WILL IT WORK?

[radiojomo]

I've always been wondering how an audience would approach an Alt Top 40 format (a format based on more currents than recurrents and gold similar to a CHR). I feel like it would be interesting to see what would come out of an alternative station minus the gold (attracting more diverse audiences? more females? a younger audience?) Here's an example of the format clock would go:

HOT (HOT being songs no older than 3 months and/or still on the Alt 40 chart)
HOT
Current (Older than 3 months and not on the chart to 2007)
Recurrent (Any song from 2007-2000)
HOT
Current
Gold (Any song from 2000-)
Current
HOT
Gold
Current
HOT
Gold

Would it work? Would you be attracted to listen to something like this or is alternative strictly a Gold based format?

[AM FM listener]

Top 40 leanings come and go.  Right now it's leaning Rhythmic but Rock or Alt will eventually swing back so, yes, I think your idea could work.  Although always labeled an Alt station by the industry, KROQ/LA was more of an Alt Top 40 back in the 80's.  Also back then, Pirate Radio/LA was officially a CHR (Top 40) that leaned Rock and Alt.  I wonder what part of the country will be the first to try it out this time around...

[radiojomo]

Top 40 leanings come and go.  Right now it's leaning Rhythmic but Rock or Alt will eventually swing back so, yes, I think your idea could work.  Although always labeled an Alt station by the industry, KROQ/LA was more of an Alt Top 40 back in the 80's.  Also back then, Pirate Radio/LA was officially a CHR (Top 40) that leaned Rock and Alt.  I wonder what part of the country will be the first to try it out this time around...

That's very true. But rhythmic's been in for a good while so we don't know. But what would make this Alt Top 40 station different than for say KROQ is the emphasis on the new rock rather than the old rock. There would be more indie and local bands played on this station, not too many but just enough for balance. 

[AM FM listener]

I think that would be a great station to listen to.  Here in LA, I was pretty caught up in the CHR and Rhythmic thing with KIIS, KLSX and KPWR battling each other but then, all of the sudden, I grew tired of all that pop, dance and hip-hop.  Now, I am listening more to KROQ and KYSR but I wish they would play more currents and avoid the head-banging rock they occasionally play.  I am sure an Alt Top 40 will work; the question is when.  When will the top 40 tide turn back to rock?  Also, do you think there is enough new alt music out there to fill a top 40 clock? 

[radiojomo]

I think that would be a great station to listen to.  Here in LA, I was pretty caught up in the CHR and Rhythmic thing with KIIS, KLSX and KPWR battling each other but then, all of the sudden, I grew tired of all that pop, dance and hip-hop.  Now, I am listening more to KROQ and KYSR but I wish they would play more currents and avoid the head-banging rock they occasionally play.  I am sure an Alt Top 40 will work; the question is when.  When will the top 40 tide turn back to rock?  Also, do you think there is enough new alt music out there to fill a top 40 clock? 

Hey! I live in Orange County and I was going through the same thing! For the past few months I had been listening to AMP like crazy! In the car, in the house, online...I had stopped listening to my iTunes, KROQ and KYSR but then one day, I just grew tired of it. I was going to work in the morning and instead of AMP I flipped it on 98-7 for a little bit and I kept it there. I turned on my iTunes when I was at home again filled with my favorite alternative tunes and I went on a little shopping trip on iTunes and downloaded a lot of the new adds that i had missed for the few past months while listening to a little Alt Nation, KTCL and WFNX to see what I had been missing. AMP is good but after I while I realize that the music and the station isn't as exciting as it is the first time. Plus, it seems that AMP isn't putting in too many adds.

Here's what I think the breakdown of that can be for the HOT on the format clock:

35% On the Chart (1-30) Alternative (Kings of Leon, Incubus, Green Day, Silversun Pickups etc.)
30% PD's choice (anything else that sounds good or is rising popularity)
20% Rising or Cooling (30-60) on the Alternative Chart (Airborne Toxic Event, singles that are cooling off)
10% International Alternative (Tokyo Police Club, Ida Maria, The Sounds etc.)
5% Local Music


That amount of music would allow for there to be a fresh cycle of music constantly. That plus currents, recurrents and gold would work out.