How come Classic Rock doesn't play New Wave?

Too pop-influenced? Too many synthesizers and not enough long guitar solos? Because it was "just an MTV fad"?

The Hooters' "And We Danced" and The Kinks' "Come Dancing" is about as close to New Wave (or really just pop-influenced '80s rock) that I hear on classic rock stations like WMGK in Philly. No A Flock of Seagulls, no Devo, no Howard Jones, no Split Enz, no Elvis Costello, no B-52s, no Men At Work, etc....

New Wave was pretty regional at the time. A lot of the artists you list get played in other formats like Classic Hits. Except Costello.

"Whip It," "I Ran" and "Down Under" coexisting with "Pride (In the Name of Love)," "Free Fallin'" and "Don't Stand So Close to Me," not to mention all that '70s guitar rock still on classic rock playlists? Sounds like a major tune-out factor to the core audience to me. Might as well throw "Easy Lover" (which actually did have a nice little guitar solo in it) and "We Built This City" in there as well. Pop, not rock.