100.5 The River flipped to Classic Hits this morning, as expected

[MWmetalhead]

https://rivergrandrapids.com/playlist

It is surreal seeing "When I Come Around" by Green Day on a WTRV music log!

The playlist does not match 101.7 Duluth or 102.5 Ft. Collins / Greeley, so at least in some dayparts, WTRV appears to be using a station specific log.

Voiceovers are from Dan Kelly, the same V/O artist WFGR previously used. New positioner is "Grand Rapids' Greatest Hits."

[statmanmi]

Happy Holidays MW, and to All of Us!

You beat me to making this entry, as I tuned in 100.5 during my commute in this morning. A few other observations from me:

Most sounders I heard stated fully "Grand Rapids' Greatest Hits 100.5 The River". Even the DJ still expressed 100.5 The River, and referenced the website rivergrandrapids.com. Thus, the branding isn't dropping The River tagline.

DJ stated, "I'm Wendy Reed, in for Andy Rent." That seems to answer the question one raised in the other thread if this would bring about Andy's retirement--apparently not.

I too heard Green Day. Also Bruce Hornsby, Prince and (best of all for me!) Roxette. (Fond memories of my seeing the duo live at Fox Theatre Detroit decades ago--RIP Marie.)

The one hiccup I heard occurring at both 7:30 and 8am was that the recorded news segment from Elliot Grandia of FOX 17 was from Christmas Eve morning, with more than one reference to it being the Eve. Might cause some embarrassment that the topic with the longest blurb was on the closing times for various stores such as Sam's Club and Meijer "this evening". Oh well.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

[MWmetalhead]

Happy holidays to you as well!

I figured The River as a brand name would be staying put. That brand name has been in place since the late 90s; it's been in use longer than Star 105.7.

Playlist is about 80 percent 1980s, 15 percent 1990s and 5 percent "other."

It is straight down the middle of the pop music lane. No classic rock lean. Very minor music overlap with 101.3; the two stations sound very different musically.

I personally think 101.3 screwed up by mostly staying in the 70s lane.

Classic Hits stations without jingles sound half empty to me. I'd love to hear The River use one of the late 80s vintage Z100 or Kiss FM packages.

[ftballfan]

Several classic hits stations use The River as a brand name (see Atlanta)

[MWmetalhead]

That one is classic hits in name only.

Look at WSRV's playlist; it is straight up classic rock.

You are nonetheless correct. The River is indeed used on several classic hits stations.

[48125er]

I hope theyll be back at playing songs other stations havent played in years

I noticed 95.7 has barely any new songs now.

[MWmetalhead]

I prefer WTRV's playlist to WOMC.

[MWmetalhead]

I've concluded that the playlist after several days of sampling definitely leans Gold AC.

I'm actually a bit surprised by how little guitar driven classic rock product is included. One would think TSQ would want to use both 97.9 and 100.5 to put the squeeze on WLAV.

Instead, TSQ seems to be striking a balance between what WTRV previously played (before it became a near clone of WFMK about a year ago) and what WFGR previously played. It sounds pretty good, in my opinion. Heck, I used to write about how the two stations were too close to one another musically and that one should be merged into the other.

I also have a feeling the first full survey period for 98.7 as a sports station will be a disaster. I'll predict a 0.8 share.

[TheGadgetGuy]

It's just the national TSQ classic hits log. The music matches WSHK in New Hampshire. 102.5 in Ft Collins also uses the same log, but there's a timezone difference between them and WTRV.

[MWmetalhead]

You are right! I took a look after reading your post. I do see now the log matches the New Hampshire station.

[craigrussell100]

Totally agree with MW...the station is missing something.

"Classic Hits stations without jingles sound half empty to me. I'd love to hear The River use one of the late 80s vintage Z100 or Kiss FM packages."

As the person who was responsible for putting said jingles on WFGR in the summer of 2012, the new incarnation sounds very bland. I listened for about 20 minutes one night last week. Recorded Liner, song. Recorded Liner, song. Recorded Liner, song. Recorded Liner, song. Recorded Liner, song. *yawn*

Just very lifeless. For reference, here is some audio of FGR back in the day...2014 to be exact. When the station had a pulse.

[48125er]

Totally agree with MW...the station is missing something.

"Classic Hits stations without jingles sound half empty to me. I'd love to hear The River use one of the late 80s vintage Z100 or Kiss FM packages."

As the person who was responsible for putting said jingles on WFGR in the summer of 2012, the new incarnation sounds very bland. I listened for about 20 minutes one night last week. Recorded Liner, song. Recorded Liner, song. Recorded Liner, song. Recorded Liner, song. Recorded Liner, song. *yawn*

Just very lifeless. For reference, here is some audio of FGR back in the day...2014 to be exact. When the station had a pulse.

I loved how the jingles of 2011-19ish stretched out words like serrrrrving west mich or andy aaaaand daaaave or when @andymuskegon was solo was andy ohhhhhh riileeee

[MWmetalhead]

It seems 101.3 is continuing to add more 80s songs to its mix.

60s songs, which as recently as a couple years ago represented maybe 40% of 101.3's playlist, today account for maybe 15%.

70s by far is most represented decade on the station and likely accounts for about 70% of spins.

Songs from the 80s account for about 15%, but I've noticed variability hour to hour.

I cannot help but wonder if 101.3 would consider a return to classic rock given its recent lackluster ratings.

The way the station speeds up its music is obnoxious. It sounds worse than ever, even on the stream. Which clown thought this was a good idea?

[radioandtventhusiast]

It seems 101.3 is continuing to add more 80s songs to its mix.

60s songs, which as recently as a couple years ago represented maybe 40% of 101.3's playlist, today account for maybe 15%.

70s by far is most represented decade on the station and likely accounts for about 70% of spins.

Songs from the 80s account for about 15%, but I've noticed variability hour to hour.

I cannot help but wonder if 101.3 would consider a return to classic rock given its recent lackluster ratings.

The way the station speeds up its music is obnoxious. It sounds worse than ever, even on the stream. Which clown thought this was a good idea?

Star 105.7 does the same thing by speeding up the music.

[MWmetalhead]

WLHT has adopted the speed-up-the-music gimmick in a major way.

I thought the way the station did it in the early/mid 2010s sounded good. What they're doing now goes beyond that and does not sound good. They need to fix their milquetoast imaging, fix their boring music, and fix their boring air talent if they want improved ratings. The excessively pitched music makes the station sound worse, not better.

As for 100.5, they are still using the same audio processing as the prior AC format. It sounds too wimpy for classic hits. I've heard worse, though.