Radio formats you'd like to see in Detroit

[Jasonthegreat]

Personally, I'd like to see another dance station in Detroit (like WDRQ in the mid-late 1990s). What format would you like to see in Detroit?

 

[Human Numan]

I would like to see a Classic Hip Hop radio station here in DETROIT.

 

[new_friends_gr]

Personally, I'd like to see another dance station in Detroit (like WDRQ in the mid-late 1990s).

I'd LOVE to see something like that come back. Dance or Rhythmic AC (even like what 106.7 The Beat was when it first debuted in '09) would be fabulous. I'd also love to see smooth jazz, Soft AC (similar to WFEZ in Miami), and rhythmic oldies.

Somehow I don't think any of these formats will ever become a reality in Detroit, unfortunately. :'(

 

[Matt8650]

Don't be so sure. First off, a Rhythmic station could work here in Detroit. One, it has to try-if that's possible-to stay away from current hits, that format is being beaten in the ground right now. Two, Clear Channel can have no involvement in this station. 106.7 The Beat could have played more songs that could have helped them, but being in the same stable as 95.5, that probably wasn't going to happen. it's amazing to see the depth of music 106.7 plays as a Classic Rock station. a well programmed rhythmic station could be just like that. Third, Cumulus is the likely station to give it a shot if they ever pull the plug on Doug. and finally, This station has to be able to play good stuff no matter where it comes from-I have heard Classic Alternative stuff that could work on a Rhythmic station. So if Cumulus or CBS if AMP keeps free-falling could keep some of this in mind, it could work. Remember, The Beat had a 3.2 share while being kept as far away from 95.5 as possible, Just a thought.

 

[ChrisInMI]

Adult standards or super-soft AC a la WFEZ/WDUV, and full time smooth jazz or smooth AC. WCHB's smooth jazz programming doesn't do me much good because it's mostly after dark and I can't hear it where I live (and I also don't get the 99.9 or 105.9 HD2 signals), which means I'd have to resort to listening online, and there are better SJ choices to hear online.

Classic country and real (pre-1970s) oldies would be good too even if only on AM. CKWW used to fill the latter bill well but is sounding more and more like WOMC every day.

 

[steve82655]

Personally, I'd like to see another dance station in Detroit (like WDRQ in the mid-late 1990s).

I'd LOVE to see something like that come back. Dance or Rhythmic AC (even like what 106.7 The Beat was when it first debuted in '09) would be fabulous. I'd also love to see smooth jazz, Soft AC (similar to WFEZ in Miami), and rhythmic oldies.

Somehow I don't think any of these formats will ever become a reality in Detroit, unfortunately. :'(

When 106.7 The Beat first come on they where the SHIT! Then 106.7 started competing with 98.7 and started playing to much chr top 40!

 

[ChrisInMI]

I have to wonder if the Beat's format would still actually be around today if it hadn't been a Clear Channel station and therefore cannibalizing 95.5. The D is obviously working though I don't listen as I dislike classic rock, and it's hard to argue with that success.

CC just launched a new rhythmic AC in Austin, TX, on an HD side channel/translator combo. Would be cool if they could do the same in Detroit... maybe on that 94.3 translator that Martz vacated. Not likely to happen though.

Personally I'd rather have smooth jazz than rhythmic AC, but that's just my taste. Even a smooth AC along the lines of The Wave in Cleveland, the late 87.7 in Chicago, or WXJZ in Gainesville, FL is something I would welcome.

 

[kenhawk1160]

In Pittsburgh, we had a "The Beat" station. When it first came on the air, it was a great station. Then after current tunes were added to the playlist, it lost its appeal and I knew it was a matter of time before they changed.

Because Detroit's overall demo has shifted within the last decade, I feel the time has come for a station like "The Beat" to rise again...and it has to be programmed locally. Not by someone at a corporate office who knee-jerk reacts if there's so much as a tiny downward blip in the numbers.

Numbers are sustained not by simply adjusting a format clock. It's by being 'out there'. Working promotions, selling remotes, and get this...SPENDING MONEY to promote yourself! What a novel idea!

 

[chrocket87]

I have to wonder if the Beat's format would still actually be around today if it hadn't been a Clear Channel station and therefore cannibalizing 95.5. The D is obviously working though I don't listen as I dislike classic rock, and it's hard to argue with that success.

CC just launched a new rhythmic AC in Austin, TX, on an HD side channel/translator combo. Would be cool if they could do the same in Detroit... maybe on that 94.3 translator that Martz vacated. Not likely to happen though.

