Why don't AC stations play the WHOLE spectrum of soft rock?

[wpb1999]

AC has always had a wide variety of music, it still does.  Our local Atlanta AC station here, B98.5, refuses to play any 70s or slower 80s songs.  They are too busy playing the current songs, that everybody seems to love.  The thing is, though, B is down to a 4.4 from a 6.4 pre-chrismas.  Everyone says they are just keeping with the actual AC format.  But, in previous years, AC stations have stayed away from current songs.  Why all the sudden change.  I just don't like hearing Jessie J, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry on my "listen at work" station.  My Question is this: Why do AC stations not play the whole spectrum of soft rock (by this, I mean, 70s music with 80s, 90s, y2k, and a few currents.  Have the variety. 


Bill Bradley
wpbradley09@aol.com

[borderblaster]

Because the 35 year old woman they are targeting doesn't remember Anne Murray from 1971.

[wpb1999]

Because the 35 year old woman they are targeting doesn't remember Anne Murray from 1971.

Wont you listen to the same station, even if you are older?

[carolinaradio]

Just as 60s music aged out of AC and in to oldies/classic hits, the same is happening with 70s - it's the nature of the format.  80s are now what 70s were 10 years ago on the format.  If they would pick the right variety of songs (I've pounded over and over on here that there are TONS of 90s songs that were popular on Hot AC that AC is ignoring), there could be plenty of variety.  There was way, way more to the 90s than Celine Dion, Melissa Etheridge, and Shania Twain.

[landtuna]

Because the 35 year old woman they are targeting doesn't remember Anne Murray from 1971.

What's the difference if that 35-year old hears Gaga's latest or Murray's classic?  If she has never heard either one before it's all the same - unless, of course, she is influenced by the clown costumes of current performers.

[imhomerjay]

The difference is she won't listen to antiques like Ann Murray (moldy Christmas suff aside). Play what the target audience wants....simple as that.

[borderblaster]

It's really not rocket science. You don't try to force the audience that didn't grow up with Anne Murray to embrace her. Play what the audience wants PERIOD. Don't try to make your station a museum.

[imhomerjay]

Oh come now, we can't apply logic to the "get off my lawn" contingent. 

[firepoint525]

  I just don't like hearing Jessie J, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry on my "listen at work" station. 

In this day and age, you don't have to listen to what everyone else in the office is listening to.  You can dial up the internet stream of your favorite station.

Oh come now, we can't apply logic to the "get off my lawn" contingent. 

"Logic" and female-dominated formats don't mix.  Women make decisions based on emotions, not logic.  (There, I said it!)  I used to like AC back in the '80s because of the escape from all the Quiet Riot, AC/DC, and other "metal" bands that were dominating top 40 back about that time.  But now I would need an escape from AC radio itself if I were still listening to them.  I still have Mix 92.9 in my presets, but I hardly ever listen to them anymore.

[imhomerjay]

  I just don't like hearing Jessie J, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry on my "listen at work" station. 

In this day and age, you don't have to listen to what everyone else in the office is listening to.  You can dial up the internet stream of your favorite station.

To an extent, but not always (just as it has been for many years). There are employers who block streaming, workplaces without individual web access, and environments where you can't have dozens of people tuned to different audio streams and where headphones aren't, for whatever reason, viable.