Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

[BJordan]

Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

According to KPWR's Wikipedia page it is saying as of June 2011 it is heavily focusing hip hop and beginning to play less electro pop. What do you think about Power's recent musical shift? Hit Me Up? Could it be going back to Urban because they've been playing Frank Ocean's Novacane in heavy rotation and Chris Brown's She Ain't You. So far this year has been a great year for R&B and KPWR is acknowledging that. So if you agree with what I'm saying hit me up? They might play more 90's & Early 2000's hits during their mix shows because Ludacris What's Your Fantasty Snoop Dogg's Gin N Juice and 2Pac's California Love. Power 106 has always sounded better musically no matter what musical trend they discover.

 

[bucwhyl]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

I'm crossing my fingers for that, because I hate that electro-pop crap and if Power 106 is indeed doing that, maybe other stations will follow suit.

 

[BJordan]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

I'm crossing my fingers for that, because I hate that electro-pop crap and if Power 106 is indeed doing that, maybe other stations will follow suit.

It's a response to KIIS-FM shift to mainstream pop. No more Lady Gaga YAY

 

[BJordan]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

I'm crossing my fingers for that, because I hate that electro-pop crap and if Power 106 is indeed doing that, maybe other stations will follow suit.

It's a response to KIIS-FM shift to mainstream pop. No more Lady Gaga YAY

 

[Martin Mac]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

I have noticed that KPWR hasn't been playing as much Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Black Eyed Peas as usual. Katy Perry's song E.T. did not make it very far on Power 106, even with the Kanye feature. Had this been last year, this song would be in power rotation. Also, Power has ignored all of Lady Gaga's and Ke$ha songs, and the electro-pop has been kept in really low rotation so far this year. In combination with what you said BJordan, it does look like their going back to their hip-hop lean. Now why? I don't know, but maybe the electro-pop craze is dying down on rhythmic radio?

 

[BJordan]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

I have noticed that KPWR hasn't been playing as much Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Black Eyed Peas as usual. Katy Perry's song E.T. did not make it very far on Power 106, even with the Kanye feature. Had this been last year, this song would be in power rotation.  Also, Power has ignored all of Lady Gaga's and Ke$ha songs, and the electro-pop has been kept in really low rotation so far this year. In combination with what you said BJordan, it does look like their going back to their hip-hop lean.  Now why? I don't know, but maybe the electro-pop craze is dying down on rhythmic radio?

I looked at the history of the Rhythmic Top 40 number 1 hits from the 1990's to Early 2000's and all the stuff on the charts were dominated by R&B/Hip Hop product. For example Usher's smash hit Nice & Slow became a huge staple on KPWR during the course of 1997-98 and Usher has been getting mad spins on Power 106 for years. They can easily go back to urban. IMHO
KPWR has been play pop hop/R&B for years. They played LL Cool J, Quad City DJ's and Timbaland,etc in the 90's and Early 2000's so with that said they've been playing "pop" for years. Another example Shade Sheist hits Money Owners w/Timbaland & Wake Up w/Nate Dogg from 2002. Those were in "Power Rotation" at KPWR in 2002. WQHT Hot 97 in NY is still Hip Hop & R&B also they both are urban contemporary but billed Rhythmic.

 

[ZPD22]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

I'm hoping that maybe this is a sign of more Hip Hop returning to all rhythmic radio stations. I'm tired of hearing lady gaga, kesha, and katy perry on every single station. In fact, I'm liking what Spokane's KEZE sounds like. They're a rhythmic station without all of these pop tracks played in between the Hip Hop tracks. I think they're a great example of what a TRUE rhythmic station should sound like!

 

[BJordan]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

I'm hoping that maybe this is a sign of more Hip Hop returning to all rhythmic radio stations. I'm tired of hearing lady gaga, kesha, and katy perry on every single station. In fact, I'm liking what Spokane's KEZE sounds like. They're a rhythmic station without all of these pop tracks played in between the Hip Hop tracks. I think they're a great example of what a TRUE rhythmic station should sound like!

