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Retro dance radio from the year 2027

R

Radio-Listener

It is now 2027 and assuming the radio industry is somewhat like it is today, you are programming a retro-hour of dance classics from around the beginning of the century (1999 ish - 2007 ish.) What songs would you include in your hour?
 
This is great! I actually was looking at some recurrents to add, and I came across some of the Billboard lists of Number 1's from just a few years ago. Looking back on these lists, how many of these would even be worth replaying:

2002 11/30-12/7 Madonna "Die Another die"
2002 2/2 Depeche Mode "Free Love"
2003 4/5 Cher "When The Money's Gone"
2003 12/27 Brit-Brit and Madge "Me Against The Music (and a baby)"
2003 2/8 Mariah "Through the Rain"

I know that there is always some hits that were just the right moment, but some of these are just crap! What will be popular in 2027? Lets look at how many dance songs from 1987 get airplay today:

Salt n' Pepa "Push It"
Janet "Control" (and the rest of that album)
Lisa Lisa "Head to Toe"
MARRS "Pump Up The Volume"

But these were not the biggest hits of year! these tracks spent the longest in the top position:

Company B "Fascinated" (yes it pops up on retro shows, but soooo dated.)
KTP "Certain Things Are Likely" (Kissing the Pink???)
Earth Wind & Fire "System of Survival" (yeah, that one I hear all the time..)
Depeche Mode "Strangelove" (while I loved this song back then, the bigger track was Never Let Me Down..)

Time makes fools of us all! When I first started Hot 96, I tried to recreate WQHT from 1986-1991 and I aquired EVERY song they played/charted/added. It was when I had finished I realized 80% of that music should never be heard again!
 
Did you live in NY during those years? WQHT played so many great songs while dated they are still classics. WQHT was a leader in those days playing dance/chr music before many other stations would. They were the first to play people such as Debbie Gibson, Marc Anthony (when he was a freestyle artist), C&C Music Factory, Expose etc.
 
I was thinking along the lines of:

Blue Mercedes "I want to be your property"
3 Man Island "Jack The Lad"
Stayce & Kimiko "Wait For Me"

I am looking at those 12" right now in the "Why do I still have these?" pile. If you want them, let me know, I will gladly bestow them upon your porch!

And no, I did not live in the NYC during that time, but I was doing TOP 40 at the time, and friends smuggled me airchecks and playlists from Hot 103.5/Hot 103/Hot 97. And of course anytime I visited New York, that is were I locked my dial. ;)

I actually still deal with Mickey Garcia at Micmac through Hot 96 as well as some of the other great artist that came out of Hot 103/97's era, and some have moved on to different stuff while some still produce some great freestyle tracks. For instance, Chubby Checker had a track in '06 called "knock Down The Walls" and guess who the back-up singer was? Cyre (of "Lat Chance" fame!) I was supposed to interview her for the station, but I got tied down with some technical problems (our server took a dump) and lost my chance, but I am hoping she pops up on some new stuff soon! Also, there is a new track from an artist named Raul called "Hit That" which is co-produced by Charlie Babie (many Freestyle fans will recognize his name..) After the New Year, I am going to have them do some artist spotlight stuff if I can work out the time!

I really forgot where the heck I was going with this so... Tah Tah!
 
Mickey Garcia is a great guy having spoken to him at clubs and shows for the past 5 years or so. Send the 12's to me if you want. Alot of songs Hot 97 tested that would be good songs for the time but sound dated to day. Like if you played the Original Disco 92 (KTU) playlist it would sound so seventiesis. When I get a chance i will check out your online station.
 
Hot96portland said:
This is great! I actually was looking at some recurrents to add, and I came across some of the Billboard lists of Number 1's from just a few years ago. Looking back on these lists, how many of these would even be worth replaying:

2002 11/30-12/7 Madonna "Die Another die"
2002 2/2 Depeche Mode "Free Love"
2003 4/5 Cher "When The Money's Gone"
2003 12/27 Brit-Brit and Madge "Me Against The Music (and a baby)"
2003 2/8 Mariah "Through the Rain"
Click to expand...

Which chart is this from? If it's the BB Dance Club charts throw those away. They are all hype, no substance and have never been based in reality.

jp
 
Yes, it is from the Billboard chart, but I do remember playing those songs in the clubs (that was back when I was spinning 6 nights a week..) and I thought they were garbage back them. They are not completely based off hype, but based off response from club/record pools (which I was a member of back then.) While I would never base my playlist off charts, you have to consider it as a tool for research.

This is kinda what I am going back to, too many PD/MD's in ALL formats rely on just strictly research and formula's to compile playlist/rotations. The better PD's will always program from the gut. Same with club DJ's (atleast the ones that make $$$ and can sell out stadiums) They are not always playing what is chart or research popular, but what they think will complete the feeling of the moment. Make sense?

