I know that they're playing Christmas music for right now, though it will stop in a few days. But I was wondering, do you think WRCH is soft enough to still be considered a "Soft AC" station? I'm asking this because I was recently watching this YouTube video of someone playing a 45 RPM 7" record of the song "All I Need" by Jack Wagner. One of the people who commented mentioned that not many stations play it anymore, but certain soft AC stations still do, and they mentioned Lite 100.5 WRCH. I know they have added some music that is kind of upbeat, but I'm not sure if they've completely phased out all their softer music. So...would you still consider WRCH a "Soft Music" station? If so, how exactly has it changed over the years?
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WRCH still considered Soft AC?
- Thread starter ssetta
- Start date
It's far more uptempo that it once was. I've heard songs like Huey Lewis & the News' "Do You Believe in Love" and Irene Cara's "Flashdance (What a Feeling)." That's a long way from the sleepy MOR it used to play 15 or 20 years ago.
There are very few true Soft AC stations still in existence anywhere in the country. The few that are around are mostly AM stations, or FMs in very small markets. Some websites still call stations that are anything but soft "Soft AC." In reality, they're very much mainstream. WRCH may be slightly softer than WLTW in New York for example, but it's far from where they were years ago.
I call them WRCH: The station for the White Rich Connecticut Housewife. They're they only people who are rich enough to do all the holiday shopping it seems. Listen to their advertising long enough and it's easy to see what I mean.
Just so you all know, I'm not against adult contemporary radio in general, just WRCH-FM. :
Just so you all know, I'm not against adult contemporary radio in general, just WRCH-FM. :
First, I congratulate Mr. KML-224 for offering to remove himself for consideration for the position of paid radio listener. In this tight economy, there may be someone else who would be willing to listen to WRCH in exchange for financial consideration. Fortunately, they will not have to compete for the job.
Second, I urge you to contact WRCH directly, as it is unlikely they are aware of your preferences. The management of WRCH will appreciate the fact that you are not opposed to all Adult Contemporary radio, so a format change will be unnecessary. I have no doubt that they are eager to refocus their attention from wealthy females who like to shop to the all important KML-224 demographic.
Second, I urge you to contact WRCH directly, as it is unlikely they are aware of your preferences. The management of WRCH will appreciate the fact that you are not opposed to all Adult Contemporary radio, so a format change will be unnecessary. I have no doubt that they are eager to refocus their attention from wealthy females who like to shop to the all important KML-224 demographic.
I'm with Nick on this. I have found myself going to RCH more the past few weeks because of the lean towards the more classic Chrsitmas artist. Perhaps it's personal preference due to age. I get whiplash of the wrist changing a station anytime I hear Marah, Beyonce or any of the other music "giants" that try thier hand at these songs. (O Holy Night isn't an opera Mariah, less is more)
As for the origin of this posting. I would almost put 100.5 in the same catagory of New Yorks WLTW. Both have evolved with the changing music scene, but have not done so leaving thier own heritage in the rear view mirror. Just an example would be Kenny G and Jim Brickman still being prominent on WRCH. For the rest of the state they dont exist.
For me the bigger dynamic is how the jocks at 100.5 coexist with thier neighbors across from the hall at 93.7. I just imagine a scenerio where Dean Richards "rolls up" in his Neon to do pillow talk and has to park next to a row of blinged out Escalades.
As for the origin of this posting. I would almost put 100.5 in the same catagory of New Yorks WLTW. Both have evolved with the changing music scene, but have not done so leaving thier own heritage in the rear view mirror. Just an example would be Kenny G and Jim Brickman still being prominent on WRCH. For the rest of the state they dont exist.
For me the bigger dynamic is how the jocks at 100.5 coexist with thier neighbors across from the hall at 93.7. I just imagine a scenerio where Dean Richards "rolls up" in his Neon to do pillow talk and has to park next to a row of blinged out Escalades.
Yeah that's what I've noticed about their Christmas music, too. When exactly did they start doing the all-Christmas thing?
I also think this may be the only Delilah-affiliated station that airs her show, but NOT in the regular time slot. They have their own locally produced show every weeknight called Pillow Talk, and then they air Delilah overnights. Though they do air her show normally on weekends. WRCH may be the only Delilah station in the country that does this. Though this may change if/when they decide to drop Pillow Talk.
I also think this may be the only Delilah-affiliated station that airs her show, but NOT in the regular time slot. They have their own locally produced show every weeknight called Pillow Talk, and then they air Delilah overnights. Though they do air her show normally on weekends. WRCH may be the only Delilah station in the country that does this. Though this may change if/when they decide to drop Pillow Talk.
"Soft" is all relative. WRCH has never branded themselves "soft" since their flip to "Lite" in the summer of 1989 (I was there), but I think it would still be safe to consider themselves the soft AC of the Hartford market when you listen to the stations they're up against. They've evolved since 1989, when Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, the Carpenters, Anne Murray and Barry Manilow were some of their key artists. They're still a listen at work, love songs at night, dominant AC. That has stayed consistent. As long as the Christmas music works for WRCH, that will remain as well.
F
fmradio1
Guest
GlennO said:
In comparison to most mainstream AC's, WRCH still plays it very safe. I've heard a lot of AC's play Bon Jovi, Daughtry, Fergie, Lifehouse, and other Hot AC acts to young up their cume. WRCH doesn't have to, since sister station WTIC-FM flanks their younger end. TIC listeners eventually "graduate" to WRCH as they age out of 96.5's target demo. There's still quite a bit of 70's music on 100.5, something a lot of AC's nationally have backed off on.
There still a few true "soft AC's" left around the country. WDUV/Tampa has been the longtime number one station in that market. They are very oldies intensive and very soft, since their target demo is 35-64, instead of 25-54. Other examples include WGVX (Love 105) in Chicago and KPMZ (Platinum 96.7) in Dallas.
"Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley is a weird song for WRCH. I assume the borrowed it from across the hall at HOT 93.7 They also play "No One" by Alicia Keys, which is less weird than "Crazy", but I've heard the song on WTIC-FM and when the song first dropped it got heavy airplay on HOT 93.7 meaning the song gets play on all 3 CBS FM stations in the market.
fmradio1 said:
What would WQUN Hamden be considered?
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