Just wanted opinions on the programming/music direction of this station. They image as "Richmonds Rock" but they really don't play "Active Rock" anymore. Mumford and Sons, Maklemore, and Adele I don't really count as rock. An Alt/Hot AC like 96X but unlike 96X they'll throw in Pink Floyd or AC DC next to that and it really doesn't belong. They do good with the alternative gold from the grunge era but the Harder edged Active Rock is missing, which if fine but atleast image as Richmonds Alternative Rock and leave out the random classic rock. And when people complain on their Facebook one post out of 90 had 60 deleted and people who complain get blocked, so they also alienate listeners. Atleast take a cue from Clear Channels WEND in Charlottesville or 96X and program a decent alternative station. If it were me and my market had no "Active Rock" outlet, I'd mix some in at the very least and leave out the Classic Rockers.... Hope the new MD can get it sounding a little better, KROX is one station she's worked at and I stream them and like them, wish Sinclair would do 96X like that actually but it would be nice if WRXL would return to its Rock glory. Last ratings I saw they were 5 or 6 when they always were number 1 or 2....
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XL 102 - Opinions
- Thread starter PlVA
- Start date
!)
This station has suffered from both self-inflicted and other wounds for over a decade.
They were fine at the turn of the century as "best classic rock/best new rock", Tara Hunter was #1 in her daypart in PM Drive, Jeff & Jeff were rolling as usual in AM drive, but the CC suits couldn't leave well enough alone, brought in an absolute bonehead as PD for a year, long enough to concoct their change to new rock "102.1 The X".
Then CC fired him, replaced him with Casey, a wonderful guy and very good radio programmer. Problem was by then there was Y101 in the market doing roughly the same thing, so these stations spent 7 years going after, and splitting the same five or six point share in the Arbs. Both were destined for nothing more consistent than a 3.5, and remember, XL's stick is very powerful.
Now, a decade after one of the most stupid decisions in Richmond radio history (and I worked there at the time, so I know!), and without Y101 around any longer, they go back to the "XL102" moniker, probably because they figured out that after 10 years Richmonders were still calling it that so why not cash in on it?
(LESSON: NEVER throw away casually a heritage radio brand!)
Now they're attacked again by Cox with their classic rock station adding 90s music and rebranding (a good decision, BTW, what exactly was "The Planet" standing for anyway??).
Some of their musical choices, indeed, are quizzical.
Meanwhile, through this entire 13 year period, 3WV up in Charlottesville stuck to their heritage brand and to their guns, still playing "best new rock, best classic rock", and are doing just fine thank you.
Leave it to Clear Channel.....XL's glory days will NOT return.
This station has suffered from both self-inflicted and other wounds for over a decade.
They were fine at the turn of the century as "best classic rock/best new rock", Tara Hunter was #1 in her daypart in PM Drive, Jeff & Jeff were rolling as usual in AM drive, but the CC suits couldn't leave well enough alone, brought in an absolute bonehead as PD for a year, long enough to concoct their change to new rock "102.1 The X".
Then CC fired him, replaced him with Casey, a wonderful guy and very good radio programmer. Problem was by then there was Y101 in the market doing roughly the same thing, so these stations spent 7 years going after, and splitting the same five or six point share in the Arbs. Both were destined for nothing more consistent than a 3.5, and remember, XL's stick is very powerful.
Now, a decade after one of the most stupid decisions in Richmond radio history (and I worked there at the time, so I know!), and without Y101 around any longer, they go back to the "XL102" moniker, probably because they figured out that after 10 years Richmonders were still calling it that so why not cash in on it?
(LESSON: NEVER throw away casually a heritage radio brand!)
Now they're attacked again by Cox with their classic rock station adding 90s music and rebranding (a good decision, BTW, what exactly was "The Planet" standing for anyway??).
Some of their musical choices, indeed, are quizzical.
