Energy AZ RIP

[TonySantiago]

There is a liner I want to take a shot at Sierra H. Broadcasting for flipping Energy AZ.

YOU'LL BE SORRY!!!!!!!

That's okay. They did what they felt they had to......

Now it's time for someone in the Phoenix area to take a stand and do something! Get the noise, do petitions, WHATEVER IT TAKES for another station to do the dance/rhythmic format there! I will help!

 

[Dancerev889]

There is a liner I want to take a shot at Sierra H. Broadcasting for flipping Energy AZ.

YOU'LL BE SORRY!!!!!!!

That's okay. They did what they felt they had to......

Now it's time for someone in the Phoenix area to take a stand and do something! Get the noise, do petitions, WHATEVER IT TAKES for another station to do the dance/rhythmic format there! I will help!

Don't you think Energy would have stayed on if they were getting a solid reaction?

 

[TonySantiago]

There is a liner I want to take a shot at Sierra H. Broadcasting for flipping Energy AZ.

YOU'LL BE SORRY!!!!!!!

That's okay. They did what they felt they had to......

Now it's time for someone in the Phoenix area to take a stand and do something! Get the noise, do petitions, WHATEVER IT TAKES for another station to do the dance/rhythmic format there! I will help!

Don't you think Energy would have stayed on if they were getting a solid reaction?

That could be argued in two ways.

1. If Sierra just wanted to go after more money, than changing the format would have been in the plans even if Energy still did well. Do remember....Emmis was going through some financial difficulties in the early 90s. Hot 97 (NYC), while dance was still billing well but Emmis went with the hip-hop route for more money.

2. If things were that bad, then yeah, Sierra H did the right thing by going with something else. It still doesn't mean that the dance music fan base in Phoenix disappeared.

You can answer this better than I can about the corporate/business aspect regarding radio. Being that dance music has always had a rough break, I'm just going the non-conventional route on doing things. Better to take a stab at something and perhaps NOT succeed then do nothing at all wondering...what if?

 

[Dancerev889]

There is a liner I want to take a shot at Sierra H. Broadcasting for flipping Energy AZ.

YOU'LL BE SORRY!!!!!!!

That's okay. They did what they felt they had to......

Now it's time for someone in the Phoenix area to take a stand and do something! Get the noise, do petitions, WHATEVER IT TAKES for another station to do the dance/rhythmic format there! I will help!

Don't you think Energy would have stayed on if they were getting a solid reaction?

That could be argued in two ways.

1. If Sierra just wanted to go after more money, than changing the format would have been in the plans even if Energy still did well. Do remember....Emmis was going through some financial difficulties in the early 90s. Hot 97 (NYC), while dance was still billing well but Emmis went with the hip-hop route for more money.

2. If things were that bad, then yeah, Sierra H did the right thing by going with something else. It still doesn't mean that the dance music fan base in Phoenix disappeared.

You can answer this better than I can about the corporate/business aspect regarding radio. Being that dance music has always had a rough break, I'm just going the non-conventional route on doing things. Better to take a stab at something and perhaps NOT succeed then do nothing at all wondering...what if?

You answered your question with your first statement. Radio is a business and that is in business is to make money. You could look at a lot of things about the Energy on why its no longer around. But it all comes back to...its a business. My suggestion like it always has been is support what you got. If you are looking make the genre grow, look at the left hand side of the dial.

 

[Saladressing]

The makeup of the demographics of the Phoenix market lends itself to niche formats such as Mega, Energy, Movin and The Beat, that simply don't exist in many major US markets. Therefore I would not be shocked to see someone at some point here either incorporate Dance into their format for nights/weekends, or take on the format 24/7. The market sounds so drab now without Energy, it's hard to listen to. Thankfully there's satellite and internet radio.

 

[TonySantiago]

You answered your question with your first statement. Radio is a business and that is in business is to make money. You could look at a lot of things about the Energy on why its no longer around. But it all comes back to...its a business. My suggestion like it always has been is support what you got. If you are looking make the genre grow, look at the left hand side of the dial.

