To me, this has always been an odd station. In the beginning, you could count on hearing "American Pie" "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights" at least two or three times a day. Because of their incredibly small playlist, I learned to loath many great songs I had loved before. These days, they call themselves "Classic Hits," yet play mostly Classic Rock. Regardless, you can expect to OD on Zeppelin and Skynyrd and also hear cuts you've never heard before (with good reason) from other established artists. And lately, they are even playing REM-neither a classic hits or classic rock artist. Does this station lack direction or are they ahead of their time?
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The River is all over the place
- Thread starter classrock
- Start date
Many folks on here have commented why River calls themselves "classic hits" when they have always been classic rock in the common usage of both terms. When they launched, they were playing some stuff like Billy Joel (still do) and Stevie Wonder (not anymore), which may have led to the classic hits moniker vs. classic rock. They also didn't go deep when they started, either.
In terms of the repetition, they seem to follow the Cox "turn and burn" approach where they test a bunch of songs, burn the hell out of them, and test again and replace the burnouts. Sister B98.5 had great success with this approach--indeed, River and the old B98.5 I considered to be a pair of "Jack and Jill" stations, one aimed at men and one at women--before B98.5 started going more current and relying on charts and recurrents more.
Re: REM, "Radio Free Europe" and "Sitting Still" were played on 96 Rock way back in 1983. In ATL they are definitely classic rock.
In terms of the repetition, they seem to follow the Cox "turn and burn" approach where they test a bunch of songs, burn the hell out of them, and test again and replace the burnouts. Sister B98.5 had great success with this approach--indeed, River and the old B98.5 I considered to be a pair of "Jack and Jill" stations, one aimed at men and one at women--before B98.5 started going more current and relying on charts and recurrents more.
Re: REM, "Radio Free Europe" and "Sitting Still" were played on 96 Rock way back in 1983. In ATL they are definitely classic rock.
I just don't understand why someone does not not go after them. 92.9 would have made a great classic hit's station. But they had to put a failed sports format on that will NEVER amount to anything. I just happen to scan the dial the other day and they had some bump and grind music behind the on air guy. God they are aweful!!
97.1 limited competition.
If you do not want to listen to talk, CHR, Urban, AC or Country what other choice is there?
If you do not want to listen to talk, CHR, Urban, AC or Country what other choice is there?
They must be doing something right if you believe the ratings.
I'm not denying that a classic hits/oldies (more pop leaning) format is not needed but I see The River as having greatly improved over the past few years by expanding their playlist and getting away from some of the tired American Pie tracks.
Still, the best classic rock station I have ever heard is KSHE out of St. Louis (where I am now). This station plays EVERYTHING that is rock from the late 60s to 90s and nothing (I MEAN NOTHING) is off limits. Hard rock? How about some Dio. Progressive? How about deep Yes cuts. Check out their playlist!
I also note there is a true classic "hits" station and an oldies station. Yes, this town has a true classic rock, classic hits, and oldies station. Pretty amazing radio for the older crowd BUT St. Louis is NOT Atlanta.
I'm not denying that a classic hits/oldies (more pop leaning) format is not needed but I see The River as having greatly improved over the past few years by expanding their playlist and getting away from some of the tired American Pie tracks.
Still, the best classic rock station I have ever heard is KSHE out of St. Louis (where I am now). This station plays EVERYTHING that is rock from the late 60s to 90s and nothing (I MEAN NOTHING) is off limits. Hard rock? How about some Dio. Progressive? How about deep Yes cuts. Check out their playlist!
I also note there is a true classic "hits" station and an oldies station. Yes, this town has a true classic rock, classic hits, and oldies station. Pretty amazing radio for the older crowd BUT St. Louis is NOT Atlanta.
amlover said:
Radio 105.7, Rock 100.5 and River.
Honestly I think River is playing its cards right. They are reaching deeper without going so far out in left field as to alienate listeners. We've had this very discussion in another thread a few months back. I like hearing the occasional deep cut and the general consensus among friends who listen is they like it too. Not the same 250 or so "classic hits" in rotation over and over. Heard Mother's Finest on there a few weeks ago and thought someone had turned the Flux Capacitor on and brought the old 96 Rock back for a second.
I think what happened to Z is they lost direction and shed too many listeners as a result.
NightFlyer said:amlover said:
Radio 105.7, Rock 100.5 and River.
Honestly I think River is playing its cards right. They are reaching deeper without going so far out in left field as to alienate listeners. We've had this very discussion in another thread a few months back. I like hearing the occasional deep cut and the general consensus among friends who listen is they like it too. Not the same 250 or so "classic hits" in rotation over and over. Heard Mother's Finest on there a few weeks ago and thought someone had turned the Flux Capacitor on and brought the old 96 Rock back for a second.
I think what happened to Z is they lost direction and shed too many listeners as a result.
I'll second this.
The original Classic Rock Z-93 of the 90's was a true Classic Rock station, with a wide playlist. I have a great recording of their "Classic Rocumentaries" on a cassette I made in the summer of 1994 when I was just out of high school. It was a whole weekend of hits from 1968-1982 IIRC. Very well done, and included commentary about events taking place when the various songs made the charts. Kept me listening for hours.
When the Dave flip happened in 2004, that is when it went south. Dave was fresh in the beginning "Rock without Rules" but it fizzled out.
I think the River is headed more towards the Z-93 of the 1990's sound. If this is the case, they will have a winner.
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