Shouldn't they have ignored songs that didn't fit their listeners then? For example, krbz and knrk in 2013 had a strong indie sound and would typically ignore the likes of fall out boy and paramore, though that would change in several years. Couldn't they just stick with "their sound" so not to drive their primary alt-group away?
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Entercom's alternative experiment not a success?
- Thread starter tall_guy1
- Start date
The problem is that the listener base fragmented. Playing to one group would reduce the appeal to the others, and you'd end up with less than half the original audience appeal. So they stuck with only the mass appeal Alt songs, but that reduced the library size and a lot of songs burnt out.
Wasn't that the case in '13 when those songs were ignored? I feel like if they had continued doing that they'd be in a better place. Now it's the exact opposite with kaplan at the realm, where high charting indie and rock songs are ignored (foo fighters, kings of leon, weezer).
It's always been that way. Songs start small and build an audience. You don't start at the top.
Audacy stations could go back to playing mostly classic alt the way they were 5 years ago, but that means fewer current songs. I'm sure they'd get better ratings that way, but they'd be playing mainly 30 year old songs.
Kaplan is following a deliberate strategy here. He knows he's going to be dealing with short term damage by ignoring veteran indie and rock acts (and new artists from those genres). What he is gambling on is long-term gains after it becomes clear that only pop songs can achieve the #1. He's betting that he can turn Alternative into a pop format and then attract a new rhythmic-friendly audience to carry Alternative through the new 20's.
There are some here who agree with that strategy - I am currently doubtful. He's already had to adjust plans after the unexpected pop-punk revival.
I don't think he took into account whether the panels would cooperate either. Mediabase is adding two staple-friendly iHearts this week and I've heard they may shift a couple of Alt-leaning Actives and AAAs to their Alternative panel later this year. Billboard could very well be contemplating the same thing.
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Why did he adjust for that though? If he had such a strong vision for pure pop on the format, couldn't he have stuck to that?
Machine Gun Kelly and blackbear are huge names in pop circles and all of a sudden they were involved with pop-punk music. The songs they did got incredibly popular. Time to ride the wave.
Maybe....but then you think he'd realize rock on the format wasn't bad after all instead of just pop punk.
He doesn't think young people listen to rock, especially the audiences he wants to attract (Latino audiences in particular). I can only go by what he's said publicly, I'm not going to guess at his logic beyond that.
93.3 the Planet Greenville SC is active, and I checked their last songs played. Definitely active. Alice in Chains, Shinedown, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Green Day, Rage Against the Machine, Godsmack, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Switchfoot, 3 Doors Down ...
Audacity Alternative stations, this discussion isn't about Audacy's Actives.
Nowhere in Latin America is alternative rock... with the exception of a few crossover cuts... particularly popular.
Further, where rock in general is popular in Latin America (that is, one or more stations playing some kind of rock), the shares are moderate to low. However, many of those stations do well because the listeners are in the highest income groups* which advertisers seek. And those listeners who have good incomes do not migrate to the US; immigrants in their vast majority are partisans of their country's equivalent of country... for example, "regional Mexican" banda and norteña music in the case of those from México.
So trying to get Hispanics to listen to a kind of music that is very remote from their social, cultural and family culture is a rather useless task unless the whole term "Alt" is redefined.
* As an example, in Mexico they separate ratings by A, B, C, D, and E socioeconomic classes. A, B and C+ are the targets that most advertisers there seek. In Mexico City, a "regional Mexican" station with a total share over 15 bills less than an AC station that plays English language AC songs and has a 3 share or so.
I interpreted as meaning you didn't believe Audacy had any active rockers.
Hence why Kaplan is attempting to redefine what "Alt" is. My educated guess is that, if his short-term plan is successful, his long-term goal is to integrate Latin American sounds into the format. The Audacy "Alternalido" program that started under his watch is a rather obvious testing ground for that and he tried to cross one song from that program, "Hey Girl" by Boy Pablo, over already (it didn't take).
That's not his job. It's up to the music people to define their music. Artists, labels, and fans. It's up to them to define the music that's popular.
That's exactly what he's doing though, and his stations are definitely affecting the alt charts.
The charts don't define the music. The charts reflect music usage. Two different things.
One of the biggest mistake an artist can make is try to create music to fit the chart. Cart before the horse.
That's definitely true, but I've seen pop songs go up the charts like the kid laori because of the kaplanified playlists.
If it's just them, the song won't go any higher than #30. That song went much higher, and there were other things going on besides Audacy airplay. The chart editors won't allow any one company to manipulate the chart. If they see it happen, they will put a stop to it. Because the labels and artists will raise a stink.
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