Personally I'd rather have smooth jazz than rhythmic AC, but that's just my taste. Even a smooth AC along the lines of The Wave in Cleveland, the late 87.7 in Chicago, or WXJZ in Gainesville, FL is something I would welcome.

I'm positive it would. Keep it out of the hands of CC, Radio One, or CBS and a Rhythmic format could work here. And I'll definitely agree with you on the need for Smooth Jazz. Correct me if I'm wrong (so I can listen to it), but I don't think there's Jazz anywhere on the Detroit FM dial (not even NPR).

 

[chrocket87]

And finally, a better sounding AAA format, maybe one that resembles WQKL out of Ann Arbor or KFOG/ SF. I'm not at all surprised about CIDR's piss poor ratings, since AAA should be a format that either stays away from other formats or beats other formats to the punch on it's hits yet The River only seems to play songs that have already become hits on other formats.

 

[new_friends_gr]

a Rhythmic station could work here in Detroit. One, it has to try-if that's possible-to stay away from current hits, that format is being beaten in the ground right now.

Yep. That's exactly what happened with 106.7. They started out exclusively as a Rhythmic AC station. Then they started adding more and more current hits (essentially being a Rhythmic CHR station) and were only sampling from their original playlist periodically as a "back-in-the-day jam" or "old-school jam" or whatever they called them. Toward the end of the station's existence, they tried having more of a balance between the older dance/pop hits and the current CHR stuff.

106.7 The Beat could have played more songs that could have helped them, but being in the same stable as 95.5, that probably wasn't going to happen.

The problem here was that 106.7's ratings were highest when they were cannibalizing 95.5 with all the CHR songs they were playing. :-(

it's amazing to see the depth of music 106.7 plays as a Classic Rock station. a well programmed rhythmic station could be just like that.

I'm not familiar with "The D" since I don't listen to classic right, but you're absolutely right; there are a LOT of songs that The Beat should have played (even when it was strictly Rhythmic AC) that they weren't playing.

I have heard Classic Alternative stuff that could work on a Rhythmic station.

Interesting thought. Do you have a few examples of songs of that genre which would work on a Rhythmic AC station?

 

[Jasonthegreat]

However, I wonder where the dance station would be if they add one here in Detroit. They wouldn't put it at 93.1, and the 106.7 experiment was a disaster.

 

[new_friends_gr]

Unfortunately, Rhythmic AC and Dance are formats that just don't really work in many markets at all. There are a few markets that still have Rhythmic AC stations that do somewhat well, but those are definitely the exception rather than the norm.

106.7 only survived as a stand-alone Rhythmic AC format for, what, maybe 6 months before it was forced to inject CHR music into its playlist.

I absolutely love Rhythmic AC and dance music, but they just don't sell. :'(

 

[MattHollidaye OnAir]

I want to see a Rhythmic Contemporary station here in Detroit, simple because we're long overdue for one since The Beat abruptly left.

I don't see Cumulus pulling the plug on Doug-FM because ratings have improved over time (although rather inconsistently), so if anything, maybe WKQI can kind of morph into a Rhythmic like they once were back in 2005. But several things have to happen if they were to do so;

First and foremost, they have to STOP PITCHING THE MUSIC. Period. It was a lot better from 2009-2011 when they didn't pitch the music; in fact, they were Top 5 12+ when they didn't pitch the music if I can remember correctly. I get the fact that you, as a PD, would want to make the station sound "energetic", but you can still do that without changing the speed of the music you play.

That being said, second, it has to be programmed correctly. I'm not saying go strictly currents 24/7, but you have to be quick on new music. Definitely mix some re-currents in with the currents (because, hell, that's a given. Ke$ha's still getting airplay to this day, despite the fact that she hasn't released any new music as of yet), but also add some exclusive content in your day-parts. Maybe do an Old School Hip-Hop segment during the 12:00 hour (or whenever you want to put that at), add some mix shows during the morning and afternoon drive hour, something along those lines. But the main important thing is it has to be live and local! 24/7, 365 days a year, because I'm sure there are some local on-air talent that unfortunately don't get a chance because of voice-tracking. If anything, part of radio is more or less about personality; you can't be dry and expect to have a decent career.

Of course, there's some other things that have to tie in together to make this dream Rhythmic station come alive, but I feel that if anybody can do it, it's WKQI. Of, if Clear Channel can't do it, then SOMEBODY can do some adjustments and make this happen....even Radio One with WGPR can pull it off, but the main thing is IT HAS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. It can't just be attempted and then pulled back because someone in the offices are too paranoid of what could happen ratings-wise.

