No Real Dance Stations Left In USA With the selling of Energy in Arizona

[theedger]

remember,"Dancefloor" can STILL save the day and turn things around(even if it IS my record)

Promise us all that you won't mention "Dancefloor" in 2008. It's time to move on. Please.

 

[lalumia]

well,actually "Dancefloor '08",a faster modified version;
people still go nuts over the original, which never got it's real day in court at radio or in the clubs(see "hipper than thou",etc)and, as far as I'm concerned,the jury is still out(local club crowd still loves it)and in 08, the Jimi experiments obviously can't do any worse than what befell dance in the mainstream in 2007...it's time to wake up,kids!!!

 

[JohnParker]

Brian,

I just wanted to address your points on Energy in SF. I think that everyone has to realize that, right or wrong, in todays market radio programs not to be mass appeal but instead to a demographic. According to Energy, they are the #1 station with their target demo, I've not seen the Arbitron breakdown so I don't know if it's true or not. So, I'd imagine that while a lot of people would say the station isn't for them, the station is happy because they are attracting the listeners that they wish to sell commercials to.

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As for other comments from people about the proper programming of a dance station, that's all opinion. What I like, you may hate. And vice-versa. I think that dance music really doesn't have a programming at radio problem. It has an identity crisis. To me, dance music is any rhythmic pop music. To others it could be only trance or only house and nothing else matters. Whatever. The more the music gets pigeon-holed the less chance it has at becoming mass appeal. Which by the way is ok with a lot of people. They prefer it stay underground.

My advice is too have fun programming your station your way. If there was a "right" way to do it then it would have been done already many times over. Every station is different as it should be as every market is different. A one size fits all plan isn't going to work, America is too big and too diverse.

Just my opinion,

jp

 

[azenergyfan]

Just to pipe in. Energy AZ is still on the air so lets not put the dirt over them before they die. Who knows, maybe there is a chance Energy AZ stays

 

[Brian_1055]

Brian,

I just wanted to address your points on Energy in SF. I think that everyone has to realize that, right or wrong, in todays market radio programs not to be mass appeal but instead to a demographic. According to Energy, they are the #1 station with their target demo, I've not seen the Arbitron breakdown so I don't know if it's true or not. So, I'd imagine that while a lot of people would say the station isn't for them, the station is happy because they are attracting the listeners that they wish to sell commercials to.
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I understand what you are saying, but maybe I should have emphasized they can play more mainstream dance music and still do this while not affecting/losing the current listeners. Only good can come from it. Keep in mind a lot of listeners will tune into a station by default... just as I tune into Energy by default when I'm in the Bay Area because I love dance music. So while they may be attracting their target, they could still do that and attract a lot more listeners. I see the potential to greatly increase their cume, ratings, etc. with better dance hits, and more SF suited dance songs.

As for other comments from people about the proper programming of a dance station, that's all opinion. What I like, you may hate. And vice-versa.

Sure a lot is opinion, but having worked at a recent dance station that went through several "phases" I can tell you I've seen how the type of dance music you program can really attract different audiences and different sized audiences as well. The best programmed period of that station, in my opinion, also happened to have the highest ratings in its short history. At that time I think it was programmed with the perfect mix to where it had a large mainstream audience, but because of some of the regular programming and mixshows, etc. it also kept the hardcore dance followers & more underground dance fans happy. It may be hard to program the perfect dance station, but I do believe there are right and wrong ways.

I think that dance music really doesn't have a programming at radio problem. It has an identity crisis. To me, dance music is any rhythmic pop music.

I'll agree about an identity crisis, but I really do have to stick with my belief that there are some major dance music radio programming problems. So that it doesn't sound like I'm picking on one station, I'll give you an example from another... have you heard the version of "Relax" that's getting played on Energy AZ? No way that version should have ever made radio. Not even internet radio. Things like that are killing us. But I do like some of the things they're doing.

The more the music gets pigeon-holed the less chance it has at becoming mass appeal. Which by the way is ok with a lot of people. They prefer it stay underground.

Which is a big problem. Many DJ's/mixers/etc have had too big a part in this.

If there was a "right" way to do it then it would have been done already many times over. Every station is different as it should be as every market is different.

And that is one of the most important things I wanted to get across. I totally agree. Which is another reason I think Energy SF needs to tweak their music. For one, it's not mainstream (dance) enough (though I'd have to admit over the last few years there have not been very many quality dance hits even put out there). And two, it doesn't sound San Francisco. Although it might sound hard to believe, they should have taken some notes from Wild 94.9 when they were playing house, freestyle, trance, etc.. Now while a bit of this has been negative, I can say I do think that Energy SF does do one of the better jobs of getting out there in the community.