Yep, I 100% agree. Spirit definitely used to be much different, even earlier this year it sounded pretty much the same as it always was before the acquisition. Never would’ve heard Maroon 5 or Shawn Mendes on Spirit 6 months ago. Red FM and Hit are barely even the same format, I didn’t notice much crossover at all when looking through both of their full logs for today.
4 Likes
If I am listening to new music, that music on Red FM is the stuff I listen too. I agree Red and Hit are different formats. It’s sad to see these stations taken over by SCA.
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It’s another case of a uniquely WA brand being ruined by the blow-ins from over east (and I say that as a NSW resident).
We need to be careful where WA is concerned. They might cut off our food supply in the next big eastern drought 
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Carnarvon folk are might be in for an even bigger shock when they turn the radio on Monday morning.
Hot Hits 99.7 (to be Hit 99.7) more closely aligned to Triple M at the moment. They take Kennedy/Molly and used to take My Generation. Maybe a bit more top 40 pop than Triple M though.
And Classic Hits 666 (to become Triple M), an addictive singer/songwriter oldies format, very different to the current Triple M log posted above.
Spirit announcing the change to Triple M on social media this week. Already not many fans of the afternoon Kennedy/Molly/Sportsday afternoon lineup currently on Spirit.
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A terrible shame about Carnarvon as well. They were great locally programmed stations. I guess it had to happen eventually.
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Here’s a good question in response to AirCheck’s music crossover report with 2UE/Magic/4BH comparing with its main competitors in Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane:
To answer the above question, let’s look at the playlist for 2UE & compare it with WSFM.
The following took place from 9am to 1pm today.
2UE - Sydney, NSW
“Sydney’s Best Music & More Of It”
Friday 20th March 2020
| Artist | Song | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 9am | ||
| Bee Gees | You Should Be Dancing | 1976 |
| The Masters Apprentices | Because I Love You | 1971 |
| Paul Kelly | Before Too Long | 1986 |
| Rod Stewart | Tonight’s The Night | 1976 |
| Billy Joel | You May Be Right | 1980 |
| The Dream Academy | Life In A Northern Town | 1985 |
| The Turtles | Happy Together | 1967 |
| Prince | Kiss | 1986 |
| Promises | Baby It’s You | 1979 |
| Steve Miller Band | Rock’n Me | 1976 |
| Split Enz | Six Months In A Leaky Boat | 1982 |
| Fleetwood Mac | Dreams | 1977 |
| Tommy James & The Shondells | Mony Mony | 1968 |
| Dire Straits | Walk Of Life | 1985 |
| Bryan Adams | (Everything I Do) I Do It for You | 1991 |
| 10am | ||
| David Bowie | Changes | 1971 |
| Dusty Springfield | Son Of A Preacher Man | 1968 |
| GANGgajang | Sounds Of Then (This Is Australia) | 1985 |
| Boney M | Daddy Cool | 1976 |
| Blondie | Call Me | 1980 |
| REO Speedwagon | Can’t Fight This Feeling | 1984 |
| Meat Loaf | You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth | 1977 |
| Eric Carmen | Make Me Lose Control | 1988 |
| The Beatles | Penny Lane | 1967 |
| ABBA | Dancing Queen | 1976 |
| Eurythmics | Love Is A Stranger | 1982 |
| The Doobie Brothers | Takin’ It To The Streets | 1977 |
| John Waite | Missing You | 1984 |
| Australian Crawl | The Boys Light Up | 1980 |
| The Pretenders | I’ll Stand By You | 1994 |
| 11am | ||
| Boz Scaggs | Lido Shuffle | 1977 |
| Redbone | Come And Get Your Love | 1973 |
| U2 | One | 1991 |
| The Trammps | Disco Inferno | 1976 |
| Electric Light Orchestra | Sweet Talkin’ Woman | 1977 |
| Roxette | It Must Have Been Love | 1990 |
| The Four Seasons | December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) | 1975 |
| Tears For Fears | Shout | 1985 |
| Cat Stevens | Matthew And Son | 1967 |
| 10cc | Rubber Bullets | 1973 |
| A-ha | Take On Me | 1985 |
| Sweet | Fox On The Run | 1974 |
| Joe Cocker | You Are So Beautiful | 1974 |
| Icehouse | Great Southern Land | 1982 |
| 12pm | ||
| John Farnham / Human Nature | Everytime You Cry | 1997 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | Lookin’ Out My Back Door | 1970 |
