Is there still soft AC?

[AM FM listener]

The man who keeps the formats correct on the site I go to for Arbitron ratings is convinced Magic is soft AC.

What site is that?  I would like to browse a radio site where format labels are actually scrutinized. 

I have a link somewhere, but don't bother. This man is convinced Magic 98.9 is soft AC, and most Jack stations seem to be listed as classic hits, even though oldies stations that don't want to use the name anymore are also called that.

Out of curiosity, if nothing else, I'd still like to check it out if you can provide the link. 

http://www.radio-info.com/markets/

Oh, THIS is the site to which you refer.  I have checked it out before.  It's pretty good about format labels but, as you pointed out, still arguable in some cases.  I guess that's just the nature of format definitions -- always subject to interpretations.  Thanks, vchimp. 

[MsMusicRadio]

WWRM in Tampa tries to have it both ways as "Soft and Contemporary".

[vchimpanzee]

Getting back to what can be included in soft AC, how about these:

"West End Girls" Pet Shop Boys
"Don't You" Simple Minds
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" Police
"Don't Stand So Close to Me" Police
"De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" Police
"Toy Soldiers" Martika

But these could not:
"Roxanne" Police
"Sunglasses at Night" Corey Hart
"Shout" Tears for Fears

The first time I heard the term "Hot AC", or at least the first time I remember it, was when I complained to a soft AC station about that last song and they  said they were actually Hot AC. Where they were, though, no station was soft AC. Some parts of the market were reached by an easy listening station. Still, when I said I wanted Barbra Streisand, someone no one in that market could hear except on that easy listening station, they tried to tell me they played some worthless duet between her and Don Johnson. That doesn't count.

I'm not advocating Barbra Streisand be played on any kind of AC radio; that's from back when she was on AC radio.

This was back in the old days.

[vchimpanzee]

WWRM in Tampa tries to have it both ways as "Soft and Contemporary".

So are you saying they're soft AC? If so, WDUV has no business using the term.

I forgot to say it's a sad state of affairs when Delilah's show includes "One Tree Hill" music. It's one thing for her stations to do so, but now she does.

[Jay F]

WWRM in Tampa tries to have it both ways as "Soft and Contemporary".

So are you saying they're soft AC? If so, WDUV has no business using the term.

WDUV and WWRM are both owned by Cox. They don't step on each other. WWRM sounds like a typical AC these days..not especially soft.