Comments on: At Classic Rock, AC/DC (And The ’80s) Gain Current-cy

By: allen vick

allen vick — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:45:02 +0000

The key is variety.These 350 song playlist are driving the listener away.Someday maybe those in the “know” will wake up and realize this..
Allen

By: Dan Updike

Dan Updike — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:51:17 +0000

I think it’s a bit amusing that many of the “harder” tunes now get airplay on classic rock or even “Jack” stations that the rock stations I worked at in the late 80′s-early 90′s wouldn’t touch!
I think featuring artists like AC/DC, Scorpions, DIO, Judas Priest, etc. really depends on what is already available or not in your market. I think in most cases there is an underserved opportunity there. The guys I grew up with in the 38-42 year range now would probably still listen to the radio if they could get a steady diet of their faves from high school/college. Another example, I think it has surprised a lot of people (not me) how widespread Alice Cooper’s radio show has become. His personality has become mainstream—it’s not shocking anymore. Ozzy as well–mainstream.
The thing that doesn’t work for “us” is for the former heritage AOR/classic rock to now run the gamut from the Rolling Stones to Korn, or Godsmack to Jimi Hendrix. Bad idea.

By: Gregg Colamonico

Gregg Colamonico — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:30:20 +0000

I guess I’m still confused as I hear harder edged music replacing Eric Clapton and The Eagles on Classic Rock stations.
Today’s Classic Rock station is considerably harder edged than the Rock stations of the 70s and 80s they are supposed to echo. So we wanted a mix of soft songs and hard songs when we were in high school and college but we want almost all harder-edged songs now that we’re 40 and 50? How did that happen?
OK. I understand that AC has co-opted many of the songs and artists that we listened to on Rock stations in the 70s and 80s. If AC is playing Uptown Girl and Philadelphia Freedom, I guess that only leaves a few Billy Joel and Elton John titles for Classic Rock to call its own.
But it does seem like an odd world where as we grow older and our lives become more hectic, our radio stations, from AC to Classic Rock, are becoming more uptempo, not less… and only a handful of Smooth Jazz and commercial Classical stations remain. Gone are the “Mellow Rock” stations of a few decades ago and their successor, Adult Alternative stations, are moving harder as well.
Should I show my age and remember when John Denver and Cat Stevens were staples of NYC Rock stations WPLJ and WNEW-FM? Even Barry Manilow had titles in rotaton on both stations. WPLJ as a Hot AC station now rocks harder than it did as an AOR station. If you want to hear Nickelback on the NYC FM dial, Lite-FM will likely play their hits more often than K-Rock or WRXP.

By: dan

dan — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:48 +0000

when AC/DC,Guns & Roses and Metallica replace Motown & Elvis costello replaces E L V I S
you have a male based format known in the 70′s & 80′s as AOR.. RIGHT NOW I THINK YOU HAVE TO “SUPER-SERV” THE CORE AUDIENCE 35+ to be successful, that of course will change in the future but its too early for ac/dc on a mass appeal format like this.

By: Just Joe

Just Joe — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:43:30 +0000

The hard rock bands of the ’80s consistently sold millions of albums. I’m not talking about one-hit wonders. I’m talking about bands like Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Poison, Judas Priest, Metallica …
The “kids” who bought those acts are now in their 30s and 40s, at the height of their career with a lot of spending money for advertisers. It’s a no-brainer that those acts should now be considered “classic rock.” Just look at the success of their current tours.
The era in which the 34-54 demo is changing. It’s absurd that some classic rock programmers refuse to change with them.

By: Michael Bridges

Michael Bridges — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:17:19 +0000

Don Coleman, Canada’s Premiere AC/DC Vocalist, has recorded a song to celebrate the life and spirit of Bon Scott former frontman for AC/DC. The song ‘Women, Whiskey & Rock’n'Roll’ has been airing daily in Australia on the Rebel FM Network (40 stations is Queensland / NSW ) plus two stations near Fremantle, Western Australia – where there was a concert to unveil a statue of Bon Scott – PERTH 107.3 FM and 89.7 FM on weekly shows. Each day there are more Australian, Canadian and American FM Stations coming onboard to air the song.
The song launched on WRUW FM 91.1 in Cleveland, Ohio ( home of the R&R Hall of Fame) complete with an on air interview with Don Coleman, on a show dedicated to the memory of Bon Scott. Also on the show where Susan Masino, published author of ‘Let There Be Rock’ a book on Bon and AC/DC, and President of the Bon Scott Fan Club, Doug Thorncroft, who both love the song. MP3 audio clips are available from the show on request. The song aired on the Newcap FM Network on K-Rock 105.5 in Charlottetown, PEI, along with an interview with Don, as well as FM Stations in St. John 98.9 FM (morning and afternoon ‘drive time’ programs), NB and Moncton 106.1 FM, NB, Canada. Don will be doing more media interviews this week with various Music Magazines.
Other notable reviews came from Vince Lovegrove ( former bandmate of Bon’s in the ‘Valentines’), Aussie Legend – Kevin Borich, ‘Angels’ drummer Buzz Bidstrup who performed at the Fremantle concert to unveil the statue, in their re-formed band the ‘Party Boys’. They all think the song is a ‘ripper’ (Aussie slang for fantastic). I received a request for the song from longtime friend of Bon and longtime bassist for Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Daisley who thinks Don did a great job on the song.
Don has been receiving many offers from : England, Scotland, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the USA, to front many bands and to tour. One such offer came from the original frontman for AC/DC, Dave Evans who also performed in Fremantle.
You can listen to the song by visiting the dedicated site at http://www.myspace.com/doncoleman .
Southern Cross Gypsy Promotions,
Scarborough, Ontario,
CANADA M1W 3E7

By: Michael Quinn

Michael Quinn — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:41:01 +0000

Ah yes – the 80′s. For Hot AC’s, a veritable boon. For Classic Hits, again easily integrated. But, you’re right, for true Classic Rockers it’s like making a mayonaise and grape jelly sandwich and somehow convincing your listeners that it really does taste good. For me, the “giving in” comes down to where the song is going to rank in the listeners mind as opposed to the PD. Or it’s “feel” in a variety of segue situations. Other PD’s listening in will wonder what the hell your problem is but again the listener is the focus and determining what it is that they will tolerate.

By: Don Hallett

Don Hallett — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:20:27 +0000

Twenty five years ago, who would have thought mainstream A/C would play a song by Boston? I suspect the day will come when Classic Hit stations will flirt with AC/DC.