How about a CLASSIC dance station for Toronto!

[TonySantiago]

I've noted this on the Toronto board but for those of you that are dance fans and know the scene, I'll place it here as well.

As most of you on the board may know, Toronto was a BIG influence in my life during the 90's thanks to stations like Energy 108, Power 88.5 and Hot 103.5. So much so that when we didn't a dance station in New York, I formed the Metro New York Dance Radio Coalition and used Toronto as an argument to get a dance station.

No question that Z103.5 covers the currents very well and I would think the club scene in Toronto still remains solid. For other cities I would argue that a current leaning dance station should be the way to go. But in the case of Toronto, since I feel they are already progressive, I would like to see that city get a CLASSIC dance station (more similar to Mix 102.7 in New York).

The difference with a Toronto classic dance station versus NYC is that such a station would cover the music of the early to mid 90's. Yep, we are talking about the era when Energy 108 RULED. It would be great if such a station could get back personalities such as Scot Turner, Mike Devine and Wayne Williams, just to name a few. Groups and artists such as BKS, Emjay, Capital Sound, Alexia Phillips, anything Eurodance of the 90's would be in regular rotation. For those artists they could also get back into the club circuit touring around....I could see commercials plugging such events as "retro" nights!

Like I said, for most cities I would pump for currents. But in the case of Toronto, a city that does have a solid current dance background, to move forward, sometimes you have to move back.

Opinions puh-leeze!

TONY SANTIAGO

 

[Renegade_X]

It might work Tony, hard to say. Like you, I grew up on a diet of Energy 108, Power 88.5 & Hot 103.5. I'll add in CFNY FM when Chris Sheppard ruled the airwaves. I suppose that begs the question, how many types when over from CFNY to Energy 108 when CFNY became more rock? Certainly the radio hosts did, so did the listeners? It was Chris Sheppard and Club 102 that really pushed me into the "rave" genre. Toss in Deadly Headly overnights on weekends. Mind you, that's nearly 20 years ago now.

Would the format work? I don't know. The ethnic makeup of the city has certainly diversified. Z103.5 has definately capitalized on that aspect of Toronto...but could classic dance work? Personally, when I listen to classic dance, I like some of it, other stuff I find horribly cheesy....Capitol Sound is a good example. The era of Energy 108 was more than Europop, it was a mix of everything, including Hiphop. NO ONE ever mentions that about Energy 108...but it was the first commercial FM station to play Hiphop. In that day, dance music fans didn't see to loose an eye because their station played Biggie or some underground Jungle/House/DnB (and yes, you could hear that in regular programming)

If the station was to be successful, I think it would need to be a hybrid of new and old, a mix of dance music and hiphop, BUT MOST importantly, not limited by borders, language or record labels. For those not in the know, Toronto is the most ethnic city in the world, "white canadians" are a minority, and the city is a sea of different cultures, food and faces. A classic station would need to take this into rotation because God knows that most radio in Toronto is pasty white.

Twas ironic that the stiffling laws of the CRTC created Energy 108 (as well as a fading big band station located in THE MOST DRAB building on earth). Could it return? Maybe, but the current reality of radio is much different than it was when Dance 108 debuted.


I've noted this on the Toronto board but for those of you
> that are dance fans and know the scene, I'll place it here
> as well.
>
> As most of you on the board may know, Toronto was a BIG
> influence in my life during the 90's thanks to stations like
> Energy 108, Power 88.5 and Hot 103.5. So much so that when
> we didn't a dance station in New York, I formed the Metro
> New York Dance Radio Coalition and used Toronto as an
> argument to get a dance station.
>
> No question that Z103.5 covers the currents very well and I
> would think the club scene in Toronto still remains solid.
> For other cities I would argue that a current leaning dance
> station should be the way to go. But in the case of
> Toronto, since I feel they are already progressive, I would
> like to see that city get a CLASSIC dance station (more
> similar to Mix 102.7 in New York).
>
> The difference with a Toronto classic dance station versus
> NYC is that such a station would cover the music of the
> early to mid 90's. Yep, we are talking about the era when
> Energy 108 RULED. It would be great if such a station could
> get back personalities such as Scot Turner, Mike Devine and
> Wayne Williams, just to name a few. Groups and artists such
> as BKS, Emjay, Capital Sound, Alexia Phillips, anything
> Eurodance of the 90's would be in regular rotation. For
> those artists they could also get back into the club circuit
> touring around....I could see commercials plugging such
> events as "retro" nights!
>
> Like I said, for most cities I would pump for currents. But
> in the case of Toronto, a city that does have a solid
> current dance background, to move forward, sometimes you
> have to move back.
>
> Opinions puh-leeze!
>
> TONY SANTIAGO
>