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

[new_friends_gr]

(B98.5 is a perfect example of what it seems like more AC's should be doing)....

I had a chance to visit B98.5's website to look at the songs they've played over the last few days, and I have to say ... there are some good songs there that few stations seem to play anymore. Here are some of them:

"Emotions" - Mariah Carey
"Will You Be There" - Michael Jackson
"My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" - En Vogue
"Life is a Highway" - Tom Cochrane
"I Know" - Dionne Farris
"The World I Know" - Collective Soul
"Whip It" - Devo
"Something About You" - Level 42
"I'll Tumble 4 Ya" - Culture Club
"Shattered Dreams" - Johnny Hates Jazz
"How Will I Know" - Whitney Houston
"Everlasting Love" - Howard Jones

Some of those are from the '90s and some are from the '80s.

One thing I noticed is that Cee-Lo Green's "Forget You" is on B98.5's playlist. That song, IMO, does NOT belong on an AC station. That should stay on Hot AC and CHR.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I mentioned on another thread about how most of the 90s music on AC's is sleepy.

Not sure about other stations, but that definitely isn't true about B98.5 - i. e. Counting Crows, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, Hootie & The Blowfish, Alanis Morissette etc.

In some cases. mid tempo is the new soft. The artists you mention above have many songs that would be mid tempo and soft in today's world.

Maybe, but CarolinaRadio said that most 90s music on AC was "sleepy" - there is nothing "sleepy" about the Dave Matthews Band/Ants Marching or Alanis Morissette/Ironic

I heard "Ironic" on a hot AC station (though one that doesn't play enough new stuff for some people to put it in that category) on Saturday and was going to suggest that in a thread about the lack of 90s music. It sounds perfect for the format.

 

[vchimpanzee]

It used to be "relaxing, stress free" were AC benefits. Apparently not anymore.

And yet they continue to try to claim that's exactly what they are.

Perhaps because what is relaxing and stress free to the actual target audience includes peppy tunes.

There are always Internet alternatives.....

cd

Not everyone has it, or if they do it's not fast enough or they don't have sound.

And what about cars?

Plug an iPod into the car's system. It isn't the stations' obligation to cater to whatever minuscule fraction of the audience lives in 1998.

How would that work, and where would I get the money to do that or get all the music? Stop trying to make me spend money I don't have. Stations should just give use music thart's worth hearing.

And be glad I don't have a job. I would not be able to work with distractions such as what passes for music in the workplace. It's all I can do to put up with it for the few minutes I spend in so-called professional offices.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I mentioned on another thread that it's a good thing my grocery store doesn't play this garbage now called "AC" because they' have to turn it down or off each time I went in the store.

I couldn't find something at myusual store and I went in another store and heard what I believe was "Complicated" by Avirl Lavigne. Those people wouldn't have me as a regualr customer. On the other nad, the next time I was there, classical music was playing. I took the time to ask where the music was coming from. No, not the speakers. Where is it COMING from? They said something about headquarters and automated equipment. So they CAN control it and maybe give us something better.

JCPenney has gotten a lot of business from me over the years. I have more golf shirts with vertical stripes than you can imagine. But what they've been doing lately is unacceptable, and with the new policy of no sales, they're going to have a hard time getting me back. Nevertheless, I had a gift card which I got for Christmas. What I heard may have been called "Millennium". I saw two more shirts I really liked, but just two. I can't believe I went looking for underwear and pajamas to make up the difference so I could use up the card. They didn't even have my style of pajamas. And I'm REALLY getting annoyed with the noise by this time. I just bought a third shirt.

 

[carolinaradio]

(B98.5 is a perfect example of what it seems like more AC's should be doing)....