 

[Jasonthegreat]

Unfortunately, Rhythmic AC and Dance are formats that just don't really work in many markets at all. There are a few markets that still have Rhythmic AC stations that do somewhat well, but those are definitely the exception rather than the norm.

106.7 only survived as a stand-alone Rhythmic AC format for, what, maybe 6 months before it was forced to inject CHR music into its playlist.

I absolutely love Rhythmic AC and dance music, but they just don't sell. :'(

It's unfortunate that dance and rhythmic AC just don't work. It seems that there aren't many people who like this kind of music.

 

[new_friends_gr]

I want to see a Rhythmic Contemporary station here in Detroit, simple because we're long overdue for one since The Beat abruptly left.

I don't see Cumulus pulling the plug on Doug-FM because ratings have improved over time (although rather inconsistently), so if anything, maybe WKQI can kind of morph into a Rhythmic like they once were back in 2005. But several things have to happen if they were to do so;

First and foremost, they have to STOP PITCHING THE MUSIC. Period. It was a lot better from 2009-2011 when they didn't pitch the music; in fact, they were Top 5 12+ when they didn't pitch the music if I can remember correctly. I get the fact that you, as a PD, would want to make the station sound "energetic", but you can still do that without changing the speed of the music you play.

That being said, second, it has to be programmed correctly. I'm not saying go strictly currents 24/7, but you have to be quick on new music. Definitely mix some re-currents in with the currents (because, hell, that's a given. Ke$ha's still getting airplay to this day, despite the fact that she hasn't released any new music as of yet), but also add some exclusive content in your day-parts. Maybe do an Old School Hip-Hop segment during the 12:00 hour (or whenever you want to put that at), add some mix shows during the morning and afternoon drive hour, something along those lines. But the main important thing is it has to be live and local! 24/7, 365 days a year, because I'm sure there are some local on-air talent that unfortunately don't get a chance because of voice-tracking. If anything, part of radio is more or less about personality; you can't be dry and expect to have a decent career.

Of course, there's some other things that have to tie in together to make this dream Rhythmic station come alive, but I feel that if anybody can do it, it's WKQI. Of, if Clear Channel can't do it, then SOMEBODY can do some adjustments and make this happen....even Radio One with WGPR can pull it off, but the main thing is IT HAS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. It can't just be attempted and then pulled back because someone in the offices are too paranoid of what could happen ratings-wise.

It sounds like you're suggesting Rhythmic CHR. (If you just say "Rhythmic Contemporary", that could mean Rhythmic CHR/Hip Hop or Rhythmic AC.)

I don't think there's any room for another station Detroit with a rhythmic CHR format. Between Channel 9-5-5, 98.7 AMP Radio, the rhythmic portion of WDVD's playlist, WJLB, and Hot 107.5, there's plenty of rhythmic/hip hop music to go around.

 

[Jasonthegreat]

I have another idea. How about an all 80s station in Detroit?

 

[new_friends_gr]

I have another idea. How about an all 80s station in Detroit?

That would be great! As long as they play a wide variety of '80s music and don't just focus on the hair bands. If they play Rhythmic AC, soft rock, hair bands, the tail-end of disco hits, and the very beginning of the early-'90s dance fad (especially from '88-'89), that would be awesome.

Kinda similar to that "Rewind" station out of Chicago?

 

[umfan]

I think an 80s format would be great on WNIC. It would help them recover from the train wreck that "Fresh" has become and would help regain their lost audience.

WRRQ out of Port Washington, NY is such a station. They have a great stream (http://www.myq1067.com). I'd welcome a format like this in Detroit.

 

[jt1120]

#1: Old School (R&B from 1978 - 1993). Your adult demo's would be hhuge.

#2: Smooth Jazz, just as long as Clear Channel/Broadcast Architecture (BA) would have absolutely no say in its programming. BA is the company that basically killed the format nationwide. Five years ago you had SJ stations in Detroit, San Fran, Dallas, Atlanta, Philly, Chicago, Miami, Tampa and Las Vegas, just to name a few markets. Now they are ALL gone! And they all followed the mantra laid down by the so-called innovator of the format, BA. Great potential effed up by ONE guy who made all of the decisions for the entire country. Yes, YOU, Allen Kepler. (can you tell i'm bitter about this guy?)