|
The Straight Skinny
Reinventing Wave Music To relax is human; to unwind, divine
By Carol Archer |
|
Hearing at 7a.m. what is arguably the slowest ballad, ever -- "Unforgettable" -- makes me want to run back to bed, not get up and go. This, and other drag-y tunes, sound incongruous, and they are an obstacle that undermine morning co-host Pat Prescott's dynamic on-air presentation, natural energy and formidable chops. By contrast, KIFM/San Diego PD/morning host Mike Vasquez takes a more appropriate approach, playing distinctly upbeat songs that match listeners' moods in the morning.
Got Flavor? The Wave increasingly emphasizes the same high-testing, ancient vocal gold that is a staple of other formats. Thank God for smooth jazz instrumentals that distinguishes The Wave. Kaye might consider incorporating library songs in a spice category, somewhat in the spirit of CBS FM's "Mellow Sound" of the '70s, that make people reach for the dial to crank the volume. Innumerable compelling choices exist across multiple genres: beloved, but un-mined classic jazz; Motown and Verve's remixes (Dinah Washington's ""Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (My Baby?);" blues; a plethora of Hidden Beach tracks; live versions, album cuts by instantly recognizable artists; and offbeat choices for jocks to set-up and put into context, as Vasquez does. But the issue that most needs immediate attention is music scheduling, which, sorry to say, is a train wreck. Every element of a radio station's presentation must excel, but nothing creates a riveting musical ambiance more than an artfully crafted set. Long music sweeps offer an incomparable opportunity to weave a sonic tapestry that goes somewhere, tells a story, take listeners on a journey. I am not referring to tempo-codes -- ballad into mid-tempo into up- and vice-versa -- that sound like Selector, not theater-of-the-mind. You hear well-executed segues on The Wave -- all props to its amazing air staff -- but not mindful flow: you know, a vibe-y, thematic; tempo- and key-matched; compatible blend of music powerful enough to propel ordinary radio to the stratosphere. It's an art. Creating those wondrous sets takes ears, ears and hands on the music logs -- as well as time and time-management -- surely ever-dwindling resources in today's consolidated environment, and a tall order. I was shocked recently to hear Mick Hucknall's "Further On Up The Road" twice in 35 minutes, and two Sade library tracks 30 minutes apart in the same hour. Supposedly, Selector has safeguards -- sound codes, minimum separation rules and separations on specific dense artists (notably Sade); so, what does inattention to such music programming basics say? To me, it says F-11.
|