Yesterday 96.1FM made some changes. Instead of playing guitar-driven rock catering to young males, the station is now playing a much more diverse playlist of somewhat softer rock songs. For example, the last 10 songs they played were:

• “Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd
• “Tempted” – Squeeze
• “Black Betty” – Ram Jam
• “Born In the U.S.A.” – Bruce Springsteen
• “What It’s Like” – Everlast
• “Highway to Hell” – AC/DC
• “Beautiful Day” – U2
• “Something To Believe In” – Poison
• “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” – Blue Oyster Cult
• “Selling the Drama” – Live

One thing the entire extended playlist has in common is that the songs are all more than 10 years old. While this is a more varied mix that isn’t likely to repeat songs ad nauseum during the workday (eg. Adele, The Script, Train), these are songs that have been played and played and played and played and played. This isn’t an assault on “Alternative”. It’s an assault on anything remotely creative.

Curtis Media Group also has rebranded the station to “Radio 96.1”. While it isn’t a major shift in format, it is a big enough change to warrant new branding.

What makes no sense…NO SENSE, however is the dismissal of Bob The Blade, a great personality in this market for, what, almost three decades now? If we have to endure “Don’t Fear the Reaper” for the 80,000th time, at least do it with a personality that so many people enjoy like a sibling. He was one of the bright spots in a dismal, embarrassing radio market.

If Curtis Media and Clear Channel controlled the production of food and restaurant menus, we would still be eating Pot Roast, Hamburgers, and Hot Dogs. We are one of the best places to live in America, but it surely isn’t a result of local radio’s work.