Neon Trees 'Everybody Talks'

[atlantaboy]

Cumulus still hasn't added this, or Jason Mraz, or Grouplove

They're pop/rock-friendly, but not necessarily with new music

That's why I don't understand the hate towards Clear Channel CHR's, but not as much for Cumulus

For me, it's because Cumulus doesn't discriminate against new music just because of its sound - but it's really annoying how conservative they're being about adding new music

If Clear Channel ran most of its stations like Channel 96.1 in Charlotte, I would love them - but unfortunately, it seems like somewhere around 80-85% of all Clear Channel stations discriminate on the basis of sound, and then use the excuse that they're "protecting" sister Hot AC and Alternative stations

 

[justpassingthough]

Cumulus still hasn't added this, or Jason Mraz, or Grouplove

They're pop/rock-friendly, but not necessarily with new music

That's why I don't understand the hate towards Clear Channel CHR's, but not as much for Cumulus

For me, it's because Cumulus doesn't discriminate against new music just because of its sound - but it's really annoying how conservative they're being about adding new music

If Clear Channel ran most of its stations like Channel 96.1 in Charlotte, I would love them - but unfortunately, it seems like somewhere around 80-85% of all Clear Channel stations discriminate on the basis of sound, and then use the excuse that they're "protecting" sister Hot AC and Alternative stations

Is it really an invalid excuse, though? I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but the radio landscape has changed to the point where many markets have a corporation who owns various stations with differing formats, some of which have overlaps in music. This was far less common 20 years ago. From a business standpoint, it makes sense to protect your product by differentiating them to a certain extent. It would make far less since to compete against yourself and cannibalize ratings or cume. That is the unforunate reality of where we are today.

I don't think its true in every case, though. There were weeks when KIIS, KYSR and KBIG all had Gotye at the top of their playlist, even though they're all Clear Channel stations with CHR, Alternative and Hot AC formats, respectively. In my opinion, it takes a rare song that truly has crossover appeal to force this, though, and frankly not every song is worthy of this. Again, playing devil's advocate, but isn't it better to have "variety" in the form of sister stations not all sharing identical playlists? Radio would be even more boring and corporate then.

 

[atlantaboy]

Cumulus still hasn't added this, or Jason Mraz, or Grouplove

They're pop/rock-friendly, but not necessarily with new music

That's why I don't understand the hate towards Clear Channel CHR's, but not as much for Cumulus

For me, it's because Cumulus doesn't discriminate against new music just because of its sound - but it's really annoying how conservative they're being about adding new music

If Clear Channel ran most of its stations like Channel 96.1 in Charlotte, I would love them - but unfortunately, it seems like somewhere around 80-85% of all Clear Channel stations discriminate on the basis of sound, and then use the excuse that they're "protecting" sister Hot AC and Alternative stations

Is it really an invalid excuse, though? I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but the radio landscape has changed to the point where many markets have a corporation who owns various stations with differing formats, some of which have overlaps in music. This was far less common 20 years ago. From a business standpoint, it makes sense to protect your product by differentiating them to a certain extent. It would make far less since to compete against yourself and cannibalize ratings or cume. That is the unforunate reality of where we are today.

Can you think of any examples though of a corporation protecting a Rhythmic station from a CHR? Seems like it's always a CHR protecting a Hot AC or an Alternative - that's why I'm not sure I buy it...

BTW things are looking up for this Neon Trees track - as of today, it's got a bullet of +1003!!
Also, Z100/New York is starting to become pretty pop/rock friendly - I hope that's a sign of Clear Channel loosening up (it also let WRVW/Nashville add Ed Sheeran right into medium rotation 45x a week)

Right now there are 3 more Alternative tracks that are pretty high on the I-Tunes chart (The Lumineers, Of Monsters And Men, and the new Mumford & Sons) - I'm really hoping the corporations let PDs add these in the upcoming months...

 

[justpassingthough]

I'm trying to think of any market clusters that have both a mainstream CHR and a rhythmic CHR. Maybe its just too early in the morning, but it seems more likely to have a combination of CHR and Hot AC. Those markets that do have both a rhythmic and mainstream CHR from the same owner (like NY with Z100 and KTU) seem like the exception, not the rule.

Regardless, I get your point and I agree, but its nearly impossible to protect a Rhythmic station from a sister mainstream CHR when the charts are so identical today. Its a chicken and the egg argument at this point.

I think we've seen signs of a shift within the past year or so, though. I didn't like the Neon Trees track at first. I listen to alternative regularly, but I thought it was a little too poppy. It grew on me, though, after hearing it over and over again on KBIG, KYSR and KROQ, but as you've pointed out, I had to hear it on alternative and Hot AC and have yet to hear it on our CHR stations.

