What is up with Top 40/CHR in Atlanta?!

[Wildstyle K]

ADULT HITS / SOFT ROCK
I'm not exactly sure what B98.5's label is, but if you all are looking towards hopefully getting a new Soft Rock station, it's probably best to launch a new thread for that - with some serious dialogue (no jokes) in it to shed some serious light on the matter (HERE'S A NEW ONE http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=177182.0) I cannot really judge B98.5 accurately since I don't research it on a normal basis, and most of everything I know about it is strictly based on hear-say. B98.5 may not exactly be the problem, but rather that Atl "needs" something like this http://www.yes.com/#KPKX?chart Not sure if that's Hot AC, or.... what, but it damn well sounds great, and I love their slogans about "thinking OUTSIDE the box" and going beyond what they really have to be.

WEIRD FORMATTING VS. THE NORM
Looks like the main problem in Atl. is the lack of direct competition - unless of course you have a hardcore passion for straight urban or deep pop rock, so there's really not much variety choice available outside of that. At least groove is 100% what a rhythmic should be. I guess every place has their odd ways because KZON, which is rhythmic similar to WWVA, is playing Neon Trees AND P!NK's new song, once played Orianthi, and still has 3OH!3 "don't trust me" in their rhythmic rotation. Then there is KMXP (who kicked EVERYBODY'S ass) which is EXTREMELY heavy on the pop rock (even beating KPKX), so... despite the talk on how boring KMXP is, you can't really deny that they don't know what they are doing (And they actually have more direct competition!).
__________________________________________________________________________________/

SO.. with all that being said, you can see why I don't really want to say much about B98.5 and attempt to talk about a beast that I have yet to get to know or "fully" understand. "Normal" may not always be everything...

However, fact still remains that a lot of odd things tend to happen in Atl market and there are just some music hits that should not unnecessarily be lacking. It would be interesting to see how many of these non urban formats in Atl would play it out if more non urban competition were brought in for Adult Hits, News Talk, and Straight CHR top 40.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Bring back Power 99, the old late-70s/early-80s Z-93, or Quixie.

Somebody had to say it--figured it would be me. That's usually where this convo ends up.

Was Power 99 rhythmic or top 40? As far as I remember, they were rhythmic, but this is going based on memory, which isn't always accurate. I also hear they went through a few changes throughout their life span as well. If Power 99 was rhythmic, would you say that we need Power 99 (keeping in mind that anything brought back will be a modernized version of it, playing TODAY'S hits), or rather that we need a new, current, straight top 40 hits CHR?

 

[Talk_Dude]

Bring back Power 99, the old late-70s/early-80s Z-93, or Quixie.

Somebody had to say it--figured it would be me. That's usually where this convo ends up.

Was Power 99 rhythmic or top 40? As far as I remember, they were rhythmic, but this is going based on memory, which isn't always accurate. I also hear they went through a few changes throughout their life span as well. If Power 99 was rhythmic, would you say that we need Power 99 (keeping in mind that anything brought back will be a modernized version of it, playing TODAY'S hits), or rather that we need a new, current, straight top 40 hits CHR?

You aren't part of "us". The word "we" doesn't apply. You do not live in Atlanta. You do not shop at the local businesses that advertise on Atlanta radio stations. You have no right to attempt to pass yourself off as part of the Atlanta, Georgia radio listening community. You are an outsider. When you refer to Atlanta radio listeners, the correct word to us is "you". The use of the word "we" is false and misleading. It is a lie. They only board where you can accurately and honestly use the word "we" to include yourself among the local audience is the Phoenix, Arizona board.

 

[Wildstyle K]

You aren't part of "us". The word "we" doesn't apply. You do not live in Atlanta. You do not shop at the local businesses that advertise on Atlanta radio stations. You have no right to attempt to pass yourself off as part of the Atlanta, Georgia radio listening community. You are an outsider. When you refer to Atlanta radio listeners, the correct word to us is "you". The use of the word "we" is false and misleading. It is a lie. They only board where you can accurately and honestly use the word "we" to include yourself among the local audience is the Phoenix, Arizona board.

Your response is correct. However, nobody knows if I've actually already moved or not. Also, what do you think the result of me saying "you guys need / you guys need to / you you you..." would be? How do you think that would come across? While I expected some form of criticizing on the word "we" before still deciding to stick with it, I figured "we" would be more appropriate in this case, being that most people with similar thoughts pushing for something to happen in any particular matter would rather see others consider all like minds as "we" rather than the authoritative "you all / you guys need to / you might wanna"...etc.

