KKFR Switch formats!!

[Deewayne Weaver]

And it is great to be back from vacation in time to watch this latest Jamz disaster play out! I love this place.

 

[finallyescaped]

GRRR - So now Hit Music Station is the same as Hits and Hip Hop...

What are you GRRRing about? Hit Music Station means it is a radio station playing Hit Music. Look at KKFR's Top 10, and look at the Top 10 on CHR and Rhythmic charts. Identical! It appears that Power is playing HITS.

It is only radio people who corner themselves into believing "Hit Music Station" must play what the Top 40 chart says. The truth is Power and Jamz are both playing hits, so however they want to say it, who cares?! Although, I'm sure there WILL be an issue with both using the same slogan at some point, which should be fun to watch play out.

Hit Music is not chart-specific. Every format has their hits.

 

[2Son]

GRRR - So now Hit Music Station is the same as Hits and Hip Hop...

What are you GRRRing about? Hit Music Station means it is a radio station playing Hit Music. Look at KKFR's Top 10, and look at the Top 10 on CHR and Rhythmic charts. Identical! It appears that Power is playing HITS.

It is only radio people who corner themselves into believing "Hit Music Station" must play what the Top 40 chart says. The truth is Power and Jamz are both playing hits, so however they want to say it, who cares?! Although, I'm sure there WILL be an issue with both using the same slogan at some point, which should be fun to watch play out.



Hit Music is not chart-specific. Every format has their hits.

Gosh - I thought I posted a remark because it was my opinion, and I was entitled to it.

Well, when I think of Hit Music Station, I think more of CHR/pop than Rhythmic, of course trying to sell that idea in Phoenix is about as hard as selling CHR/pop (such a shame). I hate the idea of a station branding or positioning itself at Hit Music, when it really should just remain calling itself Hip Hop, which is primarily what it is. I'm sure KYOT plays hits also, but I wouldn't think of calling it a Hit Music Station. I also hate the idea that Movin' plays alot of songs that you can't move to (or wouldn't want to - IMO).

I thought the reason for branding a station was so that people could identify with it. I identify Hit Music Station with CHR/pop. When I heard that Power had rebranded, I initially was excited because I thought it would start playing music it had previously ignored. My excitement is over.

I do like their logo though.

 

[Wildstyle K]

In reality, no one would really care, other than those who have a fascination and interest with radio. To someone who's not interested in radio (such as my family members/friends...etc) all this talk looks like a meaningless waste of time, but as for me this is the stuff that grabs my attention.

Really, they are all businesses out there trying to do their thing. Even though I doubt anyone could ever make me as happy as 103.9 Arizona's Party Station, I still get hopeful everytime a rhythmic station pops up because rhythmic should (or used to) include bass remixes and dance hits being played. Of course two stations with the same slogan bothers me because I know that isn't supposed to happen while really it may not be that big of a deal to most, just as a surgeon would be upset if a tool was misplaced while I'd find no importance in where or why the tool is gone.

Why would I favor 101.5 JamZ more than Power? Because based on some of what they've done in the past indicates to me the possibility of them also adding in some dance/bass hits or remix mixshows are high, but as soon as I heard the "hits" on Power, what do you think I listened to today? When I'm judging a station from my own opinion point of view, I'm judging based on which station shows they'd most likely please me bsed on what they'd play, but in a realistic view of things businesswise, my opinions would be based more on fact than emotion and what I say would be quite a bit different. I don't hate Power, it's just a radio station, but if JamZ comes up sounding more like 103.9 Arizona's Party Station and keeps hinting that they might eventually add in dance or always plays stuff that flirts with dance, such as an Armand Van Helden instrumental under another hit accapella, I'll gravitate more towards that station. Honestly, this year I've officially grown tired of hip hop, which is where KissFM has come in more handy at getting my attention because they keep it variety enough that I still tune in. To be more accurate, I just flip around to see what's going on, but 97.5, 96.9, 104.7, and 98.7 is where I hang out most when I'm not on KFYI or sometimes KKFR. I think 98.7 just plays way too much music because Phoenix is not used to not hearing the same thing over and over.

Since I have a fascination with radio and my favorite style in music is unique, my opinions really do not reflect how a station should REALLY be businesswise, but like our politicians, I talk about radio mostly based on hope, but then there are times I talk based on reality and truth.

