Radio stations that are "chestnuts"/anomalies

[Miss Tuned]

Ugh, is that all you have over there? That's pretty miserable if you're not into that scene. I guess that's not unlike the situation here, where most CHRs seem to play minor variations of the same tired playlists, with many nowadays featuring some variety of rap or Hip Hop (as I've said elsewhere, I have no objection to and actually like the classic "clean" rap of the 70s and 80s (I have a friend who recorded some Hip Hop "songs" in this classic style, and it's good), but this new "gangsta" rap stuff that's been getting increasingly prevalent in recent years has got to go somewhere other than in my face).

We have other stations - Soft AC is a big gap as Smooth have transitioned into a straight-up AC station with a heavy 80s pop component now. There are oldies on Gold, classic hits on Greatest Hits Radio, but they're narrow formats, heavy on the clutter and once you've listened to them for a day, you've heard all they have to offer for the most part. The BBC stations offer a bit more variety but at the cost of endless news bulletins and talk breaks. (BBC Radio 2 goes over to a tabloid news phone-in for two hours in middays, and a lot of the rest of the output is taken up with lengthy interviews, quizzes, the presenter talking at length to his traffic person about nothing in particular, etc.)

There are alternatives, but not in the mainstream radio sphere. One of my go-to stations nowadays is Celtic Music Radio which is on an FM in Glasgow, Scotland but streams. It plays mostly traditional Scottish and Irish music but there is quite an Americana component, as well as some surprises. It's a nice, varied station with low-key, chilled presentation and not too many ads as it's a not-for-profit broadcaster.

But for the most part, our radio scene is variations on rhythmic CHR - untz-untz-untz all day interspersed with ads for gambling and fast food.

 

[CTListener]

We have other stations - Soft AC is a big gap as Smooth have transitioned into a straight-up AC station with a heavy 80s pop component now. There are oldies on Gold, classic hits on Greatest Hits Radio, but they're narrow formats, heavy on the clutter and once you've listened to them for a day, you've heard all they have to offer for the most part. The BBC stations offer a bit more variety but at the cost of endless news bulletins and talk breaks. (BBC Radio 2 goes over to a tabloid news phone-in for two hours in middays, and a lot of the rest of the output is taken up with lengthy interviews, quizzes, the presenter talking at length to his traffic person about nothing in particular, etc.)

There are alternatives, but not in the mainstream radio sphere. One of my go-to stations nowadays is Celtic Music Radio which is on an FM in Glasgow, Scotland but streams. It plays mostly traditional Scottish and Irish music but there is quite an Americana component, as well as some surprises. It's a nice, varied station with low-key, chilled presentation and not too many ads as it's a not-for-profit broadcaster.

But for the most part, our radio scene is variations on rhythmic CHR - untz-untz-untz all day interspersed with ads for gambling and fast food.

You also have Boom Radio for softer oldies (along with some more recent music), and two Boom spinoffs for the sounds of the '50s (and pre-Beatles '60s) and classic rock tracks, don't you? Or don't they have a transmitter near your city yet?

 

[Radio-Bored-Op]

Most stations I stream from Canada seem like anomalies, but that is due to Cancon and quite common there. They probably would sound like US stations if not for that. It would be curious to know the owners' thoughts on it.

I have interned at a Niagara Falls Ontario station in the mid 90s, and every on air talent diskiked it _ but then would be the first to defend it when my young and proud USA 🇺🇸 self would give my 2 cents

 

[radiofan2023]

We have other stations - Soft AC is a big gap as Smooth have transitioned into a straight-up AC station with a heavy 80s pop component now. There are oldies on Gold, classic hits on Greatest Hits Radio, but they're narrow formats, heavy on the clutter and once you've listened to them for a day, you've heard all they have to offer for the most part. The BBC stations offer a bit more variety but at the cost of endless news bulletins and talk breaks. (BBC Radio 2 goes over to a tabloid news phone-in for two hours in middays, and a lot of the rest of the output is taken up with lengthy interviews, quizzes, the presenter talking at length to his traffic person about nothing in particular, etc.)

