All 90’s Pop Hits

[Kevin]

I know that IHeart is doing an all 90’s Pop Hits format on a few stations across the country. Will this eventually become a common format in most major markets, and can we see this on stations owned by Entercom, Beasley and others as well?

 

[TheBigA]

My thought is that by the 90s, pop music was becoming less identifiable as a single thing. On one hand you had Crash Test Dummies, and on the other you had N'Sync. Two very different genres in the pop chart. Add to that the rise of rap and hip-hop and it's a real mish mash of styles. So it takes some real work sorting through the music and curating a consistent playlist.

However, in the country format, 90s music is a very solid group of songs that can easily make a attractive format that will attract people in the money demo, 25 to 45. I know a lot of people in that age group who listen to a lot of 90s country.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

I know that IHeart is doing an all 90’s Pop Hits format on a few stations across the country. Will this eventually become a common format in most major markets, and can we see this on stations owned by Entercom, Beasley and others as well?

Iheart owned station KOSF San Francisco might have to consider having 90's pop hits on its classic hits station at some point but for now they are running with the 1980's.


Entercom at least for the Los Angeles area has 90's hits mixed with 80's hits on classic hits KRTH 101.

 

[Kevin]

Iheart owned station KOSF San Francisco might have to consider having 90's pop hits on its classic hits station at some point but for now they are running with the 1980's.


Entercom at least for the Los Angeles area has 90's hits mixed with 80's hits on classic hits KRTH 101.

The same here in Detroit with WOMC, but I’m talking all 90’s like WMIA 93.9 in Miami.

 

[vchimpanzee]

However, in the country format, 90s music is a very solid group of songs that can easily make a attractive format that will attract people in the money demo, 25 to 45. I know a lot of people in that age group who listen to a lot of 90s country.

That's when country really went downhill.

Or did it? Now, classic country is playing those songs and they don't sound as bad as they did then.

 

[vchimpanzee]

My thought is that by the 90s, pop music was becoming less identifiable as a single thing. On one hand you had Crash Test Dummies, and on the other you had N'Sync. Two very different genres in the pop chart. Add to that the rise of rap and hip-hop and it's a real mish mash of styles. So it takes some real work sorting through the music and curating a consistent playlist.

I don't see 90s pop as identifiable as a format.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

My thought is that by the 90s, pop music was becoming less identifiable as a single thing. On one hand you had Crash Test Dummies, and on the other you had N'Sync. Two very different genres in the pop chart. Add to that the rise of rap and hip-hop and it's a real mish mash of styles. So it takes some real work sorting through the music and curating a consistent playlist.

However, in the country format, 90s music is a very solid group of songs that can easily make a attractive format that will attract people in the money demo, 25 to 45. I know a lot of people in that age group who listen to a lot of 90s country.

What ever was on the Hot AC playlists or CHR playlists at the time to contribute to the 90's playlist should be considered?

 

[TheBigA]

What ever was on the Hot AC playlists or CHR playlists at the time to contribute to the 90's playlist should be considered?

You end up with a lot of songs that don't stand up to the test of time. Just like some 90s fashion or 90s movies.

Just listen to the old AT40 shows. Lots of songs that never made it anywhere.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

You end up with a lot of songs that don't stand up to the test of time. Just like some 90s fashion or 90s movies.

Just listen to the old AT40 shows. Lots of songs that never made it anywhere.

I looked at that too. I knew the Entercom outlet in Sacramento attempted to do a 90's themed station back in 2010. But it was considered too soon at the time given that some of the Late 90's songs were being used on AC Stations at the time. Note this station as of 2021 is currently KUDL-FM Sacramento 106.5 the End.

The Buzz Sacramento Revamps - RadioInsight

radioinsight.com

 

[fordranger797]

In my own personal opinion, I think there are a few 1990's tracks that make decent additions to a classic hits playlist, but as a whole, I don't think that the 80's and 90's music playlists work that well together. The 1990's ushered in some big changes in the world of music, and these changes might make it a rather difficult decade to cover. With that being said, I think there is room for a radio station that wants to make the 1990's their primary focus, while throwing in select tracks from the 1980's. In my own market, we have a classic hits, classic rock, and adult hits radio station all under the iHeart umbrella. It seems like their adult hits station (Jack FM) concentrates more on the 1990's as their primary decade of music than the other two stations. This system seems to work out well for them, as they have multiple stations with considerable overlap.

 

[landtuna]

Why, in pop/RnR music do "classics" move with time? That is not the case with classic cars or anything else I can think of.

 

[DavidEduardo]

Why, in pop/RnR music do "classics" move with time? That is not the case with classic cars or anything else I can think of.

Because the term "classic" in marketing applies to a target age group. Every year, that age group drops the oldest and adds a younger year.

"Classic" does not define the music specifically, just the target age.

 

[CTListener]

Why, in pop/RnR music do "classics" move with time? That is not the case with classic cars or anything else I can think of.

Some states will issue a "classic" plate to any car over 25 or 30 years old. Connecticut is one of them. I've seen such plates on mid-'80s Celicas and early '80s Citations. The "classic car" shows around here have started featuring cars from the '90s. "Classic" is just as much a moving target for automobiles as it is for radio formats, it would appear.

 

[landtuna]

Because the term "classic" in marketing applies to a target age group. Every year, that age group drops the oldest and adds a younger year.

"Classic" does not define the music specifically, just the target age.

