THE TIME IS NOW TO GET DANCE RADIO STATION IN NYC

[TonySantiago]

Now this, I gotta say I didn't see this coming.

In a way I did. This, after the turnout of Beatstock and all of the drama that ensued in the past couple of days prior to that event.

It is what it is......

Tony, for those of us not into the dance music scene, can you please explain your comment, and tie it into the demise of contemporary dance on Party 105?

Barry,

Please respect that I'm really not going to go into it further. The best thing I can tell you and other non dance fans is on the sentence to really "read between the lines". When you can connect the dots that way, then you can get the message without me actually "saying it".

That's why with what has happened on Party 105 I am staying, for the most part, quiet. It's as I had said before...it's NOT that I don't believe in the dance contemporary format; I still would LOVE for a NYC station to do this somewhere, but I'm just not going to discuss Party 105 any further.

It is what it is.

 

[Morpheux]

Another victim of the PPM era. Given KTU'S rise to the top, this is a smart financial move on JVC'S part.

 

[fmradio1]

Tony, what a "coalition" leader you turned out to be. Over the years you've railed against the WKTU's and Z-100's of the world for not playing enough current dance music. Yet, when Pulse 87 went belly up and now Party changes format, you're almost an apologist! It seems that you have too many contacts within these stations, and don't want to step on any toes in case it limits your club, label or artist access in the future. Sad. I almost bought your BS. Glad we are all finally starting to see the truth.

I like dance music a lot, but I realize that if it can't work now with so many artists starting to cross over, an all dance station will never work here. It would be great to discuss with you what Pulse and Party did wrong, and why they couldn't make it work even with the crossover success of the genre at Top 40 the last couple of years. But we can't since you won't comment on it. You obviously have your own agenda beyond the "coalition" so you really aren't the person to champion dance music on the radio anymore. What a fraud.

 

[TonySantiago]

Tony, what a "coalition" leader you turned out to be. Over the years you've railed against the WKTU's and Z-100's of the world for not playing enough current dance music. Yet, when Pulse 87 went belly up and now Party changes format, you're almost an apologist! It seems that you have too many contacts within these stations, and don't want to step on any toes in case it limits your club, label or artist access in the future. Sad. I almost bought your BS. Glad we are all finally starting to see the truth.

I like dance music a lot, but I realize that if it can't work now with so many artists starting to cross over, an all dance station will never work here. It would be great to discuss with you what Pulse and Party did wrong, and why they couldn't make it work even with the crossover success of the genre at Top 40 the last couple of years. But we can't since you won't comment on it. You obviously have your own agenda beyond the "coalition" so you really aren't the person to champion dance music on the radio anymore. What a fraud.

@Morpheux, no PPM's in that part of Long Island

FMRadio:

MY AGENDA is TO FIGHT FOR THE MUSIC! IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN!!!

Back in the days when the coalition started, yeah I was frantic to the point of obnoxious as we fought to get things and when we did yeah I was critical of what was right and wrong. Let's fast forward now because what I didn't really know then and what I know now are the "politics". And politics goes MANY ways. It goes by what the station plays. It goes by the managements of the stations and it also goes by YOU the fans.

I felt bad about what happened to Pulse 87. EVERYONE here can vouch to that. But the Party FM mess was all around. Yeah, I hated the hip-hop aspect portion of the format but I knew why it was done. But what I also hated was how a lot of the fans acting up right after this...YEAH YOU!!!!!

So now, this happens. And yes, the politics are all over it. THAT is why I do not go there with JVC. And no, an ALL DANCE station cannot fully work here. You HAVE to have the crossover because there are more fans that are CASUAL to dance music than there are core fans of our stature. And we have to GET those casual fans involved. I DO believe that once that happens things can continue to grow for our music. And they are when you consider what 92.3 Now is doing.

I AM FIGHTING again for a dance station. I always will. If you think I'm BS, then whatever...join the line of those that want nothing more than to attack, bash and put me down. I could really give two bleeps. I'm going to do what I have to do. And whether you are with me or not, then no big. One thing.....DO NOT TAKE CREDIT WHEN I SUCCEED because I will "shoot" you down (your comments that is).

If you want to discuss with me, then begin by an e-mail - [email protected]. The ball is now in your court. And if I don't see an e-mail from you, then YOU are a fraud by popping off on me like this. Bring it. I'll let people know in here if I hear from you. I have nothing to hide.

It's also up on FB too so if you're my "friend", then come on out.

 

[TonySantiago]

WHEN you e-mail me fmradio1, I will give my number and we can discuss.

 

[TonySantiago]

fmradio1 is ONLINE. Still no e-mail.

