However, given their recent history, my money's on CBS bringing the "Amp" brand to Philly on 94.1. Sure, you could call it Top 40 overkill ... but there seems to be this prevailing belief amongst most broadcasting outlets these days that you can never have too many stations like this.
Where's the hole? Active Rock? New Alternative? Classical? Soft AC?
I definitely agree that Philly has more formats covered than NYC, with one notable difference being no Philly FM Spanish-oriented formats vs. 3 in NYC - Latin love songs, Salsa, and Latin Rhythmic (which was pretty heavy on Reggaeton when that sound was hot).
In my opinion, Philly is missing a few formats that have commercial viability, which some FM outlets should consider if they can't increase their ratings beyond where they are now (this definitely applies to YSP, but there's others as well).
1.
Active Rock: Even when heavier rock bands were huge, YSP was diluting their sound with a lot of stale classic rock. If they brought the heavier rock bands mentioned in the last post to the forefront and combined them with some older acts that fit (drop the Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, etc. - they're a little too light for this format), I envision YSP becoming a ratings player again. Right now, they're just the station with The Eagles and that former child star morning host that no one listens to.
2.
Alternative Rock: Radio 104.5 reports as an Alternative station, but when comparing them to stations in Philly's past, I am reminded of Max 95.7 more than anything else. They were a Modern AC with an emphasis on music and less talk. Even though they don't use this branding/identification, this is what Radio 104.5 is for all intents and purposes. Think about it: Nowhere in their station IDs do they call themselves Alternative, they play a lot of mainstream pop/rock music that most Alternative stations would never touch (All American Rejects, The Fray, 3 Doors Down,
Dizzy Up The Girl-era Goo Goo Dolls, etc.), and they're usually one of the last stations in the country to add new music (look at how long it took them to add Anberlin, and to
finally play MGMT after the album had been out for well over a year). It's a station that straddles the line between on Alternative and more of an AC sound, and it's popular right now given the lack of options for those seeking this kind of music. If someone steps up to to the plate and does a true Alternative that's more proactive with new music and closer to the format's roots (I'd love a station heavy on The Smiths, Pixies, Replacements and '90s British rockers with no Linkin Park, Seether, etc., but that might be wishful thinking), I would expect it to overtake Radio 104.5
3.
Classic Hip-Hop & R&B: My 106.1 does play a trace of this, but they seem to be leaning a bit more current the last couple of times I heard them. I think a station like this could attract a lot of adults who want to hear hip-hop when it meant something (and without all the Flo Rida / Soulja Boy Tell Em rubbish). Combine this with some classic funk, new jack swing and '90s R&B, and I think they have a chance to tap into something. From the '70s (James Brown & P-Funk) to the turn of the millennium is a good time span for this station. A lot of people agree with me; from around the time that Nelly caught on until today, hip-hop has been on a downhill trajectory from which it may never recover.