 

[only1moore]

"On December 1, 2008, KKFR dropped "Where Hip Hop Lives" in favor of the the slogan "The Valley's #1 Hit Music Station" but retained its Rhythmic direction. Ironically KZON adopted the latter slogan in November, a month before KKFR changed theirs. This move now gives Phoenix two radio stations with the same format and slogan."

Not true, but that's what lawyers are for! Jamz changed their website and on-air imaging a few hours after Power announced it. Power has billboards and vans wrapped, gonna be hard for CBS to prove Power did all that after Jamz said it once on Sunday. Par for the course for a station that hasn't originated anything in the miserable 18 months they've been broadcasting.

I'd be a little upset if the sales manger walked in and told me to change the name of the station because Power did. Doesn't say much for all the confidence the Jamz lackeys have on this site.

One gets the feeling we're about to witness another Bakersfield here. In other words I'm referring to what Clear Channel did when they went to court and won the right to use the "KISS-FM" slogan for the now-sold KKXX (Now KBKO) from the station that originally used it since its startup in 1997, KISV, back in 2002.

 

[justthenumbers]

A couple of corrections...

"By 1997, they played less dance songs, leading the transformation into a R&B/Hip-Hop approach. By the end of the year, the station was no longer Top 40."

They began adding in a lot of hip-hop in the Spring of '97, and phasing out the rhythmic-pop and dance product. "Where Hip-Hop Lives" was born on Friday, June 13, 1997 (and I think it was during EZ Street's afternoon show. Anyone else remember him?)

"Beginning in 2005, they started adding more rhythmic pop tracks into the playlist."

I think that "2005" should read either "1999" or "2000". This is when the slogan shifted back to "Today's Hottest Music", and they added certain rhythmic pop/dance songs like 'N Sync "God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You", and Eiffel 65 "Blue". I also remember the "Power Workout @ Noon" featuring dance songs around this time.

These changes didn't last long, and neither did the slogan...as noted earlier, 104.7 Kiss-FM debuted (on April 23, 2001) as "Today's Hottest Music".

I don't recall rhythmic pop songs being added in 2005.

One gets the feeling we're about to witness another Bakersfield here. In other words I'm referring to what Clear Channel did when they went to court and won the right to use the "KISS-FM" slogan for the now-sold KKXX (Now KBKO) from the station that originally used it since its startup in 1997, KISV, back in 2002.

Ahhh yes...how sweet it was to see KISV annihilate KKXX after losing the Kiss name in court. CC picked a fight only because they could, and they absolutely got what they deserved.

 

[starburysun2k3]

I do remember EZ Street. He was one of the better DJs that Power had back then in my opinion. I remember he actually left the station, and then came back like maybe a year after that only to eventually leave again shortly after that. I remember the Power Workout At Noon as well. I think for awhile there they couldn't decide whether they wanted to do the Power Workout, or the Old School at noon. However, now with The Beat taking care of the classic hip hop, might we see a return to the Power Workout At Noon? If not then, then maybe some other type of themed show for the lunch hour? Maybe even some type of dance mix like I know many people on here would like to see return in some way? They could definatley change things up and let go of the old school for awhile. Try something different and just see what kind of a response that they get. An hour of dance, or power workout type songs would be a fresh change for Power to go along with the change in imaging.

 

[Wildstyle K]

After listening a bit last night and this morning, I just have to say that this "#1 hit music station" thing is so awkward to me for both stations. In the morning and with certain on air personalities, Power just doesn't sound right with the slogan, and JamZ? I have no idea why, but it still sounds awkward there too, even though I've heard rhythmic stations like that use it before. If Hot 97 in New York does this and everyone else starts playing (or sounding) hip hop under that slogan, maybe I'll eventually get used to it, but... for now it's just a bit awkward without more alternative hits being played too. Atlanta did this with 95.5 the beat for a while even after removing all the alternative and dance, but they kept P!NK in there though. They also sounded very urban while using "#1 hit music station", so I guess it's ok, but still awkward.... but that's just me. With all these hits around, it looks like somebody better pick up Rick Dees weekly top 40!