 

[bigtom101]

@Morpheux, no PPM's in that part of Long Island

Nassau/Suffolk (aka "Long Island") is PPM. Even stations out on the East End like WLNG encode PPM.

 

[TonySantiago]

@Morpheux, no PPM's in that part of Long Island

Nassau/Suffolk (aka "Long Island") is PPM. Even stations out on the East End like WLNG encode PPM.

Okay, I didn't know then. Thank you for clearing that up with me

 

[d21ofnj]

@Morpheux, no PPM's in that part of Long Island

Nassau/Suffolk (aka "Long Island") is PPM. Even stations out on the East End like WLNG encode PPM.

But the stations out in Eastern LI doesn't show the ratings that clear like how the defunct Hamptons-Riverhead book was.

 

[bigtom101]

But the stations out in Eastern LI doesn't show the ratings that clear like how the defunct Hamptons-Riverhead book was.

Nobody was buying the Hamptons-Riverhead book, so Arbitron quit providing it.

 

[fmradio1]

I have no interest in e-mailing or calling. It just proves my point that you don't want to talk about why these ventures have failed in a public forum. At least you were honest enough to say it's politics. It's those politics within the dance community that is keeping this music from reaching the airwaves in this country. Dance labels and promoters historically do things bass ackwards, as you probably know. Until these problems get fixed and relations with the "gatekeepers" at radio improve, dance music has no real shot at succeeding in the States. By clamming up on the real issues, you hinder the efforts you say your "coalition" wants to advance. Just my two cents.

 

[TonySantiago]

I have no interest in e-mailing or calling. It just proves my point that you don't want to talk about why these ventures have failed in a public forum. At least you were honest enough to say it's politics. It's those politics within the dance community that is keeping this music from reaching the airwaves in this country. Dance labels and promoters historically do things bass ackwards, as you probably know. Until these problems get fixed and relations with the "gatekeepers" at radio improve, dance music has no real shot at succeeding in the States. By clamming up on the real issues, you hinder the efforts you say your "coalition" wants to advance. Just my two cents.

And YOU just proved my point because I made myself accessible to you, even if it was outside this board. The fact that you didn't want to e-mail or call can't be faulted on me. As hostile as your post was towards me, I did extend. That's what I'm SUPPOSED to do whether you agree with my style or not.

And yes, it is politics plain and simple. But to say I'm personally hindering things is dead wrong. If anything, quite the opposite. But if there are those, within the industry (and it's a few), that doesn't share that feeling to knock off the BS and move forward for the sake of the music, then I'm being held back as well. I can only go so much in this.

You've obviously read my posts before and if there were things I could put out there, you know I would do so and that's perhaps what you and others are seeking...for me to put things out there. But I also know where to pick my "fights" and "battles", which was something I really didn't do well back in 1994. That is the reason why I am leaving this alone. If this was SO WORTH IT for me to pursue and go after, I would. But BASED on those politics, I am not expressing my opinion on this matter. Which is actually a first for me.

If that does not satisfy you, then it's unfortunate. But HELL NO if you're gonna ram me down without a fight! I don't want to fight from within our circles but I'm certainly not gonna take it sitting down from you or anyone.

BTW, you may want to hear this because I had to call you out. You made me "go there"
http://soundcloud.com/nydancemusic/tony-thoughts-10-19-11

My two cents....KA-CHING!!!!!!!! :

 

[d21ofnj]

I have no interest in e-mailing or calling. It just proves my point that you don't want to talk about why these ventures have failed in a public forum. At least you were honest enough to say it's politics. It's those politics within the dance community that is keeping this music from reaching the airwaves in this country. Dance labels and promoters historically do things bass ackwards, as you probably know. Until these problems get fixed and relations with the "gatekeepers" at radio improve, dance music has no real shot at succeeding in the States. By clamming up on the real issues, you hinder the efforts you say your "coalition" wants to advance. Just my two cents.

Sounds like you already know the answer in the first place. Based on your replys, the only thing you're proving is your "true colors" of who you are. If you really have no interest in contacting someone, why bother speaking? Just MY two cents

 

[Morpheux]

I might be the only one on this thread who doesn't necessarily see Party leaning gold Rhythmic as a bad thing.Most likely this will increase their share of the audience.An audience that will be more friendly to newer dance sounds since they grew up on the sound. That has always been one of the major fall outs with dance music from any of the past decades.There has not been any continuous dance format station,the music had a hard time fitting in on Top 40 radio for long periods of time.I suspect that Party will eventually go more 90's-today, once they find their groove.

If you're the strictly new dance type, you already have moved from terrestrial radio and listening to the "pure dance" stations on satellite or online.If you don't mind hearing some dance hits from the last few decades along with some new dance then you will most likely listen to the KTU'S out there.And in the PPM era,this is were you are able to capture a broader dance friendly audience that generates most importantly $ales$.