 

[CatCall]

I'm trying to think of any market clusters that have both a mainstream CHR and a rhythmic CHR.

Clear Channel in Boston has both WXKS (Top 40) and WJMN (Rhythmic). It was forever before Kiss 108 finally added Everybody Talks and I'm still wondering if they'll pick up on Too Close. But they did not protect rhythmic hits from Kanye West or Cash Out. They got some play on Kiss.

 

[atlantaboy]

I'm trying to think of any market clusters that have both a mainstream CHR and a rhythmic CHR. Maybe its just too early in the morning, but it seems more likely to have a combination of CHR and Hot AC.

Albany NY - Pamal owns WFLY (CHR) and WAJZ (Rhythmic)
Bakersfield CA - American General Media owns KISV (CHR) and KKXX (Rhythmic)
Boston MA - Clear Channel owns WXKS (CHR) and WJMN (Rhythmic)
Seattle - Clear Channel owns KBKS (CHR) and KUBE (Rhythmic)
Portland OR - Clear Channel owns KKRZ (CHR) and KXJM (Rhythmic)
Salt Lake City - Simmons owns KUDD (CHR) and KUUU (Rhythmic)
Austin TX - Clear Channel owns KHFI (CHR) and KPEZ (Rhythmic)
Indianapolis - Radio One owns WNOU (CHR) and WHHH (Rhythmic)
Ft. Myers FL - Clear Channel owns WZJZ (CHR) and WBTT (Rhythmic)
Tucson AZ - Clear Channel owns KRQQ (CHR) and KOHT (Rhythmic)
Knoxville TN - Journal owns WWST (CHR) and WKHT (Rhythmic)
Reno NV - Americom owns KLCA (CHR) and KSGG (Rhythmic)

Those are just some of the markets...

Also, the fact that the Rhythmic chart is similar to the CHR chart is a RESULT of corporations protecting Hot ACs from CHRs (and not Rhythmics) - if they chose to protect Rhythmics from CHRs, the CHR chart would be more similar to the Hot AC chart

You're right, though, that it's probably easier to find sister CHR and Hot AC stations than it is sister CHR and Rhythmics

 

[justpassingthough]

Back in the good old days (the 90s), it seemed like most CHR and Hot AC stations had nearly identical playlists, save for an R&B hit from the likes of TLC or Usher or Mariah Carey. Now we have identical playlists amongst CHR and Rhythmic stations. My point being- CHR seems to always have trouble keeping a balance in their playlists. They tend to skew one way or the other- and few CHRs seem committed to maintaining any kind of balance.

I guess, in a perfect world, CHR would truly play the top hits from all contemporary formats, but its probably a pipe dream. I know you've made mention of the Lumineers selling well on iTunes, and they should get a shot at CHR. I'm a fan of all genres of music, though, so I'd add Jason Aldean to that list- as he sells well but doesn't get any crossover.

What I don't get is why artists from formats that aren't really competing directly with CHR like Alternative or Country don't get crossover play when some of their songs and artists would be a nature fit for the format. Even if CHR played these artists, they wouldn't cannibalize sister stations in a way that they would if they were to play the core artists from formats in much more direct competion like Rhythmic or Hot AC.

 

[carolinaradio]

I've always thought WNOU in Indianapolis was rather rhythmic friendly, unusual since their sister station is a Rhythmic.

 

[atlantaboy]

I've always thought WNOU in Indianapolis was rather rhythmic friendly, unusual since their sister station is a Rhythmic.

Yeah, that's why I don't think there's much merit to this "protecting a sister station" thing - if KIIS played a lot of Neon Trees, Jason Mraz, Grouplove, etc., I doubt the listenership to KBIG would change at all - same with Mix Dallas/Kiss, KIOI San Francisco/KMVQ etc.

 

[wxman76]

Last week, it received 29 adds, many from Cumulus, and is up +1127.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Last week, it received 29 adds, many from Cumulus, and is up +1127.

I was about to say! Thought I was the only one that noticed or was the only person living in a town where the plays suddenly increased out of the blue. One station even RE-added the song. I thought it "died" back in May. I remember back when Pitbull's "hey baby" started off the same way...

 

[CatCall]

It got the big bullet because FINALLY all of those stations that were dragging their feet to add it have done so. They couldn't deny the fact that it's a big hit and given it's staying power, would've easily been a top 10 smash by now. The "powers that be" have concluded this is more than just a HAC hit.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Then maybe eventually the new Linkin Park and Alex Clare records will also get more attention as well.