KRock If it's still on or for RXP

[Brooklyndon]

I think it can be said the some of MGMT album cuts and Beggars Banquet era Stones probably belong on the same station more than Shinedown and the Killers do.

 

[Zeb Norris]

But that's a flanking tactic.

You can still throw in the popular cross-over acts (Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, The Killers, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, etc.) but still focus on playing the slightly left-of-center bands (Franz Ferdinand, MGMT, Vampire Weekend, etc.) rather than beating us to death with the post-grunge sludge (Shinedown, Buckcherry, etc.)

Well, of course you CAN. But why would you exclude the popular stuff? What you're saying is they should go alternative because there's no alternative station. So far so good. But then you suggest not playing some of the biggest crossover bands. That's a flanking tactic, not a move to claim the entire alternative position.

 

[p_herring]

But that's a flanking tactic.

You can still throw in the popular cross-over acts (Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, The Killers, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, etc.) but still focus on playing the slightly left-of-center bands (Franz Ferdinand, MGMT, Vampire Weekend, etc.) rather than beating us to death with the post-grunge sludge (Shinedown, Buckcherry, etc.)

Well, of course you CAN. But why would you exclude the popular stuff? What you're saying is they should go alternative because there's no alternative station. So far so good. But then you suggest not playing some of the biggest crossover bands. That's a flanking tactic, not a move to claim the entire alternative position.

I don't think I said it was a flankin tactic, just used the quote tool incorrectly.

 

[SoulCrusher]

But that's a flanking tactic.

You can still throw in the popular cross-over acts (Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, The Killers, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, etc.) but still focus on playing the slightly left-of-center bands (Franz Ferdinand, MGMT, Vampire Weekend, etc.) rather than beating us to death with the post-grunge sludge (Shinedown, Buckcherry, etc.)

Well, of course you CAN. But why would you exclude the popular stuff? What you're saying is they should go alternative because there's no alternative station. So far so good. But then you suggest not playing some of the biggest crossover bands. That's a flanking tactic, not a move to claim the entire alternative position.

I would say that it depends on what direction you decide to take.

I think we are seeing songs by Shinedown and Saving Abel doing well on the charts because you have these Active Rock stations in the Southern U.S. that report as Alternative ... let me also add to prove this point that AC/DC's "Rock N' Roll Train" actually reached the Top 30 on the Modern Rock Charts. These same stations probably play a lot of '90s grunge in addition to either '70s and '80s classic rock or '90s-'00s heavy rock (i.e. Korn, Slipknot, Sevendust, etc.), and it's safe to say that most (if not all) of them wouldn't even consider playing Airborne Toxic Event, MGMT, Franz Ferdinand, Death Cab For Cutie, and others because they don't fit in with the image of the station.

Nickelback and other bands in that vein are the new corporate rock. They have more in common with everyone from Journey and Foreigner to Skynyrd to Def Leppard than any band over the last 30 years that has been considered "Alternative". Some make comparisons to the "grunge" acts from Seattle, but they lack the musical eclecticism of most of these bands and have pretty much nothing in common lyrically.

Is there a place for these bands on New York radio ... well, besides the crossover titles that are on PLJ, Z and a few other stations? If K-Rock goes Active Rock (which I'm sure would do better than the tired Q 104.3 clone they're offering up now), the Nickelbacks of the world would fit in alright, but they should respond to listener feedback and adjust the airtime dedicated to these acts as necessary ... perhaps the audience would prefer something heavier. Without question, they need to drop the Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Billy Squier, and others and try something different. This classic rock intensive direction just isn't working for K-Rock, and I think CBS should consider dropping the tarnished brand name at this point to make way for either Active Rock or the rumored CHR format change.

