Whither the "Classic Rock" radio format?

Factual Questions
1

The “Classic Rock” radio format seems to be in decline. It emerged in the 80’s as a reaction to sytho-pop “80’s music” and, in doing so, drew a line between the “wondrous musik of olde” and the “heathen rumblings of today.” And so it was for more than a decade: some rock-pop stations played modern music and some played “classic rock” and never did the twian meet.

Then, it seems, some stuff happened: Alleged “Classic Rock” stations began playing NEW stuff from Aerosmith, the Stones, et al. I began to question: “hey… these may be bands that have created classic material, but does that mean that anything they come out with is automatically prefixed ‘classic’?” I’d always assumed that “classic” implied time-tested rock with cross-generational appeal. And, slowly, “good” bands from the 80’s were also beginning to find themselves played on these stations–I call U2 to the stand. Next thing you know: their more recent stuff is also being played. Joshua Tree? Classic. Zooropa? Needs more time.

(Hang with me, the questions are comming!)

Stage Three: “Classic Rock” stations begin to wake up. 90’s music gets airplay. Stations once bragging that they play “classic hits” are now unashamedly just plain “rock” stations. (Being one who likes both truly classic and modern music, I do approve of the format change; minimizes station flipping when I’m in a market with multiple stations, which I’m not right now.)

These generalizations are drawn solely from my observations of a small (and statistically meaningless) sample size: 102.5 KBQR (Waco, TX), 102.1 KCDQ (Odessa, TX), and 102.1 KTXQ (Dallas, TX–although this one has always been more open to all hard rock). Only 92.5 KZPS (Dallas, TX) continues to remain strictly “classic”.

Questions:

  1. How accurate is my hypothesis? When did the term and concept for “classic rock” first emerge? What station can claim the first format billed as “classic rock”?

  2. (Maybe a “great debate” question…) Under what conditions does an album deserve to be called “classic”? (My proposal: cross-generational appeal; “oldies” are muzak that only the original now-aged listeners [mostly] still enjoy). Just because an old band does new stuff, does the new stuff deserve to be called classic? (I say: No!)

  3. Is the Classic Rock radio format in decline everywhere, or just in Dallas, Odessa, and Waco? Mind you: in these cities, the rock stations aren’t disappearing, but switching over to “best rock of all decades” sorta music. Is this a nationwide trend? What’s going on out there?

2

There are four classic rock stations that I can pick up with good clarity in my region of Indiana. One of them (WNAP 93.1) is truly a classic rock station. Two (who never say their call letters but refer to themselves as Oldies 105 (actually 105.5) and Oldies 106.1) play a mixture of classic rock and golden oldies (i.e. '50s and '60s rock) and one, (WFBQ, Q-95 at 94.7) plays a mixture of classic and modern.

More interestingly, there are ‘just rock’ stations that are in this town. One (92.3 WTTS) plays lots of classic rock and the other (B97 - WBWB 96.7) plays lots of 80s new wave.

I hope this doesn’t throw your theory too far off…

3

try this one:
http://www.arrowfm.com/

its classic all the way.

this is a better one, plays a mix
http://www.955klos.com

Chief’s Domain - http://www.seas.ucla.edu/~ravi

4

When I first moved to DC 13 years ago:[ul][li]The oldies station played 50’s and some 60’s[/li][li]The classic rock station played the remaining 60’s that oldies didn’t, hard rock from the 70’s (Aerosmith, Queen, etc.), and 80’s songs from bands formed in the 60’s and 70’s[/li][li]The pop stations played 70’s disco and most 80’s.[/ul][/li]
Now, it’s more:[ul][li]oldies: 50’s, 60’s soft and Beatle-esque (which had been classic), and 70’s soft[/li][li]classic: tiny bit of 60’s, 70’s hard rock, and 80’s non-techno[/li]pop: 70’s disco, 80’s, 90’s, “and today” (even though it’s still the 90’s).[/ul]

5

There are two Classic Rock stations in Colorado Springs. Where I live I can get two more from the Denver Metro area.

One of the local stations is incorporating more of what I might think of newer music, but then again this is rock that came out in the 80’s, so it’s not all that new.

The other station here plays pure classic rock format that you would have had in the 80s but if you think about it, any rock that was popular in the 80s could be considered classic rock now. (they played 70s music in the 80s on the other station) I think it limits their audience and their selection.

I listen to other music as well, but miss KBCO out of Boulder since I moved back. I can get the station at home, but I listen to most of my radio in the car. They play a good mix of the old and the new.

6

In my hometown of Houston, there are three rock stations: an Alt-Rock station, a rock station that plays stuff from the 60’s-90’s, and a Classic Rock station that plays 60’s-80’s (just the metal and some new wave). I listen to all three. In Austin, where I go to school, there are still three rock stations that play the same corresponding formats as above. I don’t get it, but I listen to it anyway.