As far as radio in general, I think after the economy is improved, the next move they should make is just restarting all the stations across the entire United States and doing things differently this time because like even some of the top on-air people say live on the air, terrestrial radio (fm dial) just sucks on a nationwide scale, and this is not an insult on the people, but it's the choice of music. The industry is not helping either.. Satellite Radio is not too much better unless you really love rock and alternative. They got a decent dance station, chill station and my favorite BBC Radio 1, and The Pulse, but other than that it's not worth paying for. I'd still rather tune in to Freeze FM or Subjam 104.7 or BBC Radio 1xtra in London instead. I hear people complain about London radio in the U.K, but they shouldn't complain when what they are arguing about is which station has the right to use the slogan "London's leading House & Garage station"! Canada radio is pretty good too. They have decent top 40 stations with a decent amount of mix shows. I don't even know if it's right to call it top 40 with the amount of songs they play, but it is in top 40 format... HD Radio? well..... I have my doubts. They do have a dance station on HD that many rhythmic stations are picking up as HD2, but... so far, outside of that, doesn't seem too interesting to me. Internet Radio? Yes - Definitely the way to go! Bottom line is radio has become too programmed and controlled and too much about the money and less about the people, and there's just way too much radio politics these days. They should get rid of terrestrial radio the way it is now and just replace it with the Satellite radio format (minus the unnecessary channels) and have the same choice availability required in each state. If there are to be terrestrial style radio stations left, those should be extra and optional. If you go to Jango and look at the stations I've created there, this is an example of how I think it should be done: http://www.jango.com/profiles/4486?l=0

I remember back when I used to pray hard for a new rhythmic station to pop up with the hope it would also carry some dance music or at least the dance remixes of the hits on an audible station. Now we're flooded with rhythmic, yet my wish never really came true! How did this happen? I also remember how I used to love California based mostly on their radio stations.... but that changed quick. I guess it is what it is. Hip hop took over things, but that's going to all change, and with Lil Wayne helping to mess things up, I can predict that very soon hip hop topping the charts will be a thing of the past. Notice how many of the hip hop artists that used to make it got pushed back underground. That's another sign that change is coming... and it looks like we're going in the direction of dance. Hopefully this dance trend doesn't suddenly fade away like the late 90's Timbaland style beats everyone was jumping on for a while or the reggaeton phase. I hope this trend where people are jumping on dance beats leads to the return of dance music, which will force radio stations to HAVE to play those hits as well. MOViN 97.5 could play more dance, even if it's the old school stuff. Instead, they removed it. Other stations in the U.S. like MOViN play Planet & Soul. Why not MOViN? Club 95? well.... probably if it wasn't for a sudden unexpected rise in reggaeton being the reason for their existence, they probably could have been Arizona's Party Station... but I wont complain. At least they do play current dance, house, latin house and booty bass hits, and they don't age discriminate against Madonna like many others do. They will play "give it to me" unlike other stations. I loved the house/latin house mix they did this morning on 95.1 and the remix of Lady GaGa they chose to play. I wonder if they'd play Sonique? I already know they'll play Alice deejay, and it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't play Jocelyn Enriquez. By the way, this is where Poco's Pero Locos really should be, now that I think of it. I asked them about that a few years back.. And why don't we have any decent college stations here? That's just another place where some dance could be played. Someone buy 90.3 or one of the 88 stations or something. We need change. The light rock and oldies and country and classic rock are ok. Leave that alone for now. The Jazz station could step it up a bit, and Mix 96.9 could play more UB40, Ace of Base, Madonna, Amber, and add more older pop to mix up the alternative sounding songs, just like Sirius The Pulse. 107.1 is killing me! It would be better that they become pure R&B with reggae on Sunday's or something. That would be like majik if that happened. Let 106.3 be the top 40 spanish instead since KVVA just isn't working out too much anymore.

In life, there is almost always more than one way to make something work, but most people don't like to change what they know. I'm sure it's possible for there to be required formats in every state in the U.S. and do it in such a way that it works, including dance, reggae, and chill.

 

[Inside Radio Insider]

You are in desperate need of a time machine so you can go back 20 years to a time when any Dance was even remotely relevant.

Dance music is for mix shows, it is not, nor has it ever been a format. We have history on our side to prove this, you have your opinions about what you like.

 

[johndavis]

You are in desperate need of a time machine so you can go back 20 years to a time when any Dance was even remotely relevant.

Dance music is for mix shows, it is not, nor has it ever been a format. We have history on our side to prove this, you have your opinions about what you like.

Dance has never really been a viable format in this country. You have some occasional crossover hits, but nothing to build a real radio station around. 20 years ago, rhythmic stations played a fair amount of Miami freestyle, but they also played stuff from 2 Live Crew & Rob Base.

Yes, I know it works in the UK, but people there actually buy Scissor Sisters and Girls Aloud CDs.