My "we" is just as accurate as many of the stations claiming to take requests or be playing "all the hits" or any ad saying "Nothing outlasts the Energizer. It keeps going and going and going" or me saying "nobody knows if I've actually already moved..." etc. It's not true, but the context and picture being painted in people's minds, based on wording choice/arrangement, is accurate in regard to the message they are trying to deliver.

 

[Wildstyle K]

That is quite a large block of pop rock-ish material for a current top 40 sound...

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
12.10.2010 4:24am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

The Killers - Somebody Told Me
12.10.2010 4:28am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

Maroon 5 - Misery
12.10.2010 4:31am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

Taylor Swift - Mine
12.10.2010 4:34am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

Train - Hey, Soul Sister
12.10.2010 4:39am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

There are a few times I've recently heard rhythmic / urban pop hits just happen to be placed back to back on a chr top 40, but I haven't heard anything like the list above for quite a while. Technically, a block of pop rock did not really play back to back for about 15 minutes, but this type of music arrangement occurrence is more of a 90's top 40 station sound arrangement style.

 

[Nyte Ryder]

And you managed to find it at 4:30 in the morning. Good job.

Sherlock Holmes would be proud that you found a block like that. Let's not mention that Rihanna and Usher were on both ends of that obviously overlooked block at 4:30 in the morning.

I hate to even respond because it will only trigger another biased blast about rhythmic top 40 from KDM or Mike but whatever.

 

[radiolives]

That is quite a large block of pop rock-ish material for a current top 40 sound...

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
12.10.2010 4:24am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

The Killers - Somebody Told Me
12.10.2010 4:28am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

Maroon 5 - Misery
12.10.2010 4:31am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

Taylor Swift - Mine
12.10.2010 4:34am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

Train - Hey, Soul Sister
12.10.2010 4:39am
Buy from: iTunes | Amazon.com

There are a few times I've recently heard rhythmic / urban pop hits just happen to be placed back to back on a chr top 40, but I haven't heard anything like the list above for quite a while. Technically, a block of pop rock did not really play back to back for about 15 minutes, but this type of music arrangement occurrence is more of a 90's top 40 station sound arrangement style.

Is that part of a playlist from Q 100 ?

 

[Wildstyle K]

And you managed to find it at 4:30 in the morning. Good job.

Sherlock Holmes would be proud that you found a block like that. Let's not mention that Rihanna and Usher were on both ends of that obviously overlooked block at 4:30 in the morning.

I hate to even respond because it will only trigger another biased blast about rhythmic top 40 from KDM or Mike but whatever.

Thanks for responding.
I accidentally, but sure enough came across it, copied it, then reported it with a few extra non emotional thoughts of my own. I posted. The reader chooses how they wish to feel about it.

As always, with anything I post,
I REPORT, YOU DECIDE.
________________________________________________________________________________

I would not include Rihanna or Usher in:
"That is quite a large block of pop rock-ish material for a current top 40 sound..."

But this does not mean others are prohibited from doing so, if they wish.

 

[Talk_Dude]

Your response is correct. However, nobody knows if I've actually already moved or not. Also, what do you think the result of me saying "you guys need / you guys need to / you you you..." would be? How do you think that would come across? While I expected some form of criticizing on the word "we" before still deciding to stick with it, I figured "we" would be more appropriate in this case, being that most people with similar thoughts pushing for something to happen in any particular matter would rather see others consider all like minds as "we" rather than the authoritative "you all / you guys need to / you might wanna"...etc.

On that issue, I am both ignorant and apathetic. I don't know, and I don't care. What I do know is telling the truth is better than lying. The truth shall set you free. If someone lies about where he lives, then you can believe anything else he says. Liars have no credibilty at all. So if you think lying by referring to yourself as "we" as if you lived in Atlanta makes you more credible, you are mistaken. It simply indicates that you are a liar, and nothing you say can be trusted.

As always, with anything I post,
I REPORT, YOU DECIDE.

If you are going to tell lies, the I decide to not believe anything else you report.

 

[Wildstyle K]

PERFECT!

Now we can get back onto the topic at hand, "What is up with Top 40/CHR in Atlanta?!"
Yes, Ken. Believe it or not, that was Q100. I didn't need to mention that before, though, since I was pretty much talking about how it was a little odd for a current top 40 station in general. I'm not loving or hating it. I'm just pointing out the fact that it is unique.
___________________________________________________________________________________

As a matter of fact, there really isn't much more to say. A lot of the main answers towards why things are the way they are have already been brought to light here within this post, in addition to the fact that we now know that this current top 40 sound is not the only style of top 40 on this planet that can work in Atl, but is simply the format route that has been chosen for this market... amongst many other things. Maybe "someone sitting in a room Somewhere" who has the capability to make something happen in Atl. will see this (or see the topic again for the 1,001th time and get it tattooed in their brain) and will at least give it some (more) thought. Thinking is always the first step in some sort of action to take place.

AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT TRYING TO CHANGE OR BASH Q100. THIS IS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER MEDIA COMPANY FINALLY LAUNCHING A FULL BLOWN CHR, WHICH OTHERS HAVE DISCUSSED HERE NUMEROUS TIMES - EVEN WITH WBTS AND WWWQ ALREADY IN EXISTENCE.
___________________________________________________________________________________

CONCLUSION
Lastly, before anyone tries to ridicule the possibility that a radio forum statement could cause a needed change or addition in radio to occur, keep in mind PROTESTERS line up in city streets and disrupt ordinance - to get their messages heard. So, I'm sure if disrupting city streets and causing damage and chaos is considered "sensible" and appropriate to some, then there should be absolutely no problems with my brilliant idea of contributing a statement in regards to the Atlanta hit music radio situation on the radio-board - where anybody could come across it and take it into consideration.

Anyway, The word's officially out, once again.
Unless I change my mind or something highly bizarre & outstanding happens, I'm pretty much taking a break from this topic.

ENJOY YOUR WEEK, FOLKS.

 

[Talk_Dude]

I'm pretty much taking a break from this topic.

Thank Heaven!!

 

[InSearchOfGear]

ENJOY YOUR WEEK, FOLKS.

Here's the problem with most of what I see posted on this board.

Most of it's done by people who are not in the business who use convenient and two-dimensional labels for what is/is not proper for a certain format, from the music selection to branding. I'm of the opinion that many of you like to parrot things you've heard by people you know, or from something you've read somewhere and present as uninformed opinion, at best, about something you clearly have little practical knowledge of from the programming side.

The biggest problem this industry faces is lack of innovation. Sameness from market to market. The very thing you're advocating in your narrow definitions of what's whatand who's who. SOmeone created everything you hold near and dear. Has the process of creation come to a halt? A fixed definition for everything? Not at all. Only in your inexperienced minds. Not trying to flame you here, just educate you.

Think about it...

 

[Wildstyle K]

The biggest problem this industry faces is lack of innovation. Sameness from market to market. The very thing you're advocating in your narrow definitions of what's whatand who's who. SOmeone created everything you hold near and dear. Has the process of creation come to a halt? A fixed definition for everything? Not at all. Only in your inexperienced minds. Not trying to flame you here, just educate you.

Think about it...

While the basis and reasoning for the style in formatting I've been pushing for are mainly for the unique features that typically come with it (if the PD/MD chooses to make things live and interesting on the appropriate format), I must keep "the overall package" reasonable because the moment I (or anyone) steps out of that boundary and start sharing creative & innovative ideas, the reactions & responses will be 100% worse than playing it safe and suggesting something that's "in the radio norm" that has had proven success. It will also make the person presenting the idea far worse than just being assumed to be uneducated - especially "in this economy" (I wonder where the other economy is...).

That's why I keep my suggestions reasonable and simple because even when I keep it reasonable, I'm still faced with "it can never be done". The bottom line is there's somewhat of a hole in the Atl format gap - and the full blown format missing is one that... well, kind of makes you think "how is this happening today?" As long as there is a "standard norm" in radio and you're insane to present new ideas - whether or not they could work, people are going to talk about it (especially if it's only happening in ONE major market).

I'm not knocking down your statement at all because that needed to be said, even if the message in it is also directed towards me at any level. I'm just explaining why I choose to address the situation(s) the way I do. The more passionate folks than myself can be the ones to actually contact a specific pd/md....etc. At this moment, I'm not interested in going that far, for certain reasons.

Don't worry,
I'm still taking a break from the topic, but just wanted to slip that in before I do.

 

[Who wants to know]

ENJOY YOUR WEEK, FOLKS.

Here's the problem with most of what I see posted on this board.

Most of it's done by people who are not in the business who use convenient and two-dimensional labels for what is/is not proper for a certain format, from the music selection to branding. I'm of the opinion that many of you like to parrot things you've heard by people you know, or from something you've read somewhere and present as uninformed opinion, at best, about something you clearly have little practical knowledge of from the programming side.

The biggest problem this industry faces is lack of innovation. Sameness from market to market. The very thing you're advocating in your narrow definitions of what's whatand who's who. SOmeone created everything you hold near and dear. Has the process of creation come to a halt? A fixed definition for everything? Not at all. Only in your inexperienced minds. Not trying to flame you here, just educate you.