 

[TonySantiago]

I might be the only one on this thread who doesn't necessarily see Party leaning gold Rhythmic as a bad thing.Most likely this will increase their share of the audience.An audience that will be more friendly to newer dance sounds since they grew up on the sound. That has always been one of the major fall outs with dance music from any of the past decades.There has not been any continuous dance format station,the music had a hard time fitting in on Top 40 radio for long periods of time.I suspect that Party will eventually go more 90's-today, once they find their groove.

If you're the strictly new dance type, you already have moved from terrestrial radio and listening to the "pure dance" stations on satellite or online.If you don't mind hearing some dance hits from the last few decades along with some new dance then you will most likely listen to the KTU'S out there.And in the PPM era,this is were you are able to capture a broader dance friendly audience that generates most importantly $ales$.

I'm not against what they did. Nor am I upset about it. Radio is a business and I've understood that. There are some members that are trying to see this flip in a positive manner and I understand it. If anything there was one track I tuned into "Did I Ever Cross Your Mind" and I could have sworn I was in Orlando 10 years ago!

Like I said, it's what it is and I am neither pro or con on it.

 

[Morpheux]

I'm not against what they did. Nor am I upset about it. Radio is a business and I've understood that. There are some members that are trying to see this flip in a positive manner and I understand it. If anything there was one track I tuned into "Did I Ever Cross Your Mind" and I could have sworn I was in Orlando 10 years ago!

Like I said, it's what it is and I am neither pro or con on it.

MTV has brought back Beavis and Butthead,90's nostalgia is officially taking off.

 

[TonySantiago]

I'm not against what they did. Nor am I upset about it. Radio is a business and I've understood that. There are some members that are trying to see this flip in a positive manner and I understand it. If anything there was one track I tuned into "Did I Ever Cross Your Mind" and I could have sworn I was in Orlando 10 years ago!

Like I said, it's what it is and I am neither pro or con on it.

MTV has brought back Beavis and Butthead,90's nostalgia is officially taking off.

And so is current dance, even on a mainstream level. Just need a station within NYC though.

 

[Morpheux]

You know what is the irony in all this Tony? That Freestyle has survived through it all. Freestyle is quintessentially NY Dance music.It has stood through the test of time.

 

[TonySantiago]

You know what is the irony in all this Tony? That Freestyle has survived through it all. Freestyle is quintessentially NY Dance music.It has stood through the test of time.

No question there .

When you get down to it, the music of freestyle is basically the dance music version of classic rock, in terms of acts such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, Rolling Stones, Moody Blues, etc. (to which you can say Judy Torres, George Lamond, Coro, etc. for the classic mid 80's/early 90's era) The music was very strong when it first came out (in markets like New York and Miami) and people from that era (to which I am part of) remember it and kept it close.

I really saw the impact of freestyle this year during Beatstock when the majority of the acts were removed the last second. It was bad enough when venues were changed and one of them were cancelled due to low ticket sales. But when people caught wind of the freestyle acts being removed, things went NUTS to the point of anger, which caused the lowest turnout ever. If it wasn't for the "tween" acts of Big Time Rush and the dance troupe "The Iconic Boyz", the event would have had more of a club attendance than an outdoor music arena setting. No question a lot of money was lost in this.

Let me explain something, because a lot of people think I'm against freestyle. I'm not against freestyle at all. I just think that if a genre such as freestyle gets played on a current leaning dance station on heavy rotation, that it doesn't help today's music at all. And today's freestyle does not capture the essence of what the past was all about. That's why I had said if a music similar to freestyle were to make a comeback, it would have to gear to that younger audience with new younger groups (the same way Judy Torres, Cynthia, TKA, etc were in their teens and twenties when they first came out) and sound nothing like the past, since the younger generation think of the classic material as "parents and grandparents" music. It would also be the "freestyle" way of evolving the sound....something that it could never really do.

But for those of us that grew up on freestyle, of course we'll treasure it. And for what Party 105 is now, you HAVE to play freestyle in there in terms of the older demographics that love it, and yes, on heavy rotation.

Hopefully there will be a good turnout at Atlantic City for the Freestyle Free For All (November 5th).

 

[Hamp]

To Tony Santiago and other Dance Fans,
Did you guys know that WBLS-FM 107.5 has a House Music mix show on Friday Nights from 10PM until Midnight (eastern time) called "Roots NYC?" It features DJ's Kevin Hedge (from the group "Blaze") and "Little" Louie Vega. I know it isn't a full-time format, but it does add to the dance music landscape on NYC radio. Listened to some of the mixes, they are pretty good. Opinions? Thoughts?