'Mix' Up; 'Ben' In
Another day, another radio-station format change. Yesterday the bland, inoffensive, top 40 station Mix 95.7 gave way to Ben-FM, which thus far has delivered a scattered, all-over-the-place playlist that's a bit, well, jarring. We're talking Guns 'n' Roses and Rick James back-to-back. Then Jewel followed by Hall and Oates. Then ... well, you get the idea. The thing is, the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach, as scattered as it may seem, is by design. Referring to the new station's "anything-goes format," the Inquirer's Michael Klein writes:
"We have the freedom to play anything we want," said John Fullam, v.p. and market manager of station owner Greater Media. ...Ben is similar to the growing "Jack" and "Bob" formats, which use an expansive song list.
Ben promises familiar songs spanning 30 years by artists as diverse as No Doubt, Men at Work, Jimmy Buffett, Boston and the Bee Gees.
Uh, the "'Bob' format"?
Um...the "Jack" format?
I wrote about BenFM earlier today.
Also, checked with the good people at GoDaddy, who told me that in addition to the domain mapping that TypePad told me to do, I have to set up forwarding. Go fig.
Posted by: Jeff "Moose" | Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at 11:30 PM
Perhaps not coincidentally, DC's adult contemporary station, Mix 107.3, just ditched its Top 40 format in favor of a more eclectic selection, allegedly all from idiot morning guy Jack Diamond's iPod. Not sure how long it will last, but so far it's been pretty good. Or, at least, better than it usually is. Deliver us from John Mayer....
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 09:29 AM
The Ben/Jack/Bob format does have its moments, but for every "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range, you have to sit through "The Electric Slide" -- no, really. Time will tell, I guess, but for now it's harmless enough.
Posted by: Tom | Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 10:45 AM
"Ben promises familiar songs spanning 30 years by artists as diverse as No Doubt, Men at Work, Jimmy Buffett, Boston and the Bee Gees."
Uh, sorry but in their time, all these artists were "top 40" artists. there's nothing really new or imaginative about this mix, it just sounds like pre-clear channel same-old to me. what's next, "blister in the sun" by the violent femmes? wow!
Posted by: gr | Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 12:14 PM
[coughs]xmradio[coughs]
Posted by: Tom G | Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 09:59 PM
I happened to scroll over to 95.7 by chance one day...and I havent changed the station yet.... its in my house ...its in my car ...and its while i work...great concept....i love it ...ive heared songs i havent heared in 30 years...then ....songs i heared yesterday....I LOVE IT!
Posted by: steve | Saturday, March 26, 2005 at 01:54 PM