| Tina Turner / Ike Turner | Nutbush City Limits | 1973 |
| Rick Springfield | Jessie’s Girl | 1981 |
| The Doors | Riders On The Storm | 1971 |
| Cutting Crew | (I Just) Died In Your Arms | 1986 |
| Foreigner | Cold As Ice | 1977 |
| Johnny Nash | I Can See Clearly Now | 1972 |
| Mondo Rock | Come Said The Boy | 1984 |
| Bill Withers | Ain’t No Sunshine | 1971 |
| Elton John | Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting | 1973 |
| Talking Heads | Road To Nowhere | 1985 |
| Billy Joel | She’s Always A Woman | 1977 |
| Kc And The Sunshine Band | Keep It Comin’ Love | 1977 |
| Fleetwood Mac | Everywhere | 1987 |
| Seal | Crazy | 1991 |
101.7 WSFM - Sydney, NSW
“Better Music & More Of It”
Friday 20th March 2020
| Artist | Song | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 9am | ||
| Roxette | Dressed For Success | 1988 |
| Lionel Richie | All Night Long (All Night) | 1983 |
| Soul Asylum | Runaway Train | 1992 |
| Johnny Hates Jazz | Shattered Dreams | 1987 |
| Michael Jackson | Smooth Criminal | 1987 |
| Cold Chisel | Khe Sanh | 1978 |
| Anastacia | Left Outside Alone | 2004 |
| Split Enz | Message To My Girl | 1983 |
| Richard Marx | Should’ve Known Better | 1987 |
| Spandau Ballet | True | 1983 |
| No Doubt | Just A Girl | 1995 |
| The Bangles | Manic Monday | 1986 |
| 10am | ||
| Billy Joel | The Longest Time | 1984 |
| Eagle-Eye Cherry | Save Tonight | 1997 |
| Phil Collins | Another Day In Paradise | 1989 |
| Billy Idol | White Wedding | 1982 |
| Amy Winehouse | Rehab | 2006 |
| INXS | I Send A Message | 1984 |
| Elton John | Your Song | 1970 |
| Eurythmics | When Tomorrow Comes | 1986 |
| Matthew Wilder | Break My Stride | 1983 |
| Bryan Adams | Summer Of '69 | 1985 |
| Goo Goo Dolls | Iris | 1998 |
| Dragon | Rain | 1983 |
| 11am | ||
| Dire Straits | Walk Of Life | 1985 |
| ABBA | The Winner Takes It All | 1980 |
| Queen W/ George Michael | Somebody To Love (live) | 1993 |
| Martika | Toy Soldiers | 1988 |
| Michael Jackson | Don’t Stop 'Til You Get Enough | 1979 |
| Bon Jovi | Wanted Dead Or Alive | 1986 |
| Missy Higgins | Scar | 2004 |
| Prince | When Doves Cry | 1984 |
| Crowded House | Something So Strong | 1987 |
| Robbie Williams | Angels | 1997 |
| The Cure | In Between Days | 1985 |
| 12pm | ||
| INXS | Need You Tonight | 1987 |
| Natalie Imbruglia | Torn | 1997 |
| Australian Crawl | Errol | 1981 |
| The Police | Every Breath You Take | 1983 |
| Pink | Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely) | 2006 |
| Eric Carmen | Hungry Eyes | 1987 |
| Bee Gees | Tragedy | 1979 |
| Jimmy Barnes | Driving Wheels | 1987 |
| Soft Cell | Tainted Love | 1981 |
| Roxette | Dangerous | 1989 |
| The Four Seasons | December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) (Ben Liebrand Remix) | 1993 |
| The Pretenders | Brass In Pocket | 1980 |
| The Bangles | Walk Like An Egyptian | 1986 |
As you can see above, the big difference between 2UE & WSFM is that the former plays far more from the 60s & 70s than the latter. In fact, during that time period, WS only plays one 70s song per hour, a long way from what it was around 7-8 years ago. In fact, WS sounds more like what Mix 106.5 was around 10-15 years ago, minus the little amount of 70s music.
In a way, 2UE/Magic/4BH is sounding a little bit like the Capital Radio Network’s “Forever Classic” stations (2CA, 2GN, XLFM, 3GG & 6iX), minus the announcers & ads.
6 Likes
It’s true 2UE/BH/Magic play more 60s and 70s but based on those lists I’m not loving it. 4KQ plays a much better variety of 60s and particularly 70s.
Based on those particular logs I’d prefer WS, albeit fewer ads and interruptions on 2UE.
UE/BH/Magic need to ease off the U2 as well.
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2UE is sounding a lot like the old WS from the “2WS FM” era 1993-01ish. Those Beatles, Meatloaf and Four Seasons tracks were once WS staples.
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I’ve noticed that Mr Inphase still plays them as ‘2WS tracks’.
Wish I could get 87.8 Penrith as they seem to run a deeper retro format; I can’t even get their website to work.
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I’m not at all surprised by that 
You might have better luck with 87.6 Kurrajong Heights if you can null out everything else. I found the audio quality a bit off putting though.
