Edge

[azenergyfan]

Ok Ok what to do with The Edge. IF 98-7 goes alternative I would possibly take The Edge in a classic alternative/modern ac direction. They could rely on the heritgage of the Edge name and probably would get a good amount of listeners. The station is a mess right now with no direction. I believe it would be best to do some stunting and then do a A-Z of classic alternative to kick off the classic edge

 

[ykw]

The Edge has gone heavy on the classic-alt "theme" weekends over the past 18-24 months (about the period in which all but the best-testing pre-2004 stuff has disappeared from the weekday rotation), so there's clearly some interest in the format at the station.

I just don't think that staff there is willing to concede that they've completely lost the 12-34 demo they've been chasing these past couple of years and settle into being the next iteration of "classic rock" for the M25-54 crowd. For folks convinced of their uber-cool FM-hipster cred, it'd be like ripping out their hairplugs and telling the world that they really are old and hopelessly unhip. They really would rather be relevant than successful.

Trouble is, by trying to be the former, they succeed at neither.

 

[bnzbz]

old and hopelessly unhip.

Sounds like Bruce St. James to me...

 

[Wildstyle K]

Alright... opinions are great, but no need to try to start any trouble with anyone. I do, however, admit that The Edge does need a makeover, but I'm not going to make any suggestions on what I think should be tried since the alternative format is not something I don't have sufficient knowledge about.

There are many alternative formatted stations I do like. The current Edge sound, I'm not too fond of, but they do have some good features.

 

[mrpbp]

The Edge is GROSSLY under performing for the simple fact that they have no competition. Taking shots at Bruce St. James is just too easy. Big boy won when he had a strong signal, but his resume sucks out loud when he doesn't have a flame thrower. Nuff said!

Additionally, The Peak is not "going alternative." The model for Bonneville is The Mix in Chicago. Take a look at their play list, and you'll see the future. Adding Chuck, if he can become just a tad more mainstream, only plays into the plan. Let's see if he can do it.

 

[Wildstyle K]

the alternative format is not something I don't have sufficient knowledge about.

Hmmm... a double negative here! Well, to clarify, the words "don't" and "not" weren't supposed to be added within this same sentence. That was a typing error I made. Just remove the "don't" and the statement will become accurate to how I wanted it presented.

 

[Saladressing]

It would be cool if the Edge were to follow a model similar to 94.7 in Portland, tailored for the Valley of the Sun. They'd have the market all to themselves, The station totally dropped all that once made them great: The reggae music during regular rotation, the laid back vibe, no active rock music, the 'edgy' imaging, the all-request lunch, some punk thrown in at all hours of the day. It sounds like a station out of Boise now.

 

[EricStein]

It would be cool if the Edge were to follow a model similar to 94.7 in Portland, tailored for the Valley of the Sun. They'd have the market all to themselves, The station totally dropped all that once made them great: The reggae music during regular rotation, the laid back vibe, no active rock music, the 'edgy' imaging, the all-request lunch, some punk thrown in at all hours of the day. It sounds like a station out of Boise now.

Didn't they try that in 2004, right before the sale to Riviera? I think it was a part of consultant Jacobs Media's plan on reviving the format for its client stations (which included The Edge and Entercom's alternatives) by taking them in that direction?

 

[CHRRR]

jacobs media is the lamest name in rock consulting. barry gibb would be my choice before JM

 

[Saladressing]

It would be cool if the Edge were to follow a model similar to 94.7 in Portland, tailored for the Valley of the Sun. They'd have the market all to themselves, The station totally dropped all that once made them great: The reggae music during regular rotation, the laid back vibe, no active rock music, the 'edgy' imaging, the all-request lunch, some punk thrown in at all hours of the day. It sounds like a station out of Boise now.

Didn't they try that in 2004, right before the sale to Riviera? I think it was a part of consultant Jacobs Media's plan on reviving the format for its client stations (which included The Edge and Entercom's alternatives) by taking them in that direction?

No, not at all.

In '04, this move was to make the station(s) sound neutered and lame. It included no talking over the ramp, horribly bland imaging and the REMOVAL of the punk rock and reggae-influenced tracks that once made the station great. The post you are replying to references the period of say, '02 and '03 when the station was capturing a vibe that was connected to what the listeners in the Valley actually want to hear, not what some consultant in Chicago or whatever deems appropriate.

Let's put it this way: At that time the Edge sounded as though it may as well have been broadcasting live from Casey Moore's in Tempe 24/7, whereas for the last several years ('04 to present) it sounds as though it could just as well be broadcasting live from some puker consultant DJ's basement in Anytown, USA (with the one exception being the Skapunk show).