KRTH now playing rap music.

[hotpatrick2004]

What amazes me about this conversation is how many people think their personal tastes can somehow translate to a radio station format in a metro area of 12 and a half million people. Or that a radio station that they'll roundly criticize for being too careful and research-dependent somehow has suddenly gotten reckless.

Agreed. Not everything works n every market.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

"Just the Two of Us?" I haven't heard that one in years, not even on XM.

Just the two of us only reached # 20 on billboard so that's why ya rarely hear it but still a banger I think

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

And, beyond that, the lack of realization that research is intended to find the songs that "everyone" likes, not songs that some people like and others despise.

And even beyond that, that research is done very specifically with moderate to heavy listeners to a specific station (or format if there are multiple stations in the market in the format) and in the core age target of the station. The cost for a full library music test on a gold based station can be from the low $20 thousands up to $35,000 or so for a station with a library over 500 songs.

And going a step further, it's all about "how much would you like to hear that song today?" and not "was that song one of your favorites when you were a teenager?"

This is what I don’t get about the “why not play X instead of Y” arguments. Would Gangster’s Paradise be my first choice? No, but if the audience consensus is yes, without a lot of indication people will flee for the hills if you play it, then for gods sake, play it.

There are plenty of songs from the 80s that are quite clearly consensus hits today that are tune-outs for me, but that doesn’t mean you don’t play them. And the reverse is true. Plenty of songs clearly not resonating today that I enjoy. Oh well, such is life.

I can’t imagine the unmitigated financial disaster that would befall a station programmed to my musical preferences. Some do a good job hitting certain pieces of said preferences. So I can bounce among them, or just set up my own playlist on any number of platforms.

 

[cer1992]

Not really surprising at all at this point. Back in 2018, KRTH played Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock - It Takes Two. Fast forward to about five years, Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" and 2Pac's "California Love", both of which were huge crossover hits back in '95/'96, getting played on the station isn't too surprising. It's only a matter time (late 2020s/early 2030s) before we hear tracks like Nelly's "Hot In Herre", 50 Cent's "In Da Club", Ja Rule's "Always on Time", and Eminem's "Lose Yourself" on K-Earth 101!

 

[vchimpanzee]

Sorry but I disagree here. I don’t buy the fact that music created by computers and the use of auto-tune is equal or better than the music composed with real instruments and natural vocals.

In most cases you are right.

Harold Faltermeyer's theme song from "Beverly Hills Cop" is one of the best songs I ever heard performed on synthesizers, but I'd rather hear real instruments in most cases.

 

[cer1992]

So playing international hits like California Love and Gangsta's Paradise means that K-Earth will be a full-fledged gangsta rap station. Got it.

Those are two hip-hop songs that got heavy rotation on KIIS (Mainstream Pop) back in 1995/1996. That doesn't necessarily make it a "full-fleged gangsta rap" station. Not to mention both artists from the West Coast and these two particular hip-hop songs are Top 40 crossover hits, and K-Earth is still primarily Pop/Rock with Hip-Hop only being a small fraction of the overall playlist.

 

[vchimpanzee]

We will agree to disagree I will take my swifty music and Brittney Spears music and you can have have your three dog knight or led zeppelin music.

I heard "Joy to the World" this morning.

 

[vchimpanzee]

"Just the Two of Us?" I haven't heard that one in years, not even on XM.

You mean the Grover Washington Jr., song with Bill Withers on vocals? I hear that all the time.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I could see "light" rap like some coolio or will smith being okay with the crowd, but stuff like jay z's "big pimpin" would probably sound out of place.

Coolio "light"? I watched him on a classic SNL right after he died. That one's pretty loud with the band backing him up.

Will Smith I wouldn't have a problem with, though I prefer him as the Fresh Prince.

 

[tall_guy1]

Coolio "light"? I watched him on a classic SNL right after he died. That one's pretty loud with the band backing him up.

Will Smith I wouldn't have a problem with, though I prefer him as the Fresh Prince.

1,2,3,4 seems pretty light.

 

[Marcos_C]

You mean the Grover Washington Jr., song with Bill Withers on vocals? I hear that all the time.

No, I meant the Will Smith song that hotpatrick2004 mentioned.

 

[vchimpanzee]

No, I meant the Will Smith song that hotpatrick2004 mentioned.

Oh, right, I remember now.

1,2,3,4 seems pretty light.

"Gangsta's Paradise" is what I heard. Good arrangement by the band but too loud for my taste. Now to get those episodes down to an hour for a prime time slot they normally remove one of the musical performances.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I saw a reference to Grandmaster Melle Mel. His introduction to "I Feel for You" is one of the rap performances I like.

 

[davideduardo]

O...k...a...y....

This has gone far enough into very personal tastes about favorite and un-favored songs.

This is a board about radio and this thread has gone to far.

Closing the thread.