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Yeah will try that. Won’t help in a couple of days as I’ll be moving to Bungendore!
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Here’s a comparison of what my 2 most listened to community stations are doing during the day, when they all run a coherent music format. They all share a very similar format, and of course I am slightly biased to 3mFM.
I also used to listen on occasion to Seymour FM when they play automated music, but a lot of that is now country music instead. They aren’t very consistent in outputting data to Online Radio Box - mostly just their Sponsors/CSAs instead of music!
SWR Triple 9 (99.9FM Blacktown, NSW)
“70s To Now”
Program: Drive
Wednesday 18/03/2020 4-5pm
Birds Of Tokyo - TWO OF US
Hunters & Collectors - WHEN THE RIVER RUNS DRY
Arrested Development - MR WENDAL
Miley Cyrus - SLIDE AWAY
Keith Urban - SOMEBODY LIKE YOU
Survivor - EYE OF THE TIGER
Flume & Kai - NEVER BE LIKE YOU
Bloodhound Gang - THE BAD TOUCH
1927 - IF I COULD
Mark Williams - SHOW NO MERCY
Led Zeppelin - DYER MAKER
Bodyrockers - I LIKE THE WAY
Local Radio 3mFM (88.1FM Leongatha, VIC, 89.1FM Bass, VIC, 89.5FM Foster, VIC)
“Local People, Local Focus, Local Radio”
Program: Drivetime with Big John
Wednesday 18/03/2020 4-5pm
Gayle & Gillian - ALL MIXED UP
Atomic Kitten - THE LAST GOODBYE
Wet Wet Wet - WISHING I WAS LUCKY
Joel Adams - PLEASE DON’T GO
Robyn - DO YOU REALLY WANT ME (SHOW RESPECT)
The Tom Coulson Band - COUNTRY TO TOWN
Kiss - ROOM SERVICE
Olivia Newton-John & Billy Thorpe - BAD ABOUT YOU
The Beach Boys - SAIL ON SAILOR
Roxus - STAND BACK
Robert Palmer - BAD CASE OF LOVING YOU
Mike Oldfield & Maggie Riley - MOONLIGHT SHADOW
Meredith Brooks - BITCH
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Well you’ll need a bigger aerial then! Too bloody cold down there.
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3MFM makes SWR look comparatively safe. Bridge 99.7 in Brisbane has a similar day format also with more of a pre 00s focus.
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Yes true, but personally I prefer SWR. Format is much more consistent. At 3mFM we literally just have any old songs from the 70s-Now which StationPlaylist spits out during the day.
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I’m planning on getting set up down there. Raw 87.6 from Canberra is clearly received… 1 watt my you know what. There is nothing on 87.8 or 88.0 though, so a local LPON could be started up. There was one about a decade ago called ‘The Lake’.
And the cold is one of the reasons I’m moving :D. @tamago_otoko understands.
4 Likes
The logs for SCA stations no longer have old songs written in all caps.
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Given the above comment, let’s a look at the playlists of all the 5 aforementioned ARN-owned stations, taken from this morning.
WSFM - Sydney, NSW
“Better Music & More of It”
Wednesday 22nd April 2020 - 10am-12pm AEST
10am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| Toni Basil | Mickey |
| Chumbawamba | Tubthumping |
| Roxette | Listen To Your Heart |
| Split Enz | Six Months In A Leaky Boat |
| Colbie Caillat | Bubbly |
| INXS | New Sensation |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | One Love |
| Talking Heads | And She Was |
| Kim Carnes | Bette Davis Eyes |
| Seal | Crazy |
| The Go-Go’s | Our Lips Are Sealed |
| Powderfinger | These Days |
| Ray Parker Jr. | Ghostbusters |
11am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| Genesis | Invisible Touch |
| Nik Kershaw | Wouldn’t It Be Good |
| No Doubt | Just A Girl |
| Bee Gees | Tragedy |
| Martika | Toy Soldiers |
| Foreigner | I Want To Know What Love Is |
| Vance Joy | Riptide |
| Wham! | Wake Me Up Before You Go Go |
| Divinyls | Pleasure And Pain |
| Spandau Ballet | True |
| Jimmy Barnes | Ain’t No Mountain High Enough |
| Madonna | Papa Don’t Preach |
| Fleetwood Mac | Go Your Own Way |
Gold 104.3 - Melbourne, VIC
“Better Music & More Of It”
Wednesday 22nd April 2020 - 10am-12pm AEST
10am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| Icehouse | Love In Motion |
| Divinyls | Boys In Town |
| Mental As Anything | Too Many Times |
| Hunters & Collectors | Holy Grail |
| Richard Marx | Right Here Waiting |
| David Bowie | Space Oddity |