I had a chance to visit B98.5's website to look at the songs they've played over the last few days, and I have to say ... there are some good songs there that few stations seem to play anymore. Here are some of them:

"Emotions" - Mariah Carey
"Will You Be There" - Michael Jackson
"My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" - En Vogue
"Life is a Highway" - Tom Cochrane
"I Know" - Dionne Farris
"The World I Know" - Collective Soul
"Whip It" - Devo
"Something About You" - Level 42
"I'll Tumble 4 Ya" - Culture Club
"Shattered Dreams" - Johnny Hates Jazz
"How Will I Know" - Whitney Houston
"Everlasting Love" - Howard Jones

Some of those are from the '90s and some are from the '80s.

One thing I noticed is that Cee-Lo Green's "Forget You" is on B98.5's playlist. That song, IMO, does NOT belong on an AC station. That should stay on Hot AC and CHR.

I agree - in addition to the 90s songs they play that you don't typically hear on AC, I love that they play 80s stuff like Level 42 (that song seems like such a perfect fit for the AC format), Howard Jones, Wang Chung, etc. I hear the Tom Cochrane song on some AC stations, but it's not really a "staple."

I disagree, however, about "Forget You" - a lot of AC's play it (just in my range, WSPA/Greenville, WLYT/Charlotte, WKQC/Charlotte, etc play it), and it's not really any different from a disco song, which a lot of AC's still play. I can see how the 25-54 demographic would like it.

 

[vchimpanzee]

(B98.5 is a perfect example of what it seems like more AC's should be doing)....

I had a chance to visit B98.5's website to look at the songs they've played over the last few days, and I have to say ... there are some good songs there that few stations seem to play anymore. Here are some of them:

"Emotions" - Mariah Carey
"Will You Be There" - Michael Jackson
"My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" - En Vogue
"Life is a Highway" - Tom Cochrane
"I Know" - Dionne Farris
"The World I Know" - Collective Soul
"Whip It" - Devo
"Something About You" - Level 42
"I'll Tumble 4 Ya" - Culture Club
"Shattered Dreams" - Johnny Hates Jazz
"How Will I Know" - Whitney Houston
"Everlasting Love" - Howard Jones

Some of those are from the '90s and some are from the '80s.

One thing I noticed is that Cee-Lo Green's "Forget You" is on B98.5's playlist. That song, IMO, does NOT belong on an AC station. That should stay on Hot AC and CHR.

I agree - in addition to the 90s songs they play that you don't typically hear on AC, I love that they play 80s stuff like Level 42 (that song seems like such a perfect fit for the AC format), Howard Jones, Wang Chung, etc. I hear the Tom Cochrane song on some AC stations, but it's not really a "staple."

I disagree, however, about "Forget You" - a lot of AC's play it (just in my range, WSPA/Greenville, WLYT/Charlotte, WKQC/Charlotte, etc play it), and it's not really any different from a disco song, which a lot of AC's still play. I can see how the 25-54 demographic would like it.

Even I like it. Now that's saying something. It does have to be the censored version.

The radio station I listen to the most plays "Love Train" by The O'Jays and it sounds very similar to that.

 

[firepoint525]

There is no "logic" to what AC plays, or doesn't play. Mix 92.9 recently added about three Air Supply songs to their playlist. By that logic, they should have also added about half a dozen or so more Air Supply songs. Just because they play "A" doesn't mean that they will play "B," which I believe is the argument that most of you have been trying to make.

 

[imhomerjay]

How would that work, and where would I get the money to do that or get all the music?

Not the problem of any station.

Stations should just give use music thart's worth hearing.

As determined by the actual target audience, most do precisely that.

And be glad I don't have a job. I would not be able to work with distractions such as what passes for music in the workplace. It's all I can do to put up with it for the few minutes I spend in so-called professional offices.

Other than being glad for the hypothetical potential co-workers, it's utterly irrelevant.

 

[bchristi]

I liked the AC sound of the late '90s and early '00s, mostly soft hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and I miss it. Times have changed though. Much in the way "Oldies" stations, which used to focus on the '50s and early '60s, now focus on the late '60s, '70s, and early '80s. You hardly ever hear "Music of Your Life" stations anymore unless you are in a retirement community. 10 years ago, most markets had one at least on the AM dial.

