Clearly the dance/pop sound has moved right into the mainstream with David Guetta and electronic sounds in pretty much every pop song out there today. So, while we had Ryhthmic CHR's explode in the early 2000's from the burgeoning growth of hip-hop, does anybody else think it might be time for a "Dance CHR" format? I'm talking about a CHR station that focuses on the dance/electronic pop sound while adding a few pure dance songs to go along with it. Similar to the way Rhythmic CHR was a CHR station that shied away from rock and played more hip-hop. Thoughts?
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Isn't it time for "Dance CHR"
- Thread starter danwxman
- Start date
As Dance supporters, we love that idea, but it could kill the buzz. People are sheep....so let them think it is still Hip Hop. The minute you isolate all of the crossover stuff into a niche format, you confuse the average person and the dance stuff will then stick out in rotation with their crowd pleasers.
This may be a weak comparison, but in the early 90s, Crystal Waters and Black Box were accepted on R&B formats. But then stuff like 2 Unlimited and "Mortal Kombat sounding" songs started getting airplay, and it slowly created the seperation of mainstream radio. Sure it got on radio at the time, but it made certain crowds hate the club records...which started the whole "Techno" stereotype. It was too hardcore and in your face for the masses. To me, that is why Dance music continues to struggle. Its almost similiar to how Disco was once cool on Black radio. Then Saturday Night Fever came out, it blew up and became overexposed....which led to the death of disco.
This may be a weak comparison, but in the early 90s, Crystal Waters and Black Box were accepted on R&B formats. But then stuff like 2 Unlimited and "Mortal Kombat sounding" songs started getting airplay, and it slowly created the seperation of mainstream radio. Sure it got on radio at the time, but it made certain crowds hate the club records...which started the whole "Techno" stereotype. It was too hardcore and in your face for the masses. To me, that is why Dance music continues to struggle. Its almost similiar to how Disco was once cool on Black radio. Then Saturday Night Fever came out, it blew up and became overexposed....which led to the death of disco.
Dan said:
Isn't that a dance lean top 40?
But no, really I think I know exactly what you're getting at...at least I think. What's funny is that I was thinking this exact type of idea last night (but with different wording and formatting strategy) and was going to post about it today. The only difference was the station would play all the hottest electro-pop records (everything from the Black Eyed Peas to Cascada, Mike Posner, Kelis, Richard Vission, Flo Rida, Taio Cruz, Jay Sean, and Tiesto sound) in the mix shows, with some electro-hip hop shows (or syndications) as well. Regular playlist would also contain a few electronic influenced rhythmic hits. I don't know what we would label the format because you don't want to call it dance and steal away from (potential) real dance formats (to come). It wouldn't be dance chr because the concentration would be on electronica, not necessarily the typical played out dance sound. It also wouldn't be the played out chr/pop sound. If the CHR that shied away from rock got a new label (rhythmic), then this new electronic design should as well. The only problem would be keeping it from sounding cheesy with some of the material that's out today. Remember, with this format, you'll have to also play the new material from Justin Bieber and Katy Perry.... However, many stations overseas have already mastered doing this type of format - in english - in a non cheesy way. America is just slow.
Oh, and second thing to keep in mind:
If this entire uptempo thing turns out to be a trend, then starting up stations dedicated to this particular sound would result to another situation similar to what happened with all those stations (with the New York "La Kalle" format) that popped up when reggaeton was ABOUT TO BE the next big thing.
Just know that any station like this will be known as "the techno station" to regular folks. Even B96 was called that, even after they went more rhythmic! It's like here in Az when I said "Kiss FM" and people were like "you mean that hip hop station that plays hip hop?"
Dan said:
In effect that's kinda what Pulse 87 was.
Sure they played a lot of dance oriented tracks there, but you also had some crossover as well with Flo-Rida, Sean Kingston, Justin Timberlake. Yet to the corporate "suits", there still is that fear of "dance" somehow in terms of marketability. Though a station like this would work and in terms of Pulse DID work, only if the signal and dial location were better.
I wouldn't say the term "Dance CHR" but yes, format it that way. Make it "dance friendly" and that could sell better. 92.3 Now seems to be the burgeoning example of that in NYC. By all accounts, the station IS CHR, but lately there have been some dance adds in there. I'm still floored that they went with Dennis Ferrer's "Hey Hey" being a house track well rooted to the underground clubs.
