Did wsen 92.1 change format or something? It was playing a song by Seal from the 90s and it seemed to have new call letters?
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wsen 92.1 new format?
- Thread starter candy_kisses69
- Start date
WSEN did change format from "Oldies" to "Classic Hits" a few months ago, but I thought they were only going up to the mid-80s. When I turned on the station just now (12:45am) everything sounded normal.
If you heard Seal and you definitely heard different call letters, you may have been picking up a different station. Only thing is, all the other 92.1FM's throughout New York State are pretty far away.
Anyone know if WSEN's transmitter may have unexpectedly gone off for a bit today? If it did, perhaps your radio picked up another 92.1 (by extreme luck) or something from a nearby frequency, like 92.7 WXUR from Herkimer. A song from Seal fits in with WXUR's current format.
It took me long enough to search for those stations, I just waited the few more minutes for the 1:00 legal ID... still WSEN, still classic hits. Moot conversation.
If you heard Seal and you definitely heard different call letters, you may have been picking up a different station. Only thing is, all the other 92.1FM's throughout New York State are pretty far away.
Anyone know if WSEN's transmitter may have unexpectedly gone off for a bit today? If it did, perhaps your radio picked up another 92.1 (by extreme luck) or something from a nearby frequency, like 92.7 WXUR from Herkimer. A song from Seal fits in with WXUR's current format.
It took me long enough to search for those stations, I just waited the few more minutes for the 1:00 legal ID... still WSEN, still classic hits. Moot conversation.
Element9 said:(3) WSEN actually added the song, however lame yet one of the best testing AC hits of the 90s.
If this is the case, I've had it with the AC stations and AC wannabees in this town. Everyone should pick ONE focus and stick with it.
When Y94 was by itself in the AC business, it pretty much stuck to the right kind of playlist, with a few exceptions for weekend specialty shows.
Now you have Sunny, Movin' and Nova arrive on the scene.
Sunny seemed to skew slower and older.
Nova skewed a little more alternative and 90s.
Movin' started mostly upbeat, but all over the map in terms of era.
Now it seems like everyone's trying to copy everyone else. Thursday night, I swear I heard Pink/Get This Party Started on Y94. What the hell is a song like that doing on Y94? What's next, Miley Cyrus? These are OK Movin' or Nova, but they don't belong on Y. Just like Seal doesn't belong on WSEN.
They might as well all join up and call themselves Jack 92.1/94.5/96.5/100.3/102.1/105.1.
Seems like the only AC station that knows how to stick to its guns is Lite Rock 105.9, but unfortunately they have no personality or promotions beyond morning drive or that old windbag Delilah at night.
Let's face it, Oldies and Classic Hits are going through some changes these days, as are AC stations. It appears everybody's trying on new clothes that don't always fit or look good. Rarely do 56 year old guys look good in Speedo's. Rarely do 56 year women look good in low cut gowns. Gravity is a vicious equalizer, ain't it! Enough of the metaphors.
WSEN is a pretty good Classic Hits station, but it sounds clunky at times. I hear it as I drive through Syracuse. It's very listenable, but its formatics aren't as smooth as, say CBS-FM, WOGL Philly or what used to be WHTT (before it turned into AC-Gold hybrid Mix 104) in Buffalo. It seems to have a 70s feel to it, which is the sweet spot for Oldies-Classic Hits stations. Keep in mind that I listen to it only about 75 minutes at a time, while you locals hear it every day. I'll concede there may be a major difference in perspective.
I too think it's a big mistake for Classic Hits stations like WSEN to play too many 90s songs, but a friend in the business has an interesting perspective. He says it's all about sound compatibility. Songs like "Kissed By A Rose" may--- I said may--- fit the format by virtue of sound. Not sure if this particular song is a good example.
I can tell you what songs definitely don't fit the Classic Hits format: Boogie, Ogie, Ogie and Disco Inferno, Waterfalls by TLC and a few others that stick out like sore thumbs. The truth is, women in a certain demographic love disco. I have nothing against disco hits appearing on Classic Hits stations, as long as they're legitimate radio hits (e.g., Rock The Boat, Brickhouse, All Night long) and not club hits.
Classic Hits programmers have to be very careful that they don't poison the format as they attempt to bring in younger (35-44) listeners. In many markets, especially in the Northeast, successful Classic Hits-Oldies stations perform better if/when they add rock-based 80s songs, e.g., Bryan Adams, "Summer Of '69" and Mellencamp's "Pink Houses" and Springsteen's "Born In The USA." These songs were big hits and they're mass appeal. They're also 20+ years old... let that thought sink in.
BTW, "Let's Get This Party Started" by Pink may be on Y-94 in "weekend-only" rotation. It was a bona fide hit and chicks dig it. It's a staple in normal rotations on Hot AC stations.
WSEN is a pretty good Classic Hits station, but it sounds clunky at times. I hear it as I drive through Syracuse. It's very listenable, but its formatics aren't as smooth as, say CBS-FM, WOGL Philly or what used to be WHTT (before it turned into AC-Gold hybrid Mix 104) in Buffalo. It seems to have a 70s feel to it, which is the sweet spot for Oldies-Classic Hits stations. Keep in mind that I listen to it only about 75 minutes at a time, while you locals hear it every day. I'll concede there may be a major difference in perspective.
