Well, New Jersey lost one of the best alternative rock stations in the country for Top 40 about a year ago. I knew of Radio 104.5's existence prior to this, but seldom listened for long because of the extremely safe song selections I heard when I did tune in. I decided to give it another try.
This is Clear Channel's "McRadio" version of Alternative. They seem to like giving many of their stations around the country a branding like "Radio", and they all have three things in common: droning station IDs, DJs that seldom talk, and an overall very tight playlist.
I'm not sure what kind of listener they're going for. I personally find it hard to listen to the station for more than 10 minutes at a time, simply because they're always falling back on the same tired songs. Perhaps most listen a little bit longer due to the lack of competition out there; no one else plays alternative rock, so Radio 104.5's watered-down take on the format works, I suppose.
I guess they're targeting a younger audience with the presentation: Very little DJ banter, wanting to make it sound like an iPod. Whatever works ... I personally would like to hear a bit more talking, but that's fine. Where they're going wrong is not playing enough music. As I said before, the playlist is kind of tight. The music is supposed to lend personality to the station, something it lacks from not having enough talk - and there just isn't enough of it. They've also only got 20 or so Current-ish titles. Also a sign they're skewing younger: going very light on '80s titles, aside from the most mainstream of rock acts (U2 and The Police come to mind, and always the most obvious songs from them - never expect "Two Hearts Beat As One" or "Driven To Tears" on this station). Is it asking too much to throw the people who knew alternative rock existed before Nirvana a bone every so often?
Finally, I'm going over some recently played songs, and I'm really scratching my head. I see Blues Traveler, Jack Johnson, and freakin' No Doubt. I also see Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Blink 182, and one of Green Day's easy listening songs ("Good Riddance") - all within a two hour span. Let's see, the first group is what the soccer moms are into, and the second is what the teenybopping little girls enjoy ... neither are your typical alt-rock listener. I've also heard them play The Fray a few times, hardly an act that anyone would consider alternative. What's going on? Equally troubling is what they're NOT playing. I could go down a list, but why bother? Just put it this way - the classic and modern true alternative rock acts that you can hear on the best stations (WFNX comes to mind) are nowhere to be found. Why, you ask? You got me. I guess they just can't pass up the opportunity to play "Smells Like Teen Spirit" or a bunch of other played-out tracks for the umpteenth time.
But what do I know? They're posting pretty strong ratings up to this point. However, it's just a matter of time before people get tired of hearing the same old stuff and the station takes a tumble. Playing it TOO safe can come back to haunt you. I personally don't understand why they won't at least mix it up and be at least a little daring late at night. And they should have a live DJ instead of Otto Mation at this time, but I guess that's in keeping with the "Less Talk" theme of the station.
This is Clear Channel's "McRadio" version of Alternative. They seem to like giving many of their stations around the country a branding like "Radio", and they all have three things in common: droning station IDs, DJs that seldom talk, and an overall very tight playlist.
I'm not sure what kind of listener they're going for. I personally find it hard to listen to the station for more than 10 minutes at a time, simply because they're always falling back on the same tired songs. Perhaps most listen a little bit longer due to the lack of competition out there; no one else plays alternative rock, so Radio 104.5's watered-down take on the format works, I suppose.
I guess they're targeting a younger audience with the presentation: Very little DJ banter, wanting to make it sound like an iPod. Whatever works ... I personally would like to hear a bit more talking, but that's fine. Where they're going wrong is not playing enough music. As I said before, the playlist is kind of tight. The music is supposed to lend personality to the station, something it lacks from not having enough talk - and there just isn't enough of it. They've also only got 20 or so Current-ish titles. Also a sign they're skewing younger: going very light on '80s titles, aside from the most mainstream of rock acts (U2 and The Police come to mind, and always the most obvious songs from them - never expect "Two Hearts Beat As One" or "Driven To Tears" on this station). Is it asking too much to throw the people who knew alternative rock existed before Nirvana a bone every so often?
Finally, I'm going over some recently played songs, and I'm really scratching my head. I see Blues Traveler, Jack Johnson, and freakin' No Doubt. I also see Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Blink 182, and one of Green Day's easy listening songs ("Good Riddance") - all within a two hour span. Let's see, the first group is what the soccer moms are into, and the second is what the teenybopping little girls enjoy ... neither are your typical alt-rock listener. I've also heard them play The Fray a few times, hardly an act that anyone would consider alternative. What's going on? Equally troubling is what they're NOT playing. I could go down a list, but why bother? Just put it this way - the classic and modern true alternative rock acts that you can hear on the best stations (WFNX comes to mind) are nowhere to be found. Why, you ask? You got me. I guess they just can't pass up the opportunity to play "Smells Like Teen Spirit" or a bunch of other played-out tracks for the umpteenth time.
But what do I know? They're posting pretty strong ratings up to this point. However, it's just a matter of time before people get tired of hearing the same old stuff and the station takes a tumble. Playing it TOO safe can come back to haunt you. I personally don't understand why they won't at least mix it up and be at least a little daring late at night. And they should have a live DJ instead of Otto Mation at this time, but I guess that's in keeping with the "Less Talk" theme of the station.