Or to quote Eminem, "Nobody listens to techno..." Load up your iPod, or go stream something from Europe. At least you have choices like that these days.

 

[2Son]

You are in desperate need of a time machine so you can go back 20 years to a time when any Dance was even remotely relevant.

Dance music is for mix shows, it is not, nor has it ever been a format. We have history on our side to prove this, you have your opinions about what you like.

Dance has never really been a viable format in this country. You have some occasional crossover hits, but nothing to build a real radio station around. 20 years ago, rhythmic stations played a fair amount of Miami freestyle, but they also played stuff from 2 Live Crew & Rob Base.

Yes, I know it works in the UK, but people there actually buy Scissor Sisters and Girls Aloud CDs.

Or to quote Eminem, "Nobody listens to techno..." Load up your iPod, or go stream something from Europe. At least you have choices like that these days.

So what does this say about Americans? Boring? Elitist? Narrow-minded? Mainstream?Stubborn? Set in our ways? I'm not sure.

 

[Deewayne Weaver]

You are in desperate need of a time machine so you can go back 20 years to a time when any Dance was even remotely relevant.

Dance music is for mix shows, it is not, nor has it ever been a format. We have history on our side to prove this, you have your opinions about what you like.

Dance has never really been a viable format in this country. You have some occasional crossover hits, but nothing to build a real radio station around. 20 years ago, rhythmic stations played a fair amount of Miami freestyle, but they also played stuff from 2 Live Crew & Rob Base.

Yes, I know it works in the UK, but people there actually buy Scissor Sisters and Girls Aloud CDs.

Or to quote Eminem, "Nobody listens to techno..." Load up your iPod, or go stream something from Europe. At least you have choices like that these days.

So what does this say about Americans? Boring? Elitist? Narrow-minded? Mainstream?Stubborn? Set in our ways? I'm not sure.

Unique. Just like each city is unique. It's narrow-minded to think that because it's hot in Ibeza anyone in Indina would or should care.

 

[nat king cola]

It's really just a matter of choice...Coke? or Pepsi?

 

[2Son]

You are in desperate need of a time machine so you can go back 20 years to a time when any Dance was even remotely relevant.

Dance music is for mix shows, it is not, nor has it ever been a format. We have history on our side to prove this, you have your opinions about what you like.

Dance has never really been a viable format in this country. You have some occasional crossover hits, but nothing to build a real radio station around. 20 years ago, rhythmic stations played a fair amount of Miami freestyle, but they also played stuff from 2 Live Crew & Rob Base.

Yes, I know it works in the UK, but people there actually buy Scissor Sisters and Girls Aloud CDs.

Or to quote Eminem, "Nobody listens to techno..." Load up your iPod, or go stream something from Europe. At least you have choices like that these days.

So what does this say about Americans? Boring? Elitist? Narrow-minded? Mainstream?Stubborn? Set in our ways? I'm not sure.

Unique. Just like each city is unique. It's narrow-minded to think that because it's hot in Ibeza anyone in Indina would or should care.

um...Isn't the Eminem statement pretty much the same thing??? In other words, we don't wanna hear any of that crap here...

In my opinion (which I guess makes me unique), I don't find all Hip-Hop all the time anything to build a radio station around as well, yet it's been done and done and overdone.

BTW, dance music is popular in places besides IbIza. I've even heard it on the radio in IndiAna.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Dance music is for mix shows, it is not, nor has it ever been a format. We have history on our side to prove this, you have your opinions about what you like.

And this is a PERFECT example of why I keep pushing for Dance Leaning Top 40 or Rhythmic with Dance Mix Shows and not an actual all dance station. The UK stations I use primarily for UK Garage and 2 Step. To hear general dance, I could just listen to some stations in other parts of the U.S. that are currently playing dance.
When done correctly, dance can work on a radio station. Timing and how it's done is the key. I'm sure a dance mix show on one of the many rhythmic stations will not hurt anything if done at an appropriate time. I know the people have already been brainwashed by radio so it will take years to teach most that there is more than just pop rock and hip hop, but it still can be done. 95.1 is at least already doing something. Only problem, the close minded people will not listen because they see them playing some music in spanish, therefore they wont listen unless they're hispanic because society says this is not cool. This is how most people operate and think these days.

