KVIL low ratings for March 2011

[andrewduong77]

You're right about WWRM, it's Cox's least aggressive AC and it have some variety to it.

You're right that the 70s music has been fully embraced by Classic Rock, Classic Hits, and Adult Hits by now and that the AC format should stick to 1980-present which is something that some AC's had back in the early 2000s.

IMO, I think it works either way. AC's can play 70s or not. I think I heard back in the early 2000s, 50% AC's were 1965-present and 50% AC's were 1980-present. Although back in the 1990s most AC's were 1965-present. Either one would work it also depends on which market, and it also depends on how well they're programmed. Except during the early 2000s, the 1980-present playlist that these stations had were pretty sleepy at the time different from the upbeat 1980-present playlist that some AC's have now.

I personally liked WLMG/New Orleans myself, it's one of Entercom's unique AC, unlike it's sister AC's KKMJ/Austin that plays only 1 70s an hour and WSPA/Greenville-Spartanburg that has eliminated 70s altogether, WLMG plays 2-3 70s an hour, and once in a while, even 4-5 70s an hour! They play a lot of sleepy 70s stuffs by Rod Stewart, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, The Eagles and such. They play a few upbeat 70s stuffs by Boston and Journey as well. Unlike it's sister AC's KKMJ/Austin, WSPA/Greenville-Spartanburg, KOIT/San Francisco, and KOSI/Denver, WLMG play a lot of sleepy 90s stuffs by Vanessa Williams and Celine Dion that not many AC's play anymore and a lot of upbeat 90s stuffs by Tonic, Dishwalla, and Gin Blossoms as well that many Hot AC's have dropped, but many AC's haven't picked up yet. I really like how WLMG plays sleepy 70s, 80s, and 90s stuffs along with upbeat 80s and 90s stuffs plus currents as well.

Before they updated their playlist last February, they were even more interesting, they were playing stuffs like "Closing Time" by Semisonic, "Semi-Charmed Life" and "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind, "I Go Crazy" and "Cool Night" by Paul Davis, "How Much I Feel" and "You're The Only Woman (You & I)" by Ambrosia.

I really like WLMG programming strategy, it's very unique. Nothing wrong with playing "If You Could Only See" by Tonic alongside with "Save The Best for Last" By Vanessa Williams, it fits perfectly!

WLMG's programming strategy is kinda similar to WEJZ/Jacksonville programming strategy, where they include really sleepy 70s songs alongside with really upbeat 90s songs.

[Jay F]

@andrewduong77 As a fan of sleepy 70s it's good to know there are at least some stations left that still play it. Besides WLMG and WEJZ which other ACs play at least one sleepy 70s song per hour?

[andrewduong77]

@Jay F Well, I'll say, it's mostly CC AC's that still play at least one to three 70s an hour including WASH-FM/Washington, WLYT/Charlotte, WLRQ/Melbourne, WMGF/Orlando, KQXT/San Antonio, KODA/Houston, KESZ/Phoenix, KSNE/Las Vegas, and KOST/Los Angeles. Some of them have their playlist sync with CC's Premium Choice for some parts of the day and week. Premium Choice usually plays one to two 70s an hour, but their playlist carries very upbeat 80s stuffs and upbeat currents.

Very few of CBS AC's still play 70s, but looks like only WEAT/West Palm Beach is the only CBS AC to play one to two 70s an hour. I wanted to include WRCH/Hartford which plays like one to two 70s an hour, but it looks like they cutted really far down on 70s music a few months ago like KEZK-FM did at the beginning of this year.

Renda AC's play a fair amount of 70s including KMGL/Oklahoma City and WSHH/Pittsburgh, I'm not sure about WEJZ/Jacksonville since Yes.com isn't logging Jacksonville stations ever since Yes.com went down back in March and came back and WEJZ isn't streaming online either, so TuneIn isn't logging WEJZ either. Their site doesn't provide a playlist and I was unable to find their playlist anywhere.

Not many Entercom AC's play 70s much, but I'll say KOIT/San Francisco plays a fair amount of 70s, KKMJ/Austin plays one 70s an hour, and WLMG/New Orleans is really heavy on 70s, they play three to four 70s an hour.

I'm not sure, but I think Cumulus' (formerly Citadel's) AC KMGA/Albuquerque plays a fair amount of 70s.

Lincoln Financial Media's AC WLYF/Miami is a little heavy on 70s.

[carolinaradio]

I listened to WEJZ in March.  They play approx. 1 70s song an hour and play a LOT of upbeat material.  Most of their sleepy material came from the 70s.  Nothing exceptional about them at all IMO.

WLYT in Charlotte plays 1 70s every other hour as does sister station WMAG in Greensboro.

I wish more classic hits stations would pick up on some more of the sleepier songs from the 70s and 80s that have vanished from AC.  I'm not talking about Barry Manilow or The Carpenters, but it'd be nice to hear some more of the Little River Band, Phil Collins, Genesis, Ambrosia, etc.

[andrewduong77]

WLYT in Charlotte plays 1 70s every other hour as does sister station WMAG in Greensboro.

I may be wrong on some of my listings. I'm not sure, but I believe KQXT may have been the same path with WLYT as well, they probably doing 1 70s every other hour like WLYT.

I wish more classic hits stations would pick up on some more of the sleepier songs from the 70s and 80s that have vanished from AC.  I'm not talking about Barry Manilow or The Carpenters, but it'd be nice to hear some more of the Little River Band, Phil Collins, Genesis, Ambrosia, etc.

Yeah, it looks like Classic Hits are picking up on more upbeat songs quicker than the sleepier songs from the 70s and 80s.

Speaking of sleepier songs from the 70s and 80s, it also looks like a lot of sleepier songs from 90s have vanished from the AC format as well. Not many AC's still play Vanessa Williams nor Celine Dion.

[carolinaradio]

WLYT in Charlotte plays 1 70s every other hour as does sister station WMAG in Greensboro.

I may be wrong on some of my listings. I'm not sure, but I believe KQXT may have been the same path with WLYT as well, they probably doing 1 70s every other hour like WLYT.

The PD at KQXT programmed WSPA until the end of last year.  He is doing the same thing that he did at Magic (they went to one 70s every other hour last summer).  I think Clear Channel will be the last major company to phase the 70s music out, but it's evident they're starting to on many of their stations.

I think it makes sense for stations like KODA and WLMG to lean older since there is no classic hits station in those markets.

I heard WSPA play "Rich Girl", "Stayin Alive", and "More Than A Feeling" the other day, surprisingly, so they are still playing music from the 70s on occasion.