Think about it...

The issue isn't outsiders posting about radio. I can understand them offering opinions about their likes and dislikes. Here there's this tendency for outsiders to post with authority about the business. Sometimes I think they do it to try to impress the radio folk, which isn't gonna happen. Like you, not trying to flame but some don't realize insiders populate these boards and shake their heads in amazement. As far as our rhythmic friend, he isn't going away. He's a housefly. Swat him and he'll keep coming back. Let the two or three people who care about his topics read them. There's no sense nagging him. The only time I even see his posts is if they're buried as responses for other peoples' topics and even then I don't read them because they give me a headache.

 

[mike7586]

I'm assuming you are referring to me. I might not be in the radio business, but I do understand certain lingo and I'm not a moron. Top 40 in Atlanta is pretty lame - simple as that. It's a top 7 market and many songs are never played here. If you're into Top 40/CHR, I'm not sure why some of you aren't just as confused/frustrated by this. It doesn't take a rocket scientist or someone with radio experience to realize that Q100 is a joke of a CHR station for a market the size of Atlanta. I hope insiders (especially those from Cumulus/Q100) read this and instead of shaking their head, maybe they should listen to what other people have to say.

 

[Wildstyle K]

As far as our rhythmic friend, he isn't going away. He's a housefly. Swat him and he'll keep coming back. Let the two or three people who care about his topics read them. There's no sense nagging him. The only time I even see his posts is if they're buried as responses for other peoples' topics and even then I don't read them because they give me a headache.

First, I believe anyone in their right mind trying to be impressive about anything in radio wouldn't do so by going and hiding within the Atlanta regional section and talking about the state of CHR in Atlanta - or better yet, post on these boards to begin with - under a name that's easily traceable, known, and heavily used - AND keeping it limited to being within other peoples' posts and ideas. (I'm very glad that was pointed out and noticed, by the way.) Second, ... have you SEEN some of the things posted on here - THEN AFTER THAT you still expect people to believe they have to be impressive - on an open forum ???

Call it impressive, call it dumb, call it unique, call it conservative, call it hate speech.. call it what you wish based on how you feel about what I've said - I still say what I have to say when given the opportunity, and you can either hate it or love it, case closed. I still remain consistent. People trying to label or assume reasoning upon something just because they are dissatisfied with what has been said is nothing new to me.

I just cannot understand how there is a freedom of choice when it comes to reading my posts in an open forum, yet people continue to read (or even worse, not read them -) AND THEN get upset about reading something they chose to read. Then, on top of that, wait for me to indicate "I'm taking a break" to produce some type of direct statement that they know will generate a response. This type of thing I can never understand. I prefer people in life who do not care about something I'm doing to at least act like they really don't care about it.

It's plain and simple. If you ever see me say "I'm taking a break" or anything of that nature, and YOU KNOW you don't like my posts posted IN THE PUBLIC SECTION of a forum, then do not encourage a response IN THE PUBLIC SECTION of the forum! I've been very consistent, therefore predictable. If you do not like my posts, then DON'T KNOWINGLY & UNNECESSARILY ENCOURAGE EXTRA ONES.

I'm done. :-X

 

[radiolives]

I noticed 105.7 isn't playing these four songs listed below as I looked on YES.com. Their format is CHR/Rhythmic to the looks of it but more of a hip hop edge. As I wouldn't compare it to 92.3 Now FM which is more of a CHR.

These four songs are played on 92.3 Now FM but not on 105.7, anyone know if Q 100 is playing any of these four new CHR hits?

2012 - Jay Sean
What If - Jason DeRulo
Angel - Akon
One In A Million - Ne-Yo

 

[mike7586]

I would say a good comparison to The Groove is Jammin Z90.3 in San Diego or HOT 98.1 in Greenville, SC.

As far as those songs, Q100 plays What If - Jason Derulo only during the Billy Bush Show (so just once) and 2012 - Jay Sean only in the middle of the night maybe once or twice. Akon - Angel and Neyo - One In A Million are not played on Q100 nor The Groove and most likely never will be. These are just a few of many, many songs that are never played or are banished to the middle of the night in Atlanta... so much for being a top 7 market...

 

[radiolives]

Middle of the night thats crazy people are asleep then. I would at least think CC would play those songs on Groove. But now I see Groove is more Rhythmic on the Urban side.

 

[musicman3355]

Is it just me or does The Groove sound more like a hip-hop station nowadays, especially when Mami Chula is on? I was hoping they would go rhythmic-leaning top 40/CHR at least, not a full-blown rhythmic IMO...