In reality, most people (mainly the younger generation) don't go by what they really like, but by what everyone else tells them is cool. This is why we have billions of songs in this world, yet just about everyone 35 and younger has the same top 40 songs in their Ipod's. T.V. and Radio are not saying dance music is hot, therefore people wont go for it. As far as they know, everything fast is techno because they don't know any better, but if it's a popular artist doing it and it gets on the radio, it automatically becomes acceptable because radio/t.v. said it's cool. Who you are also makes a big deal as well. I bet if another artist from the dance music community did "disturbia" or "Sensual Seduction" or "closer" it would've never been accepted because people don't know that artist. At the same time, many dance artists do not market themselves properly to begin with.

It will take a lot of work to open people's minds and show them there is more than just top 40 radio music because once you force a habit on the public for long periods of time, it's hard to break that habit. The reality of the entire situation is that it's no longer about what's really best or what people want, but more about who has the most money to get what they want and brainwash people to believe it's good, and this goes for not just the music industry and radio, but mainstream media, politics, healthcare...etc.

Radio was so much better before large companies started buying them out and reformatting all of them to sound the same. Now I listen to 102.7 KIIS FM and it's no different from 94.9 KYLD or 101.5 JamZ or 99.1 KGGI with exception to maybe three or four songs. Then go to Florida and listen to WiLD 98.7 - same thing. There was a time when there was something different to offer that was unique to each station... So what happens now? No matter where people go, it's the same old stuff, so people with their one dimensional thinking begin to believe that's all there is and that's what they're supposed to like. Even some of my family members are falling for this and when they hear something that's "different", they look with a crazy face. Listen to "radio" by Beyonce. Nobody likes dance music, but I bet this song is acceptable because it's by Beyonce. This is what people are being taught and this is the problem.

I like how Eminem says nobody listens to techno while he and Akon works well together, and then Akon releases an album like the one he released today. That song by Eminem with the "no techno" lyrics in it charted along with Daniel bedingfield's "gotta get thru this" and Dj Sammy's "heaven". Then he releases "just lose it" which has electro in it. I don't think when Eminem says "nobody listens to techno" that this means no one is or was listening to it. "My band" by D12 I can bet was mixed into dance hits on many stations across the U.S.

Bottom line, dance can be done. Whether or not people want to do it for whatever reasons makes the difference. I love Hollywood Hamilton's rhythm countdown, and did ever since La Rissa debuted on the countdown in 2000. Recently, the last few times I checked, all the uptempo hits with dance style beats seem to be within the top 10 portion of the show while the rest of it is filled with slower songs. Of course, Lil Wayne is kind of in the way, as usual.

 

[Wildstyle K]

......In reality, most people (mainly the younger generation) don't go by what they really like, but by what everyone else tells them is cool...

For example, the other day, since they were in school, my sisters didn't listen to much music. So what happens when vacation time comes along and they want to fill their laptops with music? They're like "I haven't been keeping up with what's new lately and I don't know what songs to put in my playlist". Because I'm the "radio/music nerd", they ask me "what are all the new songs that are on 104.7 and 101.5?" That's all the info they needed to know to make a decision on what they like and should listen to and BAM! next move - straight to Limewire. No one is around to teach the people that there's more to it than that.

This is what it has come to.... but bottom line, Radio Stations - they're all businesses - they do what they have to do. Talking and debating is fun sometimes, but in the end, they're all businesses with a purpose, just like politics and talk radio or sports and sports talk. It's always good to talk about things though because you never know who will gain ideas from what you say.

 

[Wildstyle K]

OK! I just noticed what's going on here. JamZ is using "#1 hit music station" too! How is it posible that two stations get by with the same slogan?

LOOKING AT THINGS FROM A LOGICAL POINT OF VIEW:
Out of the two stations, who should rightfully and sensibly be allowed to use the "hit music" slogan? Lets think about this for a second, along with some of the facts I'm about to add. In Atlanta, 95.5 The Beat was Atlanta's #1 hit music station. They kept a rhythmic format, playing mainly hip hop and r&b, but also played "gotta get through this" by Daniel beddingfield and "heaven" by Dj Sammy along with tracks by Inoj, Ghost town DJ's, and Freak Nasty...etc. Now we have a rhythmic station here (101.5 JamZ) who has a true rhythmic format, along with Hollywood Hamilton's rhythm top 40 and they've been playing rhythmic hits such as hits by Katy Perry and other things that a rhythmic station should play. They touch a bit on top 40 music. Power 98.3, however, plays more urban hits. Which station do you think should be the hit music station?

