Hi there, I'm a real newbie, from Vietnam, but actually so interested in media industry (especially radio) around the world that I have lurked around this site for some time. As people here were so enthusiastically talking about difference between music formats, I decided to bring something different, but still about formatting, to talk.
I have been a real fan of 91FM, Vietnam's only commercial radio network, under the state-owned VOV umbrella (since the collapse of the CHR-formatted Xone, once controlled by Australian interests), and I have constantly listened to it all day for about three years now. As I have listened to the network long enough, I'm clear that the network is, musically (save for a few specialist blocks, such as 91FM Greatest Hits, a straight copy of American classic hits stations) (mainstream) AC. However, it doesn't have straightfoward sounding, because it targets car drivers and always identify themselves as "Information on every kilometers" rather than "Vietnam's best music mix". The network currently has 3 stations (soon to be 4): Hanoi, HCMC and Mekong FM (for Southwestern region), and soon, a station for Northern and Central Coast regions. The programming are: drivetime breakfast, midday and afternoon are live traffic updates mixed with short information segments, news bulletins or AC music; mid-morning and mid-afternoon are a bit lighter, mixing information segments with more music than driveimte; midday and early afternoon are light entertainment and softer AC; evenings (after 8PM) are phone-in, talk (not "political" talk, kind of like Now/Today Radio in Canada) and AC, overnight are continuous music without jingles or sweepers.
But what I'm really baffled is their automated early morning playlist. I have heard the station during the 4 - 5AM timeslot many times, and they're typically like those labelled "Mainstream AC" - their music are always latter half of 1980s and later, no older songs. Some days, it could be a kind-of Amp Radio-ish style. But what really shocked me is that this morning, they suddenly played a block of late 1950s to 1970s, which I'm really shocked because 91FM Saigon historically never played anything that is *too* old like that (even 91fm Hanoi, which tends to lean older than Saigon, their foreign music selection is only streched back to 1970s at most). As I don't know where I could share this feeling, I decided to bring the playlist I logged myself here (91FM doesn't have a system to detect songs, unlike in the Western world).
91fm Saigon - 2 October 2023
4.05 - 5AM
Right Here Waiting - Richard Marx
Say You Will - Tokyo Square
Seasons In the Sun - Westlife
Still Loving You - Sonata Arctica
Take Me To Your Heart - Michael Learns to Rock
Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson ft. Roberta Flack
Top of the World - Carpenters
Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
We Are the World - U.S.A. for Africa (Michael Jackson/Lionel Richie)
Because You Love Me (Theme from "Up Close and Personal") - Celine Dion
Boulevard - Dan Byrd
Coco Jamboo - Mr. President
Boulevard - Dan Byrd (again)
--------------------and, the next day--------------------------------
91fm Saigon - 3 October 2023
4.05 - 5AM
A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams
Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Donna, Donna - The Hippies (Joan Baez)
Rhythm of the Rain - The Cascades
I'm a Believer - The Monkees
Oh! Carol - Neil Sedaka
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
Words - Bee Gees
I Feel Fine - The Beatles
Diana - Paul Anka
(You're) Having My Baby - Ray Conniff
Sugar Sugar - The Archies
Get Back - The Beatles & Billy Ptrdyon
Honky Tonk Women - The Rolling Stones
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum
Are You Lonesome Tonight - Elvis Presley
I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles
As I don't know each of the playlist sound like which formats/stations, I decided to bring here so that you guys can help about formatting. Thank you.
I have been a real fan of 91FM, Vietnam's only commercial radio network, under the state-owned VOV umbrella (since the collapse of the CHR-formatted Xone, once controlled by Australian interests), and I have constantly listened to it all day for about three years now. As I have listened to the network long enough, I'm clear that the network is, musically (save for a few specialist blocks, such as 91FM Greatest Hits, a straight copy of American classic hits stations) (mainstream) AC. However, it doesn't have straightfoward sounding, because it targets car drivers and always identify themselves as "Information on every kilometers" rather than "Vietnam's best music mix". The network currently has 3 stations (soon to be 4): Hanoi, HCMC and Mekong FM (for Southwestern region), and soon, a station for Northern and Central Coast regions. The programming are: drivetime breakfast, midday and afternoon are live traffic updates mixed with short information segments, news bulletins or AC music; mid-morning and mid-afternoon are a bit lighter, mixing information segments with more music than driveimte; midday and early afternoon are light entertainment and softer AC; evenings (after 8PM) are phone-in, talk (not "political" talk, kind of like Now/Today Radio in Canada) and AC, overnight are continuous music without jingles or sweepers.
But what I'm really baffled is their automated early morning playlist. I have heard the station during the 4 - 5AM timeslot many times, and they're typically like those labelled "Mainstream AC" - their music are always latter half of 1980s and later, no older songs. Some days, it could be a kind-of Amp Radio-ish style. But what really shocked me is that this morning, they suddenly played a block of late 1950s to 1970s, which I'm really shocked because 91FM Saigon historically never played anything that is *too* old like that (even 91fm Hanoi, which tends to lean older than Saigon, their foreign music selection is only streched back to 1970s at most). As I don't know where I could share this feeling, I decided to bring the playlist I logged myself here (91FM doesn't have a system to detect songs, unlike in the Western world).
91fm Saigon - 2 October 2023
4.05 - 5AM
Right Here Waiting - Richard Marx
Say You Will - Tokyo Square
Seasons In the Sun - Westlife
Still Loving You - Sonata Arctica
Take Me To Your Heart - Michael Learns to Rock
Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson ft. Roberta Flack
Top of the World - Carpenters
Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
We Are the World - U.S.A. for Africa (Michael Jackson/Lionel Richie)
Because You Love Me (Theme from "Up Close and Personal") - Celine Dion
Boulevard - Dan Byrd
Coco Jamboo - Mr. President
Boulevard - Dan Byrd (again)
--------------------and, the next day--------------------------------
91fm Saigon - 3 October 2023
4.05 - 5AM
A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams
Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Donna, Donna - The Hippies (Joan Baez)
Rhythm of the Rain - The Cascades
I'm a Believer - The Monkees
Oh! Carol - Neil Sedaka
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
Words - Bee Gees
I Feel Fine - The Beatles
Diana - Paul Anka
(You're) Having My Baby - Ray Conniff
Sugar Sugar - The Archies
Get Back - The Beatles & Billy Ptrdyon
Honky Tonk Women - The Rolling Stones
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum
Are You Lonesome Tonight - Elvis Presley
I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles
As I don't know each of the playlist sound like which formats/stations, I decided to bring here so that you guys can help about formatting. Thank you.