OTHER CUMULUS CHRs: (yeah, we have it GOOD here).....

[electroboy73]

Well, this past weekend my partner and I needed a mini-vaction away from the busy life of the ATL. So, we drove down to Gulf Shores, AL. And as we traveled, I got to hear two other Cumulus Top-40 stations. And all I can say is that with our Q100, here in Atlanta (albeit still not a PERFECT CHR)....WE HAVE IT GOOD!

First, near the Gulf Shores/Pensacola area we pulled in WZNS/Ft Walton Beach (which is Cumulus' "Z96"). WOW...(I'm thinking), is this how BAD Q100 sounded a couple of years ago?? They'd played stuff like, Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" into Daughtry's latest hit. Then later, Nickelback's "How You Remind Me"! Other songs I heard included, Rob Thomas' "Ever The Same", Fuel's "Hemorrhage" and Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris". Just an insane selection of recurrents sprinkled with VERY minimal current hits!

BTW: (since I'm on the topic of CHR), MAJOR KUDOS go out to the LEGENDARY 97.5-WABB/Mobile (where our radio stayed positioned the most) They're still kicking as a strong CHR throughout that whole area!

Next (ladies n gentleman...on our tour)...heading back up I-85, we have Cumulus' "Y-102" (WHHY/Montgomery). Not nearly as bad as "Z96" but again, way too heavy on lite-recurrents and and only "peppered" with currents by Tiao Cruz, Pink and Maroon 5.

So now (more than ever), I say to Q100 back here at the Cumulus mothership...it's so good to be home and PLEASE don't ever revert back to the way some of your CHR offspring sound.  ;D

Any thoughts?

 

[mike7586]

Q100 does sound better than it used to. I still don't understand why, only during the day (from 10-3pm it seems like), they play songs like Smashing Pumpkins - 1979, Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want, Train - Drops of Jupiter, Coldplay - Yellow, etc. At the same time, they play songs like Sean Paul - Temperature, Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems, 2Pac - California Love, Eminem - Lose Yourself, Beyonce - Baby Boy and Naughty Girl, etc. which makes more sense recurrent wise than alternative rock and HOT AC. I guess it could be worse, but then again, it still could be better too. Regardless, the station has good ratings and it's most likely because it's the only station in the area that resembles CHR. With Cumulus, I don't expect this station to ever be like a Clear Channel or CBS CHR station and Atlanta will continue to be deprived of certain songs other top 10 markets get to enjoy.

 

[XCountry285]

B 104 in Allentown is HORRIBLE they play songs like Bon Jovi & Vertical Horizon next to Usher and Pitbull. What the heck? They have anything goes weekends? are you trying to be a Hot A/C or a CHR? That's my question. They present themselves as a Hot A/C however now more than ever they're slowly becoming more CHRish.

 

[RadioDoogie]

As well as B95.1 (WMGB) in Macon, GA and B100 (KBEA) in Davenport, IA.

 

[mike7586]

Well, there is definitely a trend here. Cumulus is into more HOT AC CHR's then Rhythmic CHR's. Also, a lot of their stations are in small to mid-sized markets, which might explain why Q100 is the way it is. For such a large market, Atlanta should have a better CHR station and Cumulus should know better.

I could live with Q100 the way it is right now IF they didn't play some of those songs during the day (like Smashing Pumpkins, seriously?). It makes absolutely no sense and I can guarantee most people's reaction to hearing some of those songs is WTF ???

 

[whit979]

Well, this past weekend my partner and I needed a mini-vaction away from the busy life of the ATL. So, we drove down to Gulf Shores, AL. And as we traveled, I got to hear two other Cumulus Top-40 stations. And all I can say is that with our Q100, here in Atlanta (albeit still not a PERFECT CHR)....WE HAVE IT GOOD!

Did you also check out i100 (100.7) in Pensacola/Mobile? It's another Cumulus CHR and it's the same as the others you heard.

