Radio 104.5

[acheron1982]

Very unusual stations simply because its owned by Clear Channel. All of Clear Channel's alternative rock stations sound the same which is a combination of alternative & active but 104.5 sounds different.

Would you agree that Radio 104.5 in Philly is the number one FM alternative rock station? How would you compare it to the other top Alt rock station in America, FM94.9. Am I over looking a station??

I'm looking for a stations that plays 90's 2k and new Alt rock. A station that breaks out the newest songs from the newest artist while still playing the classic favs. One thing I love about FM94.9 is occasionally you will hear something from the 70's. I heard The Who the other day. So I guess on second thought, maybe FM94.9 is the number one alt station on FM radio. What says you???

 

[chrocket87]

Radio 104.5 for sure. It plays a great mix of new and old, familiar and new. Minus the obligatory RHCP song every hour, I never turn it off. Its also been a HUGE success in a bunch of demos. WHFS in Baltimore is another really good one for the same reason. 94/9 is good, but way too much obscure stuff for my liking.

 

[puddingpop]

Very unusual stations simply because its owned by Clear Channel. All of Clear Channel's alternative rock stations sound the same which is a combination of alternative & active but 104.5 sounds different.

Would you agree that Radio 104.5 in Philly is the number one FM alternative rock station? How would you compare it to the other top Alt rock station in America, FM94.9. Am I over looking a station??

I'm looking for a stations that plays 90's 2k and new Alt rock. A station that breaks out the newest songs from the newest artist while still playing the classic favs. One thing I love about FM94.9 is occasionally you will hear something from the 70's. I heard The Who the other day. So I guess on second thought, maybe FM94.9 is the number one alt station on FM radio. What says you???

I'm assuming that when you say "number one alt rock station" you mean "favorite alt rock station." It's entirely a matter of personal taste, unless you're talking about ratings...in which case, each the two alternative stations in Los Angeles (KROQ and 98.7 FM) have far more listeners than anyone else in the nation.

As for my favorite...this may be a bit biased since I'm a long-time listener of the station, but I too am very much a fan of 97.5 HFS in Baltimore. Since the station came back from its six and a half year hiatus, they've got a massive library that seems to be continually expanding, and they're playing a very broad spectrum of alternative rock from just about all sub-genres, including a few local artists, as well as acoustic versions and performances from their past HFStivals--yet they still manage to be very hit-based. The majority of what they play is '90s through the very newest stuff, but they do work in quite a number of alternative hits from the '70s and '80s (no classic rock like The Who), and their '80s/'90s flashback hour at noon pulls out some unbelievably deep cuts at times. It's a fascinating balance.

As an added bonus, they're very light on commercials...one short break per hour. (Curious to see how long that lasts.) It also has a much more dynamic and energetic presentation, in sharp contrast to the more stripped-down presentation Radio 104.5 and FM/94.9 have.

 

[Jersey Maiden]

104.5 does have a nice variety. They do have a nice balance of old and new but they keep the classic rock to a minimum. Which is a good thing Don't get me wrong, I like some classic rock but there are plenty of other stations that play it. Granted, I tend to hear Young the Giant and RCHP almost every time I tune in (which isn't very often since I live in Edison where the signal is bad but can get it in South Brunswick where I work) but they include the punk bands and 90's songs that 101.9 RXP ignored. So I was surprised to learn that they were owned by CC, the poster boy of how radio went down the toilet.

I have heard complaints about how 104.5's jocks have no personality and to some extent, I do agree. I don't hear anything particularly wrong with them but there's nothing to make them them stand out from the crowd. In terms of jocks, RXP beats them by miles. But I believe Q104.3's jocks have even less personality. Some of them have voices that make me sleepy.

 

[acheron1982]

You see, you really hit on something that I want someone to answer.

Notice that CC stations are all playing the same songs at the same time. For example, pick a format and visit websites for cc stations under that format and check out the playlist. I forgot what this is called but Clear Channel is doing it and I hate it. It takes away the ability for the PD at the station in the local community to hand pick the music that the city wants to hear.

With all that being said, 104.5 out of Philly, is not following this. I wonder why?

Best Example I can give:

Active Rock is the format.

