I would like to highlight some great sounding stations:
- WSB-FM (B98.5) in Atlanta. The best AC station in a Top 10 market. A great example of how AC stations should sound in 2017, given that millennials make up a significant portion of the 25-44 audience. Not afraid to play uptempo songs from present day. Plays only the huge 80s hits while giving substantial attention towards 90s and 00s songs, especially if they are successful as mainstream hits. A station that realizes that the listener simply wants to hear their favorite songs, past and present.
- WLYF-FM (101.5 Lite FM) in Miami. While I prefer that ACs sound less softer, this station in particular provides a nice mix of music. The station here can show that you can be "lite" and not be monotonous-sounding. Having flavors of Rhythmic AC and Soft AC while eschewing modern AC.
- WLIF-FM (Today's 101.9) in Baltimore. They do play some lite 80s songs, but it is rather sprinkled, and brighter, uptempo songs from the 21st century are well represented in the playlist, providing an interesting mix of music. They even play songs like "Yeah!" by Usher; this shouldn't be far fetched as 25-44 are not immune towards Hip-Hop/R&B songs. The imaging for this station is also spot on.
- WWRM-FM (Magic 94.9) in Tampa Bay. If you want to see how a mainstream AC sounds with at least a fair emphasis on the 90s while largely eschewing 80s music (with the only 80s song being "Like a Prayer" by Madonna), this is the station for that purpose. And it does well in the ratings, well complementing soft AC WDUV.
- WWLI-FM (Lite Rock 105) in Providence. Listed since they make interesting choices of 80s songs, sometimes hits that people have never heard of for a long time. Otherwise, music from eras since the 80s are well represented in the playlist.
- WMSX-FM (Mix 96) in Buffalo. An AC station not afraid of playing songs that have a Hip-Hop/Rap flavor. It really is refreshing, especially since AC historically has panicked over a small rap during a song.
- WJXB-FM (B97.5) in Knoxville. Simply a wide variety. Yet contemporary, not cheesy.
- WDEF-FM (Sunny 92.3) in Chattanooga. Can a station mixing 70s soft rock, big 80s hits, 90s alternative rock, and a rhythmic touch of 2000-present music together be successful, without sounding like a choo choo trainwreck? If the existence of this station is of any indication, then the answer may be yes.
- WZID-FM in New Hampshire. Though a bit more "garden variety," still a station with a good presentation and some balance.
- KTDY-FM in Lafayette, Louisiana. Also somewhat "garden variety," but plays some nice 80s R&B jams, while remaining chiefly 2000-present.
I sometimes wonder why iHeartMedia hasn't modernized the playlists for their mainstream adult contemporary stations. They sound pretty dated and cheesy IMO.
- WSB-FM (B98.5) in Atlanta. The best AC station in a Top 10 market. A great example of how AC stations should sound in 2017, given that millennials make up a significant portion of the 25-44 audience. Not afraid to play uptempo songs from present day. Plays only the huge 80s hits while giving substantial attention towards 90s and 00s songs, especially if they are successful as mainstream hits. A station that realizes that the listener simply wants to hear their favorite songs, past and present.
- WLYF-FM (101.5 Lite FM) in Miami. While I prefer that ACs sound less softer, this station in particular provides a nice mix of music. The station here can show that you can be "lite" and not be monotonous-sounding. Having flavors of Rhythmic AC and Soft AC while eschewing modern AC.
- WLIF-FM (Today's 101.9) in Baltimore. They do play some lite 80s songs, but it is rather sprinkled, and brighter, uptempo songs from the 21st century are well represented in the playlist, providing an interesting mix of music. They even play songs like "Yeah!" by Usher; this shouldn't be far fetched as 25-44 are not immune towards Hip-Hop/R&B songs. The imaging for this station is also spot on.
- WWRM-FM (Magic 94.9) in Tampa Bay. If you want to see how a mainstream AC sounds with at least a fair emphasis on the 90s while largely eschewing 80s music (with the only 80s song being "Like a Prayer" by Madonna), this is the station for that purpose. And it does well in the ratings, well complementing soft AC WDUV.
- WWLI-FM (Lite Rock 105) in Providence. Listed since they make interesting choices of 80s songs, sometimes hits that people have never heard of for a long time. Otherwise, music from eras since the 80s are well represented in the playlist.
- WMSX-FM (Mix 96) in Buffalo. An AC station not afraid of playing songs that have a Hip-Hop/Rap flavor. It really is refreshing, especially since AC historically has panicked over a small rap during a song.
- WJXB-FM (B97.5) in Knoxville. Simply a wide variety. Yet contemporary, not cheesy.
- WDEF-FM (Sunny 92.3) in Chattanooga. Can a station mixing 70s soft rock, big 80s hits, 90s alternative rock, and a rhythmic touch of 2000-present music together be successful, without sounding like a choo choo trainwreck? If the existence of this station is of any indication, then the answer may be yes.
- WZID-FM in New Hampshire. Though a bit more "garden variety," still a station with a good presentation and some balance.
- KTDY-FM in Lafayette, Louisiana. Also somewhat "garden variety," but plays some nice 80s R&B jams, while remaining chiefly 2000-present.
I sometimes wonder why iHeartMedia hasn't modernized the playlists for their mainstream adult contemporary stations. They sound pretty dated and cheesy IMO.