“I hear the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me.” -T.S. Eliot

7

Here in Chicago, I can think of 2 or 3 exclusive Classic rock stations, and 2 or 3 others which play a mix of classic rock and other stuff. A couple of these stations recently switched formats to classic rock, too, so it isn’t dying out.

On the other hand, I was in San Francisco a while ago, and I was only able to find a single station that played ANY classic rock at all – and they mixed it in with a lot of '80’s hair-band stuff, which I hate.

In other words, I think it depends on the city.

8

Well, in the 80’s, you either had classic rock or synth rock… there wasn’t the alternative option. If you liked classic rock then you didn’t like synth’s period. But there were a few bands to make good music in the eighties (read: the Cars, the Police), but where do you put them? they are new bands with great classic sounds. then comes alternative (which say what you want, is just classic rock done over with less talented musicians) which had no place. the same people that liked classic rock were longing for something new but liked the same sound. viola, “stone temple pearl in chains” comes along. there music wasn’t old but didn’t fit into synth format. so you have the best of all decades (which plays very little 80’s) because not enough material to play for a whole format in alter… classic rock stations must insert a little U2 etc to keep an audience and expand a redundant format. but the classic rock station will stay around just as the oldies do because there will always be something you recognize on that station. recognition is very important because the average listener would rather here a song they can sing along to than one they’ve never heard before.

We live in an age that reads to much to be wise, and thinks too much to be beautiful–Oscar Wilde

9

Oh, horsefeathers. Between 1982 and 1987 (when I got out of high school), I was buying albums by bands like REM, the Go-Gos, the Smiths, Hüsker Dü, the Plimsouls, Blondie, Echo and the Bunnymen, and many others, none of whom (with the possible exception of Blondie at times) were even remotely synth-y, and they certainly weren’t classic rock. In fact, I would say that about the time the bands you mention (Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam)became really popular, “alternative” music was dead in the water.

“It’s my considered opinion you’re all a bunch of sissies!”–Paul’s Grandfather

10

There is a great deal of format similarity among radios stations because many of them subscribe to “services”. These “services” somehow know what everyone wants to hear and sell that info. to the subscribing stations. That is why there are so many “The Fox”'s and “The Eagle”'s. This extends to oldies and country stations and, I imagine, every other genre.
Still, my argument is to listen to non-commercial public radio (if available). It’s the most original and freshest thing going!

Sweet Basil

11

Oh, horsefeathers

Not entirely. not everyone was as chic as you. when is the last time you heard the plimsouls or husker du on the radio. even in the 80’s. what i was stating was a blanket statement for the general listening population. I’m sure you were ahead of your time in your esoteric musical taste, but that’s isn’t what market shares are made of. There was stations like that, such as 94.5 the EDGE, in Dallas. but even that didn’t last.

We live in an age that reads to much to be wise, and thinks too much to be beautiful–Oscar Wilde

12

I have noticed that too. In Houston it is between 107.5-alt rock and KLOL- a long standing rock station which until recently was playing “classic rock.”

There are still differences, such as the beginning of “pretty fly for a White guy,” Offspring vs. “Pyromania,” Def Leppard. Same opening, different song. Limp Bizcut-107.5, Lynard Skynard-101.5. Collective Soul-both.
Offspring (Pretty Fly…)-107.5, Offspring (Come out and Play)-both.

Add to that there are now “Mix” stations (96.5 in Houston) which play adult contemporary mixed with 80’s new wave, then they surprise you with the Offspring (Come out and Play). Smashmouth-107.5 and 96.5, but not 101.1. U2- all 3. Morissey- 107.5 and 96.5.

The classic station plays more modern stuff now, but still by tried and true bands that have a compatible sound. If redneck rock (AC-DC, Van Halen) makes a comeback 101.1 will gain ground

13

When I first moved to Houston, the three biggest rock stations were the new alternative station “The Buzz”, that old dinosaur KLOL, and a wonderful, fantastic station called ZRock. Needless to say, ZRock closed two months after I moved in…

The thing that I find strange about “Classic Rock” stations is that they originally began as an alternative to “80’s Hair Band music”.

Now, in this area at least, about 50% of the music they play were performed by hair-bands…Poison, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, that sort of thing.

-David

14

<<When I first moved to Houston, the three biggest rock stations were the
new alternative station “The Buzz”, that old dinosaur KLOL, and a
wonderful, fantastic station called ZRock. Needless to say, ZRock closed
two months after I moved in…>>

Yeah, I remember. “IF ITS TOO LOUD YOU’RE TOO OLD!!!” I think ZRock was some kind of syndicated station that played over several stations in many cities. It was on AM in HOuston at first and sucked. THen once it was getting better and on FM it closed.