Let me approach it in this manner since the same things get brought up every time we get on this...

Yes radio IS a business. But it is also a business that is in SERIOUS trouble right now because:

1. People younger than 25 for the most part have defected from radio since the medium doesn't really serve their needs.
2. The formats that are mainly out there now have become "cookie cutter".
3. Radio in itself has become "stale" based on the cookie cutter formats.
4. I-pods, Internet streams, Pandora (yeah, satellite too but even that is in trouble).

Now, I'm not going to say that dance music WILL solve it all. But if we go outside of just the "paper" on Pulse 87 and consider the limitations the station has, it did good! I don't know the numbers on Energy but from my understanding, based on past posts, the station did well. Heck, if I had the money, I'd lease time in another market with a dance music show...that's how much I believe in the product. Point is, and you know this, dance music is on the rise.

As much as I am actually NOT a fan of non-comm stations below 92 being formatted (doesn't matter what format; my own college issues regarding that), if non-comm radio wants to go with dance music (based on what you're doing, the hits side not EDM) as a format, I welcome that. If anything, I'm supposed to do another IBS college seminar next year and the topic I want to hit on about the hit aspect of dance music being good for non-comm. If you can make it, I'd love to have you as a panelist along with the guys at C89.5, Kris, Clint as well as others that are doing dance music shows below 92.

You and JP talked about education in the past? That's where it's at! Perhaps that's how we'll get more PD's along the way that understand what the format is about.

I've always heard your thoughts Brett. It's just that for what it's worth, we can't approach things in a conventional manner because that has gotten us NOWHERE. Absolutely support you guys, Super 91.7, C 89.5, Energy-92.7, Party 105, Pulse 87 and Vibe 94.5. More has to happen somehow and we just can't "settle".

 

[Dancerev889]

The Demographics are there but Sierra felt a classic Hip-hop format would fit. Look programmers do not run radio stations anymore. Its all about sales. Dance in the mind of any sales department is a risky venture. I keep hearing that radio is in serious trouble, but I havent heard one station go dark in years. Do they downsize, yes but so does every other business in the US. Commercial radio is playing it safe right now.

See I dont get the dislike for non-commercial radio. With PPM, its leveled the playing field. Non-com has some of the most creative programming right now. In many cases the equipment used in Non-com is better than any commercial station. Our station is a prime example. Over the past few years I have had engineers from several commercial stations come by to check out our equipment and they drool over our processors. A lot of non-coms have better signals that the commercial stations. WRTI and WXPN here in Philly cover from Scranton PA to Washington DC. Could you imagine a dance station with a network like that?

 

[TonySantiago]

See I dont get the dislike for non-commercial radio. With PPM, its leveled the playing field. Non-com has some of the most creative programming right now. In many cases the equipment used in Non-com is better than any commercial station. Our station is a prime example. Over the past few years I have had engineers from several commercial stations come by to check out our equipment and they drool over our processors. A lot of non-coms have better signals that the commercial stations. WRTI and WXPN here in Philly cover from Scranton PA to Washington DC. Could you imagine a dance station with a network like that?

I don't know if my comment came off as such, but I DO like non-comm radio. I'm just not a fan of formats on that level. And this was based on my college experience where I had wanted to do house music back in 1986 but my college wouldn't let me. The station was run by guys that liked alternative rock and it was either their way or NO way....and the faculty adviser of the station HATED my guts (he actually said that...this wasn't just my perception). I couldn't just go to another college and do my thing there so in that sense, I was stuck having to comply with the format, and the ONLY reason why I did the rock was so that I could run for GM. And upon visiting Poughkeepsie, NY for a book signing back then, the one person that agreed with my views about allowing for experimentation on college radio was COUSIN BRUCIE. Serious.

