I think the easiest way to answer your question is the powers that be don't see the money in those formats. HOWEVER, I'm not a radio professional so I don't know the numbers and stats involved in that area. I would imagine that the new PPM would offer better insight into what will work (or really SURVIVE) in this market. From a listener standpoint, it seems like there's so much flux going on...listening habits have changed so people are listening to different sources...but then the economy is in the crapper, so there's the potential that they might scrap pay services (which can include 3G wireless services, if you think about it). Atlanta, IMHO, is quite a diverse collection of cultures too...trying to find that niche that would cover more ground may be more of a challenge today that it was 10 years ago.
As for the genres: I kind of agree with Richard on the "Alternative" angle. Alternative music radio managed to cover so many genres over the years...punk, grunge, brit-pop, electronica, nu-metal (yeeesh), the list goes on. But I'm sure it has to do with the market too. P961 seems to play some of the same songs as Rock 100.5 (which I hope they rename because it's not a brand that rolls off the tongue)...and they both play some of the 'heavier' songs that 99x played at one point. Dave does the same but in a lighter sense...and in the earlier years of Dave, I'd say they were an alternative alternative station because they were playing artists that the other stations wouldn't touch...mixed in with the DMB's, the Elton John's and the Coldplay's.
Not discounting what trig said, but the best years for 99x where the first 10. After that, I think they had a hard time competing musically with the stations that often times started playing 8-12 months later what 99x played first. I then those stations started to add the token 'alternative/new rock' artist into the mix just so they could say "yeah, we play them too". But I agree, an alternative/new rock station could survive in this market if it got innovative and let the music be played by those people who knew the music rather than the numbers. (i'm guessing that's a pipe dream from a listener....may as well just stick with the ipod)
News Talk: I would much rather hear locally based talk radio than syndicated...even if it's parroting what's been said from 9am to 3pm. Radio is one of those things that always get one a sense of locale...you knew you were almost home from a road-trip when you could turn on this station and pick up your normal afternoon show...now you have to double check the dial to make sure you're listening to Rush in your home town vs. Rush in neighboring city. I have so much of a disconnect from local radio these days.
Does Q100 have a progressive dance program or something? 99x used to have the Beat-Factory (lonnnnnng time ago) on Saturday nights. If they don't, it's a genre they could capitalize on.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with radio in Atlanta in the next couple of years.