Longtime Power 106 listeners like myself are sick of hearing Lady Gaga. Those kind of artist don't belong on a hip hop station like Power 106. IMHO KPWR has been through alot they did the dance format sister station Hot 97 in NY followed suit. When that got old by 1994 KPWR started playing R&B/Hip Hop artist such as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Warren G, 2Pac, TLC, Blackstreet, Mary J. Blige with some freestyle tracks here & there and start to chase KKBT 92.3 The Beat and sounded similar musical wise. BTW People won't be happy until Power 106 get it's KKBT type sound back. I'm on my hands and knees praying that Power 106 will go back to R&B.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

I'm currently in Tucson, Az. and "novacane" is being played here, too. That song is definitely not a sign of any change to come.... unless Tucson is suddenly becoming hip!

I remember when Tucson used to beat Phoenix when it came to playing more hip hop. BOY HAVE THINGS CHANGED, BIG TIME. Especially even more so that Power 98.3 in Phoenix is, once again, back to "Where Hip Hop Lives". ... ..

 

[BJordan]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

I'm currently in Tucson, Az. and "novacane" is being played here, too. That song is definitely not a sign of any change to come.... unless Tucson is suddenly becoming hip!

I remember when Tucson used to beat Phoenix when it came to playing more hip hop. BOY HAVE THINGS CHANGED, BIG TIME. Especially even more so that Power 98.3 in Phoenix is, once again, back to "Where Hip Hop Lives". ... ..

Even when Power 106 was playing Lady Gaga they were still using the "Where Hip Hop Lives" slogan which they have been using since 1997 or 1998 then in like 2001 or 2002 they started using "Blazin Hip Hop & R&B" then in 2005 they go back to using "Where Hip Hop Lives" the rest is history. BTW Power 106 has been playing Black Eyed Peas since their 1998 debut album called "Behind the Front" which spawned the hit single Joints & Jam. Power 106 gave
Joints & Jams heavy spins in 1998 so did KKBT 92.3 The Beat. That's when Black Eyed Peas were actually doing hip hop instead of that techno crap they're doing now.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

Power 98.3 Phoenix seems to have dropped Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, and things like that. The only electro / dance they play are hip hop influenced dance hits, or dance with rap in it. They don't even have "Only girl in the world" by Rihanna in regular rotation anymore. I just find it funny that they are not playing Miguel in Phoenix, but I am hearing it (again) here in Tucson right now as I type.

I'm shocked to find out Soulja Boy is the one behind "Speakers going hammer"! It just played here in Tucson...

I'm enjoying these new hits:

Dj Khaled - I'm on one
Lloyd Banks - Start it up
Keri Hilson - Lose control
Wiz Khalifa - no sleep
Trey Songz - Unusual
Drake - I'm going in
Tyga - far away

 

[BJordan]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

Power 98.3 Phoenix seems to have dropped Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, and things like that. The only electro / dance they play are hip hop influenced dance hits, or dance with rap in it. They don't even have "Only girl in the world" by Rihanna in regular rotation anymore. I just find it funny that they are not playing Miguel in Phoenix, but I am hearing it (again) here in Tucson right now as I type.

I'm shocked to find out Soulja Boy is the one behind "Speakers going hammer"! It just played here in Tucson...

I'm enjoying these new hits:
Dj Khaled - I'm on one
Lloyd Banks - Start it up
Keri Hilson - Lose control
Wiz Khalifa - no sleep
Trey Songz - Unusual
Drake - I'm going in
Tyga - far away

Same with Power 106 I haven't heard "Only Girl" by Rhianna on Power 106 since late January.  No sense in trying to out do KIIS now huh  . Power 106 will never play Brittney Spears Till The World Ends in heavy rotation like they used to do Gaga last year. Power 106 is too urban to ever go strictly mainstream pop. Like said before they've been playing "urban pop" artist such as Lil Wayne since 1999, LL Cool J since his 1996 smash hit Doin' It(if memory
serves), Black Eyed Peas since 1998, Timabaland and Usher. The artist that they're playing now including hip hop/r&b
veterans have been staples at on the Power Playlist for many years.