Google the following stations and check out the playlists:
1- 100.3 Buzz Greensboro, NC
2- Rock 105 Chattanooga
3- Project 961 Atlanta

Same goes with CC's alternative format (which is a active rock hybrid)

 

[puddingpop]

You see, Notice that CC stations are all playing the same songs at the same time. For example, pick a format and visit websites for cc stations under that format and check out the playlist. I forgot what this is called but Clear Channel is doing it and I hate it. It takes away the ability for the PD at the station in the local community to hand pick the music that the city wants to hear.

Clear Channel calls that service "Premium Choice." Some CC stations use it more than others; generally, it's relied on more heavily in small and medium-sized markets. Stations in major markets--such as DC101 in Washington--typically only use it for overnights.

With all that being said, 104.5 out of Philly, is not following this. I wonder why?

Radio 104.5 is programmed much differently than other CC alternative stations, relying less on harder rock and more on indie rock. Also, their on-air personalities use a much less aggressive style than those on other CC alternatives. Because of these differences, the Premium Choice alternative programing isn't well suited for that station. If there were other CC stations more like Radio 104.5, they could afford to do so.

Don't be fooled, though; Radio 104.5's programming is prerecorded and automated more often than you may think. It's just not done from the corporate level because they are unique to the company.

 

[RadioPhillyFan]

Philly is a main CC city, they own seven formats there and cume millions a month per each (or close, lowest cume is 700k I believe, at least four are rounded to 1M)

Therefore a "Clear Channel Philadelphia" was created, and the stations in Philadelphia are different then most other CC ones. Even the sites are more unique (notice the "local" - "Philly Radio" tabs?)

WDAS-AM... Soul music! By clear channel! What are the odds?
Yet, RFF (Radio 1045) isn't enough for Philly's alt-rockers; we need a harder alt-rock station. It may be good, but it's not enough.

However, RFF's ratings keep rising!

 

[Saladressing]

WRFF used to be alternative rock without much rock but they are harder now - Rise Against, Linkin Park, Tool, etc.

 

[RadioPhillyFan]

WRFF used to be alternative rock without much rock but they are harder now - Rise Against, Linkin Park, Tool, etc.

Very true, I come alive by The Used was played on here around Jaunuary. Satelite by rise against, etc. It's just not common, it's nice when they mix that in however.

 

[reelyreal]

Philly is a main CC city, they own seven formats there and cume millions a month per each (or close, lowest cume is 700k I believe, at least four are rounded to 1M)

Therefore a "Clear Channel Philadelphia" was created, and the stations in Philadelphia are different then most other CC ones. Even the sites are more unique (notice the "local" - "Philly Radio" tabs?)

WDAS-AM... Soul music! By clear channel! What are the odds?
Yet, RFF (Radio 1045) isn't enough for Philly's alt-rockers; we need a harder alt-rock station. It may be good, but it's not enough.

However, RFF's ratings keep rising!

There's nothing special about the CC stations in Philadelphia. "Clear Channel Philadelphia" is just the cluster. The stations licenses are all held by "AMFM Radio Licenses" like a lot of CC stations. The websites are clones of every other CC website. Compare Radio 104.5 to Q102 to Z100 to any other CC station in any other city.

Philly is no more important than any of the other top 10 markets.

 

[RadioPhillyFan]

Philly is a main CC city, they own seven formats there and cume millions a month per each (or close, lowest cume is 700k I believe, at least four are rounded to 1M)

Therefore a "Clear Channel Philadelphia" was created, and the stations in Philadelphia are different then most other CC ones. Even the sites are more unique (notice the "local" - "Philly Radio" tabs?)

WDAS-AM... Soul music! By clear channel! What are the odds?
Yet, RFF (Radio 1045) isn't enough for Philly's alt-rockers; we need a harder alt-rock station. It may be good, but it's not enough.

However, RFF's ratings keep rising!

There's nothing special about the CC stations in Philadelphia. "Clear Channel Philadelphia" is just the cluster. The stations licenses are all held by "AMFM Radio Licenses" like a lot of CC stations. The websites are clones of every other CC website. Compare Radio 104.5 to Q102 to Z100 to any other CC station in any other city.

Philly is no more important than any of the other top 10 markets.

Not true, know this for a fact. CC pays more attention to Philly, NYC and LA then all of it's other top tens.

WDAS-AM is enough proof in itself.

 

[XCountry285]

wish NYC had an alternative rock station or a rock station for that matter...CC...I don't get why they can't put one on 103.5 or 105.1 in NYC. Personally, it makes no sense not to have one. Philly is great radio wise because they aren't missing a format there for their audiences. NYC we have females covered but not men specifically white suburban men.