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Energy Flipping to Top 40
- Thread starter Diggidy62
- Start date
Diggidy62 said:
No, Energy was a great attempt at a dance format. It had a very loyal following in San Francisco in fact it was voted best radio station in the Guardian's poll. I personally didn't care for their morning show, but I know of plenty of people who had nothing but good things to say about it.
Station sounds terrible. The music is a mess and the production is all a big jumble. A station like this might do okay in Turlock, but there's no way it will be able to hang with the big dawgs in S.F. Bad move.
RealDealHolyfield said:
100% right. Stiffs and disastrous scheduling sequences all over the place. "If Today Was Your Last Day" into "A Milli?" Two Sublime golds 30 minutes apart? Fabolous into No Doubt into Drake? Leona Lewis' "I Will Be" and Mariah "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time?" That's just the tip of the iceberg. They need focus, FAST.
Wow - so San Fransisco is no longer any better than L.A. when it comes to dance hits?
Well... I do still have to give love to WiLD 94.9, and Movin 99.7 (which is now really nothing more than what our Kiss FM here in Phoenix is, but more interesting with more mix shows..), but other than that, when it comes to dance content, San Fransisco is not really too too much better than L.A. now.
I remember back when I used to look forward to going to L.A. and dreamed of having stations like the ones in San Fransisco. Now, after all that's happened in Cali, I'm pretty content here in Az with all the rhythmics and electro-hip hop/house we have, and I'm sure I'll be even happier once I relocate to London. Good luck San Fransisco.
Of course Amp sounded EXTREMELY good in L.A., but San Fransisco already has two rhythmics or rhythmic leans that sound good and put in work to keep their stations sounding fun and interesting. Not sure how a top 40 in a somewhat awkward position on the dial will do there.. They probably could've or should've considered a dance lean top 40.
I never actually heard San Fransisco's Energy - I was pretty content with the one we once had here in Phoenix... but I'm sure it was great. In an unrelated note, just wondering... does San Fransisco still have a hip hop station (urban, not rhythmic) or have they also been lacking like L.A.?
Also much love to Power 106 in L.A. for the amount of work they put into what comes over the airwaves of their station as well.
Well... I do still have to give love to WiLD 94.9, and Movin 99.7 (which is now really nothing more than what our Kiss FM here in Phoenix is, but more interesting with more mix shows..), but other than that, when it comes to dance content, San Fransisco is not really too too much better than L.A. now.
I remember back when I used to look forward to going to L.A. and dreamed of having stations like the ones in San Fransisco. Now, after all that's happened in Cali, I'm pretty content here in Az with all the rhythmics and electro-hip hop/house we have, and I'm sure I'll be even happier once I relocate to London. Good luck San Fransisco.
Of course Amp sounded EXTREMELY good in L.A., but San Fransisco already has two rhythmics or rhythmic leans that sound good and put in work to keep their stations sounding fun and interesting. Not sure how a top 40 in a somewhat awkward position on the dial will do there.. They probably could've or should've considered a dance lean top 40.
I never actually heard San Fransisco's Energy - I was pretty content with the one we once had here in Phoenix... but I'm sure it was great. In an unrelated note, just wondering... does San Fransisco still have a hip hop station (urban, not rhythmic) or have they also been lacking like L.A.?
Also much love to Power 106 in L.A. for the amount of work they put into what comes over the airwaves of their station as well.
I wish San Fransisco and the entire dance music community the best. It's very odd that people are deserting the dance format now IN 2009, out of all times. People just don't realize... actually, nevermind. Let me not even start. Eventually, people will figure it out..... just wait and see.
I've been telling people this electro-hip hop, electro-pop/dance sound that we're currently in was coming since 2006, and explained precisely how it could happen, before it began to unfold exactly as I said. Before it happened, people swore that I must have been crazy when I first talked about "dance music is making a come back.." and how it could happen. This time, I wont say anything about what I see happening next... but just give it 2 to 4 years and you'll see. I see exactly where we're headed. This is why I did not shed one tear when we lost our Energy here in Phoenix, and no, it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm going to London anyway because back when we lost Energy, I had no idea I was going.