If anything, Power is going to have to change to become a hit music station. JamZ is already at a format where they could use the slogan "#1 hit music station" because many rhythmic stations do that along with the top 40 stations. Unless Power decides to slowly change and add in other stuff as time goes along, it would only be sensible that they let go of the slogan. I'm sure Kiss is probably getting a kick out of this whole thing. This would only happen in Az. Makes just about as much sense as every station in Atlanta refusing to play Danity Kane. I noticed that Power was beginning to sound more like JamZ as time went on, but this is just too much. It really doesn't make any sense at all. If we need anything, it should be something the valley DOESN'T already have... If we're going to be all sitting here playing hits, then someone should also acknowledge the dance remixes of some of those hits in their mixshows. Rhythmic is where the hits should be, and I think 101.5 has already taken care of that. You go to Sirius/XM and they have RHYTHM R&B HITS. Appearantly, JamZ is where the hits belong, and Power should try something else instead.

That's like someone opening up a store called Mega Foods and I decide to show up and open a store called Mega Foods, but with a different aisle arrangement inside.

I've been posting on other sites and not not here, BUT with this going on, I finally had to say something. If you think this is a lot, you should've seen what I did on another site when 101.5 JamZ first popped up because I was excited for the dance music I thought they'd eventually add. It didn't work out as I hoped because although WiLD 94.9 in California played a lot of dance, they didn't completely carry that same format down here, THEN they got rid of the mixshows where the little dance and booty bass they did play was featured. I was disappointed, but always had a bit more respect for JamZ than Power because JamZ has the dance mixshow potential. They have the format, but are not willing to try it. I remember back when Kid & Ruben and the whole party crew introduced afterhourz to the valley back in 1997 and ever since 103.9 changed I was so pissed that I quit listening to that station to the point I forgot they existed until only recently I started back. Strawberry was kept, while Nessa is back on Wild 94.9 The Bay Area's Party Station. They themselves have changed a lot (by removing a lot of dance specialty mixshows) and giving some of their staff to JamZ.

Hip Hop is not dead, just like rock N Roll is not dead, but it will eventually not be the "Big thing" anymore, just like what happened in rock n roll. All the smart people who saw rock n roll was about to be topped by the next big thing jumped in on the classic rock stations first. Now, this is what's beginning to happen in hip hop. You'll have classic hip hop, and lite hip hop (just like lite rock). This is always what happens aspeople see the signs of evolution, and the only people who will survive will be the people who show they can evolve with the times. This is why Beyonce is doing alternative, Akon is doing a bit of euro dance/freestyle, and Kanye is.... well, just changing as well. Pitbull was always ahead of the game because his true passion is booty bass, house, latin house and freestyle along with rap. He didn't wait, he just went out there and started bringing back the use of faster beats early. He didn't wait around for everyone else to see that using faster beats today would and could work. He actually used uptempo beats before Missy and Timbaland tried it and had everyone else jumping on it to the point where dance music is back on urban radio today (congrats to Timbaland and missy changing the sound of music, twice).

Now with all this going on in music, it is effecting how stations want to label themselves because no one is sure what to call this sudden change in urban music. This is something different (similar to how when freestyle first popped up, they didn't call it freestyle, but Shannon, Corina, and Lisette Melendez...etc were all considered latin hip hop). HOWEVER, there's still no excuse for there to be TWO identical stations, no matter how confusing or unpredictable the music market may be. That just doesn't make sense. Even if we have a station that's the opposite of 98.7 The Peak - just like The Peak but playing playing the best of everything from the (70's) 80's 90's and today on more of the urban r&b/pop side of things, that would be great. I just believe that Power should stick with what they had or go to something else. As much as I would like a Party Station format, I'm not sure if there's any room for that anymore, but dance leaning top 40 is still possible if they do it correctly...and I guess that would be better than a Party Station that limits dance music to only mixshows, now that I've become tired of hip hop.

At least Power 106 Where HIP HOP Lives in California was sensible enough to keep their DJ's. Richard Humpty Vission is still part of their line up. So is Eman Echo and Virman. They seriously used to give Rockell, Jocelyn Enriquez, Lil Suzy, and Lina Santiago massive play and was amazing during the Holiday Mix weekends, back in the day. Now with dance coming back, they have an excuse to throw in some of those old records and mash up since they perfectly fit in. Much of the new generation of Dj's don't know what to do with the new dance style hits coming to radio today because it's all new to them.