| Michael Jackson | Black Or White |
| Aerosmith / Run-D.M.C. | Walk This Way |
| Mr. Big | To Be With You |
| Glenn Frey | The Heat Is On |
| Kings Of Leon | Use Somebody |
11am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| Tears For Fears | Head Over Heels |
| U2 | All I Want Is You |
| Belinda Carlisle | Summer Rain |
| Van Halen | Why Can’t This Be Love |
| Elton John | Your Song |
| John Parr | St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) |
| The Human League | Don’t You Want Me |
| Jon Bon Jovi | Blaze Of Glory |
| Mr Mister | Broken Wings |
| AC/DC | You Shook Me All Night Long |
| Coldplay | Viva La Vida |
97.3FM - Brisbane, QLD
“Brisbane’s Widest Variety of Music”
Wednesday 22nd April 2020 - 10am-12pm AEST
10am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| Powderfinger | My Happiness |
| Justin Bieber / Quavo | Intentions |
| Lorde | Royals |
| Faith No More | Easy |
| Lauv | I Like Me Better |
| Prince | Raspberry Beret |
| Tones And I | Bad Child |
| Adele | Water Under The Bridge |
| Savage Garden | To The Moon And Back |
| Pink / Cash Cash | Can We Pretend? |
| INXS | Never Tear Us Apart |
| Shawn Mendes | There’s Nothing Holding Me Back |
| The Corrs | Breathless |
| Sam Smith / Normani | Dancing With A Stranger |
11am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| Gotye / Kimbra | Somebody That I Used To Know |
| Conan Gray | Maniac |
| Shaggy / Rayvon | Angel |
| Ed Sheeran / Beyonce | Perfect (Duet) |
| Meghan Trainor | All About That Bass |
| Don Henley | The Boys Of Summer |
| Post Malone | Circles |
| Blue | All Rise |
| DNCE | Cake By The Ocean |
| Sam Fischer / Luca Schreiner | This City |
| The Pointer Sisters | I’m So Excited |
| The Calling | Wherever You Will Go |
Mix 102.3 - Adelaide, SA
“Adelaide’s Widest Variety of Music”
Wednesday 22nd April 2020 - 10am-12pm ACST
10am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| Walk The Moon | Shut Up & Dance |
| Freya Ridings | Castles |
| Yazz | The Only Way Is Up |
| Green Day | Boulevard Of Broken Dreams |
| Pink | A Million Dreams |
| Stars on 54 | If You Could Read My Mind |
| 5 Seconds Of Summer | She Looks So Perfect |
| Lewis Capaldi | Before You Go |
| Bon Jovi | You Give Love A Bad Name |
| Colbie Caillat | Bubbly |
| Camila Cabello / Young Thug | Havana |
| Nirvana | About A Girl |
| Jason Derulo | Want To Want Me |
11am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| Calvin Harris / Sam Smith | Promises |
| Ed Sheeran | Thinking Out Loud |
| David Bowie / Mick Jagger | Dancing In The Street |
| The Weeknd | Blinding Lights |
| Jay Z / Alicia Keys | Empire State Of Mind |
| CDB | Let’s Groove |
| Vance Joy | Riptide |
| Meduza / Becky Hill / Goodboys | Lose Control |
| No Doubt | It’s My Life |
| Nik Kershaw | Wouldn’t It Be Good |
| A Great Big World / Christina Aguilera | Say Something |
| Bruno Mars | Just The Way You Are |
| Daryl Braithwaite | The Horses |
96fm - Perth, WA
“Real Music”
Wednesday 22nd April 2020 - 10am-12pm AWST
10am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| John Farnham | You’re The Voice |
| Counting Crows | Mr. Jones |
| Mondo Rock | Come Said The Boy |
| Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here |
| The Killers | Somebody Told Me |
| Fine Young Cannibals | Johnny Come Home |
| Eric Clapton | Layla [Live, MTV] |
| The Rolling Stones | Brown Sugar |
| Toto | Rosanna |
| Gary Moore | Still Got the Blues (For You) |
| Prince | 1999 |
| The Police | Can’t Stand Losing You |
| Rod Stewart | Young Turks |
| Nickelback | Photograph |
11am
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| The Angels | We Gotta Get Out Of This Place |
| The Doobie Brothers | Listen To The Music |
| Pearl Jam | Last Kiss |
| Icehouse | Crazy |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | Bad Moon Rising |
| Oasis | Wonderwall |
| Steve Winwood | Valerie |
| T. Rex | Get It On |
| The Style Council | You’re The Best Thing |
| Green Day | Boulevard Of Broken Dreams |
| Billy Joel | It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me |
| Joe Cocker | The Letter |
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Take 97.3 out the back and shoot it.
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Nirvana into Jason Derulo. Bloody hell.
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