The future for dance music (in the U.S.) is bright right now... don't believe it? Well... just ask Lil Jon. Just ask David Guetta. Ask Stevie B... Just ask certain people at Power 106. Ask some people at Power 96 Miami... and this list is just a BRIEF SUMMARY of people who know exactly what's coming. They know what's going on..... and I'll just leave it at that.
There is a small picture, and there is a big picture. Most people can only see the small picture - what's happening or what they are experiencing as of RIGHT NOW (which is unfortunate when it comes to politics because politicians also know this...but I will not get into that). Well, I'll just say this - The BIG picture is where it's at. A dance format may be hard to sell, and most may not be familiar with dance, but don't let the ignorance towards dance music within the U.S. fool you. Much of what's happening right now is due to finances and not the music...
Anyway, it's coming. The hip hop generation will be very disappointed about it, but... too bad. Same thing happened in time when other past generations of music stopped dominating the charts as the next big thing began to take over, and they got over it. As a matter of fact, those of you who are into the music just as much (or maybe even more-so) than radio have already seen the complaints from the hip hop generation about what is "happening to hip hop" and probably can detect which direction we're headed in. Eventually, radio and the industry will be forced to "open up".
Call me cryptic, but to me it's all obvious...
I'm done for now.
I've been telling people this electro-hip hop, electro-pop/dance sound that we're currently in was coming since 2006, and explained precisely how it could happen, before it began to unfold exactly as I said. Before it happened, people swore that I must have been crazy when I first talked about "dance music is making a come back.." and how it could happen. This time, I wont say anything about what I see happening next... but just give it 2 to 4 years and you'll see. I see exactly where we're headed. This is why I did not shed one tear when we lost our Energy here in Phoenix, and no, it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm going to London anyway because back when we lost Energy, I had no idea I was going.
The future for dance music (in the U.S.) is bright right now... don't believe it? Well... just ask Lil Jon. Just ask David Guetta. Ask Stevie B... Just ask certain people at Power 106. Ask some people at Power 96 Miami... and this list is just a BRIEF SUMMARY of people who know exactly what's coming. They know what's going on..... and I'll just leave it at that.
There is a small picture, and there is a big picture. Most people can only see the small picture - what's happening or what they are experiencing as of RIGHT NOW (which is unfortunate when it comes to politics because politicians also know this...but I will not get into that). Well, I'll just say this - The BIG picture is where it's at. A dance format may be hard to sell, and most may not be familiar with dance, but don't let the ignorance towards dance music within the U.S. fool you. Much of what's happening right now is due to finances and not the music...
Anyway, it's coming. The hip hop generation will be very disappointed about it, but... too bad. Same thing happened in time when other past generations of music stopped dominating the charts as the next big thing began to take over, and they got over it. As a matter of fact, those of you who are into the music just as much (or maybe even more-so) than radio have already seen the complaints from the hip hop generation about what is "happening to hip hop" and probably can detect which direction we're headed in. Eventually, radio and the industry will be forced to "open up".
Call me cryptic, but to me it's all obvious...
I'm done for now.
KDM 7000 said:
APPLAUSE!
KDM nailed it!
A
Ares
Guest
It's a sad week for dance music. Rest In Peace, Energy 92.7. 
KDM 7000 said:
In the instant case, it was the downturn, causing missed payments, causing bank foreclosure. The new guy doesn't have anything particularly against dance, just firmly believes he can win with a mainstream CHR format. He just sees 92.7 as a very economical foothold into market 4.
Sad to say, but Top 40 is a dominant format. The Top 40 format is like a steroid, once you take a hit at it, you're bound to increase your ratings/cume/revenue than the previous format. Even stations like 92.3 NOW that have been criticized for not bringing in myriads of listeners, are still doing better than most formats. The cost of running a format like Top 40 is very cheap compared to others, especially one like 92.7 REV. They're not using any high scale on-air talent, so they're paying them what? $15-20 an hour? It's going to be interesting to see what kind of audience a low powered Top 40 will bring in...
KDM 7000 said:
For people who want to encourage new and interesting music I suggest you GO OUT to clubs and concert venues and listen to and support new music. Those of us who put on music shows are struggling to make these shows work. We can only do it if you support new and diverse music.