Dance Music Making A Come Back Theory 2006: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...ken=D57B0526-10E2-4DB5-B4CFF9E1C95D048A952240

The Future Sound of Music...: http://www.freestyleremix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12004

A lot of radio stations disagreed with me on those topic before Ne-yo, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg and others started using uptempo/dance beats and became successful with it.

OK.... To clear things up a bit and correct dumb mistakes:
1. In Atlanta, 95.5 The Beat WAS Atlanta's #1 hit music station. They kept a rhythmic format, playing mainly hip hop and r&b, but also played "gotta get through this" by Daniel beddingfield and "heaven" by Dj Sammy along with tracks by Inoj, Ghost town DJ's, and Freak Nasty...etc.
-This is no longer the case. Some things have changed since the time when 95.5 WAS Atlanta's #1 hit music station, but I was using an example from that time period when that entire statement was accurate to make a point.

2. Hollywood Hamiltons Rhythm Top 40
- That was just a typo/mistake. I meant to say 30, but hit 4 making "40" instead by mistake. It's a top 30 countdown.

3. It didn't work out as I hoped because although WiLD 94.9 in California played a lot of dance, they didn't completely carry that same format down here, THEN they got rid of the mixshows where the little dance and booty bass they did play was featured
- in more specific terms, some people from WiLD 94.9 came to the new 101.5 JamZ, which happened to take place as WiLD 94.9 was slightly tweaking their format. JamZ was picking up on that rhythmic format that WiLD 94.9 had while taking in some of WiLD's people. WiLD was known for a lot of dance and many of the dj's coming to JamZ from other places were familiar with dance as well, so logically I came to the conclusion that there was a high possibility of dance mixshows also being brought to JamZ. This did happen to a small extent because I did hear David Guetta and Bob Sinclair and other things, but it was seriously limited. It turned out in the end that the same ideas that worked for WiLD 94.9 in the past to near present would not exactly work in this day in time, here in Phoenix.

4. Strawberry was kept, while Nessa is back on Wild 94.9 The Bay Area's Party Station. They themselves have changed a lot (by removing a lot of dance specialty mixshows) and giving some of their staff to JamZ.
- I shouldn't have jumped into this statement right after talking about 103.9 in 1997. It made it look like I was saying Nessa and Strawberry had something to do with 103.9, which they didn't. That was just a bad arrangement in sentence structuring with a bad transition. "They themselves" refers STRICTLY to WiLD 94.9 the station. Maybe they did not "give" people to JamZ, but the word "give" was just convenient to use in this case.

5. Pitbull was always ahead of the game because his true passion is booty bass, house, latin house and freestyle along with rap. He didn't wait, he just went out there and started bringing back the use of faster beats early. He didn't wait around for everyone else to see that using faster beats today would and could work. He actually used uptempo beats before Missy and Timbaland tried it and had everyone else jumping on it to the point where dance music is back on urban radio today.
- Pitbull being AHEAD of the game? Well.... yes. Even though dance died from radio shortly before Pitbull jumped in the scene, he was AHEAD of the game because now hip hop/rhythmic music has finally evolved to the point today where Pitbull was a few years back. It was Missy's "1,2 step" and "lose control" that kicked off this evolution towards the dance beats currently being used and accepted in top 40/rhythmic radio once again today. Notice how before this happened, the amount of uptempo hits were so limited that there was a period of time a top 40/rhythmic or even urban station could not fill an entire half hour mixshow with uptempo hits. Then when Missy and Timbaland tried something uptempo and others saw it was a success, it became a bandwagon, people jumped on it, and now it's once again the norm to have things between 120-130 bpm on mainstream radio playlists.... If it wasn't for music to go in the direction it has, then I would be saying Pitbull came late with his style.

6. Even if we have a station that's the opposite of 98.7 The Peak - just like The Peak but playing playing the best of everything from the (70's) 80's 90's and today on more of the urban r&b/pop side of things, that would be great.
- Once again, bad sentence placement. I threw in an opinion statement at the wrong time, which killed the sensibility of the entire paragraph. But this is still something probably worth trying out. It worked for classics on the light rock leaning pop side of the aisle, why not try it on the r&b pop side too? It would be like MOViN 97.5 on steroids.

