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WZML-LP 92.9 flips to Classic Alternative
- Thread starter radiodx10
- Start date
Digging the first two songs I've heard on the stream.
I feel like there IS a place for those who grew up on WDRE and Y100. Ben FM tickled that fancy for a little bit before mainlining back into the 80s. A profitable place? Probably not for a commercial broadcaster, it would need to be a broader classic rock kind of thing.
I feel like there IS a place for those who grew up on WDRE and Y100. Ben FM tickled that fancy for a little bit before mainlining back into the 80s. A profitable place? Probably not for a commercial broadcaster, it would need to be a broader classic rock kind of thing.
Not sure if some tracks are leftovers from the old format, but artists like Mr. Mister, Norah Jones, and now Rush sound a bit out of place.
When I listened for a short time around noon, I heard 3 post-Nirvana songs. Now, I'm an older coot on the north side of 60, but I consider 'Classic Alternative' to be anything pre-Nirvana; new wave, synthpop, punk, "post-punk" punk; basically 80s stuff. Maybe the definition of Classic Alternative has changed.
But just now, they played Rush's "Working Man." Great song, but not any kind of alternative. Maybe they have a completely new definition of the format?
Also, their metadata shows WHAR 89.1 which appears to be a streaming station. Not sure what that's about.
But just now, they played Rush's "Working Man." Great song, but not any kind of alternative. Maybe they have a completely new definition of the format?
Also, their metadata shows WHAR 89.1 which appears to be a streaming station. Not sure what that's about.
When I listened for a short time around noon, I heard 3 post-Nirvana songs. Now, I'm an older coot on the north side of 60, but I consider 'Classic Alternative' to be anything pre-Nirvana; new wave, synthpop, punk, "post-punk" punk; basically 80s stuff. Maybe the definition of Classic Alternative has changed.
But just now, they played Rush's "Working Man." Great song, but not any kind of alternative. Maybe they have a completely new definition of the format?
Also, their metadata shows WHAR 89.1 which appears to be a streaming station. Not sure what that's about.
WHAR 89.1 is a pirate station run by a college student whos the friend of WZML's operator, Dana Puopolo
@radiodx10
They're playing Scatman John right now. Wow. I mean, *I* dig it, but that's not quite Classic Alternative. haha
I kind of consider Classic Alternative at this point anything pre-2010. That's my personal opinion though.
The station is definitely interesting, I give them that much. I would clean up the playlist a little bit though.
I kind of consider Classic Alternative at this point anything pre-2010. That's my personal opinion though.
The station is definitely interesting, I give them that much. I would clean up the playlist a little bit though.
Darn...you got me.
That station is no longer on air, and I've since graduated as of last year.
To the other comments, yes, we're perfecting the playlist and some songs may not fit the traditional definition of classic alternative. While the emphasis is on the classics, we're playing plenty of new indie and alternative that continues to grow the genre as whole.
I do hope folks in the listening area find it interesting and stick with the station as a preset. I know I've poured a ton of effort into crafting the music with Dana, and felt you'd all be interested in the flip to this format. Apologies if that's not so.
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Here in San Diego KYXY-FM (AC) has an HD2 called Flashback Alt (also available on the Audacy app) which sometimes drops in some unusual songs. I would say better than 90% of the music does stay true to the format but every now and then you hear a questionable artist or song that likely did NOT get Alternative airplay, at least not in this market. I've heard Sophie B. Hawkins, Simply Red, Greg Kihn, Mister Mister....perhaps alternative in some places but more rock/pop here.
There is another station in Mexico called Willy FM. They are pretty much just a jukebox. They call themselves The Rock Alternative and about 70% of their playlist is Classic Alternative music. But they are even more all over the place. I've heard Elton John, Michael Jackson, Madonna and non-alternative 80s/90s/70s classic hits. The station was formerly a traditional 70s/80s based Classic Hits station targeting San Diego called the Walrus initially, and then later Max-FM. After a dispute between the American format operator and the Mexican owner, the Mexican owner took back the station and turned it into this. I remember the first couple of weeks they played a LOT of New Order, like every other song. I think they were just segueing a CD player. Spanish ads and IDs would run over the music half the time, etc. The rotation improved, and the format cleaned up just a little, but it still has no promotion and is not live, and can still be expected to play this unusual mix and call it The Rock Alternative. it has been in "stunt mode" with this format for close to three years.
There is another station in Mexico called Willy FM. They are pretty much just a jukebox. They call themselves The Rock Alternative and about 70% of their playlist is Classic Alternative music. But they are even more all over the place. I've heard Elton John, Michael Jackson, Madonna and non-alternative 80s/90s/70s classic hits. The station was formerly a traditional 70s/80s based Classic Hits station targeting San Diego called the Walrus initially, and then later Max-FM. After a dispute between the American format operator and the Mexican owner, the Mexican owner took back the station and turned it into this. I remember the first couple of weeks they played a LOT of New Order, like every other song. I think they were just segueing a CD player. Spanish ads and IDs would run over the music half the time, etc. The rotation improved, and the format cleaned up just a little, but it still has no promotion and is not live, and can still be expected to play this unusual mix and call it The Rock Alternative. it has been in "stunt mode" with this format for close to three years.
Is there a stream for Willy FM? I’ve sampled their OTA signal at 105.7 when visiting San Diego and like how they include some European songs never heard on American radio.
Unaware of a stream I’d forgotten about them until seeing your post.
Always an interesting listen. I've followed WZML's progress since the Radio World article discussing the cell phone-based STL to the transmitter site which had no wired internet connection. (I guess they've had to replace that Grace Tuner now that Reciva has shut down.) However they're doing it now, the WZML stream sounds great, a result you might expect from an Audio Processing Ninja!
Rush actually saw quite a bit of airplay on early Alternative stations like KROQ so you can kinda fudge them like Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones (who similarly saw some early Alt play) into the playlist a bit.When I listened for a short time around noon, I heard 3 post-Nirvana songs. Now, I'm an older coot on the north side of 60, but I consider 'Classic Alternative' to be anything pre-Nirvana; new wave, synthpop, punk, "post-punk" punk; basically 80s stuff. Maybe the definition of Classic Alternative has changed.
But just now, they played Rush's "Working Man." Great song, but not any kind of alternative. Maybe they have a completely new definition of the format?
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