Also, Lalumia, I have not heard your track yet, but as a programmer, a bit of advice (if you care) I get tired of seeing the same track pushed across my desk with just some "Uber-cool new hot club remix." Chances are if a PD has not added the track after the first couple listens, it won't get added. It's time to move on to the next release. As an example, I have one artist that has been pimping the same track for 3 years, and I am absolutely SICK of hearing it, there has been probably 20 different remixes and they still can't get around the fact that his vocals are AWEFUL! I am not implying that your track is aweful, but maybe this track is not the ground breaker for you. You could try pimpin' your next release, remember "Push It" was only a B-side to "Tramp" (WOW, that was 20 years ago... damn I feel old.)
 
well, none of the Jimi records were properly promoted, released on little indie no budget labels, but they sure do test well where ever they're played...thanks for the advice all the same and, as I said,with the state of crossover dance in 2007, it's a 'compared to what' situation as far as I'm concerned..
you can leave your opinion of the radio edit of "Dancefloor" after you listen at
www.myspace.com/thejimilalumia
"The Anthem" is enjoying a bit of a resurge as well, but the subject matter scared the pants off of radio
 
lalumia said:
well, none of the Jimi records were properly promoted, released on little indie no budget labels, but they sure do test well where ever they're played...thanks for the advice all the same and, as I said,with the state of crossover dance in 2007, it's a 'compared to what' situation as far as I'm concerned..
you can leave your opinion of the radio edit of "Dancefloor" after you listen at
www.myspace.com/thejimilalumia
"The Anthem" is enjoying a bit of a resurge as well, but the subject matter scared the pants off of radio
Click to expand...

No offense but the anthem is not a radio record. All the record says is I need to take drugs. Its a club record. The song would burn so fast because of that.
 
agreed,although people love the music track so much that we may re write a radio friendly story line for it...
same deal with the second single, "Loud Enough",which dealt with the war and the state of things(2004),although Vic Latino premiered it one evening on KTU and thought it was amazing,but again, a label asleep at the wheel,and....
DJs that just want to hear female vocals and songs about love and dancing and nothing else, which I think is a big factor in the downfall of mainstream dance,and not just because my tracks betray my punk rock roots...
Happy New Year To ALL!!!!
 
Hot96portland said:
Yes, it is from the Billboard chart, but I do remember playing those songs in the clubs (that was back when I was spinning 6 nights a week..) and I thought they were garbage back them. They are not completely based off hype, but based off response from club/record pools (which I was a member of back then.) While I would never base my playlist off charts, you have to consider it as a tool for research.

This is kinda what I am going back to, too many PD/MD's in ALL formats rely on just strictly research and formula's to compile playlist/rotations. The better PD's will always program from the gut. Same with club DJ's (atleast the ones that make $$$ and can sell out stadiums) They are not always playing what is chart or research popular, but what they think will complete the feeling of the moment. Make sense?
Click to expand...

Not sure I understand the first paragraph. Are you saying that the Billboard Club charts aren't based on hype but based on response from the clubs and record pools? Or are you saying that the records you are talking about are suitable based on what you experienced from the clubs and what you saw on record pool charts? Please explain for my clarification.

And I can only say that I somewhat agree with your "The better PD's will always program from the gut." That really depends on the person. Just because a programmer doesn't use research that can't make him/her a good programmer. Some can be, most aren't. Remember, research is anything from asking your listener what they like to taking requests to going to a club an seeing a song react there. Also, it's a lot easier to program an internet station by gut then a 50,000 watt FM. There's a whole lot less on the line.

The handful of DJ's (oops, I mean one) that can sell out stadiums aren't usually playing other people's music. They are playing nothing that is "popular" instead opting for playing a setlist of mostly their music that appeals to the audience that their marketing teams stategy has appealed to. ;) Not that there's anything wrong with that.

jp
 
"Or are you saying that the records you are talking about are suitable based on what you experienced from the clubs and what you saw on record pool charts?"

That is what I meant, sorry for the confusion..

"Also, it's a lot easier to program an internet station by gut then a 50,000 watt FM. There's a whole lot less on the line."

I agree, I was actually talking about for instances with the actual FM signals I am involved with (MOViN 107.5.. etc) Lisa and I have spent a lot of time talking about the value of research on the format (what songs test well.. etc.)
 
If the radio philosophy hasn't changed by then.....a dance station in 2027 will sound like one particular rhythmic station in 2007. KTU

And as a 61 year old man, I'll probably STILL be fighting for a dance music station...but then again, it won't matter. Wi-Fi will cover long distances I'll just hear the streamers out there. Hopefully The Original Hot 97 will still be around by then :D
 
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