Seems to me that the HOT AC format is going through a serious midlife crisis, trying to appeal to a younger crowd, while trying to hold on to the proverbial ball and chain.
Over the past few weeks I've had a chance to listen to many HOT ACs along the I-5 corridor in California for at least a couple of days in each city --- from Redding and Chico, to Sacramento, San Francisco, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles.
Sadly they all sound as if they are using the same 200 song playlist, playing a lot of rythmic product, and sounding extremely repetitive with the recurrent and gold stuff.
Aren't HOT AC listeners sick and tired of "Hey soul sister", "Mr. Brightside", and "Livin' on a prayer"? How much is too much?
Most of these stations use "the 90s" in their imaging, but they rarely play anything from the 90s. I realize the 90s was a difficult decade for music, especially to build a format around it now, but there are plenty of hits that HOT AC could be playing aside from the usual fare. Isn't this supposed to be a variety format?
I can see why the Clear Channel and CBS HOT ACs sound the way they do, but even the smaller and independent stations are doing the same thing. And the heritage HOT AC renegades like WTMX / Chicago and WOMX / Orlando seem to have lost their way.
If you're going to immitate the local CHR, at least try to jump on new music sooner. Good programmers should know what a HOT AC hit is going to be as soon as it's released, and they should also know when to scale it back or drop it altogether. If you know you're going to be playing Lady Gaga's "Judas" for the next five years, why not add it today instead of six weeks from now when the local CHR has dumped it?
Are these the reasons HOT AC is at the middle or bottom half of the ratings chart in most markets, when in reality it should have the potential of being a ratings winner?
Over the past few weeks I've had a chance to listen to many HOT ACs along the I-5 corridor in California for at least a couple of days in each city --- from Redding and Chico, to Sacramento, San Francisco, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles.
Sadly they all sound as if they are using the same 200 song playlist, playing a lot of rythmic product, and sounding extremely repetitive with the recurrent and gold stuff.
Aren't HOT AC listeners sick and tired of "Hey soul sister", "Mr. Brightside", and "Livin' on a prayer"? How much is too much?
Most of these stations use "the 90s" in their imaging, but they rarely play anything from the 90s. I realize the 90s was a difficult decade for music, especially to build a format around it now, but there are plenty of hits that HOT AC could be playing aside from the usual fare. Isn't this supposed to be a variety format?
I can see why the Clear Channel and CBS HOT ACs sound the way they do, but even the smaller and independent stations are doing the same thing. And the heritage HOT AC renegades like WTMX / Chicago and WOMX / Orlando seem to have lost their way.
If you're going to immitate the local CHR, at least try to jump on new music sooner. Good programmers should know what a HOT AC hit is going to be as soon as it's released, and they should also know when to scale it back or drop it altogether. If you know you're going to be playing Lady Gaga's "Judas" for the next five years, why not add it today instead of six weeks from now when the local CHR has dumped it?
Are these the reasons HOT AC is at the middle or bottom half of the ratings chart in most markets, when in reality it should have the potential of being a ratings winner?
