Hot AC in the 1990s

[new_friends_gr]

I recall Q95-5 as being sort of a "split personality" Hot AC.  Daytime they still sounded pretty conservative, very gold-leaning and I even remember some '70s titles such as Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff," Boston's "More Than a Feeling" and Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight" being played.

If you were to compare Q95-5 from this timeframe with Detroit's two Hot AC's today (WNIC and WDVD), which of those two stations today more closely matches what 95.5 was doing back then?

[ChrisInMI]

Hmm... good question.  It is kind of apples to oranges, since Hot AC music in 1997 was different from Hot AC today.  Obviously neither WNIC nor WDVD is playing Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, or La Bouche.  But I'd say probably WDVD, and I say that because they have Perez Hilton's show which leans more hot/current than the station's normal playlist.  But Q95 leaned toward the pop side, and DVD has always leaned rock.  At the same time, WNIC still plays a lot of '80s, and hearing '80s on a Hot AC today is sort of the equivalent of hearing '70s on a Hot AC in 1997.

[Jasonthegreat]

If you were to compare Q95-5 from this timeframe with Detroit's two Hot AC's today (WNIC and WDVD), which of those two stations today more closely matches what 95.5 was doing back then?

I would say WDVD because as I recall, a majority of their songs were currents, but I could be wrong.  WDVD's playlist is made up mainly of currents, but they still play some 90s and early 2000s music.  Q95-5 in the late 90s played some 80s and early 90s music in addition to their currents.

Hmm... good question.  It is kind of apples to oranges, since Hot AC music in 1997 was different from Hot AC today.  Obviously neither WNIC nor WDVD is playing Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, or La Bouche. 

Chris, you are right.  Neither Hot AC station in Detroit plays any of those artists, since they are not considered Hot AC today.  But they were definitely considered Hot AC in the mid-late 90s.

Another thing.  At the start of the 21st century, Q95-5 ditched the 80s music and became a full-throttle CHR.  WDVD has not done that yet, and they probably won't.

[Mid West Clubber]

Do you guys remembe the short lived Alternative Classics Format of 96.3... WDVD?     


Also   Way WAY back WDVD used to be the rhythmic dance station

[musiconradio.com]

Don't miss the 90's, Don't miss Hot AC at that time. Today, very few songs make the current or recurrent lists of this era. 

[willdav713]

When KSMG Magic 105.3 evolved it played 50s, 60s, 70s until around 1991, and focused heavily on the 70s, and 60s.  Then 1994 came around and they were the best mix of the 60s, 70s, and 80s.  When they bought KONO in 1996 they shifted away from the 60s, and 70s.  They had the 80s at 8 with Kid Kelly, and Backtrax stuff (I have an aircheck on one of my Maxell XLII high energy cassettes in my stash) When they started off in 1996 they were heavily 80s focused Hot AC playing "The Best Variety of the 80s, and Today"  Tears for Fears "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", and that song "Let's Dance, Let's Suade" (not by Tears for Fears) played a lot, along with "Heart and Soul" by Huey Lewis and the News a lot of his songs would be heavily played on Magic. Along with the slow version of Toni Braxton's "Unbreak my Heart"

Fast forward to September 7, 1998 when KSJL flipped to Mix 96.1 during the Mix early days it would not play Huey Lewis "Hip To Be A Sqaure" the Voiceover depicts Magic as playing Huey Lewis "Hip To Be A Square" and KTFM playing "I am an East side Native, Long Been a Gangster"  Todays Best Music Mix 96.1 KSJL-FM San Antonio.
 
Music played on both 96.1 and 105.3 played a lot of the core Hot AC artists however Mix was more heavily pop/rock based and Magic more 80s based. 

You wouldn't hear Will Smith's "Just the Two of Us", or "Get Jiggy wit it" on Magic.  They were behind the Hot AC times then.

The year 2000 hits with Magic's new slogan "The Best Variety of the 80s, 90s, and Today" which is still touted today like the New 93Q Houston.

Around 2003, with the arrival of Rhythmic AC 1067 Jamz, Magic dropped a lot of the 80s and brought in more Current AC product.  Mix became Mainstream Top 40, and KTFM bit the dust as CHR.

It took Univison's move in with 98.5 The Beat to get things changing among the Hot AC, CHR, and Adult Top 40 counterparts.

In 2008 KTFM changed to a Hot Adult Rhythmic Contemporary which was a cross breed between the Beat and Magic absent the Hip Hop.  The listeners called it "Music from the Midwest"  it didn't last long.

Comparing Magic 105.3 to Mix 94.7 in Austin is comparing Apples to Oranges as Magic is still somewhat stuck in the 80s.  Mainstream AC Q-1019 is trying to repeat the old days of Magic.