7. As much as I would like a Party Station format, I'm not sure if there's any room for that anymore, but dance leaning top 40 is still possible if they do it correctly...and I guess that would be better than a Party Station that limits dance music to only mixshows
- Actually, there are some dance stations who call themselves a party station, just like some rhythmic stations who cater mostly to r&b, hip hop, and hip hop influenced pop tracks. So that statement was poorly written and because of that, doesn't make sense for obvious reasons. "Party Station Format" in this case meant a station like JamZ with a similar playlist, but also carries dance specialty mixshows, just like WiLD 94.9 and 103.9 The Party used to do.

8. A lot of radio stations disagreed with me on those topic before Ne-yo, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg and others started using uptempo/dance beats and became successful with it.
- This applies strictly to the blog link I posted about dance music coming back; I first started telling people (back in 2006) that dance music was going to make a come back, and I was telling people back then that things in the future were going to sound just how it turned out to be today. What I said back then as a theory is unfolding and becoming truth today.
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As far as classic hip hop, maybe the Satellite Radio stations dropped it, but look at some of the things they've done. You cannot logically make an assumption or prediction based on what Satellite radio is doing. Them dropping classic hip hop doesn't mean that this will not work in the near future or that it was not the wrong thing to do. That's just like Bush winning a 2nd term, therefore people believed there was no way that this decision could turn out to be wrong. The same thing, but backwards. They dropped the classic hip hop, but that doesn't mean that classic hip hop wont turn out to be the right thing and the next move for radio stations, soon. How you format it also makes a difference....

But getting back to the main point, to sum it all up, hit music stations usually contain a few, even if it's just 2 or 3 songs, that urban formatted stations wouldn't touch. If there is a rhythmic station, and a rhythmic station that leans more towards the urban sound, "hits" sounds more appropriate on the rhythmic station that's just rhythmic, not "URBAN rhythmic". If anything, a top 40 station that is closest to the traditional top 40 sound without swaying towards any particular genre is the one that would most accurately fit the description. This is just my opinion, but it's also logical, and based on the fact that this is usually how it's been done in most cases within the U.S. In reality, it does not really matter because it's all just wording and hits can be a broad term, but logically, it just makes sense. Legal issues, who had their vans painted with what logo.., what everyone else is doing and how much it costs...etc. or who did it first doesn't change logic, which is what my opinion is based upon. I guarantee most people would agree with this if the facts were presented in an unbiased way and a poll was taken with a group of unbiased people. That's all I have to say regarding THIS issue.

 

[Inside Radio Insider]

There are maybe 3 Urban stations in the Western United States, and Phoneix hasn't had one since Magic 107, 10 years ago?

Your definition of Urban is not the industry's definition.

 

[Wildstyle K]

There are maybe 3 Urban stations in the Western United States, and Phoneix hasn't had one since Magic 107, 10 years ago?

Your definition of Urban is not the industry's definition.

"Urban" is another word that was just convenient to use because it paints an accurate picture in people's minds when it comes to the point I'm trying to make. I could also say "hip hop", but that would also have the same problems when it comes to the industry definition, so I just picked a word that would work to make a point and disregarded how politically correct it was.

 

[Wildstyle K]

A couple of corrections...

They began adding in a lot of hip-hop in the Spring of '97, and phasing out the rhythmic-pop and dance product. "Where Hip-Hop Lives" was born on Friday, June 13, 1997 (and I think it was during EZ Street's afternoon show. Anyone else remember him?)

Oh so THIS is what happened back in those days! I was always wondering because at that time I was living in ATL. and only coming to Phoenix for the summer. So this happened right before I came back and ended up staying in June of 1997. I remember they kept Bruce Kelly in the morning though and I believe they still had Flashback Friday for a few years... let me not get into memory lane before i start talking about JJ The King of Beepers.... I wonder what took so long for us to finally get a top 40 station after the days of Y95? KZZP wasn't top 40 yet and 103.9 was rhythmic. A lot has changed since the good ol' days of Y95...

Sometimes I wonder... what it would be like if stations like Y95 and other things of the past were still here today with a modernized, but unchanged format? Would Y95 have made it if there was never a Power? And where would KYOT be now if that were the case? 103.5? What would Y95 be like in the market today and how would it have affected others? Just something to think about.

It's so funny listening to these old Y95 commercials today. I vaguely remember the morning zoo...

Look at that - change on FRIDAY THE 13th, yet they've been one of the most successful since then!!
KPWR.......KKFR.. WHAT A TIME IT HAS BEEN!