90s Music considered for 'oldies' radio format

[Rooster_Ties]

Thursday, November 6, 2003

Radio Beat: it sounds like '90s music could be the next big format on Seattle dials

By BILL VIRGIN

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Some months back "Radio Beat," noting the progression from oldies to classic rock to the '80s format, wondered aloud when a radio format of nostalgia for '90s music would arrive.

The remark was made largely in jest. Maybe it shouldn't have been.

Because what's sometimes referred to as "classic alternative" does exist as a format, and the rumors are flying that it might be the format of choice the next time an FM music station in Seattle makes a switch.

Garett Michaels has heard those rumors. He ran a classic alternative format in Detroit before coming to Seattle to program KYPT-FM as an '80s station; when management cleaned house, he moved to San Diego, where he's programming a station mixing what he calls "alternative gold" with current hits.

As Michaels sees it, there's a niche for a station aimed at Generation X, the listeners now in the 25-to-40 bracket upon whom alternative was built. Many alternative stations, he says, have since moved on to Generation Y, listeners 18 to 25, leaving behind a library of alternative for a more aggressive sound with bands such as Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit.

Michaels' approach is to combine heritage alternative acts reaching as far back as Bob Marley and Elvis Costello, moving up through R.E.M. and U2 to the grunge movement, and combine those with current acts, such as Mars Volta and the White Stripes.

Gary Schoenwetter, the former operations manager for Clear Channel's Bay Area rock stations, says a classic alternative format might devote 60 to 70 percent of its playlist to heritage acts, with the balance devoted to current releases since the alternative audience "still has some appetite for new music."

Would it work in Seattle? Schoenwetter says Seattle, because of its music and radio history, "would be primed like no more than a dozen other markets" in the country.

But Michaels cautions, "You'd better do your homework, you'd better do your research and you'd better make sure the opportunity really exists," he says. Michaels speculates that Entercom's KNDD-FM, the Seattle station that rode the alternative/grunge scene to prominence, would be quick to respond to anyone trying to elbow in on its territory.

[BruceH]

I for one find it hard to relate to such old, clunky, corny, outdated music. How did pople actually ever listen to that old stuff? Yech!

[Rooster_Ties]

We have a Gen Y 'alternative' station here in Kansas City (96.5 The Buzz), and it's my wife's favorite station (or what she would probably describe as the lesser of all evils, from the choices we have here in Kansas City on the radio dial). She's 36 years old (and I'm 34), and we are definitely in the target audience that these "Retro Gen X" stations would be targeting.

As a result of her liking "The Buzz", I've heard a bunch more Gen Y music than I normally ever would have had any personal interest in... ...and I have to say that much of it is pretty OK, and some of it is even fairly good. Nothing I'm totally excited about, but I'll take it over any other 'popular' radio format, any day of the week.

I'm not sure I could tell the difference between songs by Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit, but I'm sure I've heard both dozens and dozens of times (particularly when my wife and I are working on our home-remodeling projects together).

I'm certainly not moved to go out and buy CD's by any of these bands, but there's been a lot worse 'pop' and/or 'rock' music made over the last 20 years too.

[catesta]

Seems a bit silly.

These days it seems as if the term classic rock, old school, or oldies, applies to any song or group that just dropped off the top 40 rotation.

[AfricaBrass]

Rooster,

What would be considered Gen Y? Is it that Nu-metal stuff?

Yuck, I'd rather listen to Muzak.

[Dan Gould]

I tell you what's scary.

Down here in south Florida, there's a ready made audience for an oldies station, and Magic 102.7 has been extremely popular. But since I've been down here, I've wondered-at what point do they decide that the oldest music on the playlist is just too old? When does the playlist start creeping up, deeper into the seventies?

For a long time, it seemed that the oldest song they played was Bob Seger's Old Time Rock 'n Roll, obviously for the message and despite the fact that the recording is from 1978.

Well, it finally happened just in the last couple of months.

Magic is still calling itself "Oldies" except now its "Best Oldies of the 60s and 70s". Bottom line: They dropped early Elvis and have added the freakin' Bee Gees, and they're calling themselves "Oldies".

[chris olivarez]

That is pretty vile Dan.

[Noj]

I absolutely abhor Linkin Park and Limp Biskit.

[Rooster_Ties]

I absolutely abhor Linkin Park and Limp Biskit.    

I used to work in top-40 radio as a DJ in the early 90's, and there was a LOT of shit on the radio back then (along with some decent stuff too).

I'd take Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit over lots of other crap music on the radio these days, from what's targeted to that same 18-25 crowd.

I would never buy any of their music, but as long as I haven't heard their tunes too damn frequently (enough to have gotten sick of them from over repitition), then they're relatively OK with me.

Edited November 6, 2003 by Rooster_Ties

[Jazzmoose]

I wouldn't know Limp Bizkit from Linkin Park from Christian Aguilera from 'NSync from Britney Spears (excluding pictures posted here ) from any of these other newer ar-teeests. I don't care to. Hey, the shit I listened to when I was a young punk, I can deal with, but I know it's shit. Why would I listen to another generation's shit? Makes no sense to me...

-signed Curmudgeon Moose...

[grey]

Who remembers the '90s? It's soooo... long ago! I wonder if anybody is still alive from that era?

[BERIGAN]

I wouldn't know Limp Bizkit from Linkin Park from Christian Aguilera from 'NSync from Britney Spears (excluding pictures posted here ) from any of these other newer ar-teeests. I don't care to.

moose =

[Jazzmoose]

When it comes to pop music, it's true..."grunge" was my last hurrah, I'm afraid. Now where did I leave those damned teeth?