 

[Wildstyle K]

For such a large market, Atlanta should have a better CHR station

That alone says it all.

Not that Q100 is bad, but Atl should have a "better" CHR station IN ADDITION TO Q or in general.

Q is perfect for what they claim to be, which is a chr that focuses strictly on pop and having a distinct pop sound. Q really is not the problem, as they've clearly the type of sound they strive to deliver. The problem is a lack of a rhythm lean chr that plays all the hits that are currently getting no play on ATL airwaves during the week and most of the weekend. Groove is rhythmic, so anything that falls in between the pop Q sound and the strictly rhythmic sound will seem nonexistent to many in Atlanta (except for those who are music fanatics..).

 

[electroboy73]

anything that falls in between the pop Q sound and the strictly rhythmic sound will seem nonexistent to many in Atlanta (except for those who are music fanatics..).

So true, man. A few artists I can think of off the top of my head are:

EDWARD MAYA:
"Stereo Love" (currently NO play at all)

3OH!3:
"Don't Trust Me" (very little play)
"Starstruck" w/Katy Perry (NO play at all)

SELENA GOMEZ:
"Naturally" (very little play)
"Round And Round" (NO play at all)

CASCADA:
"Evacuate The Dance Floor" (NO play at all)
"Fever" (NO play at all)
"Pyromania" (NO play at all)

...and of course who could forget any song by: METRO STATION

EVERY OTHER CHR (nationwide) played these. But, still...I'll take Q's sound now any day over those other Cumulus CHR's. But, yeah DEF still a big hole in this market.

 

[Wildstyle K]

This is what I dislike about my sister's compaq laptop. It sometimes erases words when you accidentally press a button or certain combination of buttons by mistake (still haven't figured out which one(s) are even doing it) or even erases full paragraphs or sends messages prematurely. It seems to only happen on computers with Vista..

Anyway, the following

Q is perfect for what they claim to be, which is a chr that focuses strictly on pop and having a distinct pop sound. Q really is not the problem, as they've clearly the type of sound they strive to deliver.

It's supposed to say "...they've clearly indicated the type of sound they strive to deliver" (this is in regard to the email posted here from the PD).

They did say they only guarantee hits from within the top 20, and I saw elsewhere on the board that Edward Maya was somewhere up in the 30's, so I can see why it's not playing yet. I believe Star was the one to play Metrostation (and even Danity Kane). Groove also used Metrostation in mixes when they were rhythmic ac.

 

[mike7586]

They say they "only play hits from the top 20" (which is what Rob Roberts told me as well), but Sick Puppies - Maybe and Maroon 5 - Give A Little More are both not top 20 and that's the new music they added. Both of those songs would be a better fit for Star94, not Q100. Doesn't make sense...

 

[burksy]

They say they "only play hits from the top 20" (which is what Rob Roberts told me as well), but Sick Puppies - Maybe and Maroon 5 - Give A Little More are both not top 20 and that's the new music they added. Both of those songs would be a better fit for Star94, not Q100. Doesn't make sense...

Right. Maroon 5 isn't a good fit for Q100. An artist that has been a Top 40 mainstay for 8 years now.

Please stop.

 

[mike7586]

They say they "only play hits from the top 20" (which is what Rob Roberts told me as well), but Sick Puppies - Maybe and Maroon 5 - Give A Little More are both not top 20 and that's the new music they added. Both of those songs would be a better fit for Star94, not Q100. Doesn't make sense...

Right. Maroon 5 isn't a good fit for Q100. An artist that has been a Top 40 mainstay for 8 years now.

Please stop.

You are completely missing my point - there are many other more rhythmic leaning songs they could add in addition to Maroon 5 - Give A Little More... and what is with Sick Puppies - Maybe? You got an answer for that one? Q100 won't take any "risks" and play songs other stations in major markets do. They always play it safe, from the songs to the boring DJ personalities and that's why the station is just "eh". Not to mention, the dude's voice they use in the jingle sounds horrible - at least the way they use it does. The best jingle they use is when they sing "Q100". Jingle wise, Star94 sounds better.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I don't know anything about the jingles or on air personalities, but the weekend (mix show) dj's are very good - just wanted to make sure to keep that clarified since the title and phrase "DJ" was used.

