Is The End's "Nothing but 90's Weekend" a hint of things to come??

[KYYX_fan]

With some of the music they've been playing over the past couple of weeks and the "Nothing but 90's Weekend" on now, I'm wondering if there is (or going to be) a shift in the programming at The End.

The new gal gives it a bit of a "college radio" feel -- at least to my ears. She isn't too memorable (I can't tell you her name or tell if she's the same person on air earlier today), but she is at least listenable. She sounds like a real person and that isn't bad compared to the phony, gimmicky crap from Lazlo. Another throwback seems to be the "unplugged" show on Sunday mornings.

I hope this is a hint of a shift to more "classic alt" + surprises (e.g. "It's Tricky" by Run DMC, Bob Marley, etc.) + some of the better new stuff. That would be a nice return to the promises they made to listeners years ago.

Also... Do stations measure the results of things like 90's weekends? Can they see those results in semi-real-time? Do they influence programming?

 

[Mamaknowsbreast]

If they were smart they would. Let's face it, they have spent so long trying to be on the cutting edge of new music and it just simply hasn't benefited the station. It's no surprise that kids are getting their music fix via Myspace and iTunes. These new bands know this as well and put their effort into promoting themselves on those platforms. These artists don't need the radio exposure to kickstart their careers like they once did. To them radio is no longer important and the kids that listen to this new music feel the same way. So I say it's time to skew older and build an on-air team that compliments it.

 

[Bongwater]

With some of the music they've been playing over the past couple of weeks and the "Nothing but 90's Weekend" on now, I'm wondering if there is (or going to be) a shift in the programming at The End.

The new gal gives it a bit of a "college radio" feel -- at least to my ears. She isn't too memorable (I can't tell you her name or tell if she's the same person on air earlier today), but she is at least listenable. She sounds like a real person and that isn't bad compared to the phony, gimmicky crap from Lazlo. Another throwback seems to be the "unplugged" show on Sunday mornings.

I hope this is a hint of a shift to more "classic alt" + surprises (e.g. "It's Tricky" by Run DMC, Bob Marley, etc.) + some of the better new stuff. That would be a nice return to the promises they made to listeners years ago.

Also... Do stations measure the results of things like 90's weekends? Can they see those results in semi-real-time? Do they influence programming?

The '90s were KNDD's glory days. Most of their older listeners feel lost in these days of Paramore and Panic! At The Disco and tend to revert to their Nirvana and Flaming Lips MP3s.

There's still great new music coming out in the genre and on the indie side of it, some damn excellent stuff, but moments like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" are few and far in between. The music is in a lull period now, but it will bounce back as modern rock always does inevitably (usually just as you're ready to completely write it off.)

The problem is commercial programmers can't usually separate between what's a fad, be it rave electronica, the rap/metal "nu-rock" thing, the psuedo-swing of Cherry Poppin' Daddies, etc and what really has staying power. (This was also about the time KCMU/KEXP was playing Modest Mouse and Death Cab For Cutie in the late '90s - both popular bands today - albeit 10 whole years later.)

It's OK to experiment - that's what modern rock is all about - exploring new trends in music. But there is the overkill factor. Nu-rock was pretty much over by 2001, but it took a few more years before KNDD picked up on that tip and began it's "Alternative Declaration" phase, just as a potentially dangerous competitor, KRQI (aka "K-Rock 96.5" came on.) And potentially dangerous it was - had they somewhat followed what KROQ was doing down in L.A. But they didn't and that's why KNDD is still here and KRQI is history. (The stupid morning shock gags and bad press fallout in The Stranger:

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=18821

...were no help either.)

Modern rock radio is supposed to about music, not this crap.

KNDD survived. But hopefully with PPMs (if they're all they're cracked up to be), KNDD will become more focused than they were for a LONG time......

 

[Mamaknowsbreast]

I was ecstatic when K-Rock signed on but was quickly turned off. The fact that they didn't have a full line-up of DJ's and that the program director was so narrow minded when it came to developing an extensive library of songs, I was gone in a few months and back listening to the end. I truly believe though had K-Rock been given more than a year to address some of its problem areas and make adjustments, we might not even be talking about the End today. Understandably though, there was a successful low cost fad format called Jack out there for the taking and Infinity was smart to pick it up before another struggling station in town could grab it. The End was at its best though when there was a direct competitor in town, playing the classic alt music that put the station on the map. Its the same music we are hearing this weekend. Why they decided to shift gears once there was no longer a competitor in town is beyond me. They've been paying for that decision ever since.

 

[ambandwidth]

the 'nuthin but 90's' weekends date back to the Phil Manning days-Sorry no hint, they used to do it 2-3 times a year at least,almost 6-7 years ago.they still aren't good.

 

[RockJazz]

I'd like a classic alt rock station with no big steps outside but with some plays outside the 90s to grab a few of the better / harder classic rock standards and a few of the better modern rock songs that fit with classic alt vibe. I'd think that would have a decent chance of getting share from the 30-45 age bracket. If you know why not, tell me.