The former alternative format at 103.9

[johndavis]

While poking around Airchecked.com and listening to the frequency swap of the Edge, I found a New Times article on the station back then.

While the New Times isn't where I'd go for commentary on the business of radio, they do know their music, especially that genre.

Here's what the New Times said about the Edge back in November 2001:

A bigger long-term question might be: How viable is the alt-rock format in the current pop climate? A decade ago, the format represented the one place on the commercial end of the dial where you could turn to hear Sonic Youth, the Pixies or the Beastie Boys. Now, with MTV devoting so much of its scant video time to teen pop and contemporary R&B, any rock that slips in (Linkin Park, System of a Down, Staind) is looked upon by the industry as an alternative, even if its values represent worn-out rock clichés.

Amazing how we were pretty much asking the same questions about the Alternative format at the end of 103.9's run as we were at the beginning of its time on that frequency.

Is it any wonder they lost their musical direction?

 

[DJ_Perry]

Yes this has been my beef with "Alternative" even in the late 90's. It use to mean something, and you wouldn't catch even 1/4 of what the format includes today on a station like KUKQ back then.

 

[Saladressing]

While it is indeed a niche format there are successful alt. stations all across the country. In the Phoenix market, 103.9 became so predictable, stale and almost entirely gold-based (the format is set up to be current-based; think what would happen if a CHR stopped adding new tracks) over several years that it was finally taken out of its misery. The format as a whole is obviously viable and just needs and will get a fresh start in the market at some point. Agreed that the format could use a shakeup - some stations are trying to do that as we speak.

 

[Ford]

The format as a whole is obviously viable and just needs and will get a fresh start in the market at some point.

Is it really "obviously viable?" I'm not so sure.

Yes, stations that presented themselves as "alternative" were successful in the 90s, and a few of them are still around today, but were they really "alternative," or were they just stations that jumped on the bandwagon when supposedly "alternative" acts enjoyed a period of popularity?

You mentioned that alt stations are current-based, and I don't disagree, but what currents are out there right now, and are they enough to support an entire format?

 

[Saladressing]

Here's a repost of ratings from Dec. 2011 for pure alt. stations (not active rock/alternative rock hybrids). Look how fast the Smooth Jazz format was jettisoned after PPM: The alt. format, while a niche and while overall a bit stale for the last decade plus, still has an audience or these cities would all be without the format. Many would argue that the format should be way more current-based than it is today; Besides the Grunge Explosion one of the reasons the format was so successful in the 1990s was the plethora of new music from a variety of styles that included female artists. In the last 2 to 3 years the format has been slowly incorporating more of this variety.

Los Angeles: 5.9 (combined share for 2 stations)
Boston: 4.2 (combined share for 2 stations)
San Diego: 3.1 (combined share for 2 stations)
Bend, OR: 5.5; 7th place overall in its market
Philadelphia: 4.4; 7th place overall in its market
Denver: 4.2; 6th place overall in its market
Salt Lake: 4.1; 8th place overall in its market
Washington DC: 3.9
Austin: 3.9
Providence: 3.5
Kansas City: 3.3
Dallas: 3.2
Milwaukee: 3.0

 

[Ford]

Here's a repost of ratings from Dec. 2011 for pure alt. stations (not active rock/alternative rock hybrids).

The first question that comes to mind is, how do you determine what is a "pure" alternative station?

The second question is, what the hell is Bend, OR doing in that list?

Okay, that was a bit of sarcasm, but when you go down your list, how many stations in those markets are "pure" alternative stations, as opposed to stations that are still riding their success from previous years?

How many of them are current-heavy? How many of them are breaking new music in all dayparts?

 

[OneHorseTown]

The first question that comes to mind is, how do you determine what is a "pure" alternative station?

As Robin Nash once said on the Edge, a "pure" Alternative station plays no Nickelback!

 

[DJ_Perry]

i believe The Edge played Nickelback when they 1st came out

 

[EricStein]

i believe The Edge played Nickelback when they 1st came out

They also played Hootie & The Blowfish when they were hot. I could name a laundry list of songs they played in 1995 they would not consider "alternative" in 2005.

 

[MarkO]

If I was in the Phoenix market (or at least Scottsdale and vicinity), I'd use KWSS-LP as a good reference point for what a proper alternative station might sound like musically. Nice, hard-edged contemporary indie rock off a wide playlist. Of course, a research-driven commercial programmer would never be able to follow that model because most of the tunes would have zero upfront familiarity to the average listener. I tune in KWSS online regularly over here in London, and find it a refreshing change, and good source of ideas about songs to download.

 

[DJ_Perry]

They also played Hootie & The Blowfish when they were hot. I could name a laundry list of songs they played in 1995 they would not consider "alternative" in 2005.

I would say easily 50% of what they played in the 2000's was not Alternative

 

[johndavis]

They also played Hootie & The Blowfish when they were hot. I could name a laundry list of songs they played in 1995 they would not consider "alternative" in 2005.

Hootie was worked at Alterrnative and AAA before they crossed over to pop. I consider Hootie and Alanis the beginnings of Hot AC & CHR swiping all of the good alternative product for themselves, which pushed alternative closer to Active Rock.