Most hours are near to the entire log of the ARN Regional stations that air the classic hits schedule. Including the tracks not played on analogue due to commercials, news, talk breaks.
There are pre recorded breaks for AJ/Adrian Johnston at breakfast, news on the hour and the ARN syndicated programs from the metro Gold stations.
The station would be easy to maintain as using an existing log. It was launched during the testing phase, probably to demonstrate a local commitment to digital.
I’d say most available resources are directed to research/programming/scheduling music for 102.9.
Agree @Brianc68 that the log lacks much wow factor, a safely researched schedule for smaller, regional markets that more variety wouldn’t harm most listening; an attraction for most.
It is a schedule that would appeal to much of the former long term Gold 92.5 audience as that music would have tested well for them. Fills a gap for audience choice.
Hot Tomato Ripe is a log built from scratch. Unique to the market and on the app.
For my 2 cents worth, I applaud ARN Regional for at least having a crack at doing something different on DAB.
Hobart has 7HO River, and 7HO Classic Hits, and CADA plus KIX on DAB.
ARN could have scrapped that, day 2 after they took over, and just streamed in another station from their metro network, or worst sold/leased space to SEN.
I am curious why Kix is chosen instead of iHeart country. Perhaps more investment in Kix programming whereas iHeart country just automated music without added content.
I guess Lava will compare all to answer that. Purely observational, it’s a relief the HT schedule is different to River.
@Brianc68, many and myself all feel the best era of River’s music was some years ago. Until MD Woody finishes up shortly, both him and PD Drew have been there throughout, yet music has changed. Perhaps a group programming decision beyond their control?
When Hot Tomato’s log was shared to then Grant stations, its focus moved a touch younger. Again, group programming demands perhaps? I guess necessary gradual evolution so as not to drift older the average audience age. Some 80’s tracks in each hour were dropped. A few 80’s track remain and rather than a a positioner mentioning specific decades, more general positioner adopted.
I’ve been trialing 90s Soft Pop again as a pre-set in the car. There are a few lost classics popping up here and there but overall I have to say the 90s was a wasteland when it came to “pop” music. Many of the songs are bordering on cringeworthy and it’s easy to see why they’ve had no airplay since then. The 90s might have been a pretty good era for rock, grunge, alternative etc. but as far as pop music goes it was a giant step down from the 80s. Just my opinion.
i think it depends on your age. the 90’s were my teenage years so its when i discovered music, buying tapes and going to gigs. Objectively, i know that 90’s pop wasn’t great but i don’t listen because the music is great - its nostalga for me. 97.3 90’s is one of my main presets in the car and it takes me back
There was a lot of good pop music coming out of the UK that the Australian commercial stations just weren’t interested in playing at the time. It was a different story in NZ as the radio industry there, was much different.
The logs were terrible here, pre-nova, and it was just mainly soft-rock on most of the stations, with bland playlists.
To be fair 97.3 and River 94.9 played some good 90s and new pop songs when they launched in 2001. River actually played Dance and R&B music, which was unheard of for a commercial station at the time, during the workday and weekends, obviously with the exception of Nova.
The early 90s were the best of it, though I too am looking through rose coloured glasses as it was when I first got into music (as a 4-6 year old)! Most of what I play from the mid to late 90s leans towards the alternative.
The early 90s did have a bit of carry over from the late 80s in any case, though.
The beginning of the end of the golden era of 80s pop music coincided with the exact moment The Only Way Is Up was a hit for Yazz and the Plastic Population in 1988. It was all downhill from there LOL True fact! If you were there you’d know what I mean
Went to the Gold Coast for a day trip today and my car radio would not pick up the local dab stations. Although some it had preset from when i used to live there are showing up. However when the radio hit 9D mpx it couldnt show other stations… same behaviour on my sangean… it would stop on 9C but no station list would download and my jbl tuner 2 could not even see the mpx.
However when the radios had presets from that mpx they showed up and worked…
Almost like the mpx is there and working but when a radio scans it cant see whats in the multiplex.
They seem to be having alot of trouble with the GC mpx
Respect to Smooth DAB+ in Perth today. They really are treating this like their FM sisters over on the east coast. They ran some beautiful music today for the day of mourning.
Local news and traffic all day and even did a minute silence right on 11am.
As someone who wasn’t alive until the tail end of that decade, I feel like I can approach this issue without nostalgia getting in the way.
As far as I’m concerned, the '70s was the best era for mainstream rock/pop music, followed by the '80s, followed by the '60s. The '90s comes in fourth place.
True fact! If you were there you’d know what I mean 