There are alternatives, but not in the mainstream radio sphere. One of my go-to stations nowadays is Celtic Music Radio which is on an FM in Glasgow, Scotland but streams. It plays mostly traditional Scottish and Irish music but there is quite an Americana component, as well as some surprises. It's a nice, varied station with low-key, chilled presentation and not too many ads as it's a not-for-profit broadcaster.

But for the most part, our radio scene is variations on rhythmic CHR - untz-untz-untz all day interspersed with ads for gambling and fast food.

Is Absolute Radio still around there or not? I used to like streaming their stations until they geoblocked them outside of the UK.

Also I had to stop listening to Scott Mills Radio 1 show as a podcast, because all he ever talked about was Stormzy and stuff like that. His cohost Chris Stark was ok, but I think he left the show after I stopped listening.

 

[TexasTom]

The problem is no new music, but most new music isn't, in my opinion, particularly conducive to being turned into saccharine and florid instrumentals anyway.

If there was a market, they'd find a way to turn some new music into easy listening covers. They don't because it isn't profitable, not because it is impossible. I remember my surprise back in the eighties at hearing an easy listening cover of "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- and I think if that one could be done, almost anything could.

I never was an easy listening fan, but I have to admit that I'd probably get a kick out of hearing an easy listening cover of, say, "A Bar Song" by Shaboozey or pretty much anything by Chappell Roan.

 

[cc333]

If there was a market, they'd find a way to turn some new music into easy listening covers. They don't because it isn't profitable, not because it is impossible. I remember my surprise back in the eighties at hearing an easy listening cover of "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- and I think if that one could be done, almost anything could.

I see. That Makes sense.

I never was an easy listening fan, but I have to admit that I'd probably get a kick out of hearing an easy listening cover of, say, "A Bar Song" by Shaboozey or pretty much anything by Chappell Roan.

Or how about easy listening covers of some of those profane rap songs?

c

 

[radiofan2023]

Or how about easy listening covers of some of those profane rap songs?

Check this out:

 

[Miss Tuned]

If there was a market, they'd find a way to turn some new music into easy listening covers. They don't because it isn't profitable, not because it is impossible. I remember my surprise back in the eighties at hearing an easy listening cover of "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- and I think if that one could be done, almost anything could.

I never was an easy listening fan, but I have to admit that I'd probably get a kick out of hearing an easy listening cover of, say, "A Bar Song" by Shaboozey or pretty much anything by Chappell Roan.

I remember being in a mall at some point years ago, probably mid-2000s before they all became seedy ghost towns, and having my ears assaulted by a pan pipe version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

 

[cc333]

having my ears assaulted by a pan pipe version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Wait a minute, that's actually a thing?!

Wow.... Hearing that must have been mightily strange....

c

 

[Kent]

If there was a market, they'd find a way to turn some new music into easy listening covers. They don't because it isn't profitable, not because it is impossible.

The technology definitely exists. One of my friends has a playlist of soft rock and pop songs with the vocals stripped out. I can tell that the levels on the background music were changed when he removed the vocals, but the songs sound good.

I remember my surprise back in the eighties at hearing an easy listening cover of "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- and I think if that one could be done, almost anything could.

I heard one of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears in the late 80's/early 90's and had the same thought.

 

[Oldbones]

If there was a market, they'd find a way to turn some new music into easy listening covers. They don't because it isn't profitable, not because it is impossible. I remember my surprise back in the eighties at hearing an easy listening cover of "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- and I think if that one could be done, almost anything could.

Somebody does. Check this out..

Vitamin String Quartet | VSQ Digital Sheet Music + Albums

Los Angeles-based musicians Vitamin String Quart record new versions of your favorite songs. VSQ has helped establish classical crossover as a force in contemporary music while offering listeners classical music for studying, scoring unforgettable film and TV moments, and helping couples create...

www.vitaminstringquartet.com

 

[radiofan2023]

Somebody does. Check this out..