I think people would be open to hearing dance presented in that manner and to that, the "hybrid" hip-hop/dance tracks can get in there with more acceptance.
M
Mid West Clubber
Guest
In a way, isnt K-104.7 and Fun 107, and B-96 Chicago kinda already in that format.
At this day and age, I see no problem with rebranding some Dance-Friendly Top 40s as Dance CHR. The only problem with the idea is whether these outlets want to be branded with this category and whether BDS is ready to create a format based around the genre even though they have a Dance Airplay chart that have started to look more like a Top 40 chart.
Hmmm... Lets see Sean Ross tackle that issue on Radio-Info.
Hmmm... Lets see Sean Ross tackle that issue on Radio-Info.
Dan said:
I'm also kind of thinking that this may not happen right away, due to the fact that since much of this music does cross over into the pop sound, many rhythmic chr stations may just tweak more towards the sound rather than completely new chr's dedicated to chr dance. As a matter of fact, it is this new sound that is responsible for hiking up the ratings for chr because who else is going to play these new hits that don't fit urban, rock, or other categories, other than the hit music stations?
It's very easy and convenient. Many stations noticed a change coming, but didn't know exactly where or how far it would go. Some even know it's a dance sound, but you cannot call it dance because dance is evil. Therefore, the sensible and convenient thing to do is just pop up a bunch of chr stations that play HITS, because whether or not you are clear what the next big thing in sound will be, you can always guarantee that whatever it is, it will most likely become HITS!
Many of these dance-friendly songs are also pop-friendly, so that only makes it more convenient. Combine that with the Travie McCoy, Drake, Iyaz, and Lady Gaga type stuff coming out and CHR rhythmics and top 40's are in thriving heaven! Basically, we're just back to a modern version and sound of the hot hits days of radio stations. Maybe as time progressive, if we continue to get deeper into the dance sound, dance chr's may pop up or be what replaces a few other formats, but as of right now, many regular chr's and top 40's (some who may really be dance chr's in disguise) are blocking out room for actual dance chr's. As a matter of fact, many markets are now saturated with chr's that are all also playing the new dance and electro-pop sound.
Well, I hope that changes soon. These Top 40s and Rhythmics need to admit sooner or later that they are "The #1 Dance Station!" and stop dangling the latest Richard "Humpty" Vission/Static Revenger featuring Luciana track over their listeners' heads, which is what KSEQ/Fresno (another Rhythmic that has also become Dance-friendly lately) is now doing.
I TAKE IT ALL BACK!!!
I TAKE IT ALL BACK!!!
I think it's time for a "RAP CHR"! We must prepare for 2011, NOW!
I TAKE IT ALL BACK!!!
I think it's time for a "RAP CHR"! We must prepare for 2011, NOW!
KDM 7000 said:
Stop smoking that dust BrooklynDon sent ya! LOL :=
"Rap CHR?" That will never happen. Pure Rap was tried before at WBHH/Norfolk, and that proved to be a bust for Clear Channel. And do you see anybody talking about how well KDAY and KNRJ are doing with Old School Hip-Hop lately?
Tony Santiago said:KDM 7000 said:
Stop smoking that dust BrooklynDon sent ya! LOL :=
It at least gave me and a few others a days worth of laughter! ;D
A
andone
Guest
I presume the OP is refering to more of a Euro-dance-oriented CHR. Those don't work in the U.S.
American dance music is already played on churban/crossover/rhythmic CHR, pop, and urban stations. Some styles and sounds more than others.
Both rap and "dance" (not mutually exclusive, btw) are too niche to support their own radio formats in today's corporate media climate. It's not impossible, just highly unlikely considering the cultural, political, and corporate environment.
American dance music is already played on churban/crossover/rhythmic CHR, pop, and urban stations. Some styles and sounds more than others.
Both rap and "dance" (not mutually exclusive, btw) are too niche to support their own radio formats in today's corporate media climate. It's not impossible, just highly unlikely considering the cultural, political, and corporate environment.
DJ_Perry said:
Best numbers, yes, even though they been slipping 1.2-1.0-0.9 in the Phoenix PPMs.
DJ_Perry said:
Apples and Oranges. It's easier to play proven hits than break new music. It is easier to get ratings when you add a signal to the metro. KNRJ is now oldies based like their sister station plus they added a translator in the metro. It's no surprise they have the same ratings as Mega now.
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