15

Both of the ‘Classic Rock’ stations around here also play modern stuff from ‘classic rockish’ kinda bands (Pearl Jam, Jonny Lang, new stuff from Clapton and the Stones).

16

I think that ZRock is only broadcast in either New Orleans or Lafayette, LA now…I’m pretty sure that it was once also broadcast in Chicago.

-David

17

The “classic rock” format in radio really solidified in the late 70s. At that time, New York’s WPLJ FM was a trendsetter.

In 1975, WPLJ was a very free-form rock station, as was WNEW FM. They interpreted the phrase “rock and roll” very expansively. SUre, they played Led Zeppelin, but they also played the Beach Boys. They played the Doors, but they also played Stevie Wonder. They played Jethro Tull and the Who, but also Simon & Garfunkel, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind & Fire, the Bee Gees (mostly their earlier stuff), et al.

Two things changed that format: first, radio became much more explicitly a business, geared toward selling advertising. One of the first signs of the dawn of “classic rock” came in the late 70s. In those days, a guy named Larry Berger was the manager of WPLJ, and he had a weekly radio show which allowed listeners to call in and say what they were thinking- it was VERY clear that Berger wasn’t interested in the opinions of teenagers (I was a teenager at the time- I’m 38 now). I remember when guys my age would call up and say, “LArry, there’s a great new band from Germany called the Scorpions. WHy don’t you play their music?” He’d say “I don’t think so… they don’t fit our demographics.” Huh? "Teens would call and say “Larry, there’s a great new band called Van Halen- you should play them.” Berger would politely say “No thanks- they don’t fit with our format.”

What I didn’t understand THEN was that we teenagers were undesirable listeners, from WPLJ’s perspective. We didn’t have jobs, we didn’t have money to spend, we couldn’t shop at department stores or eat at ritzy restaurant or buy new cars. So,naturally, restaurants, retail atores and car dealerships (the biggest radio advertisers) weren’t interested in us… and as a result, neither were most radio stations.

So, to make money, FM radio stations started tailoring their playlists to appeal to ADULT rock fans. In 1979, the attitude was “Don’t play AC/DC… they only appeal to teenagers, and who wants them? Play a lot of BEatles, Stones, Doors and Who. THEIR fans are now adults with jobs and money to spend.”

Makes sense, though I didn’t like it at the time. Oddly enough, now that I’m 38 and don’t CARE about Van Halen or the Scorpions any more, I’m considered a desirable listener from the advertisers’ perspective… so I can hear lots of Van Halen and Scorpions on “classic rock” radio.

The other thing that created “classic rock” radio was… “Saturday Night Fever.” Disco music was EVERYWHERE in those days, and you just couldn’t escape from it. EVen rock stations like WPLJ played “Staying Alive” and “You SHould Be Dancing” all the time. Eventually, rock fans (like me) turned TOTALLY against dance music, and started demanding its removal from rock stations. AT long lastm rock radio stations capitulated… but they threw out a lot of good music along with the Bee GEes. Ever since then, there’s been almost NO sould or black music on “classic rock” radio stations.

18

Classic rock irony.

Those stations love to play Queen’s “Another one bites the dust.”

Queen is classic. Queen is rock. “Another one Bites the Dust.” is a major funk tune getting played by black DJ’s before rock or pop stations were touching it.

19

Classic rock irony.

Those stations love to play Queen’s “Another one bites the dust.”

Queen is classic. Queen is rock. “Another one Bites the Dust.” is a major funk tune getting played by black DJ’s before rock or pop stations were touching it.

20

astorian: Thanks for the History! And for providing some material for me to re-tool my paradigm. “Classic Rock” stations today, then, are just trying to keep up with wage-earning adults… calling what (their demographics say, at least) late 20’s/early 30’s wage-earning folks listen to “classic rock”–EXCEPT that they’ve already pigeonholed that term for 60’s-70’s rock, so in many situations these stations just drop the “classic” adjective so’s not too piss off the last generation of rock fans who’d certainly take umbrage with Pearl Jam (as an example) being played on a “classic rock” station. Some Classic Rock stations are just saying “fuck it” and keeping the “classic” and playing Peral Jam (et al), anyway. Others still (KZPS Dallas, e.g.) are continuing to target the even higher-wage earing (late 30’s/early 40’s) classic rock fans and not playing the “new shit” at all… When you see it as bidness, it all makes sense! As a late 20’s (not quite 29) guy, I spent the 80’s listening to classic rock; when 80’s music I liked (the Cars, REM, U2, etc.) was played, I didn’t know what to do–I sure as hell wasn’t going to listen to “The Eagle” (97.1 Dallas, although they’re a pretty good station these days)! It makes sense that now that I’m making a few bucks, the “classic” rock stations are now playing those tunes that they wouldn’t touch back then. It’s nice to see them have a radio home amongst the company with which they belong…