I too think it's a big mistake for Classic Hits stations like WSEN to play too many 90s songs, but a friend in the business has an interesting perspective. He says it's all about sound compatibility. Songs like "Kissed By A Rose" may--- I said may--- fit the format by virtue of sound. Not sure if this particular song is a good example.
I can tell you what songs definitely don't fit the Classic Hits format: Boogie, Ogie, Ogie and Disco Inferno, Waterfalls by TLC and a few others that stick out like sore thumbs. The truth is, women in a certain demographic love disco. I have nothing against disco hits appearing on Classic Hits stations, as long as they're legitimate radio hits (e.g., Rock The Boat, Brickhouse, All Night long) and not club hits.
Classic Hits programmers have to be very careful that they don't poison the format as they attempt to bring in younger (35-44) listeners. In many markets, especially in the Northeast, successful Classic Hits-Oldies stations perform better if/when they add rock-based 80s songs, e.g., Bryan Adams, "Summer Of '69" and Mellencamp's "Pink Houses" and Springsteen's "Born In The USA." These songs were big hits and they're mass appeal. They're also 20+ years old... let that thought sink in.
BTW, "Let's Get This Party Started" by Pink may be on Y-94 in "weekend-only" rotation. It was a bona fide hit and chicks dig it. It's a staple in normal rotations on Hot AC stations.
Music Testing
Perhaps somebody's doing music testing. That can lead to all kinds of "interesting" adds.
One of the most dangerous types of testing is a "hook" test. With so many songs being used on TV shows, commercials, people way out of a particular demographic become familiar with a song's hook, but don't really know the song. The song tests well on a "hook" test, but is a huge tune-out when the entire song is played. One example is "Let's Get It Started" by Black Eyed Peas. 35-plus listeners love the hook, but hit the button the moment the "rap" part of the song comes on.
I am a proponent of categorizing songs by sound, not era. Listeners don't typically restrict themselves to music from their high-school years. Most people who are into music - which is why they're listening to a music station in the first place - are willing to listen to music that fits their definition of "good", no matter what era it was created. John Mayer works pretty well next to Paul Simon. John Mellencamp fits pretty nicely next to The Eagles. "How Far Is Heaven" by Los Lonely Boys isn't out of place next to The Mamas and Papas or The Association. EVERYBODY has songs influenced by The Beatles.
Hits that both parents and kids find palatable are pretty groovy -er cool -er rad -er hot.
Perhaps somebody's doing music testing. That can lead to all kinds of "interesting" adds.
One of the most dangerous types of testing is a "hook" test. With so many songs being used on TV shows, commercials, people way out of a particular demographic become familiar with a song's hook, but don't really know the song. The song tests well on a "hook" test, but is a huge tune-out when the entire song is played. One example is "Let's Get It Started" by Black Eyed Peas. 35-plus listeners love the hook, but hit the button the moment the "rap" part of the song comes on.
I am a proponent of categorizing songs by sound, not era. Listeners don't typically restrict themselves to music from their high-school years. Most people who are into music - which is why they're listening to a music station in the first place - are willing to listen to music that fits their definition of "good", no matter what era it was created. John Mayer works pretty well next to Paul Simon. John Mellencamp fits pretty nicely next to The Eagles. "How Far Is Heaven" by Los Lonely Boys isn't out of place next to The Mamas and Papas or The Association. EVERYBODY has songs influenced by The Beatles.
Hits that both parents and kids find palatable are pretty groovy -er cool -er rad -er hot.
Did wsen 92.1 change format or something? It was playing a song by Seal from the 90s and it seemed to have new call letters?
WSEN did not play Seal or anything from the 90's -unless someone brought it in and played it. That would be a very bad thing to do!
WSEN did not play Seal or anything from the 90's -unless someone brought it in and played it. That would be a very bad thing to do!
B
Bob1370
Guest
Seal wouldn't make much sense on a classic hits station simply because he didn't release his first US single until 1991, and most classic hits stations confine themselves to core artists who were hitting the charts in the 1964-89 era. Kissed by a Rose was a 1995 hit, way outside the time frame.
It's not even common for classic hits stations to play current or recurrent songs by their core artists, although some could get away with playing a current chart record by someone like the Rolling Stones or Al Green, both of whom have charted with new material in the last year or two.
It's not even common for classic hits stations to play current or recurrent songs by their core artists, although some could get away with playing a current chart record by someone like the Rolling Stones or Al Green, both of whom have charted with new material in the last year or two.
I wouldnt go much past 1983-1985 for such a format. The "sound" that Bob writes about should have to do with prodution techniques that are older than the 90's. IE: keep it to less than a 32 track board/recorder if youre trying to achieve a "newer" oldies format. There is a lot of choice music out there that no one is playing. You can't research it either because a good target audience has no time to answer your phone calls. Again, it takes a good individual with talent. Gary Dunes is definately one of those guys.
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