 

[semoochie]

"Forget You"(We'll just call it that.)almost sounds like it could be from the 60s. My only problem with it is that in its original form, it's mean spirited!

 

[atlantaboy]

I guess I still don't understand how decent 90s pop/rock material doesn't hold up as well as sappy, slow, burned out 'soft' AC songs from that era

Are you sure that's true, though? (About most ACs nationwide)?

 

[carolinaradio]

I guess I still don't understand how decent 90s pop/rock material doesn't hold up as well as sappy, slow, burned out 'soft' AC songs from that era

Are you sure that's true, though? (About most ACs nationwide)?

There are exceptions, like the Cox AC's and some others owned by smaller companies (like WEJZ in Jacksonville), but if you look at the example of songs I listed in the other thread about why AC doesn't play more 90s, it's far from likely that you'll hear those on the majority of AC stations like you hear "Because You Loved Me", "I Don't Want to Wait", "Give Me One Reason", "Truly Madly Deeply", the dated country crossovers, etc. AC has gotten better about playing a wider variety of sounds from the 80s and 00s, but they seem terrified to step out of their comfort zone with the 90s.

The 25-54 demographic must just prefer aggressive 80s/00s/current songs and tired, sleepy 90s...that's all I can conclude

 

[firepoint525]

"Forget You"(We'll just call it that.)almost sounds like it could be from the 60s. My only problem with it is that in its original form, it's mean spirited!

Actually, it could be considered "mean-spirited" in both forms! The "softening" of the language for AC airplay doesn't change the meaning of the song.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I don't know how Last FM works. I noticed there was a format list.

This is what came up when I tried "Lite sounds":

EZ 103.1 has "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga, "When Doves Cry" by Prince, "Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' by Journey, and "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera. I don't know what "So What" by Pink sounds like but it can't be good.

94.7 Wave has a description that makes it appear to be smooth jazz, and there is some of that, but also "Apologize" by Timbaland, "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder, "Ain't Nobody" by Chaka Khan, and I don't know what "Thank You" by Dido sounds like.

Fresh 102.5 has "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar, "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5, "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant, "More Than a Feeling" by Boston and I don't know what "Unwritten" by Natasha Beddingfield sounds like.

Lite 101.9 has "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, "Heart of Glass" by Blondie, "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling, "All Star" by Smash Mouth, "Vogue" by Madonna, "Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart, "The Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga, and I don't know what "White Flag" by Dido sounds like.

 

[imhomerjay]

All sounds about right.

 

[carolinaradio]

Another "soft AC" has bit the dust. WLQT in Dayton, OH has adjusted to mainstream AC, mainly uptempo 80s through today. They had been playing mostly 70s-90s sleepy AC.

I don't know if it was mentioned here, but Lite 95.9 WIOP in Charleston, SC ditched soft AC for Hot AC a couple of weeks ago.

 

[umfan]

A shame, I really liked WLQT. I'll tune in next time I drive through Dayton to see how bad it's gotten.

 

[vchimpanzee]

All sounds about right.

No, it doesn't. If you go to a web site with format categories and choose "Lite sounds", none of those except possibly the Los Angeles station are what you would expect.

 

[imhomerjay]

They may not be what you'd expect, but you hardly represent, nor seem to care to understand, the target audience.

 

[Jay F]

As for the positive posts about WSB-FM, keep in mind radio geeks get really excited at bright ACs (as well as adult leaning CHRs). They don't like soft music and they hate hip hop. The new WSB-FM is exactly how they want ACs to sound.

But listeners don't especially like the ACs that have become bright. AC does poorly in several markets these days outside of the holiday season. WSB-FM does just OK but not nearly as good as #1 rated KODA/Houston. I would argue if you put a KODA or a WLYF in a market like Atlanta (among many others) that only have a bright AC not only would the softer AC win in women 25-54...the pre-exisiting AC would do so poorly that they would have to change formats..they would stand for nothing and serve no purpose.