^WKBE is a really progressive Hot AC than leans Alternative, but I guess it's a fringe signal - and WRVE is actually classified as Hot AC too (I guess it must sound like an AC though)
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Should 80's be played on Hot AC stations today?
- Thread starter lovejamminoldies
- Start date
How about looking for great songs that people want to hear and not get hung up on when it was recorded? Research can help you find the right ones for your market.
I thought it was worth mentioning here that WPLJ in NYC is giving the 80s attention again, and they are going back in to the early 80s even. I actually like the way they're sounding, but interesting for a Hot AC in 2011....
Aside from PLJ, the Hot AC that keeps sticking out to me that is so 80s friendly is WMMX, Mix 107.7 in Dayton, OH. They play what, 2-3 an hour? WISX (which IMO is a mess) in Philadelphia is playing 80s.
I've noticed that almost all of the CBS Hot AC's seem to have dropped, or play very little 80s music (of course, some of them are, IMO, CHR's)...and heck, not much 90s, either. They are very current-based.
Aside from PLJ, the Hot AC that keeps sticking out to me that is so 80s friendly is WMMX, Mix 107.7 in Dayton, OH. They play what, 2-3 an hour? WISX (which IMO is a mess) in Philadelphia is playing 80s.
I've noticed that almost all of the CBS Hot AC's seem to have dropped, or play very little 80s music (of course, some of them are, IMO, CHR's)...and heck, not much 90s, either. They are very current-based.
Back in say 1996, most Hot ACs only went back 12 years or so - now it's 2011, and Star 94 goes back 17 years to play Counting Crows (which sounds really old to me) - and apparently WPLJ is going back 30 years...
Yeah...Mix 100.7 in Tampa is another HAC that still includes 80s. Add Q92.9 in Pittsburgh as well (technically, they are one of two Hot AC's there, but I consider WZPT almost CHR). I don't see anything wrong with going back 15-18 years if the song is still pretty hip sounding and fits with the newer stuff.
I'm no expert, but Clear Channel's Hot AC's seem a little more conservative, overall. CBS's are more aggressive, I'm not a big fan of theirs.
I'm no expert, but Clear Channel's Hot AC's seem a little more conservative, overall. CBS's are more aggressive, I'm not a big fan of theirs.
carolinaradio said:
Yeah, I mean compare Mix/Dallas (Clear Channel) with Mix/Houston (CBS) - two cities with almost identical politics, and the stations are like night and day...
IMO it's weird to me that people's musical tastes are that malleable
Yeah, I know. I think Clear Channel has their strategy and CBS has theirs, overall. Mix/Houston, though, is pretty good for a CBS Hot AC, as is WOMX/Orlando - at least they aren't sounding like a CHR (WQAL, WBZZ, WWMX). WQAL is even playing Bad Meets Evil!atlantaboy said:
CBS seems to have AC's that are really Hot AC, Hot AC's that are really CHR, CHR's that are really Rhythmic...
I notice that KBIG in Los Angeles is playing 80s music again, although they promote "90s through now."
What CBS AC's do you feel lean more Hot AC?
Fresh 102.7 should be counted as Hot AC, but the rest seem from KVIL to WLIF, to WRCH and in between sound AC.
Fresh 102.7 should be counted as Hot AC, but the rest seem from KVIL to WLIF, to WRCH and in between sound AC.
Actually, I was referring to their Fresh stations (past/present), but the one in DC has finally moved to Hot AC and the one in Chicago flipped. The one in STL is still AC'ish.
WWFS definitely seems Hot AC to me, though, but I guess it could be debated. KLLC in San Fransisco is my favorite CBS Hot AC, good sound.
WWFS definitely seems Hot AC to me, though, but I guess it could be debated. KLLC in San Fransisco is my favorite CBS Hot AC, good sound.
You know the reason 94.7 Fresh FM Washington D.C. leans more Hot AC is to help protect sister station Lite 101.9 Baltimore. Whats werid is that both stations cover different markets.
CC's KDMX/Dallas (Mix 102.9) usually focus mostly on "Today's Mix" which is actually their slogan they been using since the middle of 2000s, I think, I don't remember exactly. They usually focus on today's currents lately. It is surprising that once in a while they give 80s attention. It included soft 80s hits like Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes", Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time", Sting's "Fields Of Gold" (90s, but too soft), Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight", The Eagles' "Hotel California", Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" which are really soft AC hit which shows up 1-3 times a day. Although they only have a certain period (like a month) where they play these stuffs, other than that, their playlist is almost fully currents throughout the year with a little of 90s hits.
I notice that Citadel's KYIS/Oklahoma City change their slogan somewhere in Fall 2010, I think. I remember in Summer 2010 their slogan was still "Best of 80s, 90s, and Today's" or something similar to that, but last Winter 2011 it's just "Best Variety of 90s and Today's" or something similar to that. KYIS hasn't play much 80s since 2009. I don't think they play much 80s the past few years either. Last Christmas when my mom and me visit OKC for my grandma's birthday in December and AC KMGL already went all-Christmas by then, so I listen to Hot AC KYIS and that is when I realize their slogan is "90s and Today's", but it was surprising when I still heard Journey's "Open Arms" and some other soft 80s stuffs about 1-2 times a day. Actually KYIS is Modern AC, but that would be the same thing with Hot AC, IMO.
I believe Hot AC stations tends to change their slogan to "Best Variety", "Best Mix", etc. or go slogan less. I think a lot of Hot AC stations try to avoid mentioning decades in their slogan these days, IMO. It looks like they don't want to mention what decades they are playing from these days since they're under pressure if on which decades they should slow down or give attention to. It looks like the same goes for AC and Classic Hits station. I might be wrong, I don't think many AC stations mention decades in their slogans much ever since. I know that Classic Hits stations used to mention 60s and 70s when they were mostly oldies and because they're adding 80s, it looks like they focus on slogans like "Greatest Hits of ..." and avoid mentioning decades in their slogans.
