No 70s Soft Hits for Houston in the Future!

[andrewduong77]

Yes, AC listeners knows about this.

Few AC's across the nation has dropped 70s music. As we have gotten 2 years into the new decade, it's looks like 70s are no longer viable on AC stations. KODA is still playing a lot of 70s music maybe 2-3 70s per hour I think, but it looks like AC stations will be phasing out 70s music in the new decade to keep up with their target audience just like every other formats. I think KODA may phased-out 70s music in the near future. Actually AC stations should have phased-out 70s music a long time ago to keep up with their target audience, but it's looks like 70s music have great longevity on AC's. As Hot AC's have phased-out 80s music completely over the past few years and Classic Hits almost have phased-out many 60s music, it looks like most AC should have phased-out 70s music back in the late 2000's, but it may start phasing-out 70s music soon, maybe 1 70s an hour or eliminate all 70s together.

Well if KODA starts phasing out soft 70s hits where will you guys get to listen to the soft 70s hits on? It's still testable in the 25-54 audience, but not the AC audience... Houston doesn't have a classic hits station to pick up the soft 70s hits that KODA will eventually phase out.

Look, some of you may heard of this already.

CC's AC WLTW in NYC had stopped playing 70s music almost completely. They are only spinning 1-3 70s per day. Thank god NYC got WCBS-FM to pick up all the 70s soft hits that WLTW has ditched.

AC WBEB in Philadelphia had stopped playing 70s music completely.

CC's AC WLIT in Chicago had also stopped playing 70s, but I don't when they did, they probably stopped playing 70s since the mid-late 2000's. Thank god Chicago got both an Oldies WLS-FM and a Classic Hits WJMK to pick up the 70s that WLIT doesn't play.

Oh, don't forget, CBS' AC KVIL here in Dallas had also stopped playing 70s music almost completely like WLTW with only 1-3 spins per day. Thank god Dallas got Classic Hits KLUV that picked up all the 70s soft hits that KVIL ditched.

It's coming to Houston! What happens if KODA stops playing all the 70s soft hits by The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb, Samantha Sang, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Orleans, The 4 Seasons, etc. Don't try to find soft 70s hits on KGLK or KKRW, cause you'll find hard rock of the 70s/80s like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC kind of stuff. That means Houston listeners won't be able to find a format that plays soft 70s hits that were AC staples back in the days on any other station in Houston without the hard rock because Houston has no Classic Hits.

Source:
(I listed the source of other topics on other boards about AC's phasing-out 70s below if you think I'm making this up.)

Topic: Why Is "Lite-FM" Doesn't Play 70's Music Anymore? Board: New York
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=204647.0

Topic: B98.5 in Atlanta Board: Adult Contemporary
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=198939.msg1825299#msg1825299
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=198939.msg1826626#msg1826626

Topic: Well this is it! Almost the last week of Christmas music! Board: Adult Contemporary
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=203350.msg1819767#msg1819767

Topic: Clear Channel's AC playing Oldies. Board: Adult Contemporary
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=199534.msg1775280#msg1775280

 

[TroyG]

I think Houston needs a Soft AC station that would play mostly soft hits from the '70s-If or whenever Sunny starts to phase out The '70s, Like Miami's WFEZ (Easy 99.1)or Tampa Bay's WDUV(The Dove). Sunny's music starts to feel the music you hear so much on your I-Pod.

 

[Mediafrog+]

These are textbook examples of stations being consistent with the target demographics, not the target audience. As listeners age out of the desired demos, the music shifts. Otherwise you wind up with an audience that is too old for the advertisers.

Yeah, you can make an argument for a Soft AC, but where would you put it? And would it do better than whatever it replaced?

DFW had Platinum 96.7, which pretty much fit the Soft AC description, but it fizzled.

 

[andrewduong77]

Well, that's true, a Soft AC format may not work, but a Classic Hits will work. Btw, if Houston doesn't get a Classic Hits and KODA starts dropping 70s, Guess What!? No more Marvin Gaye, Abba, James Taylor, Jimmy Buffet, and Firefall music for commercial FM listeners in Houston while these type of music still test well in the demo in other small, medium, and large markets.