The music/radio/marketing industries must then operate differently than virtually all others. The use of the descriptor "classic" does indeed refer specifically to the music.

 

[landtuna]

Some states will issue a "classic" plate to any car over 25 or 30 years old. Connecticut is one of them. I've seen such plates on mid-'80s Celicas and early '80s Citations. The "classic car" shows around here have started featuring cars from the '90s. "Classic" is just as much a moving target for automobiles as it is for radio formats, it would appear.

Wrongo! Refer to any business involved with "classic" automobiles and there are very strict guidelines given the type/model/year of vehicle and whether it is regarded as a classic or not. The fact that some DMV dumbass in CT wants to generate additional revenue by charging extra for special "classic" plates does not make it so. Many other states do likewise. Ancient Celicas and/or Citations were despicable pieces of junk. I know of no one who would consider them anything else.

 

[TheBigA]

The music/radio/marketing industries must then operate differently than virtually all others. The use of the descriptor "classic" does indeed refer specifically to the music.

In the music industry, at least in terms of the RIAA and NARAS, the term "classic" refers to primarily orchestral music that is largely European in nature. It is not attributed, for the purposes of classification, to any form of older popular music. That is to say that The Platters are no more "classic" than 2 Live Crew. Other usages are purely subjective.

 

[vchimpanzee]

In the music industry, at least in terms of the RIAA and NARAS, the term "classic" refers to primarily orchestral music that is largely European in nature. It is not attributed, for the purposes of classification, to any form of older popular music. That is to say that The Platters are no more "classic" than 2 Live Crew. Other usages are purely subjective.

Yeah, but The Platters sure are more pleasant to listen to.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Some states will issue a "classic" plate to any car over 25 or 30 years old. Connecticut is one of them. I've seen such plates on mid-'80s Celicas and early '80s Citations. The "classic car" shows around here have started featuring cars from the '90s. "Classic" is just as much a moving target for automobiles as it is for radio formats, it would appear.

I don't remember precisely what she said, but for one year when I was in elementary school my mother was a teacher. It was kind of a long drive and another teacher who lived near us rode with us. That way, she didn't have to drive what I recall being told was a '51 Chevy. I've looked at photos more recently and I don't think it was a '51 but there was some comment that after a certain number of years it would be called a classic. I think it was 30.

And now a car that old doesn't seem so old. Mine might make it to 30.

 

[landtuna]

I don't remember precisely what she said, but for one year when I was in elementary school my mother was a teacher. It was kind of a long drive and another teacher who lived near us rode with us. That way, she didn't have to drive what I recall being told was a '51 Chevy. I've looked at photos more recently and I don't think it was a '51 but there was some comment that after a certain number of years it would be called a classic. I think it was 30.

And now a car that old doesn't seem so old. Mine might make it to 30.

An early 50's Chevy is definitely NOT a classic in any form or fashion. Ask virtually any car guy. A '55 2-door Bel Air sedan or wagon would be and so would a '57. So would a smattering of early 50's Corvettes. 50's Edsels (like 'em or hate 'em). Why some and others not? My guess is either styling (Corvette, Edsel) or engine (Chevy's mid-50's V-8's or Corvette's FI). I, along with many others do not see that same leading definition in pop music since the mid-80's. What used to be either new breaking styling, instruments, or instrument uses has led to a terrible sameness and back to the 30's and 40's vocals.

DE might be absolutely correct when he defines musical classics as nothing more than a marketing scheme. That is definitely not what is meant by classic architecture, pottery, vehicles, aircraft or a thousand other things.

 

[fordranger797]

On the topic of 90's "classic hits" on the radio, there are some decent examples out there of radio stations that are mixing in 1990's hits with their 1980's core. To do it properly, it takes someone who can go through and pick songs (usually on rock side) that fit the format well. There are some great songs in the 90's that fit very well, and there are other songs (while probably very popular) that should NOT make the cut. For the sake of example, here are SOME of the songs that I've heard that seem make sense:

The Wallflowers - One Headlight (1996)
Gin Blossoms - Found out About You (1990)
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris (1998)
B52's - Roam (1990)
Bryan Adams - Everything I Do (1991), Can't Stop This Thing we Started (1991), Please Forgive me (1993), Have you Ever Really Loved a Woman? (1993)
Tom Cochrane - Life is a Highway (1991)
REM - Losing my Religion (1991) or Man on the Moon (1992)
Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence (1990)
Duran Duran - Ordinary World (1993) or Come Undone (1993)
Sarah McLachlan - Building a Mystery (1997)
Sting - Fields of Gold (1993)
Jane Child - Don't Want to Fall in Love (1990)
Ace of Base - The Sign (1993)
New Radicals - Get What you Give (1998)
Sheryl Crow - If it Makes you Happy (1996) or All I want to do (1994)
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn (1998)
Oasis - Wonderwall (1995) [Can't stand this song, but it fits]
Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 (1995)
The Cranberries - Linger (1993) or Zombie (1994)
U2 - Mysterious Ways (1991), One (1992), Even Better than the Real Thing (1993), Beautiful Day (2000)
Semisonic - Closing Time (1998)
Alanis Morissette - Hand in my Pocket (1995), Ironic (1996), You Learn (1996)



There are plenty of others, but this gets the list started. I love listening to classic hits for the 1980's new wave sound, but none of the songs listed above would make me tune out. In fact, I quite like most of them. When you start getting into more of the CHR sound of the 90's, I tune out (and I imagine many other listeners would follow suit).