Please Explain The Logic to "No Soft Music on AC Anymore"

[Gregg]

In a thread on B98.5 in Atlanta, several posters praise the station for getting rid of its softer, older titles, and suggest a move to more rock-oriented music is a good one. I don't understand the logic to this.

Shouldn't an AC station be the spot on the dial where you DON'T hear songs that are too upbeat and rock-oriented? Isn't that the reason AC exists? Past generations wanted a spot on the dial where they could relax, not have distracting music whether they were at work or maybe at home reading or eating dinner. Has that need evaporated today?

Most markets no longer have a Smooth Jazz station or a commercial Classical station. At one time there used to be a format called "Soft Rock" that played only the softer songs from rock CDs. These stations includede KNX-FM Los Angeles and both WKTU and WYNY NYC before they switched to other formats. They are all gone now as well. Shouldn't there be ONE last station on the dial that isn't too upbeat? Don't you ever need relaxing music or are today's brains hard-wired in a different way?

As David Bowie asks in Young Americans, "Ain't there one damn song that can make you break down and cry?"



Gregg
[email protected]

 

[borderblaster]

Just because people are adults doesn't mean they want music that puts them to sleep at their desk at work

 

[Seltzer]

And until someone proves all these stations wrong..by putting on a soft Adult Contemporary station that is still somewhat current in nature, the move to harder titles will continue. It used to be "relaxing, stress free" were AC benefits. Apparently not anymore.

 

[RBRadioWaves]

KTWV Los Angeles does a good job at this. A mixture between Smooth Jazz and Soft Rock hits from the 70s to Today. I also like WFEZ Miami and WIOP Charleston, recent launches which play soft rock hits and a few smooth tracks.

 

[cd637299]

Even WFEZ has bizarre tunes....

I agree with the OP, but then again, I'm in a minority; advertisers aren't looking for folk like me.

It's the state of radio today. There are still a handful of super-soft ones out there cough-WAVV-cough.....but radio in the 70s isn't radio in 2012.

There are always Internet alternatives.....

cd

 

[imhomerjay]

For starters, "soft" is in the ear of the beholder. But beyond that, no, AC shouldn't be the place on the dial where you don't hear such-and-such, it should be the place on the dial where the target demo hears what they want to hear, broadly speaking.

 

[carolinaradio]

Even IF AC's were 'soft', how much new material is there that fits that bill? Not much. Occasionally an Idol winner or a once-popular musician will come out with something, but it never gets anywhere. There is more overlap on the AC/Hot AC/CHR charts now than ever, especially in the 15-30 positions on the chart.

With a lot of Hot AC's sounding more like Adult CHR's (especially those owned by CBS) I expect Mainstream AC to begin sounding even more like Hot AC did until recently.

 

[Gregg]

But do the charts reflect the music that is offered or the music the stations WANT to play. Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? If AC stations play more ballads and avoid harder edged songs, that's what the charts will reflect.

And many stations ignore segments of the charts depending on what's going on in their individual markets. WLTW NYC always played more Urban AC crossover titles than other AC stations in other parts of the country. They'd go early on a rhythmic AC song and add rock-oriented songs late.

I think Norah Jones is a great example. A few years ago she won all those Grammy awards. AC stations, even Hot AC stations, were playing Don't Know Why, Sunrise and Come Away With Me. I remember WPLJ, a Hot AC in NYC, playing Come Away with Me and its processing really having a hard time with the song due to all the silent pauses. Then last year, Jones releases a new CD with a great single, Chasing Pirates, and virtually no AC stations played it, even though it was a bit bouncier and slightly uptempo compared to Jones' other hits. Sade released a CD last year and it went to #1. Yet I didn't hear ANY songs from the CD on AC stations.

They clearly are NOT playing new soft music, even those songs from hit CDs and from multiple Grammy winners. AC stations are also re-writing history, going back to songs released only a few years ago, such as Norah Jones hits, and deleting them from their playlists. Meanwhile they are adding songs from a few years ago they never played as currents.

One poster above said AC stations don't want their listeners falling asleep at work. So only a few years ago, AC stations could play Norah Jones and other soft music and those people managed to stay awake. Today's AC listener can't stay awake? I thought the opposite is true. Life is more hectic today, bosses make more demands, traffic is heavier, women are trying to balance careers, family and other responsibilities... yet they NEVER want to relax to soft music?

Gregg
[email protected]

 

[cd637299]

I agree....but apparently radio stations have had their feelers out, and have consultants to recommend what songs would reflect the ad dollars.