Vitamin String Quartet | VSQ Digital Sheet Music + Albums

Los Angeles-based musicians Vitamin String Quart record new versions of your favorite songs. VSQ has helped establish classical crossover as a force in contemporary music while offering listeners classical music for studying, scoring unforgettable film and TV moments, and helping couples create...

www.vitaminstringquartet.com

VSQ is great and so is Apocalyptica:

 

[Ed Nielson]

I would include WSRQ in Sarasota, FL in this list. They are a non-commercial station, and one of their repeaters is on 91.7. They are actually owned by the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and they do promote that fairly often.

They play an interesting (I guess you could call it "eclectic") mix of oldies, which today included some of the following:

Maniac -- Michael Sembello
If I Can't Have You -- Yvonne Elliman
Hearbreaker -- Led Zeppelin
Nice To Be With You -- Gallery

 

[teaneck]

What is a radio station, either in your area or one that you know of nationally, that is an anomaly? Could be for the programming they play, various personalities they have, types of music they play, or something entirely different. I know for my neck of the woods, a station that many here have talked about is that of WBRF 98.1 in Galax, Virginia.......100,000 watt blowtorch that sounds and is run like a thousand-watt daytimer. But that uniqueness is why I love it so!

For nationally, my vote would be for WGCY in Gibson City, IL.......the last (I believe?) commercial station in the United States that still remains with a beautiful music/easy listening format

WJAW-100.9 McConnellsville Ohio, full service Classic Country would be the best such that I've come across in actual radio listening (i.e.while in Ohio)

 

[KilowattKat]

Check this out:

KDKB in Phoenix played 2 hours of Richard Cheese when they flipped formats some years ago. IMO, that was 90 minutes too long!

 

[Miss Tuned]

VSQ is great and so is Apocalyptica:

One of our classical stations, Scala Radio, tried to differentiate itself from other classical stations after it launched by playing a lot of classical covers of pop songs, along with other stuff like film scores and video game music. It wasn't a great listen - if you want to listen to Angels by Robbie Williams then you probably don't want the classical version of it, and if you want to listen to classical music then you probably don't want to hear someone murdering Angels on the violin. Scala Radio appears to be no more.

 

[radiofan2023]

One of our classical stations, Scala Radio, tried to differentiate itself from other classical stations after it launched by playing a lot of classical covers of pop songs, along with other stuff like film scores and video game music. It wasn't a great listen - if you want to listen to Angels by Robbie Williams then you probably don't want the classical version of it, and if you want to listen to classical music then you probably don't want to hear someone murdering Angels on the violin. Scala Radio appears to be no more.

Sounds like their listeners told them to "Take That"!

 

[vchimpanzee]

One of our classical stations, Scala Radio, tried to differentiate itself from other classical stations after it launched by playing a lot of classical covers of pop songs, along with other stuff like film scores and video game music. It wasn't a great listen - if you want to listen to Angels by Robbie Williams then you probably don't want the classical version of it, and if you want to listen to classical music then you probably don't want to hear someone murdering Angels on the violin. Scala Radio appears to be no more.

WMUU in Greenville SC would do something like that, but all their pop music was really old.

 

[cc333]

WMUU in Greenville SC would do something like that, but all their pop music was really old.

Old pop music seems to hold up better to the types of bowdlerization that would result in the various beautiful/easy listening renditions that exist, perhaps because outside of the various harder forms of rock, most mainstream pop at the time (50s through 70s, and even well into the 80s and 90s in the case of AC) was already fairly soft and melodic, often with orchestral accents.

Modern mainstream pop doesn't have much of any of those things, so once you strip off the layers of whatever electronic overproduction it does have and tack on a regular classical orchestra, it would probably sound... kind of strange.

c