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Groove1670
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Many of the popular songs on the Spotify list are on the terrestrial dial. Listeners want songs they know.
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Format idea: Hot AC meets AAA?
- Thread starter tall_guy1
- Start date
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Radio-X
Guest
I guess to answer the question...it has been done before, depending on the flavor you want
The two formats that I think have filled this niche:
Modern AC: This is sort of an archaic term and format that has been out of style since 2002 or so. Most stations called themselves "modern music" or "hits without the rap". A lot of rock-based pop music, some popular singer-songwriter stuff, and some heavier, more alt-rock tunes (Staind, Blink 182, etc). That being said, there really isn't much out there that fits this sound anymore. A good classic example is WPTE-FM VA Beach/Norfolk (94-9 the Point) until about 2006-07. Closest incarnation I can think of now is KLCK Seattle which has bounced around Rock, AAA, and AC its entire existence. It has settled into a modern AC like format with a few old titles from the 80s-90s mixed in.
Rock AC: This too, has started to fade from existence. The pioneer of the format was WMMO Orlando, which just recently segued after 20+ years to classic hits. Best living example I know of is WMMO's "clone" in Savannah, GA WRHQ. Nothing too hard or soft. Nothing particularly old and obscure, yet only a sprinkling of new pop music. Most of the time, you'd swear you were listening to a more laid-back classic rock station...which makes sense as the format was designed to be a more predictable, marketable interpretation (in the late 80s-early 90s sense) of the long-gone progressive rock station.
Kinda like how the Miata was the more predictable, marketable interpretation (in the late 80s-early 90s sense) of the classic British roadster. Yes, people mock it...then you look at the facts and see that Mazda has been cranking these things out (with a profit) for longer than many British marques were able stay afloat post-war! You may not like it, but you have to at least applaud them for producing something that is more long-lasting and financially successful than its predecessors!
Really, unless skewing far on either end of the hot AC or AAA side of the format, this hypothetical format would probably be described as one of the two mentioned above based on the amount of modern vs. classic music played. Any new name for it would be like putting lipstick on a pig that has lost a good bit of its market value these days.
Radio-X
The two formats that I think have filled this niche:
Modern AC: This is sort of an archaic term and format that has been out of style since 2002 or so. Most stations called themselves "modern music" or "hits without the rap". A lot of rock-based pop music, some popular singer-songwriter stuff, and some heavier, more alt-rock tunes (Staind, Blink 182, etc). That being said, there really isn't much out there that fits this sound anymore. A good classic example is WPTE-FM VA Beach/Norfolk (94-9 the Point) until about 2006-07. Closest incarnation I can think of now is KLCK Seattle which has bounced around Rock, AAA, and AC its entire existence. It has settled into a modern AC like format with a few old titles from the 80s-90s mixed in.
Rock AC: This too, has started to fade from existence. The pioneer of the format was WMMO Orlando, which just recently segued after 20+ years to classic hits. Best living example I know of is WMMO's "clone" in Savannah, GA WRHQ. Nothing too hard or soft. Nothing particularly old and obscure, yet only a sprinkling of new pop music. Most of the time, you'd swear you were listening to a more laid-back classic rock station...which makes sense as the format was designed to be a more predictable, marketable interpretation (in the late 80s-early 90s sense) of the long-gone progressive rock station.
Kinda like how the Miata was the more predictable, marketable interpretation (in the late 80s-early 90s sense) of the classic British roadster. Yes, people mock it...then you look at the facts and see that Mazda has been cranking these things out (with a profit) for longer than many British marques were able stay afloat post-war! You may not like it, but you have to at least applaud them for producing something that is more long-lasting and financially successful than its predecessors!
Really, unless skewing far on either end of the hot AC or AAA side of the format, this hypothetical format would probably be described as one of the two mentioned above based on the amount of modern vs. classic music played. Any new name for it would be like putting lipstick on a pig that has lost a good bit of its market value these days.
Radio-X
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Groove1670
Guest
We had a Hot AC that played Staind, Blink 182, and other "modern" hits". The station was in transition (Country was still riding success and top 40 was making a uphill climb) We finally switched to a more AC based playlist.
Modern AC was very weak in the 90's. Mixed in with soft AC titles such as (Michael Bolton, Paula Cole) the song selection was very weak.
You will see fewer 90's titles on Gold Based/Classic Hits playlists because frankly, they were...awful, and still don't test well. Maybe time time will change some of that. This is a case that a limited playlist works well for the 90's.
Modern AC was very weak in the 90's. Mixed in with soft AC titles such as (Michael Bolton, Paula Cole) the song selection was very weak.
You will see fewer 90's titles on Gold Based/Classic Hits playlists because frankly, they were...awful, and still don't test well. Maybe time time will change some of that. This is a case that a limited playlist works well for the 90's.
I've been saying this for a while, but based on what I see from the streaming charts, the future of music on the radio isn't formats built around genres, but built around "likes." That is, a format of just great popular songs that cross genre, that cross era, that cross any kind of label you can put on them. People like music, and they like variety. The current success of someone like Sam Hunt is just one indication of the future. You don't need "deep cuts" when you're not restricted by genre.
That's a good description of what AM rock stations played back in the mid '60s: British invasion, surf music, the last remaining doo-wop, Motown, Sinatra/Martin/Armstrong, some country, some gospel (at least in my part of Indiana), even a singing nun! Whatever people liked, which was related to what records sold, regardless of genre.