It's not that soft music is bad. There sure are times when I don't want music that can give me a headache....but to me, I have to pretty-much go online to hear it. I can give you a few stations if you wish. Some are outside the US/Canada.

From personal experience.....I felt that it was around 1983/84 when I even said to myself, "Where are the 'MOR' artists/songs nowadays?" At that time, maybe 5-7 songs in the Billboard top 40 would qualify....maybe.

In 1992, I'd say maybe *one* would qualify!

Didn't Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why" only reach the Billboard Top 40 *after* the award sweep? I knew the song before the awards, I think, but it's possible that the awards sparked the spike. (And it stalled at #36 or so....maybe it topped @ #1 on the Adult Contemp. chart.)

If your library reference section has Joel Whitburn's "Top Adult Contemporary 1961-1993" or any more recent revision, be sure to take a peek. Interesting to see the changes over the years, and where the songs peaked on MOR stations. (1961 was the year when Billboard debuted the Easy Listening aka Adult Contemporary chart, with Brook Benton's "The Boll Weevil Song" as the first #1.)

cd

cd

 

[firepoint525]

I can agree with nearly all of what has been said here so far, but it's interesting to note that Mix 92.9 here in Nashville has actually added a couple of Air Supply songs back into their rotation in recent years.

 

[imhomerjay]

But do the charts reflect the music that is offered or the music the stations WANT to play. Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?

It’s also irrelevant, really. If the audience for a given station responds to it and considers it acceptable to be played on said station, then all is working as it should be. Programmers want to play what brings in revenue, charts or no charts.

If AC stations play more ballads and avoid harder edged songs, that's what the charts will reflect.

And if the audience desires the so-called harder songs, that’s what matters, not what impact it will or won’t have on charts.

And many stations ignore segments of the charts depending on what's going on in their individual markets.

As well they should.

I think Norah Jones is a great example. A few years ago she won all those Grammy awards. AC stations, even Hot AC stations, were playing Don't Know Why, Sunrise and Come Away With Me. I remember WPLJ, a Hot AC in NYC, playing Come Away with Me and its processing really having a hard time with the song due to all the silent pauses. Then last year, Jones releases a new CD with a great single, Chasing Pirates, and virtually no AC stations played it, even though it was a bit bouncier and slightly uptempo compared to Jones' other hits. Sade released a CD last year and it went to #1. Yet I didn't hear ANY songs from the CD on AC stations.

Perhaps because they generated little interest from the target audience (i.e. not enough to warrant adding them)? There’s nothing new under the sun about artists not having follow-up singles not get the airplay previous cuts received, nor is it unique to AC.

They clearly are NOT playing new soft music, even those songs from hit CDs and from multiple Grammy winners.

And if the audience is expressing little interest in soft titles, they should be doing exactly what they’re doing by not playing them.

AC stations are also re-writing history, going back to songs released only a few years ago, such as Norah Jones hits, and deleting them from their playlists. Meanwhile they are adding songs from a few years ago they never played as currents.

Um, what? When did radio stations become the keeper of musical history? Unless my station is using a slogan that they’re the musical Smithsonian, whether they played something initially or dropped something they once played is utterly irrelevant. They’re simply updating their playlists to reflect changing tastes. If a song that didn’t happen to work initially now does, great. And if something that worked in the past no longer does, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Their job isn’t to say “You liked this X number of years ago, ergo we will continue to play it even if you don’t care to hear it now.”

One poster above said AC stations don't want their listeners falling asleep at work. So only a few years ago, AC stations could play Norah Jones and other soft music and those people managed to stay awake. Today's AC listener can't stay awake?

Tastes change. You can’t program to every single individual taste, so you look at the general trends. If you can find more success by focusing on a more up tempo mix, go with that. As people continue to age in and out of the demographic, it’s inevitable that there will be flux in what works.

I thought the opposite is true. Life is more hectic today, bosses make more demands, traffic is heavier, women are trying to balance careers, family and other responsibilities... yet they NEVER want to relax to soft music?

Get an iPod.

People can also deal with the stress of the day by having fun, familiar, up tempo background music. Perhaps that demanding boss or hectic drive from work to soccer to home is more tolerable with a catchier soundtrack than mellow tones for this audience.

Moreover, the “never” statement is nonsense. You can’t be all things to all people, and can’t predict the timing of when a given person will be looking to relax, and when they do, they may temporarily abandon you for the iPod/CD/satellite/whatever, but at the same time, some other person is not looking for slow music. Go with that the plurality indicates they want.

