After more than a year of the Soft AC boom, a few things have become apparent.
Not every new Soft AC launch is going to disrupt the market like WFEZ (Easy 93.1) Miami or KISQ (98.1 The Breeze) San Francisco.
The specter of WFEZ and KISQ, along with the increased difficulty of being a newer/brighter Mainstream AC, has caused ripples throughout the format. KISQ’s iHeart AC sister WLIT (Lite FM) Chicago has evolved back to the format. Another Lite FM, WLTW New York, has worked in a handful of KISQ’s signature songs.
WFEZ and KISQ are still doing just fine, despite concerns that the novelty of hearing Air Supply on the radio again might wear off. In the just released October PPM ratings, WFEZ was No. 1 overall in the market again, 7.0-7.0 6-plus. KISQ has rebounded 4.1-4.2-4.5, making it now fourth in the market.
The history of Soft AC has generally been launching with a mix that is just softer and older enough to get attention, then evolving–one reader dismissed the new stations last year as “Classic Hits with a few ballads.” (Stations with more of a ‘60s/’70s component like WRME [Me TV FM] Chicago and the new KOAI [The Wow Factor] Phoenix are emerging as something separate.) During the time when KISQ tapered off, market chatter was that it was trying to modernize too quickly.
In this Fresh Listen, both stations are now a little older than they were when we monitored them nearly a year ago, which is to say that each appears to have swapped out one or two relatively newer songs (1990 or later) for older ones. Easy 93.1 was 66% ‘80s or older last year; this year it was 77%. The Breeze was 58% older last year; this year it was 70% older. Easy 93.1 played one ‘70s song in the hour we heard last year and this year. The Breeze had one ‘70s song last year; it was the same this year, but there was also “My Girl” from 1964.
The growth of Soft AC came at a time when CHR’s increased edginess and waning influence were making it harder to be a “millennial (or mostly millennial) Mainstream AC.” In general, Mainstream ACs now seem willing to consider some titles that they would have considered too soft or too old 18 months ago. Despite this, there’s still considerable separation between the two stations monitored here and their Mainstream AC rivals. Roughly two-thirds of the music in the hours heard wasn’t being played across the street. Neither station went more than two songs without a song not heard on the competition.
As the format evolves and competitors react, it’s been interesting to consider what constitutes a signature song for the format. The soft R&B titles not heard since the demise of Smooth Jazz—e.g., “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again”—are the easiest to tag, along with the Air Supply titles. But there are softer titles—“Glory Of Love,” “She’s Like The Wind”—that other Mainstream AC stations seem willing to consider again. There are some, like “Against All Odds,” that Mainstream AC never considered too unhip to play, but now seem to be moving away from.
Then, on the hour of KISQ I heard, there was Elton John. Many would consider that “Your Song” timeless and even more top-of-mind these days because of “Rocketman.” Maybe it isn’t of interest to some 23-year-olds, but it doesn’t in any way feel lost or cheesy. With most Mainstream ACs having long stopped playing the ‘70s, The Breeze now accounts for two-thirds of its Bay Area exposure, sharing it only with San Jose’s Classic His KBAY. For the new stations, the proudly cheesy songs are the ones that get attention. But PDs are probably just as happy for “Your Song” and “Against All Odds”—strong songs that just happen to not be played elsewhere.
Here’s KISQ just before 3 p.m. on Oct. 2. Asterisked songs are those not heard on KOIT this week:
- Daryl Hall & John Oates, “Maneater”
- Temptations, “My Girl”*
- Phil Collins, “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me)”*
- Shania Twain, “You’re Still The One”
- Madonna, “Borderline”
- Elton John, “Your Song”*
- Cher & Peter Cetera, “After All” (with a “you can only hear on the Breeze” stager)*
- Amy Grant, “Baby Baby”*
- Stevie Wonder, “I Just Called To Say I Love You”*
- Blondie, “The Tide Is High”*
- Adele, “Rolling In The Deep”
- Lionel Richie, “Hello”*
- Selena, “I Could Fall In Love”
Here’s WFEZ from the same time:
- Spandau Ballet, “True”
- Tears For Fears, “Head Over Heels”*
- Sade, “No Ordinary Love”*
- Laura Branigan, “Gloria”*
- Ed Sheeran, “Perfect”
- Beach Boys, “Kokomo”
- Quincy Jones f/James Ingram, “Just Once”*
- Ace Of Base, “All That She Wants”
- Bee Gees, “Too Much Heaven”*
- Kool & the Gang, “Joanna”*
- Whitney Houston, “One Moment In Time”*
- Billy Joel, “Uptown Girl”
- Steve Winwood, “The Finer Things”*
Sean,
I assume that the song on the WFEZ list titled “Whitney Houston, “A Moment Like This”*” should be Whitney’s “One Moment In Time” from 1988, although stylistically Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This” would fit, even though it (seemingly) doesn’t fit the timeline.
As a part of the 55+ generation who still likes to use radio and has work both A/C and Soft A/C formats in the past let me say their is a treasure trove of hits that have been overlooked. You don’t have to go back to the ’60’s to find them. Plenty can be found in the ’70’s, 80’s, and even ’90’s. Personally I’m burned out on “Your Song” and “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight”. “Gloria” by Laura Branigan sounds way too hard to my ears. There are much better songs out there than that one for a Soft A/C. Just my opinion.
My favorite soft AC is KVSV 105.5 in the middle of Kansas. I first heard that station while in flight from Las Vegas to Philadelphia. Just last week I drove through their coverage area and noted all the songs they played.
After All – Al Jarreau
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
Chances Are – Johnny Mathis
Morning Has Broken – Cat Stevens
I Only Want To Be With You – Dusty Springfield
How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
Honey – Bobby Goldsboro
How Am I Supposed To Live Without You – Laura Branigan
Feelings – Morris Albert
And I Love Her- Beatles
Brave – Josh Groban
People – Barbra Streisand
One Hundred Ways – Quincy Jones
Goin’ Out Of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – The Lettermen
Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You – George Benson
Sundown – Gordon Lightfoot
Oh Girl – Paul Young
For All We Know – Carpenters
Until You Come Back To Me – Aretha Franklin
Tryin’ To Get The Feeling Again – Barry Manilow
Talking In Your Sleep – Crystal Gayle
If You Leave Me Now – Chicago
Crazy Love – Michael Buble
Lonely People – America
Downtown – Petula Clark
There’ll Be Sad Songs – Billy Ocean
Memories Are Made Of This – Dean Martin
Don’t Cry Out Loud – Melissa Manchester
Release Me – Engelbert Humperdinck
Just To See Her – Smokey Robinson
Strangers In The Night – Frank Sinatra
The Morning After – Maureen McGovern
Lady Willpower – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer – Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
A Taste Of Honey – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
I Didn’t Get To Sleep At All – The 5th Dimension
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
Ballerina Girl – Lionel Richie
My Kind Of Girl – Matt Monro
An Innocent Man – Billy Joel
Release Me – Engelbert Humperdinck
Blessed – Elton John
You And I – Eddie Rabbitt And Crystal Gayle
Swayin’ To The Music (Slow Dancin’) – Johnny Rivers
Let Me Be There – Olivia Newton-John
It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Buddy Holly
I Do (Cherish You) – 98°
Woman In Love – Barbra Streisand