That means market #6 doesn't get to hear Abba's "Dancing Queen" and Firefall's "You Are The Woman" on commercial FM radio anymore once KODA starts phasing-out 70s to be consistent with their target demographics.

 

[sdh483]

It would be nice to hear some 70s AC hits. We have plenty of classic rock and I am completely burned out. I don't see how anyone could manage to hear Sweet Home Alabama for the millionth time. I once worked at a place that played KGLK all day and it was the same old songs every day, almost consistent at the same time.

That's fine though. I can still listen to KONO and WLS online and stream it on my phone via tune in. As soon as I get a new unit in my car with an aux input, it's bye-bye commercial FM in Houston for good.

 

[willdav713]

KKMJ Majic 95.5 dropped the Super Songs of the 70s weekend Easter Sunday of 2011. The last Super Songs of the 70s weekend was aired on Labor Day of 2011.

But, Austin has 2 Oldies stations one on 95.5 HD-2 and of course KXBT 98.9 Austin's Greatest Hits. I listen to them at midnight to aroun 5 AM when they become the True Oldies Channel.

What I don't like about KXBT is they start to play Pointless 80's music that I have grown tired of since 2001.

If Tom Kent is reading this board please dump your 80s music, or only play 80s R&B/Dance tunes such as Irene Cara, Micheal Jackson, Christopher Cross, not Journey's Anything you want it, Huey "Headache" Lewis and the History.
and if you must play Anything you want it, or Mr. Headache play only 1 per hour.

You should write to BMP and ask them to flip AM 550 out of San Antonio to True Oldies. You could pick it up in Houston, and it will be on AM, but at least 70s will be played.

Another song by Firewall that I like is "Just Remember I Love You" never got much airplay on KODA as on KKMJ. Can't get enough of Frankie Vallie, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Sugarloaf, Gary Wright "My Heart is on Fire", Rocky Theme, Rockford files theme, Abba's "SOS", "Knowing You Knowing Me" and of course the Carpenters to name a few.

 

[johndavis]

That means market #6 doesn't get to hear Abba's "Dancing Queen" and Firefall's "You Are The Woman" on commercial FM radio anymore once KODA starts phasing-out 70s to be consistent with their target demographics.

Some might argue that's a good thing.

 

[TroyG]

Apparently, Houston's radio band doesn't have room for another Classic Hits/Soft AC station. The Only Classic Hits Station-The Eagle(107-5 & 106-9 FM)leans more towards classic rock, and it has direct competition with The Arrow. I think Houston needs a real classic hits station, like San Antonio's KONO 101 & Beaumont's KCOL(Cool 92-5)

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Agreed - I don't know what 107.5 and 93.7 think they are doing format wise, but they are neither classic rock nor classic hits. Train wrecks is more like it, train wrecks with tiny playlists. At least some of us can null that garbage on 850 and get KONO on 860 AM, but I'd sure like it if I had a solution for in the car. I can't null KEYH interference with KONO 860 in the car. And 92.5 is just too weak much west of I-45.

 

[the golden boy]

As Hot AC's have phased-out 80s music completely over the past few years

Heard KBBY Oxnard/Ventura lately?

 

[andrewduong77]

That means market #6 doesn't get to hear Abba's "Dancing Queen" and Firefall's "You Are The Woman" on commercial FM radio anymore once KODA starts phasing-out 70s to be consistent with their target demographics.

Some might argue that's a good thing.

Well Dallas will still get to hear Abba's "Dancing Queen" and Firefall's "You Are The Woman" on Classic Hits KLUV ever since KLUV's sister AC KVIL eliminated 70s altogether a few months ago.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

That means market #6 doesn't get to hear Abba's "Dancing Queen" and Firefall's "You Are The Woman" on commercial FM radio anymore once KODA starts phasing-out 70s to be consistent with their target demographics.

Some might argue that's a good thing.

And some not - I'm not a big fan of Abba, but the massive success of the movie Mama Mia a few years ago shows there is still a massive audience for them. And a lot of the people in that movie were kids.