 

[cd637299]

Norah J has truly been the exception to the rule. At least she was, in 2002. No idea what kinda music she is putting out now.

As far as programming music on a station, I can't speak for the legitimacy of the "survey", but a station in Australia, www.magic1278.com.au , which evolved from a 40s-to-70s music station (too bad they were not streaming then), asks its listeners what they want in their station. I've listened to them online over the years, and they have added a LOT of rock 'n' roll to their wide variety (last I read, they claim a 3,500-song playlist). Apparently that's what the people said they want. (They also call out songs as "classic top 40" special songs, to recall those days when top 40 played the tunes.)

Of all the radio stations in Florida, only *two* can be listed as "Beautiful music" stations---and one is non-commercial/listener-supported. As to the "soft AC," WDUV & my local WFEZ (whom seem to duplicate their playlists) have some songs that certainly raise an eyebrow (or ear, in this case).

Actually the trend of *any* music on the radio is to be removed, as more and more folk listen online, or download their music. So all this may be a moot point in the future. <shrug>

cd

 

[firepoint525]

Didn't Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why" only reach the Billboard Top 40 *after* the award sweep? I knew the song before the awards, I think, but it's possible that the awards sparked the spike. (And it stalled at #36 or so....maybe it topped @ #1 on the Adult Contemp. chart.)

My first exposure to Norah Jones came via her airplay on an Americana station, the Phoenix here in Nashville. Tuned-In Broadcasting, the Phoenix's owner, sold the Phoenix to Salem Broadcasting, who changed it to adult contemporary Christian music in August 2002. So I know that it was prior to then that I first heard Norah Jones on the Phoenix. Looking at my Billboard book (I don't have an AC book), I see that "Don't Know Why" didn't chart until March of 2003, reaching #30, so you would be correct about it charting in the wake of her grammy wins.

 

[firepoint525]

I think Norah Jones is a great example. A few years ago she won all those Grammy awards. AC stations, even Hot AC stations, were playing Don't Know Why, Sunrise and Come Away With Me. I remember WPLJ, a Hot AC in NYC, playing Come Away with Me and its processing really having a hard time with the song due to all the silent pauses. Then last year, Jones releases a new CD with a great single, Chasing Pirates, and virtually no AC stations played it, even though it was a bit bouncier and slightly uptempo compared to Jones' other hits. Sade released a CD last year and it went to #1. Yet I didn't hear ANY songs from the CD on AC stations.

I have heard "Chasing Pirates" played over Lite 98.7 in Hopkinsville. Otherwise, most of what I have heard from her has been on AAA radio. It is where I first heard "Chasing Pirates."

I don't know that AC really plays any "new" music at all. I first heard the Fray and K.T. Tunstall and even Maroon5 (ugh!) on AAA radio before I ever heard any of them on AC. Now the local AAA is acting like they have never heard of Maroon5! ;D

 

[atlantaboy]

Isn't that the reason AC exists? Past generations wanted a spot on the dial where they could relax, not have distracting music whether they were at work or maybe at home reading or eating dinner.

That's really not true anymore - in general, today's 35-50 demo doesn't want "relaxing" songs - they want familiar, upbeat songs that they recognize and can sing along to

I don't think "AC" ever meant "relaxing music" - but there was so much "soft music" in the 70s that when the 80s/early 90s came around, that's what the target AC audience wanted to hear

 

[new_friends_gr]

But do the charts reflect the music that is offered or the music the stations WANT to play. Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? If AC stations play more ballads and avoid harder edged songs, that's what the charts will reflect.

And many stations ignore segments of the charts depending on what's going on in their individual markets. WLTW NYC always played more Urban AC crossover titles than other AC stations in other parts of the country. They'd go early on a rhythmic AC song and add rock-oriented songs late.

I think Norah Jones is a great example. A few years ago she won all those Grammy awards. AC stations, even Hot AC stations, were playing Don't Know Why, Sunrise and Come Away With Me. I remember WPLJ, a Hot AC in NYC, playing Come Away with Me and its processing really having a hard time with the song due to all the silent pauses. Then last year, Jones releases a new CD with a great single, Chasing Pirates, and virtually no AC stations played it, even though it was a bit bouncier and slightly uptempo compared to Jones' other hits. Sade released a CD last year and it went to #1. Yet I didn't hear ANY songs from the CD on AC stations.