Meanwhile, through this entire 13 year period, 3WV up in Charlottesville stuck to their heritage brand and to their guns, still playing "best new rock, best classic rock", and are doing just fine thank you.
Leave it to Clear Channel.....XL's glory days will NOT return.
They didn't go back to the Xl branding until 96.5 added in the 90's Gold. They felt the heat changed back and still put the classic Rock next to the Alternative Rock as a way of going after 96.5..It's a cheap tactic.. They still have a bone head for a programmer. He's programming to take a bite out of everyone's pie instead of taking the lead and using the heritage and big stick to make his own pie. His music schedule includes songs available on The River, 96.5, and to some extent Liberty and sister Q94 and it sounds horrible and does not flow very well. If your going to go Alternative currents/recurrents and gold then leave the Pink Floyd and Ac Dc out and leave the Adele out and atleast image as Richmonds "Alternative Rock" instead of Richmonds "Rock". Leaving out the Active charted stuff doesn't make you rock.
And here's what I'm talking about...GOTYE Somebody That I Used To Know Fairfax/Republic
4:42 PM FALL OUT BOY My Songs Know What You Did... Island/IDJMG
4:38 PM MODEST MOUSE Float On Epic
4:32 PM GUNS N' ROSES Patience Geffen
4:28 PM BEASTIE BOYS (You Gotta) Fight For Your ...
Why Guns n Roses when the Currents you play are from the "Alternative" and Hot AC charts. Why? If they played active currents it would make sense.
2:27 PM AEROSMITH Dream On Columbia
2:24 PM THREE DAYS GRACE (I Hate) Everything About You Jive/Zomba
2:20 PM MATT AND KIM It's Alright
Again how does the Aerosmith fit.... it doesn't... at all.... Have you heard Matt and Kim?
And the biggest cluster hump
10:56 AM IMAGINE DRAGONS Radioactive KidinaKorner/Interscope
10:52 AM AC/DC Highway To Hell Atlantic
10:49 AM FUN. We Are Young f/Janelle Monae Fueled By Ramen/RRP
10:44 AM FILTER Hey Man, Nice Shot Reprise
10:41 AM 311 Love Song
Filter to Fun? then AC freakin DC on a station that is listed as Alternative formatted and Skews that way? Even the 311 cover to the harder industrial Filter tune which an Active would play is real confusing....
They do good with the Alternative Golds, Reccurents and Currents....but for Christ sakes leave the classic rock out and put in some Active Rock currents in that slot....would be more coherent.
4:42 PM FALL OUT BOY My Songs Know What You Did... Island/IDJMG
4:38 PM MODEST MOUSE Float On Epic
4:32 PM GUNS N' ROSES Patience Geffen
4:28 PM BEASTIE BOYS (You Gotta) Fight For Your ...
Why Guns n Roses when the Currents you play are from the "Alternative" and Hot AC charts. Why? If they played active currents it would make sense.
2:27 PM AEROSMITH Dream On Columbia
2:24 PM THREE DAYS GRACE (I Hate) Everything About You Jive/Zomba
2:20 PM MATT AND KIM It's Alright
Again how does the Aerosmith fit.... it doesn't... at all.... Have you heard Matt and Kim?
And the biggest cluster hump
10:56 AM IMAGINE DRAGONS Radioactive KidinaKorner/Interscope
10:52 AM AC/DC Highway To Hell Atlantic
10:49 AM FUN. We Are Young f/Janelle Monae Fueled By Ramen/RRP
10:44 AM FILTER Hey Man, Nice Shot Reprise
10:41 AM 311 Love Song
Filter to Fun? then AC freakin DC on a station that is listed as Alternative formatted and Skews that way? Even the 311 cover to the harder industrial Filter tune which an Active would play is real confusing....
They do good with the Alternative Golds, Reccurents and Currents....but for Christ sakes leave the classic rock out and put in some Active Rock currents in that slot....would be more coherent.
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