BTW  IMHO The word "pop" is based on airplay and record sales also short for popular it's not a form of music. R&B is making a comeback so run for cover.

 

[Martin Mac]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

On top of Novacane by Frank Ocean, Power 106 has now added Motivation by Kelly Rowland, further evidence they might truly be returning to their Hip-Hop/R&B lean instead of their Rhythmic uptempo focus.

 

[BJordan]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

On top of Novacane by Frank Ocean, Power 106 has now added Motivation by Kelly Rowland, further evidence they might truly be returning to their Hip-Hop/R&B lean instead of their Rhythmic uptempo focus.

Kelly Rowland's Motivation is No. 24 at KPWR with 27 spins this week. I'm agreeing with you all the way, they're trying get their KKBT sound back. I know Keyshia Cole's Take Me Away is a recurrent but KPWR should add that record next eventhough KJLH is big on Keyshia.


BTW I haven't heard Kelly Rowland on KPWR since 2002-03 when they were playing Nelly's Delimma and her Destiny Child days. They're very big on Beyoncé's Best Thing I Never Had. Ne-Yo's Because of You, So Sick, Champange Life and Miss Independent pops up also. Even when KIIS and KPWR mirror images of each other, KPWR's emphasis was on Hip Hop & R&B and eventhough "The Beat" is gone hip hop will always have a place on the station. KPWR will always be "Where Hip Hop Lives".

 

[Martin Mac]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

On top of Novacane by Frank Ocean, Power 106 has now added Motivation by Kelly Rowland, further evidence they might truly be returning to their Hip-Hop/R&B lean instead of their Rhythmic uptempo focus.

Kelly Rowland's Motivation is No. 24 at KPWR with 27 spins this week. I'm agreeing with you all the way, they're trying get their KKBT sound back. I know Keyshia Cole's Take Me Away is a recurrent but KPWR should add that record next eventhough KJLH is big on Keyshia.


BTW I haven't heard Kelly Rowland on KPWR since 2002-03 when they were playing Nelly's Delimma and her Destiny Child days. They're very big on Beyoncé's Best Thing I Never Had. Ne-Yo's Because of You, So Sick, Champange Life and Miss Independent pops up also. Even when KIIS and KPWR mirror images of each other, KPWR's emphasis was on Hip Hop & R&B and eventhough "The Beat" is gone hip hop will always have a place on the station. KPWR will always be "Where Hip Hop Lives".

Yes, I honestly think Take Me Away would sound good on Power 106 if they mix it in with the right songs! Did Power 106 skip over "Kelly Rowland feat. Eve Like This" in 2007? If they did, that would be a big surprise to me!

 

[BJordan]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

On top of Novacane by Frank Ocean, Power 106 has now added Motivation by Kelly Rowland, further evidence they might truly be returning to their Hip-Hop/R&B lean instead of their Rhythmic uptempo focus.

Kelly Rowland's Motivation is No. 24 at KPWR with 27 spins this week. I'm agreeing with you all the way, they're trying get their KKBT sound back. I know Keyshia Cole's Take Me Away is a recurrent but KPWR should add that record next eventhough KJLH is big on Keyshia.


BTW I haven't heard Kelly Rowland on KPWR since 2002-03 when they were playing Nelly's Delimma
and her Destiny Child days. They're very big on Beyoncé's Best Thing I Never Had. Ne-Yo's Because of You, So Sick, Champange Life and Miss Independent pops up also. Even when KIIS and KPWR mirror images of each other, KPWR's emphasis was on Hip Hop & R&B and eventhough "The Beat" is gone hip hop will always have a place on the station. KPWR will always be "Where Hip Hop Lives".

Yes, I honestly think Take Me Away would sound good on Power 106 if they mix it in with the right songs! Did Power 106 skip over "Kelly Rowland feat. Eve Like This" in 2007? If they did, that would
be a big surprise to me!

