrd was the host. It also aired in Paris on Voltage FM. Markus Schulz and Andy Starr of PowerHouse Records were also involved. It aired in Paris on Friday nights at 7, and in Phoenix on Power 92 Sunday nights at 10:00. They also did a weekly dance countdown. The number one song that week was "Keep On Pumpin' It Up" by The Vision Masters ft. Tony King & Kylie Minogue.

I would love to hear this! Any chance you could record it to an Internet-friendly format and make it available online? If you can make it into an MP3, I can explain how to put it on Youtube if you want to take that route...just let me know.

There's not much at all to that recording, but sure.

 

[justthenumbers]

The post about KHFI & B93 playing the dancier alternative reminds me of a similar approach that Y95 in Phoenix tried in late 1992/early 1993. They were Hot AC-leaning during the day, but nights seemed to consist mostly of hip-hop and songs from artists like Soup Dragons, Sunscreem, Stereo MCs, Erasure, Smart E's, Utah Saints, Cause n Effect, Machine in Motion, etc.

It didn't last long...Y95 went back to being pretty much a straight ahead (but very unfocused) Mainstream CHR in March 1993, before throwing in the towel for good on 9/2/93.

Wasn't the B93 in the Odessa-Midland, TX market a dance-friendly Rhythmic CHR in the late 90's/early 2000's? I remember listening to their Webstream and really liking the station, but I don't remember very many details beyond that.

 

[2Son]

I've got some tapes from Y95 at that time as well.

I'm not sure if there was a B93 in Midland/Odessa, but B93 in Austin was actually Killeen/Austin (KBTS). They switched formats in 1993, but went back to top 40 in 2001 as Dance Mega 93.3 (KXMG - COL changed to Cedar Park) until 2003 when they became Hot 93.3 (KDHT).

KHFI has been 96.7 Kiss FM since 2001, but was acquired by CC in 1992 I think.

Two once great stations. I've got tapes of both stations as well as KNNC 107.7 (alternative) when it arrived in 1991.

 

[justthenumbers]

Yes, I think KHFI was one of the "original" (pre-Jacor-merger) Clear Channel stations. Others that come to mind...KPRR/El Paso and WVKS/Toledo. Who else was on that list?

The B93 I mentioned was KBAT 93.3. I'm not quite sure what happened, but I think the KBAT calls moved to a different frequency in September 2005, and 93.3 became a hip-hop station (with the calls KZBT). R&R lists KBAT as a CHR/Pop station ???

EDIT: R&R's Odessa-Midland Arbitron page has not been updated since August 2005. Looks like the market's numbers are "embargoed" (only subscribers to Arbitron have access to the data....including the 12+)

I've got some tapes from Y95 at that time as well.

OK, we need to talk more For over 15 years, I've been looking for additional tapes of Y95. Can you make those available online as well? Or, would you be interested in doing some sort of aircheck trade? If you are, please e-mail me - [email protected]

Thank you!

 

[2Son]

Sure - I've sent you an email.

 

[justthenumbers]

Sure - I've sent you an email.

And I just wrote back

 

[Mid West Clubber]

Speaken of Midland Texas,,, do you guys remember Energy 95.1,, Short Lived,, Maybe a few months,, then they changed the name to 95.1 The Edge, but still played dance,, but soon they started mixing in MODERN ROCK like Soundgarden-Black Hole Son,, and Nirvanna-Come as you ARE,, well anyway they hung on as a Dance-Alternative hybrid for about another year before dropping all the Dance and going full blown Rock but still keeping THE EDGE name,,, probably still to this day?