They clearly are NOT playing new soft music, even those songs from hit CDs and from multiple Grammy winners. AC stations are also re-writing history, going back to songs released only a few years ago, such as Norah Jones hits, and deleting them from their playlists. Meanwhile they are adding songs from a few years ago they never played as currents.

One poster above said AC stations don't want their listeners falling asleep at work. So only a few years ago, AC stations could play Norah Jones and other soft music and those people managed to stay awake. Today's AC listener can't stay awake? I thought the opposite is true. Life is more hectic today, bosses make more demands, traffic is heavier, women are trying to balance careers, family and other responsibilities... yet they NEVER want to relax to soft music?

I agree with everything you've posted. I guess I'm in the minority because I love listening to soft songs now. In 2011 I was listening to lots of CHR, but I've gotten kinda sick of that and have started listening to lots more Soft AC music. Sometimes it's refreshing to listen to songs where I can just relax and listen. Lately I've been listening a lot to WFEZ in Miami (streaming it online at work), and I absolutely love it. Neil Diamond, Air Supply, Barbra Streisand, classic Whitney Houston, and so on. It's wonderful. Lots of old songs that no other AC station plays at all anymore.

The relaxing music doesn't put me to sleep at all! It's refreshing and allows me to "recharge my battery" if you will.

 

[Seltzer]

But do the charts reflect the music that is offered or the music the stations WANT to play. Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? If AC stations play more ballads and avoid harder edged songs, that's what the charts will reflect.

And many stations ignore segments of the charts depending on what's going on in their individual markets. WLTW NYC always played more Urban AC crossover titles than other AC stations in other parts of the country. They'd go early on a rhythmic AC song and add rock-oriented songs late.

I think Norah Jones is a great example. A few years ago she won all those Grammy awards. AC stations, even Hot AC stations, were playing Don't Know Why, Sunrise and Come Away With Me. I remember WPLJ, a Hot AC in NYC, playing Come Away with Me and its processing really having a hard time with the song due to all the silent pauses. Then last year, Jones releases a new CD with a great single, Chasing Pirates, and virtually no AC stations played it, even though it was a bit bouncier and slightly uptempo compared to Jones' other hits. Sade released a CD last year and it went to #1. Yet I didn't hear ANY songs from the CD on AC stations.

They clearly are NOT playing new soft music, even those songs from hit CDs and from multiple Grammy winners. AC stations are also re-writing history, going back to songs released only a few years ago, such as Norah Jones hits, and deleting them from their playlists. Meanwhile they are adding songs from a few years ago they never played as currents.

One poster above said AC stations don't want their listeners falling asleep at work. So only a few years ago, AC stations could play Norah Jones and other soft music and those people managed to stay awake. Today's AC listener can't stay awake? I thought the opposite is true. Life is more hectic today, bosses make more demands, traffic is heavier, women are trying to balance careers, family and other responsibilities... yet they NEVER want to relax to soft music?

I agree with everything you've posted. I guess I'm in the minority because I love listening to soft songs now. In 2011 I was listening to lots of CHR, but I've gotten kinda sick of that and have started listening to lots more Soft AC music. Sometimes it's refreshing to listen to songs where I can just relax and listen. Lately I've been listening a lot to WFEZ in Miami (streaming it online at work), and I absolutely love it. Neil Diamond, Air Supply, Barbra Streisand, classic Whitney Houston, and so on. It's wonderful. Lots of old songs that no other AC station plays at all anymore.

The relaxing music doesn't put me to sleep at all! It's refreshing and allows me to "recharge my battery" if you will.

In markets with retirees, you can get away with doing a WDUV type station that would play the music you want. But in most places it won't fly anymore.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Adele's "21" (and single "Rolling in the Deep") was the best selling album worldwide and in the US last year.

Was "Rolling in the Deep" soft? Not really. But its primary airplay came from AC stations. Obviously millions of people heard Adele on these relatively up-tempo 2011 ACs, liked her music, and decided to buy the album.

Without any auditorium research data, that's the best logical argument I can come up with for the way modern AC sounds.

 

[semoochie]

"Was "Rolling in the Deep" soft? Not really. But its primary airplay came from AC stations." That's hard to believe. I'm thinking it started on AAA and was all over CHR/Pop and Hot AC before AC got the memo.

 

[carolinaradio]

Adele has been heard on many formats. I don't consider "Rolling In The Deep" an AC-only song at all. Hot AC and CHR have played her to death as well.