 

[andrewduong77]

Well anyways, speaking of Cox's Classic Rock learning Classic Hits KGLK, a lot of Classic Hits stations start to sound a lot like Classic Rock stations themselves including CBS' Classic Hits stations. CBS' Classic Hits KLUV/Dallas starts playing Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven", AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long", and Journey's "Any Way You Want It" last year.

 

[johndavis]

Well anyways, speaking of Cox's Classic Rock learning Classic Hits KGLK, a lot of Classic Hits stations start to sound a lot like Classic Rock stations themselves including CBS' Classic Hits stations. CBS' Classic Hits KLUV/Dallas starts playing Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven", AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long", and Journey's "Any Way You Want It" last year.

Which would you rather hear from the 70's - Zepplin or the Starland Vocal Band?

Some songs stand up to time. Some don't.

It's more important to play what people like than to worry about what box a song belongs in. Or, in the words of Steve Rivers, "Play the hits."

 

[poops]

Well anyways, speaking of Cox's Classic Rock learning Classic Hits KGLK, a lot of Classic Hits stations start to sound a lot like Classic Rock stations themselves including CBS' Classic Hits stations. CBS' Classic Hits KLUV/Dallas starts playing Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven", AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long", and Journey's "Any Way You Want It" last year.

Which would you rather hear from the 70's - Zepplin or the Starland Vocal Band?

Some songs stand up to time. Some don't.

It's more important to play what people like than to worry about what box a song belongs in. Or, in the words of Steve Rivers, "Play the hits."

To coin a line from a "Restless Heart" song.... "Why does it have to be one way or the other"? I've listened to radio for the better part of my 55 years and I like both as do many other folks my age. The sad fact is.... there are several stations that I've found on line tha seem to do pretty good at this .... but none of them in the Houston market. I would be more resigned to the fact that I am in a forgotten demographic (a term that I hate) if it wouldn't so easy to go online and find a station that plays the music that I like, and it would be nice tobe able to hear that music and programming from my truck radio and not have to depend on my cell phone for entertainment. Just sayin

poops

 

[johndavis]

To coin a line from a "Restless Heart" song.... "Why does it have to be one way or the other"? I've listened to radio for the better part of my 55 years and I like both as do many other folks my age. The sad fact is.... there are several stations that I've found on line tha seem to do pretty good at this .... but none of them in the Houston market. I would be more resigned to the fact that I am in a forgotten demographic (a term that I hate) if it wouldn't so easy to go online and find a station that plays the music that I like, and it would be nice tobe able to hear that music and programming from my truck radio and not have to depend on my cell phone for entertainment. Just sayin

poops

It's capitalism at its finest. If there's a buck to be made, somebody's going to find a way.

The fact that Houston radio sounds different than San Antonio or St. Louis or New York is proof that we're not all cookie-cutter. Most Houston radio stations do their best to sound like Houston.

I have worked for stations who imported a music library from another city and ran with the exact same clocks and rotations a couple of times in my career. Both times it fell flat on its face. While the stations we were borrowing from were successful (one was a top ranked sister station, one was a hot new format that was making a buzz in the industry) we went down in flames. In one case, we were the 5th out of 5 AC stations (gotta love the early 90's) and the station that prevailed was the one that had its finger on the pulse of the audience; we were sold because we failed. In the other case, the station didn't become successful until they figured out what the audience wanted and sounded like its own market.

It comes back to the Rivers quote: "play the hits." You just have to know what's a hit in that city, because it's not universal, and you have to know what's still a "hit" today because there are songs that hit number one that people are trying to forget they knew and there are mid chart stiffs that people today are nostalgic for. It's fascinating to watch what 20+ years does to music. There are albums in my own collection where I ask myself today why I paid good money for them and others I wish I bought and seek out on iTunes.

As much as radio likes to think it sets trends, the reality is that the listeners set the trends; we hold up a mirror to the audience so they can see themselves.

