The World’s New No. 1 AM Music Station

The demise of Classic Hits 4KQ Brisbane, Australia created an opportunity for several stations.

Crosstown Soft AC-on AM 4BH made a change to Classic Hits in advance of 4KQ’s change. In Australia’s just released Survey 6 for 2022, they were up 4.6-8.6. N/T rival 4BC, which hired morning show Laurel, Gary & Mark, saw a bigger bump last month, but was still up 7.7-8.1.

Then there was 4KQ’s sister station, 5DN (Cruise1323) Adelaide, which, like 4KQ, was executing an older version of Classic Hits than the more ‘80s/’90s version heard on ARN’s Classic Hits FMs in Melbourne and Sydney. Cruise was off 10.2-9.8, but that still leaves it as the new No. 1 music AM in a rated market worldwide. 

We took a First Listen to both stations. 4BH’s version of Jukebox Saturday Night is more contemporary than the 4KQ version, but overall both are viable choices for North American listeners looking for a change of pace from the safe list here, as well as more ‘60s and ‘70s. One observation—both stations were running concert spots for Elvis Tribute Acts. The Brisbane act was blessed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Here’s Cruise1323 on Sept. 28 just before 10 p,m.:

• Them, “Gloria”
• Simon & Garfunkel, “Cecilia”
• Paul Young, “Love of the Common People”
• Rod Stewart, “You Wear It Well”
• Mental as Anything, “Live It Up” (Australian, 1985)
• Tom Jones, “It’s Not Unusual”
• Spectrum, “Ill Be Gone” (Australian, 1973)
• Huey Lewis & News, “Stuck With You”
• Jimmy Barnes, “Working Class Man” (Australian, 1985)
• America, “Sister Golden Hair” 
• Beatles, “Lady Madonna”
• Russell Morris, “Wings of an Eagle” (Australian, 1972)
• Paul Kelly & Messengers, “Before Too Long” (Australian, 1986)
• Elton John, “Your Song”

Here’s 4BH on Sept. 28 around 9 p.m.:

• Four Seasons, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”
• Billy Thorpe & Aztecs, “Most People I Know Think I’m Crazy” (Australian, 1972—folky Australian pop very different from his one American hit, “Children of the Sun”)
• John Waite, “Missing You”
• Beatles, “I Saw Her Standing There”
• Yvonne Elliman, “If I Can’t Have You”
• Andy Kim, “Rock Me Gently”—staged as coming from the 4BH Vault
• Mental as Anything, “Live It Up” (Australian, 1985)
• Animals, “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place”
• Joni Mitchell, “Big Yellow Taxi”
• Electric Light Orchestra, “All Over the World”
• Goanna, “Solid Rock” (Australian, 1982)
• Cat Stevens, “Another Saturday Night”
• Mixtures, “In the Summertime”—the Australian hit was by this “Pushbike Song” band
• Easybeats, “Friday on My Mind” (Australian, 1967)
• Heart, “Alone”
• Daddy Cool, “Eagle Rock” (Australian ‘50s-retro anthem, 1971)
• Jim Croce, “Bad Bad Leroy Brown”
• Aretha Franklin, “Respect”
• Masters Apprentices, “Because I Love You” (Australia, 1971)