That was at a time when one station had to serve multiple music tastes. We obviously don't have that problem now. No single format will get a majority of listeners, as it did back then. But I believe, based on what I'm seeing on the streaming charts, that if the option was available (and in some places it is), it would do well. Certainly better than a format that includes "deep cuts."
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Groove1670
Guest
There will be more flexibility with station playlists. We day part heavily for our daytime crowd and have a few more gold titles (keep we have more latitude as a small market station).
WREW FM Cincinnati is a good example. As a at work station, it is not common to hear War Low Rider and Ellie Goulding On My Mind during the day on our station. We keep a tight list, but only play the hits.
What you will see is alternative station playing the latest and greatest, with that occasional Led Zeppelin or AC/DC in the mix. WTKX pensacola is doing that now. The key is well researched hits. "Deep Cuts aint gonna cut it"
WREW FM Cincinnati is a good example. As a at work station, it is not common to hear War Low Rider and Ellie Goulding On My Mind during the day on our station. We keep a tight list, but only play the hits.
What you will see is alternative station playing the latest and greatest, with that occasional Led Zeppelin or AC/DC in the mix. WTKX pensacola is doing that now. The key is well researched hits. "Deep Cuts aint gonna cut it"
I agree. People buy CDs for "deep cuts," and you can see how many people do that today. That's why album sales are down and single sales are up.
Watch what the people DO, and not what they say.
Album sales are down because people are streaming Spotify or Apple Music. And are they going to the store buying singles or doing it via iTunes?
If they were streaming albums, we'd see it on the streaming charts. They aren't streaming entire albums. Just their favorite songs. So there is no demand for "deep cuts," as the OP suggests.
The sales figures that RIAA puts out includes iTunes and any other online sales site.
The way people are listening to music as a whole is changing. Physical media is about dead. Even buying tracks off of iTunes is fading to streaming. Sure the top 100 singles are getting more hits via streaming, but wasn't that what billboard always tracked? People are not buying albums today because most of that music is filler for 3 good singles. The younger generation doesn't care about deep cuts.
Yes I know. That's what I said. But it's not just "younger generation." This is why AAA is dead.
Even Americana, which is mainly non-commercial, has "focus tracks" in its chart.
Are you sure? Seems the younger generation (of which I'm part of) has a lot of "hipsters" that likes to listen to obscure cuts from more unknown bands and artists to be "cool." I also see people on my Facebook feed who listen to deeper album cuts of current artists.
As I said, if they are, it's not enough to get noticed in any way. I'm not saying people don't listen to extra cuts from their one favorite artist. But they don't listen to extra cuts from artists who AREN'T their favorites. Therefore, if your favorite artist isn't my favorite artist, I don't care about extra cuts. Understand?
In order to get attention from advertisers, you need to play songs that EVERYBODY likes, so everyone stays tuned, and that doesn't happen by playing individual personal favorites. So you can do that on devices you control if you like, but for those of us who do this for a living, we need to play consensus music that everyone likes, not just fans. A radio is not a personal music device. Unless it's your own personal station. If you're attempting to program for others, as your job, you need to play what everyone likes.
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K.M. Richards
Guest
May I add that anecdotal arguments ("people I know", "my friends and family") have never been proven to win an argument about the inclusion of deep tracks in a format.
As has been said in the course of this thread -- radio is a mass medium. That means mass audiences, not "a lot of hipsters".
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It all comes down to who you're programming for: Yourself or others. Look, in my own time, on my own device, I have been known to listen to John Coltrane. Would I play John Coltrane on the radio in 2016? No. But I like what he was doing musically. Nothing wrong with listening to John Coltrane at home. But if my intent is to win large audiences, attract advertisers, and make money, John Coltrane would probably be the last guy I'd play. So in 2016, we need to understand to whom we are programming. Yes I know a generation has grown up with personal digital devices. I know that very well. That doesn't change the fact that what you play for yourself is not likely to be the best way to attract a mass audience. That part of things hasn't changed.
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Groove1670
Guest
Here is the clip from the video I couldn't find earlier "I Am What I Play". A good example of free form in the 70's, but with issues discussed on the board. A lot of fun (trailer is excellent) but according to the owners not profitable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8BZBT9EGLk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8BZBT9EGLk
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And it really proves is that what we're talking about is nothing new. There always have been a few folks who prefer to be too cool for school, and listen to unknown bands and unknown music. No problem. It's not just something people do in the digital world.
It doesn't change the fact that when you want to get an entire room on the dance floor, the best way to do it is with a tempo song they all know and love. And that's what we in radio try to do every day.
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Groove1670
Guest
That's sorta the take my station in the Hannibal, MO/Quincy, IL small market has taken things. Our market lacks any sort of alternative or classic rock station, just a hard active rock station; so we've sorta became many things to many people. We have a couple thousand Classic Rock tracks, but nothing too deep; and we play currents from the AAA charts, and stuff from the Alternative charts that isn't too active, and I'll throw in a few AC tracks that fit, coupled in with a good dose of 80s new wave type stuff, 90s grunge, alt rock, and AAA classics. Its a big playlist of music, but the majority of the songs are hits, or are Classics that would be familliar to album rock listeners from our region. The format is getting a pretty good buzz around town after the first few months on the air, and cash is starting to come in. I think a format like this is great for a rural/small market rock station; and its more sellable to the local small businesses by keeping out the thrash metal crap the Active station does. You can check it out at http://1043fmx.com
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