I just made a post. We are working on a coalition for the Bay Area
The only problem that I have with the old Energy 92.7 is that they played some obscured dance music that only the dance enthusiasts would know. Energy will have better ratings if it sounded more like 103.5 KTU in New York. Besides should the radio be the masses and not the niche format?
KTU is a great Rhythmic AC station,and it's getting hotter lately (more currents), but it's not a Dance station.
I don't think Energy 92.7 played a lot of obscure titles. That's like saying Live 105 plays a lot of obscure Modern Rock music, KMEL plays a lot of obscure Hip Hop records, or Smooth Jazz stations play a lot of obscure Smooth Jazz music.
I think Energy 92.7 might have played too many rexmies to Pop records. I mean, if a station wants to play a few remixes to well known songs then great, but when it's a third to 50 percent of your playlist??? How would you like it if KMEL played Hip Hop versions of All American Rejects and Taylor Swift half the time? Or what if Active Rock stations played cover versions of Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake half the time?
I've always been an advocate that if you think certain Pop records fit on your station try to play them in their original form, or only play a FEW good remixes at a time. Half of these remixes also start out exactly the same. And this is coming from a Dance fan! I don't know why when Pop songs get remixed they all have the same exact formula/structure in place. It's just not a recognizable hook or intro when compared to the original form.
Anyways, KNGY was a pretty good Dance station. The main problems?
1) Signal. Didn't cover even half the Bay area properly
2) While the station did a pretty good job of appealing to gays they could have done a MUCH better job of appealing to Latinos, Asians, whites, and blacks. San Francisco, the city, may have a big gay population, but this pales in comparison with a metro area that is 20 percent Asian and 20 percent Latino (yes, there is some correlation between Asians and gays or Latinos and gays just as there are people who have both Latino and Asian roots)
I don't think Energy 92.7 played a lot of obscure titles. That's like saying Live 105 plays a lot of obscure Modern Rock music, KMEL plays a lot of obscure Hip Hop records, or Smooth Jazz stations play a lot of obscure Smooth Jazz music.
I think Energy 92.7 might have played too many rexmies to Pop records. I mean, if a station wants to play a few remixes to well known songs then great, but when it's a third to 50 percent of your playlist??? How would you like it if KMEL played Hip Hop versions of All American Rejects and Taylor Swift half the time? Or what if Active Rock stations played cover versions of Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake half the time?
I've always been an advocate that if you think certain Pop records fit on your station try to play them in their original form, or only play a FEW good remixes at a time. Half of these remixes also start out exactly the same. And this is coming from a Dance fan! I don't know why when Pop songs get remixed they all have the same exact formula/structure in place. It's just not a recognizable hook or intro when compared to the original form.
Anyways, KNGY was a pretty good Dance station. The main problems?
1) Signal. Didn't cover even half the Bay area properly
2) While the station did a pretty good job of appealing to gays they could have done a MUCH better job of appealing to Latinos, Asians, whites, and blacks. San Francisco, the city, may have a big gay population, but this pales in comparison with a metro area that is 20 percent Asian and 20 percent Latino (yes, there is some correlation between Asians and gays or Latinos and gays just as there are people who have both Latino and Asian roots)
e-dawg said:
I'm told they did just fine. The only problem was that the owner paid way too much for the station at the height of price inflation for stations, so the mortgage was simply too high to make it work. The new owner paid cash ($6 million versus the original $33 million) and has no note to carry back. He could probably play tuba music and make money on the station now.
e-dawg said:
And then there was the guy complaining that it played too many dance mixes of pop songs. This is why programming a radio station is an art not a science.
The music on Energy was pretty heavily tested with call-outs, and did pretty well among the 25-54 audience and especially the three "priority 1" segments. For hard-core clubbers, it has to be exactly the sub-genre they're into or it's junk. And there are not enough of those to make a business on. But without SOME sops to club-culture, the place would have had no identity at all.
It was target to a specific demo, primarily in SF, and it served it reasonably well. Remember it billed $5M, and had a power ratio (share of revenue / share of audience) of .9 which was in the top 5.
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