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

[atlantaboy]

I guess I still don't understand how decent 90s pop/rock material doesn't hold up as well as sappy, slow, burned out 'soft' AC songs from that era

Are you sure that's true, though? (About most ACs nationwide)?

[carolinaradio]

I guess I still don't understand how decent 90s pop/rock material doesn't hold up as well as sappy, slow, burned out 'soft' AC songs from that era

Are you sure that's true, though? (About most ACs nationwide)?

There are exceptions, like the Cox AC's and some others owned by smaller companies (like WEJZ in Jacksonville), but if you look at the example of songs I listed in the other thread about why AC doesn't play more 90s, it's far from likely that you'll hear those on the majority of AC stations like you hear "Because You Loved Me", "I Don't Want to Wait", "Give Me One Reason", "Truly Madly Deeply", the dated country crossovers, etc.  AC has gotten better about playing a wider variety of sounds from the 80s and 00s, but they seem terrified to step out of their comfort zone with the 90s.

The 25-54 demographic must just prefer aggressive 80s/00s/current songs and tired, sleepy 90s...that's all I can conclude

[firepoint525]

"Forget You"(We'll just call it that.)almost sounds like it could be from the 60s.  My only problem with it is that in its original form, it's mean spirited!

Actually, it could be considered "mean-spirited" in both forms!  The "softening" of the language for AC airplay doesn't change the meaning of the song.

[vchimpanzee]

I don't know how Last FM works. I noticed there was a format list.

This is what came up when I tried "Lite sounds":

EZ 103.1 has "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga, "When Doves Cry" by Prince, "Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' by Journey, and "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera. I don't know what "So What" by Pink sounds like but it can't be good.

94.7 Wave has a description that makes it appear to be smooth jazz, and there is some of that, but also  "Apologize" by Timbaland, "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder,  "Ain't Nobody" by Chaka Khan, and I don't know what "Thank You" by Dido sounds like.

Fresh 102.5 has "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar, "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5, "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant, "More Than a Feeling" by Boston and I don't know what "Unwritten" by Natasha Beddingfield sounds like.

Lite 101.9 has "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, "Heart of Glass" by Blondie, "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling, "All Star" by Smash Mouth, "Vogue" by Madonna, "Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart, "The Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga, and I don't know what "White Flag" by Dido sounds like.

[imhomerjay]

All sounds about right.

[carolinaradio]

Another "soft AC" has bit the dust.  WLQT in Dayton, OH has adjusted to mainstream AC, mainly uptempo 80s through today.  They had been playing mostly 70s-90s sleepy AC.

I don't know if it was mentioned here, but Lite 95.9 WIOP in Charleston, SC ditched soft AC for Hot AC  a couple of weeks ago.

[umfan]

A shame, I really liked WLQT. I'll tune in next time I drive through Dayton to see how bad it's gotten.

[vchimpanzee]

All sounds about right.

No, it doesn't. If you go to a web site with format categories and choose "Lite sounds", none of those except possibly the Los Angeles station are what you would expect. 

[imhomerjay]

They may not be what you'd expect, but you hardly represent, nor seem to care to understand, the target audience.

[Jay F]

As for the positive posts about WSB-FM, keep in mind radio geeks get really excited at bright ACs (as well as adult leaning CHRs). They don't like soft music and they hate hip hop. The new WSB-FM is exactly how they want ACs to sound.

But listeners don't especially like the ACs that have become bright. AC does poorly in several markets these days outside of the holiday season. WSB-FM does just OK but not nearly as good as #1 rated KODA/Houston. I would argue if you put a KODA or a WLYF in a market like Atlanta (among many others) that only have a bright AC not only would the softer AC win in women 25-54...the pre-exisiting AC would do so poorly that they would have to change formats..they would stand for nothing and serve no purpose.