Overall I know it varies from city to city. Who is the target audience? Is it females or males? Professional or non-professional? Early 30's, Mid 30's or early 40's?
It seems most Urban AC's will exclude hip-hop and rap although most adults grew up listening to rap. When you are an adult do you all of a sudden get tired of listening to the hip-hop of your generation? I find it interesting that some Urban AC's will play currents with edited out rap versions of songs. I think the Tom Joyner morning show is an example of Urban Contemporary radio. But it seems that many Urban AC's that carry TJMS; instead of programming music like TJMS they program their version and vision of Urban Adult contemporary music?
By the way, How does the Soul 106.3 in Chicago sound? Any reports? What's their playlist like?
Posts: 73 | From: Delaware (A little closer to Philly than BMore) | Registered: Dec 2003
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The Urban AC here in Columbus Magic 98.9 can really be called Urban Oldies even though they consider themselves AC.
They do cary Tom Joyner but after that the mix is like 90% oldies 10% current. With the promotion of Warren Stevens to PD i hope he hires more jocks for on air and make the playlist more current.
That is how the AC is defined here.
Posts: 15 | From: Ohio | Registered: May 2004
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What I hear you saying is that Urban AC needs more currents. I think that Urban AC program directors program to a commuter and at work audience. I see a gap between R&B/Hip-hop stations at one end and the Urban AC's (which really are just oldies stations) at the other end.
The Columbus station sounds very much like Radio One's Majic 95.9 and 102.3 in Balt.and DC with TJMS and oldies the rest of the day.
Posts: 73 | From: Delaware (A little closer to Philly than BMore) | Registered: Dec 2003
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Personally, I prefer the distance between Urban Contemporary-Hip-Hop stations and Urban AC’s or Urban Oldies. All to often radio formats are targeted for younger audiences because they pull in the most money. This leaves very few options for the more mature listeners who prefer not to listen to hip-hop and today’s hip-hop influenced, often sampled R&B. However, the urban AC's I hear streaming over the internet seem to have a pretty good mix of curents and oldies. Anyway to answer your question, try this, this, and this for sample definitions. Hope this helps.
Posts: 203 | From: Richmond (Houston), Texas | Registered: Oct 1999
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During the days when Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson and Anita Baker were on current R&B charts, there was room for currents hits on Urba AC station. However, due to the lack of good quality current R&B music, I don't think there is any room for currents on Urban AC stations. It seems that 98 percent of the current hits of today contain sexual perverted lyrics. For a black adult that works for a living, has a family, owns a home and cares for his community, sexual perverted programming does not represent a brother or sister in this category.
If current hits are going to be played on Urban AC radio, then there should be room for other formats such as Classic Soul and Black Talk radio. It doesn't make any sense on the losing trend of black talk radio and the complete vanishing of the Classic Soul format. The black population spending power in 2003 was 686 Billion Dollars and not all these dollars were spent on the hip hop lifestyle. Thanks to the media representation of blacks, (including today's urban radio stations) many advertisers and companies do not realize consumer power of the black community. I am striving to be the citizen that Yah has called me to be so I won't be discouraged in this crooked society.
Posts: 145 | Registered: Aug 2002
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I like the Urban AC's (KJLH, WHUR) I hear streaming over the internet also. Mature listeners in any city would enjoy those stations. There is a format called Urban AC out there that really is Urban oldies in most cities. There's a station in Atlanta I believe that might be given the term "Hot Urban AC". But I don't think that's what mature listeners are looking for. On the other hand I don't think 90% oldies and 10% currents are what they are looking for either.
Posts: 73 | From: Delaware (A little closer to Philly than BMore) | Registered: Dec 2003
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I believe there is quality R&B type music out there. In the Neo-Soul and inspirational genres. I could even see an artist like Norah Jones being acceptable on a true Urban AC format along with classics from Phyllis Hyman and Minnie Riperton.
Posts: 73 | From: Delaware (A little closer to Philly than BMore) | Registered: Dec 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Remnant: During the days when Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson and Anita Baker were on current R&B charts, there was room for currents hits on Urba AC station. However, due to the lack of good quality current R&B music, I don't think there is any room for currents on Urban AC stations. It seems that 98 percent of the current hits of today contain sexual perverted lyrics. For a black adult that works for a living, has a family, owns a home and cares for his community, sexual perverted programming does not represent a brother or sister in this category.
If current hits are going to be played on Urban AC radio, then there should be room for other formats such as Classic Soul and Black Talk radio. It doesn't make any sense on the losing trend of black talk radio and the complete vanishing of the Classic Soul format. The black population spending power in 2003 was 686 Billion Dollars and not all these dollars were spent on the hip hop lifestyle. Thanks to the media representation of blacks, (including today's urban radio stations) many advertisers and companies do not realize consumer power of the black community. I am striving to be the citizen that Yah has called me to be so I won't be discouraged in this crooked society.
I couldn't agree with you more,Remnant here's my take on what urban ac is to me:
"Rhythmic oldies" Nicknamed jammin' oldies, this format is relatively new in the radio format world. Play lists found on stations with this format include urban oldies, Motown hits, and a number of upbeat disco and dance retro hits of the late 60's 70's, 80's and early 90's also, this format slows down it's playlist at night with a "QuiteStorm" Classic Soul Love/Slow Jams format now that's what a GOOD Urban AC format should be, but many are not even close to sounding anything like this, and sadly I find that to be just "ashame" it is very important to keep the history of Black Music ALIVE!!!
Posts: 54 | From: Albuquerque, NM | Registered: Jan 2004
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