But yeah, I can relate to being outside of everyone's target demo. In the early 90's, when CHR's boom went bust and everyone went AC in search of 25-54 year olds, I used to say that I couldn't wait to turn 25 so my hatred of all things Michael Bolton would matter. Well, whaddya know, I'm now in the upper third of that demo, stations don't play Michael Bolton anymore, but they do play a lot of the stuff I liked while in high school and college. I'm sure that once I'm on the other side of the coin again I'll go back to feeling left out a bit.

 

[poops]

Fair enough John... and I do appreciate the reply. It is a shame though...

Happy St. Patrick's Day ;D

poops

 

[andrewduong77]

Well anyways, speaking of Cox's Classic Rock learning Classic Hits KGLK, a lot of Classic Hits stations start to sound a lot like Classic Rock stations themselves including CBS' Classic Hits stations. CBS' Classic Hits KLUV/Dallas starts playing Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven", AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long", and Journey's "Any Way You Want It" last year.

Which would you rather hear from the 70's - Zepplin or the Starland Vocal Band?

Some songs stand up to time. Some don't.

It's more important to play what people like than to worry about what box a song belongs in. Or, in the words of Steve Rivers, "Play the hits."

I agree, Zeppelin and AC/DC actually fits the format too.

Many Classic Hits stations today actually play Boston's "More Than A Feeling" and such.

 

[andrewduong77]

I think this is the only opportunity that KODA is taking by drawing audience off the soft 70s hits fan since there's no true Classic Hits station in Houston to cover most of Firefall and James Taylor music.

 

[andrewduong77]

I always like the aspect of Clear Channel AC stations, they're very decent. Besides WLTW/NY and WLIT/Chicago, most CC's AC stations still play a lot of 70s regardless if the market have a good Classic Hits/Oldies station or not, even we're in 2012 already. KOST/LA, KSNE/Las Vegas, KOSY/Salt Lake City, KESZ/Phoenix, WASH/Washington, and WMGF/Orlando are some of CC's AC that still play a lot of 70s.

I know a few of CBS' AC stations out there that still play 70s, but CBS tends to push their stations ahead of time toward younger audiences with their Classic Hits sounding like AC's, their AC's sounding like Hot AC's, their Hot AC's sounding like CHR's, and their CHR's sounding like Rhythmic CHR's.

I like how CC stations are old leaning, but they never fall behind. Their Classic Hits still play a lot of 60s, their AC's still play a lot of 70s with little 60s, some of their Hot AC's still play few 80s (even though Hot AC's are supposed to play only 1990-present after 2010). At the same time their Classic Hits do keep up with the 80s as well, their AC's, Hot AC's, and CHR's do keep up with the currents as well.

CC's Classic Hits/Oldies are good too while they aren't as notable as CBS' Classic Hits. CC's Classic Hits/Oldies still play a lot of 60s, more than CBS' Classic Hits does. At the same time, they're not behind on the 80s. They also included a lot of 80s just like CBS' Classic Hits.

I know Houston listeners have been talking about their lack of a true Classic Hits station and I even brought up this topic pointing out if KODA starts dumping 70s then Houston will be left without a commercial FM station to listen to the soft 70s hits or disco 70s hits.

I know people have been talking about how CBS should flip KLOL or KILT-FM to Classic Hits just because other CBS' Classic Hits are good. Well, keep in mind CC's Classic Hits/Oldies are good too. They even play more older stuffs (60's) than CBS' Classic Hits does while keeping up with the 70s and 80s well. Although, it's a bad idea for CC to flip one of their stations in Houston to Classic Hits because they would have to dent of the older end of their AC KODA to bring up their Classic Hits. It's usually better for a market to have a Classic Hits and AC to be owned by different companies. So, I think a CBS' Classic Hits in Houston would be good, but don't forget Houston have a really low-numbered Cumulus station Adult Alternative KHJK at the 29th place of the market with a 0.9 (WOW!) that could flip to Classic Hits/Oldies as well. I wonder if that means it could sound like Cumulus' (formerly Citadel's) Oldies WLS-FM/Chicago and WYAY/Atlanta that plays everything from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s which is fed from the True Oldies Channel, maybe not since that's a Citadel thing back in the days.