Would 80s/90s Rhythmic AC Work

[KyleSmith1988]

I've been listening to KHJZ (93.9 Jamz) on iHeartRadio the past week and really like every single song they've been playing. I wonder if their format would work in the Charlotte or Upstate SC market...All of the songs they play are Old School Jams from the 80s & 90s, and they were all really top hits in their heyday that don't get much or any airplay today. Their format does target the 25-49 age group, and I think it can bill well and get great ratings if given a chance. I hope something like this comes to our area someday. Clear Channel puts most of these kinds of stations on the air so maybe they could try it in Charlotte (replacing Lite 102.9).


Here's a sample playlist of KHJZ's music:

Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
Keith Sweat - I Want Her
Bell Biv DeVoe - Poison
New Edition - Cool It Now
Johnny Gill - Rub You The Right Way
Salt N Pepa - Whatta Man
Coolio - Gangstas Paradise
Ice Cube - You Can Do It
Ce Ce Peniston - Finally
Backstreet Boys - Quit Playing Games
PM Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
Cover Girls - Show Me
En Vogue - Hold On
Newcleus - Jam On It
Candy Man - Knockin' Boots
De La Soul - Me Myself & I
Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
INOJ - Time After Time
Fugees - Killing Me Softly
Brandy & Monica - The Boy Is Mine
Next - Too Close

 

[carolinaradio]

I doubt it. Rhythmic AC is past its prime, it was a rather short-lived format. It went the way of Gen-X radio. There are a few still out there, but most either evolved in to Rhythmic CHR's or flipped entirely.

I'm not as sure about Charlotte, but I don't think it would fly in Greenville.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

Some of the songs I mentioned seem to be missing for the most part on most Urban ACs (WBAV, WJMZ) but they seem like they should be there. Lots of those songs charted in the top 10. I know it's similar and there is some overlap with Urban AC so I believe there is a way to make the kind format work, given the right songs in the playlist. Clear Channel doesn't currently have an Urban or Rhythmic format in Charlotte, which makes me hope they'll put something up to compete with V1019 & 92.7. It was mentioned that WLYT doesn't seem to be working, so maybe something like a hybrid Urban/Rhythmic AC on there would do well.

 

[virgiltab1]

I personally think a rhythmic ac would work in Charlotte, Clear Channel has a station in Norfolk, Movin 107.7 that I think sounds good and would do well here, as well.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

I personally think a rhythmic ac would work in Charlotte, Clear Channel has a station in Norfolk,
Movin 107.7 that I think sounds good and would do well here, as well.

Movin 107.7 is one of my other top choices on iHeartRadio, their playlist is very similar to the one I listed, slightly less Urban, and focuses on 1984-1999 and maybe once in awhile I'll hear something from the mid-to-late 2000s. That station is like a CHR from 10-15 years ago, and has plenty of variety. In lots of markets Clear Channel puts either a gold-leaning CHR or AC next to a current CHR station, like WMIA/Y100 in Miami. I think Channel 96.1 could use a companion sister station that leans just a bit older.

 

[tylerSC]

I would like to see either Kiss 95.1 or Channel 96.1 go to more of a Rhythmic CHR format to differentiate themselves from one another. And I don't mean more urban or hip-hop. Just more upbeat or dance remix versions of some of the songs already on the Top 40 playlist. I do like the 10pm Mix show on 96.1.

 

[CrazeeCarroll1]

Call me Crazee, but I bet a Rhythmic AC like that would work very good in Charlotte. For it to work though it would have to have lots of personality and (Live) and not just a jukebox. Lot of the music that 93.9 plays was mainstays on KISS 102 and we know how it did before it lost it's way back in 92-93... CC1

 

[djjim6629]

93.9 Kiss FM in Raleigh was very similar to this when they first flipped from Sunny 93.9. It most not have done well because today they play mostly mainstream CHR songs with a rhythmic lean.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

93.9 Kiss FM in Raleigh was very similar to this when they first flipped from Sunny 93.9. It most not have done well because today they play mostly mainstream CHR songs with a rhythmic lean.

Even Greenville SC (on 93.7 HD-2) has a Rhythmic AC format, but it's mixed in with new music, which in my opinion destroys the point of a Rhythmic AC formatted station, nothing made within the past 10 years, so most of the music should be from 1982 - 2002 centered mostly on the 90s. Again most of the songs were huge hits in the past.

I've been listening to KHJZ on IheartRadio alot recently, and I see ALOT of overlap with WBAV in Charlotte, since they also lean to old-school R&B, with some of the same songs even. So I know a Rhythmic AC can compete on the dial with the Urban ACs. I think it should've been put on 102.9 instead of the Lake. The Lake is pretty much a combo of the former Lite, mixed in with their other stations The End & The Fox...That kinda format will hurt both other 'sister' stations.

They could really use a station that complements Channel 96.1 but leans 10-20 years older. WBAV has almost no competition in a big market like Charlotte. My 92.7 can't compete with them in most of the market due to low signal. I know Rhythmic AC targets 25-54 which is a big demographic ad wise...I'm on the younger end of those numbers, so most of those Generation X'ers have that kinda music neglected and forgotten. I just don't understand how they can have Classic Rock & Classic Hits everywhere (music from the same time period) but not Rhythmic AC music which seems like the forgotten genre of music.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

I'd like to add that CC should try the same thing in Greenville with 96.7 and try to get some numbers taken away from WJMZ.
Ironically, Clear Channel's Honolulu Old School/Rhythmic AC is also called "Jamz."
Even if they only get a 1.5 in the ratings, it's a win compared to their current format

 

[carolinaradio]

Rhythmic AC just seems like such a niche format. If 90s hits (including pop, rock, rhythmic) can't gain traction, it's not really a surprise that Rhythmic AC can't get anywhere.