. Yes Power 106 skipped Kelly Rowland's Like This. KDAY played it when they were playing currents. R&B Adults KJLH and KRBV V-100 played it with Eve's rap. According to wdb2003 Power 106 played Keith Sweat's Twisted & Nobody in heavy rotation in 1996. Funny thought, imagine if KPWR played Kem's Matter of Time & Love Calls that would be a shocker LOL . No way.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

KZZP also has Motivation and Novacane in regular rotation as well... along with Tyga "far away". ;D
Motivation is #1 in spins on the rhythmic latin/dance/pop formatted WPOW.

 

[BJordan]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

KZZP also has Motivation and Novacane in regular rotation as well... along with Tyga "far away". ;D
Motivation is #1 in spins on the rhythmic latin/dance/pop formatted WPOW.

Another sign that electro pop is out of style on Rhythmic Top 40. Kelly Rowland's Motivation will go far on Power 106, just you wait. I'm loving Mann's new song called "The Mack" which heavily samples Mark Morrison's Return of The Mack from 1997. That's another sign that we've had enough of the ratchet melodies of Soulja Boy, Gucci Mane and Plies. Power 106 adapted well to trends. They did dance then switched to Hip Hop & R&B which they're holding true to until this very day.

 

[PhDance]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

Might need to cool those jets, boys. Playing 2 R&B songs doesn't mean they are tweaking the format. Motivation has been in rotation for a while -- I have tape of them playing it as part of the "New at Two" several months ago. It's never going to get major airplay either. Power is not an Urban station anymore, and hasn't been in years. Look at the airstaff at the station, and that should tell you how interested Emmis is in catering to the Urban audience.

While you guys correctly point out two R&B songs that are in rotation, you erroneously gloss over the fact that LMFAO had the highest spins of the week. Pitbull was #3, Felli Fel's Boomerang was #7, Black Eyed Peas was #18, Dev was #21. Outside of that, David Guetta had many more spins than Frank Ocean, one of the two R&B songs that supposedly signals the coming of the "new Power 106". Also, they are spinning Mr. Saxobeat and Afrojack. They "did dance"? I can't name a time I've heard so many songs above a certain BPM since they were LA's Dance Station back in the early 90s.

May I point out that the LMFAO and Pitbull uptempo songs are 1 and 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, respectfully? Sorry, the electro/dance sound has not gone away nor would it be reasonable to predict its demise in the forseeable future.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Re: Power 106 in L.A. is now cutting back on Rhythmic Pop to focus on Hip Hop & R&B

Might need to cool those jets, boys. Playing 2 R&B songs doesn't mean they are tweaking the format. Motivation has been in rotation for a while -- I have tape of them playing it as part of the "New at Two" several months ago. It's never going to get major airplay either.

This is what I was trying to point out in my somewhat facetious 'KZZP Novacane & Motivation' comment earlier (KZZP is a top 40 / rhythmic lean top 40).

What's happening now doesn't show that electro dance is in its final days. However, it is evident that hip hop and r&b are improving, and while dance is still holding strong as the overall trend topper at the moment, it is possible that if more quality hip hop and r&b (along with alternative) continues to "rise up", we might have a modernized version of the 90's sound - when we had all types of sounds in chr and many formats doing well independently with their own sound. Remember back when you had hip hop, alternative/rock, r&b, pop, and dance all doing well together (as oppose to one sound mostly dominating a trend) and you also heard it all on your local chr's? With the way things are going now, it could happen again.

As far as motivation not getting major airplay, I'm not exactly sure about that because for some reason, I feel that Kelly Rowland has finally mastered her first successful U.S. hit, and it seems like it has potential to keep growing, possibly at least to the point that Ciara's "oh" did. I was a little skeptical about it at first because not only was it Kelly Rowland, but the song was so slow, and it is a very quality tune, so I automatically assumed it would never catch on. Looks like, though, this song may do some surprising things, or be the song that helps ensure that Kelly's follow up single does even better across the board, due to familiarity.

This is just a hypothesis, but I have a feeling that Kelly Rowland may finally find bigger U.S. success with this album...