[semoochie]

"Let's Dance, Let's Suade"   I thought it was "Sway".

[Jasonthegreat]

Willdav713, although Will Smith was not considered Hot AC, Detroit's Hot AC station at the time (Q95-5/WKQI) did play "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" and The Fugees "Killing Me Softly" (which actually was a marginal Hot AC song.)  The "Q" as it was occasionally called, was actually more of an Adult Top 40, so I can see why they played a tiny bit of rap.

Q95-5 also aired "Casey's Hot 20" with Casey Kasem and Backtrax USA with Kid Kelly (80s version).

Q95-5 switched to mainstream CHR around 2000 or 2001, and they are now a rhythmic CHR known as "Channel 9-5-5" (they still have the WKQI call sign.)

Oh, and I believe you're referring to David Bowie's "Let's Dance."

[radiodog2]

When KSMG Magic 105.3 evolved it played 50s, 60s, 70s until around 1991, and focused heavily on the 70s, and 60s.  Then 1994 came around and they were the best mix of the 60s, 70s, and 80s.  When they bought KONO in 1996 they shifted away from the 60s, and 70s.  They had the 80s at 8 with Kid Kelly, and Backtrax stuff (I have an aircheck on one of my Maxell XLII high energy cassettes in my stash) When they started off in 1996 they were heavily 80s focused Hot AC playing "The Best Variety of the 80s, and Today"  Tears for Fears "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", and that song "Let's Dance, Let's Suade" (not by Tears for Fears) played a lot, along with "Heart and Soul" by Huey Lewis and the News a lot of his songs would be heavily played on Magic. Along with the slow version of Toni Braxton's "Unbreak my Heart"

Fast forward to September 7, 1998 when KSJL flipped to Mix 96.1 during the Mix early days it would not play Huey Lewis "Hip To Be A Sqaure" the Voiceover depicts Magic as playing Huey Lewis "Hip To Be A Square" and KTFM playing "I am an East side Native, Long Been a Gangster"  Todays Best Music Mix 96.1 KSJL-FM San Antonio.
 
Music played on both 96.1 and 105.3 played a lot of the core Hot AC artists however Mix was more heavily pop/rock based and Magic more 80s based. 

You wouldn't hear Will Smith's "Just the Two of Us", or "Get Jiggy wit it" on Magic.  They were behind the Hot AC times then.

The year 2000 hits with Magic's new slogan "The Best Variety of the 80s, 90s, and Today" which is still touted today like the New 93Q Houston.

Around 2003, with the arrival of Rhythmic AC 1067 Jamz, Magic dropped a lot of the 80s and brought in more Current AC product.  Mix became Mainstream Top 40, and KTFM bit the dust as CHR.

It took Univison's move in with 98.5 The Beat to get things changing among the Hot AC, CHR, and Adult Top 40 counterparts.

In 2008 KTFM changed to a Hot Adult Rhythmic Contemporary which was a cross breed between the Beat and Magic absent the Hip Hop.  The listeners called it "Music from the Midwest"  it didn't last long.

Comparing Magic 105.3 to Mix 94.7 in Austin is comparing Apples to Oranges as Magic is still somewhat stuck in the 80s.  Mainstream AC Q-1019 is trying to repeat the old days of Magic.

Don't forget Magic 105.3 also had a slogan from 2000-2003 that stated they were a 50/50 music blend half 80's and half 90's and today.

[RobynWattsV2.0]

Much of the uptempo music that was heard from 1995 onward was due to the success of Modern AC, which took the lighter Alternative artists like Jewel, Sarah McLaughlin, Hootie & The Blowfish and others and mixed it in with New Wave and Pop/Rock hits from the 80s. Stations like KALC/Denver and WTMX/Chicago found success early on in the format.

As far as songs that I remember hearing as currents on Hot/Modern AC at the time (1996-98), here are a few that I can think of:

Texas-"Say What You Want"
Marcy Playground-"Sex and Candy"
Primitive Radio Gods-"Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth..."
Ben Folds Five-"Brick"
matchbox twenty-"Push", "3 A.M.", "Real World"
Third Eye Blind-"Semi-Charmed Life", "How's It Going To Be", "Jumper"
The Sundays-"Summertime"
Paula Cole-"Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?", "I Don't Want To Wait", "Me"
Sheryl Crow-"If It Makes You Happy", "Everyday Is A Winding Road", "A Change Will Do You Good"
Indigo Girls-"Shame On You"
Eve 6-"Inside Out"
Dave Mathews Band-"Crash Into Me"

There's more, but I need to go now.

Robyn