WRXP: It's not uncommon to hear Elton John into The Ting Tings into Van Halen on this station, and there's almost certainly something that will be played that will turn any segment of their audience off at some point. The station needs to find itself, and I think taking the Alternative ball and running with it is the best idea. If they do choose this direction, perhaps they could work in certain mainstream Active/Alternative acts (Linkin Park, Foo Fighters and Seether might be acceptable), but there are some acts that are exclusive to a certain take on the format ... you're either a Nickelback/Shinedown/Saving Abel station or a Death Cab For Cutie/Beck/Franz Ferdinand station, as there are few (if any) examples of these acts converging. I would choose the latter direction for the station because I think K-Rock is catering somewhat to those who enjoy the first group of acts, and because those who like Nickelback are served well by the myriad "Adult Hits" stations around here. In addition, WRXP seems to hint that they want to be a "smart rock" station, yet they still play acts that couldn't be even remotely considered smart (i.e. Aerosmith). If things don't improve in the next couple of books, a change is definitely in order ... instead of trying to appeal to every rock fan (usually for little more than 10-15 minutes at a time), a more focused Alternative approach would give them the audience loyalty they're currently lacking.

 

[Zeb Norris]

But that's a flanking tactic.

You can still throw in the popular cross-over acts (Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, The Killers, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, etc.) but still focus on playing the slightly left-of-center bands (Franz Ferdinand, MGMT, Vampire Weekend, etc.) rather than beating us to death with the post-grunge sludge (Shinedown, Buckcherry, etc.)

Well, of course you CAN. But why would you exclude the popular stuff? What you're saying is they should go alternative because there's no alternative station. So far so good. But then you suggest not playing some of the biggest crossover bands. That's a flanking tactic, not a move to claim the entire alternative position.

I don't think I said it was a flankin tactic, just used the quote tool incorrectly.

No, I said it is a flanking tactic. Because it is. If you can have the whole enchilada, why take the popular cheese and meat out of it and just offer tortilla? The only reason (from a professional programming perspective) would be to be "cooler" than the "mainstream Alternative", which doesn't exist in the market.

 

[jimmydigits]

"they could work in certain mainstream Active/Alternative acts (Linkin Park, Foo Fighters and Seether might be acceptable)"

Odd a programmer would assert that some of a format's core artists could be "worked in." What say you, Zeb?

JR

 

[buffalotom]

Today on K-Rock they played Hole "Malibu," Lit "My Own Worst Enemy," and Alien Ant Farm "Smooth Criminal." Not in a row, but why are those the alt tracks in the mix? I love the Hole, but they don't fit at all. I just said I love the Hole.

BUT the Creme of the Crop was when they played Nazareth "Love Hurts," (and here's the best part.) INTO Nirvana "Breed." I know A LOT of Nirvana fans. 100's of them and I never heard any of them say, "I love me some Nazareth." "Love Hurts" was cool when it was used in the teen dance scene of Dazed and Confused, when the fat kid is 'pulling tongue' and his buddies want to leave. But I digress.

Is this basically an audience flush? This has to be there way of saying, get out of here!! We don't want you to listen! New formats coming and our ducks aren't in a row yet.

 

[Zeb Norris]

"they could work in certain mainstream Active/Alternative acts (Linkin Park, Foo Fighters and Seether might be acceptable)"

Odd a programmer would assert that some of a format's core artists could be "worked in." What say you, Zeb?

JR

That's not a quote from me.

Hell, we "work in" the Foo Fighters on the AAA I "program".

 

[ericdxx]

My prediction is that if KRock stays on and Opie & Anthony leaves the station will drop below 1.0 in the ratings. It will be a dead station.

As opposed to them not being a dead station right now?

Even with O&A were in their glory days on WNEW, outside of core demos, the station's overall numbers were nothing to jump for joy about.

The 1.5 rating is a disaster but the cume of 1,424,700 isn't as bad which indeed indicates that alot of people listen for a short period of time. O&A also say that they're no. 1 or 2 in their key demo (probably means that they're no. 2) with a show that is 3 hours long as opposed to the other morning shows that are 4 hours.

So is it crazy to assume that, with a successfull afternoon drive time show, wxrk could have a 3+ rating?

 

[jimmydigits]

"they could work in certain mainstream Active/Alternative acts (Linkin Park, Foo Fighters and Seether might be acceptable)"

Odd a programmer would assert that some of a format's core artists could be "worked in." What say you, Zeb?

JR


That's not a quote from me.

No way I'd attribute that quote to you, Zeb. I was just asking for input.