80's on American Top 20

[BrettVW]

In the last week or so, one of my Hot AC's, WKDD/Akron, eliminated 80's from their playlist. Last summer, another one of my Hot AC's, WQAL/Cleveland flipped from "80's, 90's, and Now" simply to "90's and Now". This leaves our third Hot AC, WMVX/Cleveland, playing 80's (and they still do focus heavily on them)

Up here at college, the sole Hot AC, WXXO/Meadville & WOXX/Franklin, does have a *bit* of 80's, as well as an 80's Lunch Hour (although it is not totally 80's for the hour)

All around the country, the 80's are slowly fading, and Hot AC's are becoming more "90's and Now" sounding.

Consequently, I noticed on this past weekend's American Top 20, only 3 extras/big hits from the past were from the 80's. Generally I would say half of the extras/big hits from the past are 80's. Is AT20 slowly phasing out the 80's extras as well, or was this past weekend just a fluke?

[Deleted]

don't know, we will have to wait and see over time.

Our Hot AC station is still an "80's, 90's, and today" station. And still heavily emphasizes the 80's, although I am sure in 2010 they will change to "90's, 00's, and today" as that is what they did in 2000, they used to be "70's, 80's and today."

[Scott Lakefield]

My guess is "not yet." There's still some demand for 80s songs, and many of the stations Casey runs down on the show each week include the 80s in their station slogans.

[Michael1973]

The trend continues. Almost all of the extras on the 4/9/05 show were from the last 5 years.

[BrettVW]

I counted Manic Monday, Come On Eileen, and Don't Dream It's Over as the only 3 80's songs. And 2 of those 3 were during the optional segments.

[BrettVW]

This week brought several 80's, and one 1979 smash onto the countdown. I personally thought this weeks show was one of the best in a while in terms of good, diverse (in terms of era) extras and some great storys (like the Book of Records and the Ryan Cabrera story that preceeded True)

Even though some stations are eliminating 80's, I still think AT20 should keep them. Makes the show sound better, and even those stations that don't play 80's still don't mind spinning them when they are on AT20.

[Scott Lakefield]

BrettVW said:

Even though some stations are eliminating 80's, I still think AT20 should keep them. Makes the show sound better, and even those stations that don't play 80's still don't mind spinning them when they are on AT20.

While I agree that AT20 sounds better with the 80s songs on it (I just listened to the 4/2 show, which seemed to feature more than the usual amount of them), AT20 has to take its cue from its affiliate stations in this day and age. Gone are the days when stations just thought it was cool to be airing a national countdown show hosted by Casey Kasem. It's all about "Gee, will our listeners listen to this music?" If the songs on AT20 aren't what the station is usually playing, then the answer in the mind of the programmers is "no." I don't agree with this rationale, but that seems to be the mode in radio now. My hope is that radio's attempts to compete with satellite and Ipods will change this trend.

[svoigt]

This week (5/1/05) there was played even an early 70´s song on AT20 (John Lennon´s "Imagine" from 1971). Definitely the oldest song I have heard on the HAC-Version of the show since quite a while. Quite astonishing, because in the last weeks old songs from the "Book Of Records"-categorie were not played on AT20, only on AT10.

I´m not sure if it fits to the programme to play a song that is nearly 35 years old.

[BrettVW]

I too was shocked they actually played Imagine on AT20. But I was thrilled - wonder if the Hot AC PD's were as well.

And this weekends show was chock full of 80's. Glad to see them back.

[BrettVW]

After several weeks of shows with lots of 80's, this week's show only featured 2 extras from the 80's. Most everything was within the last few years.

[Deleted]

While AT20 is the still the last Countdown show I listen to every week, I make sure I hear it on Thursdays for that reason. I dont need any recent garbage ruining my Friday mornings. Friday morning is now reserved for only Backtrax USA 80's and 90's.

[Topay]

This thread got me thinking: Did Casey play 70s on a regular basis back in the 90s on AT20 (and Casey's Hot 20)? Nowadays, he starts AT20 saying "...plus your LDD's and hot hits from the 80s and 90s". Did he say "hot hits from the 70s and 80s" back in the 90s?

[Deleted]

my guess would be yes, but I never heard the show back then so I personally would have no way of knowing for sure.

[Michael1973]

Yes, Casey used to play the occasional 70's song on AT20 (he still does, but it's rare). If there was a 70's song included in a particular show, he would allude to it in the opening credits.

In fact, I seem to remember him doing an entire show filled exclusively with 1970's extras. I think it was done to tie in with a 1970's themed TV movie that was running that weekend. Anybody remember this?

[Deleted]

no, but I would love to know what 1970's TV themed movie was such a big deal it was a.) thmed on the show and b.)probably paid to be such.