My understanding is that 90s music has not tested well with even the traditional AC format; hence why you hear the same handful of 90s tracks over and over on that format. Rhythmic tracks tend to be very disposable and get forgotten. This is true with 2000s rhythmic music, even - you don't hear many rhythmic tracks that are more than several years old anywhere. My opinion is that the music just doesn't age well. A lot of people I've talked to liked hip hop/rhythmic in the 90s but don't really like a lot of it anymore.

The MOViN station in VA is an exception, but I think rhythmic AC is past its peak and will go the way of Jammin' Oldies, all 80s, all 90s. Exactly why it didn't catch on more, I don't know.

 

[ksradiogeek]

Rhythmic AC just seems like such a niche format. If 90s hits (including pop, rock, rhythmic) can't gain traction, it's not really a surprise that Rhythmic AC can't get anywhere.

My understanding is that 90s music has not tested well with even the traditional AC format; hence why you hear the same handful of 90s tracks over and over on that format. Rhythmic tracks tend to be very disposable and get forgotten. This is true with 2000s rhythmic music, even - you don't hear many rhythmic tracks that are more than several years old anywhere. My opinion is that the music just doesn't age well. A lot of people I've talked to liked hip hop/rhythmic in the 90s but don't really like a lot of it anymore.

The MOViN station in VA is an exception, but I think rhythmic AC is past its peak and will go the way of Jammin' Oldies, all 80s, all 90s. Exactly why it didn't catch on more, I don't know.

Maybe it didn't get enough advertiser support?

 

[KyleSmith1988]

I really think 102.9 The Lake would be better off trying Rhythmic AC. If done right, it can be very successful.

I'll list KHYL in Sacramento (a similar sized market as Charlotte) as a good example of why it can work.
V101.1 in Sacramento is a Rhythmic AC station that also has an Urban AC lean.
KHYL is Clear Channel's highest rated (and highest cume) music station in Sacramento,
their last few books have reported ratings around 5.0-6.0 and cume is over 340,000.

A similar station like KHYL would definitely work in Charlotte, especially if it was Clear Channel's station.
Old School music that 101.9 doesn't touch can do especially well, likely better than The Lake which is kinda boring
and not a big improvement to the former "Lite" format. It's worth a shot and I think it has a good chance of success.
It would compete with the current highest rated station in Charlotte (V101.9) and complement Channel 96.1.

 

[virgiltab1]

I really think 102.9 The Lake would be better off trying Rhythmic AC. If done right, it can be very successful.

I'll list KHYL in Sacramento (a similar sized market as Charlotte) as a good example of why it can work.
V101.1 in Sacramento is a Rhythmic AC station that also has an Urban AC lean.
KHYL is Clear Channel's highest rated (and highest cume) music station in Sacramento,
their last few books have reported ratings around 5.0-6.0 and cume is over 340,000.

A similar station like KHYL would definitely work in Charlotte, especially if it was Clear Channel's station.
Old School music that 101.9 doesn't touch can do especially well, likely better than The Lake which is kinda boring
and not a big improvement to the former "Lite" format. It's worth a shot and I think it has a good chance of success.
It would compete with the current highest rated station in Charlotte (V101.9) and complement Channel 96.1.

totally agree.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I've heard the Movin' station in Myrtle Beach, though not the one in Norfolk. It's all over the road, with Motown and disco. And that market has no urban AC, so I would imagine there's going to be an audience for it.

 

[BostonRandy]

Here in Myrtle Beach, "Movin' 94.5" is a very good Rhythmic AC. The playlist goes back to the mid-late 60's and the station doesn't air anything with rap. It's a fun station to listen to.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Here in Myrtle Beach, "Movin' 94.5" is a very good Rhythmic AC. The playlist goes back to the mid-late 60's and the station doesn't air anything with rap. It's a fun station to listen to.

Right, I just mentioned it. Although "AC" might be stretching it. It's "AC" as much as WDUV is an AC.

 

[BostonRandy]

Here in Myrtle Beach, "Movin' 94.5" is a very good Rhythmic AC. The playlist goes back to the mid-late 60's and the station doesn't air anything with rap. It's a fun station to listen to.

Right, I just mentioned it. Although "AC" might be stretching it. It's "AC" as much as WDUV is an AC.

It's actually listed as "Rhythmic Oldies". My bad.

 

[urban]

I really think 102.9 The Lake would be better off trying Rhythmic AC. If done right, it can be very successful.

I'll list KHYL in Sacramento (a similar sized market as Charlotte) as a good example of why it can work.
V101.1 in Sacramento is a Rhythmic AC station that also has an Urban AC lean.
KHYL is Clear Channel's highest rated (and highest cume) music station in Sacramento,
their last few books have reported ratings around 5.0-6.0 and cume is over 340,000.

A similar station like KHYL would definitely work in Charlotte, especially if it was Clear Channel's station.
Old School music that 101.9 doesn't touch can do especially well, likely better than The Lake which is kinda boring
and not a big improvement to the former "Lite" format. It's worth a shot and I think it has a good chance of success.
It would compete with the current highest rated station in Charlotte (V101.9) and complement Channel 96.1.

The difference between Sacramento and Charlotte is that Sacramento doesn't have a true urban AC outlet so V101.1 serves both audiences. As I look at the previously mentioned playlist, all of the R&B cuts get airplay on WBAV so i'm not sure about the success of a Rhythmic AC outlet in Charlotte.

 

[virgiltab1]

the thing imo about WBAV and 92.7 is although they may play the songs the presentation is very laid back and while they may play the songs, the ones the play around them, well, no energy. the on air sound of the Movin' station is very high energy, more uptempo, like an older top 40 station which I think would work in Charlotte.