I notice that Citadel's KYIS/Oklahoma City change their slogan somewhere in Fall 2010, I think. I remember in Summer 2010 their slogan was still "Best of 80s, 90s, and Today's" or something similar to that, but last Winter 2011 it's just "Best Variety of 90s and Today's" or something similar to that. KYIS hasn't play much 80s since 2009. I don't think they play much 80s the past few years either. Last Christmas when my mom and me visit OKC for my grandma's birthday in December and AC KMGL already went all-Christmas by then, so I listen to Hot AC KYIS and that is when I realize their slogan is "90s and Today's", but it was surprising when I still heard Journey's "Open Arms" and some other soft 80s stuffs about 1-2 times a day. Actually KYIS is Modern AC, but that would be the same thing with Hot AC, IMO.
I believe Hot AC stations tends to change their slogan to "Best Variety", "Best Mix", etc. or go slogan less. I think a lot of Hot AC stations try to avoid mentioning decades in their slogan these days, IMO. It looks like they don't want to mention what decades they are playing from these days since they're under pressure if on which decades they should slow down or give attention to. It looks like the same goes for AC and Classic Hits station. I might be wrong, I don't think many AC stations mention decades in their slogans much ever since. I know that Classic Hits stations used to mention 60s and 70s when they were mostly oldies and because they're adding 80s, it looks like they focus on slogans like "Greatest Hits of ..." and avoid mentioning decades in their slogans.
carolinaradio said:
Don't forget to mention that CBS have Classic Hits' that are really AC too. I was surprise that KLUV/Dallas dropped 60s from their slogan (Idk when because I don't really pay attention to Oldies/Classic Hits station at all back then). This year they changed their slogan again and now it's "The Greatest Hits Of The 70's and More".
Maybe 70s and 80s should be played on Hot AC stations when AC stations goes all-Christmas from November through December. Especially in cities without a classic hits, adult hits, or classic rock station which means adult listeners wouldn't be able to find a station at least playing 70s and 80s like Elton John, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, The Police, Foreigner, Chicago, Tears for Fears, John Waite, Eric Carmen, Starship, George Michael, Mr. Mister, etc.
andrewduong77 said:
Mix 102.9 Dallas' slogan is "More Variety from the 90's til now" and they have more of an Adult CHR kinda sound since they play stuff like LMFAO, Pitbull, Enrique, Katy Perry, etc but they also still throw in an old 80's track once in a while (usually it's either Bon Jovi, OMD, or U2). I figured the 90's stuff would have a better selection but they focus more on currents.
andrewduong77 said:
Sorry but that's a good way for a Hot AC station to complete blow itself up (cater to people in their 40s and 50s for one month, then go back to 20 and 30-somethings in January...)
AC is Hot AC with 70's. NO 70s should be played on Hot AC, period and just as Seltzer said, the 80s that should get played are the big hits. "Don't Stop Believin", "Livin On A Prayer", "Pour Some Sugar On Me" etc. I don't like Hot AC mentioning decades either. Here in Dayton, they use dayparts to describe it. "At-Work Mix" "Night Mix" etc. In Columbus it's close to Adult CHR with "Today's Best Mix" and in Cincinnati, it's "90s, 80s, and Now" which I think is completely stupid.
Dayton: http://www.mix1077.com (Hot AC)
Columbus: http://www.mymix1079.com (Adult CHR)
Cincinnati: http://www.journey941.com (AC-leaning Hot AC)
Dayton: http://www.mix1077.com (Hot AC)
Columbus: http://www.mymix1079.com (Adult CHR)
Cincinnati: http://www.journey941.com (AC-leaning Hot AC)
WMMX is a decent Hot AC. They don't seem as current-based as a lot of them, I like that they have a little more variety.
WNIC in Detroit, if I haven't mentioned them already, is an EXTREMELY conservative Hot AC that still plays plenty of 80s - sometimes 3-4 an hour....and a lot of it's the "In Your Eyes", "In The Air Tonight", "Higher Love", "Crazy For You" sleepy type 80s. They even played "Old Time Rock & Roll" recently - which I believe is from '79. Looks like they do a lot of dayparting. I think it's a stretch to call them Hot AC.
WNIC reminds me a lot of WMYI in Greenville, SC, but WMYI isn't quite as conservative and seems more modern/aggressive - the funny thing is, WNIC is classified as Hot AC, while WMYI is classified as AC...
WNIC in Detroit, if I haven't mentioned them already, is an EXTREMELY conservative Hot AC that still plays plenty of 80s - sometimes 3-4 an hour....and a lot of it's the "In Your Eyes", "In The Air Tonight", "Higher Love", "Crazy For You" sleepy type 80s. They even played "Old Time Rock & Roll" recently - which I believe is from '79. Looks like they do a lot of dayparting. I think it's a stretch to call them Hot AC.
WNIC reminds me a lot of WMYI in Greenville, SC, but WMYI isn't quite as conservative and seems more modern/aggressive - the funny thing is, WNIC is classified as Hot AC, while WMYI is classified as AC...
CHR_FAN_TX said:
That's true, but they were playing those stuffs a little bit back in Fall 2010, I think they bring them back once in a while. I think they may have change their slogan. It was "Today's Mix", but they recently changed it to "More Variety from the 90's til now". It would've been better if they kept the "Today's Mix" slogan since they play mostly currents with little 80s and 90s.
You guys are right. Hot AC weren't designed to play soft AC songs the first place. It would throw a Hot AC out of place to play soft 70s & 80s songs for a month or two.
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