That had to be my SCARIEST experience ever because I knew I was basically putting my head on the guillotine with the guys there. But I felt I HAD to speak out. I actually didn't want to change the format but allow for others that wanted to do something creative to get that chance. Of course I lost, but during my college reunion, someone who really wasn't a friend or enemy actually told me that I had "balls" for doing what I did.

Sure, I'd like for dance music to appear SOMEWHERE, even on non-comm stations. My opinion, if a student on such a formatted station wanted to do something else off format but for his/her creative purposes, I would be cool about it. And once again, based on my experience.....I would NOT want for anyone else to have to go through that.

Though if I didn't go through that, there probably would have never been a coalition. I still had that angst in me. But now, if anything.....there was a blessing in disguise and I see that now.

TS

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

every body's a critic.
the station had an amazing run...but even w/ DANCE...
there are sooo many different styles, formats(within the format)
and...even each 'era/decade' had its own sound, etc...

*not to mention the cross-over, "near dance" hits, or
the dance-remixes...which, to some, were the 'worst thing
for the industry' and while others, loved the pop-remixes..
ok, "loved" / well, enjoyed them as "not that bad"

...this doesnt really apply to "NRG_AZ" but not to mention
the "courtesty" over played made-to-make it hit, that
is usually the summer song, that wears out, or does not
represent the dance genre accurately...need I go into
the "cheese factor" ( although, "rock-ballads" and
well lame lyrics apply to all music, if it "sucks" it sucks),
seems that dance, would always be the worst culprit(?sp)...

...i enjoyed ENERGY AZ, while I visited phx, (and popped in the studio)
-Simply AMAZING!!! After that vacation, almost *right* when they
signed on, i was hooked...I would tune in online,
*esp* during Xmas, for some strange reason. it had
some sweet dance-Christmas tunes...for those that read
this, that were a part of this incredible radio station , thank you!

I, *personally* believe what did this station in ....
taking it for granted. Like every thing, the "NEW"
novelity, makes it FUN.
-
THen, a few years in, a "RE"Discover phase...i had that (as
mentioned above), and then....its 'there' but looking for
the next thing, that sizzles....

*ALL of a sudden* an annoucement , or format flip, tweek, etc..
and I wonder why i didnt invest more time, into this station...

well, part of the reason, (for me) listening online, was difficult.
for my own technological outlets, there was no cell phone broadcast
i would have to sit in this room, and simply, Listen. Couldnt drive
to the beat, or have it on, while engaging in football, hockey , etc.
...it had to be here, in front of my pc.

Also, when i tuned in (w/ the time difference) seemed they
would rarely play a song, i knew...versus, say z103, not that
i like every song they play; at least i was more familiar w/ the play list.
*Only time z103, some times 'turns me off ' is during a live 2 air...when its
just a steady beat / same w/ xm(bpm) on thursdays,(or at least it was thursdays)
and the weekend...sure, it's nice to have on for a moment, but extended
listening is difficult (for me personally). i enjoy short radio edits, or if it
will be a 'club mix' its not the 12minute...vocal-repeating, beat-based mix...

-this is for the forum, to answer, looking back, did energy have "fun" right up to the end?
if not, may be long before the oct 31/ nov 3 flip , this station was "already off the air"
(figuratively?sp/speaking)....ps: why nov 3rd, any reason, or signifigance(?sp) for
this week/or date, *besides, the obvious, halloween, being on a friday.
oh, yea,

what is the new format, and does it lend (a little) from the NRG_AZ, playlist?

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

besides, the dance forum, and this
message board, did any one "notice" the
station flipped....or, was it almost like a
(brand)"NEW" station signed on....

not that dance is 'elevator' music, but...
if a soft rock /or jazz station were to flip, to
say MODERN ROCK,(w/ a reeely edgy sound),
to the 'metal heads' , they may think the
station was just "invented" or "created" to start
this rock format.....not knowing or caring that
the station was once....(example) Love93.3/ instead,
just it is now the rock @ 94x!