Although, I'd personally like a few differences and more risks on Q, I can't really complain because the info regarding formatting structure presented within the email and what is being done on the station are pretty consistent. Their goal is to be a pop chr providing strictly pop hits. They may not be fast on the new material or as risky as I wish, but at least there's more of a true sense of a somewhat unique variety on Q.

If anything, I'd just request at least a two hour Friday night mixshow (and maybe even some evening weekday mixshows- at least 20 minutes daily in length).

 

[CHRles]

Some of the Cumulus CHRs do a pretty good of playing all the hits, and a few of them even lean on Rhythmic/Pop. Case in point: 95.7 The Vibe Kansas City and Hot 92 Harrisburg.
Some small-market Cumulus CHRs have big-cty imaging, and a good music mix. Check out Hot 97.5 Bismarck:
http://www.hot975fm.com HOT 97.5 BISMARCK http://live.cumulusstreaming.com/kkct-fm 130 K

As for I-100 Pensacola-Mobile, they sound completely different from stations like Y-102 montgomery. I-100 is a lot less Adult leaning, as are stations like I-93 Dallas, I-94 Indianapolis, or I-106 Nashville.

What you will hear on a typical Cumulus CHR is a good dose of Recurrents, moreso than most Clear Channel or CBS owned CHRs.

 

[Wildstyle K]

....how Q100 use to feel...back when they had Tracy St. george with Cardio radio...and Susy Tavarez (the night chick who moved to Miami) with the Hot Hits countdown and mix shows at 9.....If i had to choose a station to listen to....  .....wow

I will say one thing though;
THOSE WERE THE GOOD OL' DAYS!!

Lets not forget the FRIDAY night mix as well.

However I do find countdowns a bit "ol' fashioned" now.

 

[atlantaboy]

Seems like you guys really like rhythmic music, so I can see why you'd be frustatred with Q100 - those major market Clear Channel and CBS CHRs are REALLY repetitive though (many spin their powers every hour), and they have the opposite problem - all they play is pop/dance, and many won't even touch Taylor Swift and Maroon 5, never mind Daughtry and Train

Agree that DJs on Q100 can be really dull, especially how they love to lead into a song by just saying the name of the song and the artist and that's it - Star 94 has much better DJs and jingles

 

[atlantaboy]

EDWARD MAYA:
"Stereo Love" (currently NO play at all)

3OH!3:
"Don't Trust Me" (very little play)
"Starstruck" w/Katy Perry (NO play at all)

SELENA GOMEZ:
"Naturally" (very little play)
"Round And Round" (NO play at all)

CASCADA:
"Evacuate The Dance Floor" (NO play at all)
"Fever" (NO play at all)
"Pyromania" (NO play at all)

...and of course who could forget any song by: METRO STATION

EVERY OTHER CHR (nationwide) played these.

Only 90/143 CHRs nationwide are playing Stereo Love - and some of those songs you listed didn't even chart on CHR - so not sure what you mean

But yeah Q100 would sound more interesting if it took more risks and had more diverse tastes

 

[Wildstyle K]

those major market Clear Channel and CBS CHRs.... all they play is pop/dance, ......

I'll forever love dance! Electro & rhythm dance hits, WiLD STYLE baby!!

Agree that DJs on Q100 can be really dull, especially how they love to lead into a song by just saying the name of the song and the artist and that's it - Star 94 has much better DJs and jingles

...and there goes that term "DJ's" again!
The Saturday Night Mixer DJ's on Q are some of the best! Just want to make sure to keep that clarified.

 

[radiolives]

But yeah Q100 would sound more interesting if it took more risks and had more diverse tastes

Were speaking about Cumulus here now come on