Light and Easy 93.1. Is there anybody in there

[vchimpanzee]

"The joy of South Florida is was Joy 107", part of the Transtar national, satellite delivered Format 41 (demographic age centered on 41).

I think that Format 41 started circa 1986. If things have progressed linearly it would now
be Format 66, to coin a phrase. Do you all believe the target audience of EZ is centered around
66?

It was actually 1984. So that would make it 68. I first heard it in 1985 but didn't know it was a satellite format until I heard the same host on two stations and later the same song on three at the same time.

 

[vchimpanzee]

You have to have an occasional upbeat song even on the easiest radio stations. Even an Adult Standards stations will play "That's Life" by Sinatra or "Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer" by Nat King Cole. Easy 93 plays the adult hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s. But sometimes an adult hit may be uptempo. People seeking soft music will accept an occasional uptempo song if it's tasteful and not aimed at kids.

The stations I like do this.

"Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin has some really loud pounding drums, though just briefly. I was really surprised when this one aired on an instrumental-based easy listening station, WEZV in Myrtle Beach.

I like a station in Charlotte, NC which plays "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Benny Goodman. If you don't know it is was on Chips Ahoy commercials at one time. There is a short version, but this station plays the "album version". Definitely makes the case for critics calling him "jungle music" back in the day. It seems funny that the adults on "The Waltons" though HE was bad for the children.

 

[Diogenes]

"What's New" comes from one of Linda Ronstadt's albums of jazz standards. While she didn't have much radio success with it, millions of people bought the record and she won at least one Grammy for her efforts on that album. The fact that it's a familiar voice singing a Frank Sinatra tune makes it understandable that Easy 93 would play it. This way they get to play Sinatra without really "going there". It's actually one of the most strategic, well placed songs I've heard them play.
Smarter choice than anything from Journey.

Hmm. I'm outside the 25-54 sales demo, and Sinatra or a Sinatra tune are something that would make me change stations very fast... just as I tuned out the hold-over MOR songs Top 40 stations played in the mid to late 50's and even early 60's.

There are Journey songs that would make me turn up the volume, however.

Very True, David. Which is why every AC station in the country plays them. I love Journey too. My point was that if Easy 93 wanted to set themselves apart from other AC's, they would avoid Journey. I understand why they play them, however. Just disappointed that they can't quite break away from traditional AC and go whole hog "Easy".

About the only songs that might be appropriate from Journey would include "Who's Crying Now"; "Open Arms"; "Lights" and maybe "Faithfully". Even so, I still think these songs are 'pushing the limit' on a soft music station, even for today.

The only Journey tune of those you mentioned that I can hear on Easy would be Open Arms. As great as those others you menioned are, listen with in mind what they are trying to project. Those songs have elements too intense for an Easy format.

 

[vchimpanzee]

"What's New" comes from one of Linda Ronstadt's albums of jazz standards. While she didn't have much radio success with it, millions of people bought the record and she won at least one Grammy for her efforts on that album. The fact that it's a familiar voice singing a Frank Sinatra tune makes it understandable that Easy 93 would play it. This way they get to play Sinatra without really "going there". It's actually one of the most strategic, well placed songs I've heard them play.
Smarter choice than anything from Journey.

Hmm. I'm outside the 25-54 sales demo, and Sinatra or a Sinatra tune are something that would make me change stations very fast... just as I tuned out the hold-over MOR songs Top 40 stations played in the mid to late 50's and even early 60's.

There are Journey songs that would make me turn up the volume, however.

Very True, David. Which is why every AC station in the country plays them. I love Journey too. My point was that if Easy 93 wanted to set themselves apart from other AC's, they would avoid Journey. I understand why they play them, however. Just disappointed that they can't quite break away from traditional AC and go whole hog "Easy".

About the only songs that might be appropriate from Journey would include "Who's Crying Now"; "Open Arms"; "Lights" and maybe "Faithfully". Even so, I still think these songs are 'pushing the limit' on a soft music station, even for today.

The only Journey tune of those you mentioned that I can hear on Easy would be Open Arms. As great as those others you menioned are, listen with in mind what they are trying to project. Those songs have elements too intense for an Easy format.

It has been stated on this site that "Faithfully" has been played on Easy.

On a realted note, a similar station where I live was playing "Don't Stop Believin'". My belief is that it wasn't the satellite format, but rather the station owner's son playing what he wanted. The same guy would play "Take It on the Run" by REO Speedwagon, "Caught Up in You" by .38 Special (or was it "Hold on Loosely"?) and "China Grove" by The Doobie Brothers. Some of these songs got played first thing in the morning on a station where Dad plays Frank Sinatra and even Pat Boone when he is actually there.

Meanwhile, despite using the name "Lite", a Delilah station owned by Clear Channel where I live plays "Separate Ways".