Please Explain The Logic to "No Soft Music on AC Anymore"

[imhomerjay]

And that "vast" audience of kids has many a platform to access that music. That just isn't going to be terrestrial radio.

But the target for AC, which clearly isn't kids, wants a specific type of music, and that's what anyone who wants to actually succeed needs to play what the actual audience--the ones the advertiers who keep the station in operation--says it wants to hear.  It isn't the same thing it was 10 or 20 years ago, and 10 or 20 years from now, the same thing will be said (when the next class of old fogies laments the good ol' days of Katy Perry et al).

[firepoint525]

Gonna say it again.  "Logic" and female-dominated formats don't mix.  That's why AC stations are not playing what you think they "should" be playing.  Some of you say, "if they play A, then they should play B."  While I might agree with that, that is logic, and female-dominated formats don't work that way.  Women want to hear certain songs because of the emotional appeal, and other (similar) songs may not have that same appeal.  I am within hearing range of two ACs (about an hour apart from each other) whose playlists are so different, they could almost be two different formats (except for Delilah, of course!  )

Bottom line, if AC isn't playing what you want to hear, change stations.  I have!

Class dismissed, y'all can go home now! 

[imhomerjay]

It's got nothing to do with gender. Variations of the same argument show up over more male-dominated rock formats as well. Some rock songs live on endlessly on some classic rock stations, but not other songs that sound the same (and then you can further slice and dice by market).  You see the same thing on TV (among other artistic endeavours). One show clicks, another doesn't. One endures years later, another similar one fades away quickly.

The "logic" is doing research and listening to it.

[Kent T]

In some markets, if you take the soft songs out of a playlist, there goes your work listeners in many offices. Example, Knoxville and WJXB B 97.5.

[Seltzer]

In some markets, if you take the soft songs out of a playlist, there goes your work listeners in many offices. Example, Knoxville and WJXB B 97.5.

Actually how we define soft today is very different than 10-15 years ago.  "Livin On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi is softer by today's standards.

[imhomerjay]

Precisely. Applying old standards is pointless. It's how the desired audience thinks of things that matters.

[andrewduong77]

"Chop Suey" by System Of A Down and "Let The Bodies Hit The Floor" by Drowning Pool are classified as AC music by 2028.

[semoochie]

"Chop Suey" by System Of A Down and "Let The Bodies Hit The Floor" by Drowning Pool are classified as AC music by 2028."  Actually, with the baby-boomers out of the way and fewer people in the demo, I expect AC to return to more of a 25-49 format, more like the current Hot AC.

[borderblaster]

That depends if "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" tests well in the demo in 2028; chances are it won't except for a weekend specialty show. We don't hear Right Said Fred much anymore.

[firepoint525]

It's got nothing to do with gender. Variations of the same argument show up over more male-dominated rock formats as well. Some rock songs live on endlessly on some classic rock stations, but not other songs that sound the same (and then you can further slice and dice by market).  You see the same thing on TV (among other artistic endeavours). One show clicks, another doesn't. One endures years later, another similar one fades away quickly.

Except that with rock formats, I am in their "target demo."  (48 y.o. white male)  Yet I tired of my local classic rock station's playlist rather quickly.