Should it even be called AC?

[carolinaradio]

OK. There are debates here about what AC stations should play....but I started thinking, what is really "contemporary" about these stations? Look at a couple hours of WLYT Lite 102.9 in Charlotte, what I consider to be a typical AC station that I listen to regularly.

5/11
2:03PM Cutting Crew - I Just Died In Your Arms
2:08PM Michael Jackson - Rock With You
2:11PM Sheryl Crow - Soak Up The Sun
2:21PM John Mayer - Waiting On The World
2:25PM Paula Abdul - Straight Up
2:29PM England Dan & John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love to See You
2:31PM Seal - Kiss From a Rose
2:36PM Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
2:46PM Miley Cyrus - The Climb
2:50PM KC & The Sunshine Band - Shake Shake Shake
2:52PM 3 Doors Down - Here Without You
2:56PM Eagles - Take It To The Limit
3:01PM Kenny Loggins - Footloose
3:05PM Daniel Powter - Bad Day
3:16PM Doobie Bros. - Listen To The Music
3:21PM Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams
3:25PM Jordin Sparks - One Step at a Time
3:36PM Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are
3:41PM Hootie/Blowfish - Only Wanna Be With You
3:44PM Phil Collins - Take Me Home
3:50PM Temptations - Just My Imagination
3:54PM Uncle Kracker - Smile
3:57PM Stephanie Mills - Never Knew Love Like This Before

My question: how is that considered contemporary? Yes, it's for adults, but are Stephanie Mills, Phil Collins, and England Dan really contemporary? There is newer stuff and even currents, but the pre-90s way outweigh the newer stuff on most AC's, including above. Some of these stations use "Today's soft/lite rock", etc.

So, should stations sounding like the above really call themselves AC? Never thought of it until now, but it doesn't make much sense. "Contemporary" would be 2000s music to me.

 

[imhomerjay]

They don't call themselves that to the audience, so it doesn't matter in the least what arbitrary label is assigned to the format. "AC" stations have often relied on heavy doses of the music of the target audience's youth as a foundation, with whatever music that same target likes from the current era. It'll move forward over time just as it has before.

 

[carolinaradio]

They don't call themselves that to the audience, so it doesn't matter in the least what arbitrary label is assigned to the format. "AC" stations have often relied on heavy doses of the music of the target audience's youth as a foundation, with whatever music that same target likes from the current era. It'll move forward over time just as it has before.

Good point.

I still just get a funny feeling hearing "Today's soft rock" going on top of Elton John. I guess it's lite rock by today's standards, so maybe it does make sense.

 

[semoochie]

When MOR evolved to Full Service Adult Contemporary, it truly was "contemporary" albeit softer than Top 40. The closest thing to it now is Hot AC although the presentation is completely different and adults no longer require anything nearly that soft.

 

[vchimpanzee]

From what I've been reading, Lite 102.9 was a lot more contemporary a few months ago. WMAG, which was supposedly playing all the same songs, gave up the national format Clear Channel was using when Majic 94.1, which covered part of both stations' territories, switched from oldies. The addition of an oldies station in Charlotte didn't keep Lite 102.9 from doing the same thing, seeing as how it's AM and not strong at night.

What is definitely wrong is using the name "Lite". Though I do see four songs in that list that would qualify for standards radio, and two more that might.