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P..rammRADIOPROMOTIONSNETWORKS SYNDICATIONAIRWAVESMUSIC VIDEOVIDEO MONITOR WLIR Raises Modern Roch Issues Is L.I. Outlet Too Pop Or A Champion Of '80s -Style Alternative? This story was prepared by Airplay exact fit there either. Many modern he says. "It's an exciting time again. Monitor's Marc Schiffman and ACs played Eiffel 65's "Blue" but There's a sense of adventure in my Sean Ross. haven't gone nearly as far into dance programming that alternative should music as WLIR. And there are still embrace and not penalize." Was Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" some records indigenous to the mod- The litmus test for what to play is a modern rock record? Is Alice Dee - ern chart that a modern AC wouldn't "tough," according to Cee. "The music jay's "Better Off Alone "? Sonique's yet play-for exam- can be so enigmatic. It's not going "It Feels So Good "? ple, Filter's "The back to the days of disco," he insists. Those are just a few of the dance WLIR Best Things." It is more of a Europop flavor that he's titles that have drawn industry atten- And there's a looking for; a modern feel that other The Beautiful People. Real -life couple Nick Lachey of 98° and Jessica Simp- tion, not all of it friendly, to modern 92.7 considerable programmers have perhaps forgotten. son recently performed their hit duet "Where You Are" at the Ziegfield Theater in rock WLIR Long Island, N.Y., in library of'80s retro "We can't let this format turn into New York for the premiere of "Here On Earth," which features the track in its end recent weeks. Besides the addition of that wouldn't be hard rock /heavy metal for the year credits. Top 40 WHTZ (Z100) New York gave away listener passes to the event, more dance music -usually titles with heard on most modern ACs, often 2000," he says. while one winner prowled the red carpet with Z100 assistant PD Paul "Cubby" some trance or techno aspect -WLIR because they'd never crossed pop. Modern rock has long been an in- Bryant to interview the stars. Shown, from left, are Lachey, Bryant, and Simpson. has also raised eyebrows by sitting out And some WLIR oldies are songs that tegral place for labels to try out new many harder titles and adding songs are known only to the audience that's music. "Why not have a test ground such as Savage Garden's "Crash And been with the station since the '80s- of an alternative station like an 'FNX wagon -what difference does it and reaction was negative. "We know Burn" that would normally be the e.g., "When I Feel This Way" or to break down the barriers ?" asks make ?" he asks. "You could make the immediately, but at least we try" province of modern AC or top 40, but "Shoot You Down" by APB. Jive national director of rock formats argument that [WLIR is] on the van- And at KTCL Denver -another not modern rock. Some label reps, particularly those Lorraine Caruso. "Otherwise, we'd guard of alternative," in which he also longtime supporter of rock /dance, In some ways, WLIR's recent for- whose hard -rockin' modern chart hits be releasing rock records and noth- includes rock /rap KFNK (Funky albeit usually the harder stuff-PD E ays into dance are similar to those of aren't being played on WLIR, point to ing else. Within all formats, there Monkey 104.9) Seattle. Poff has seen enough reaction to other heritage modern outlets, in- the dance music and Savage Garden are stations that are fringe and add One thing a playlist can't show, stream a separate electronica channel cluding WFNX Boston and KTCL and say that WLIR can't possibly be a to the flavor of the panel that makes Leeds says, is the context in which on KTCL's Web site. Denver. Like WLIR, those stations modern rock station anymore. the format." these songs are played. He says WKQX (Q101) date back to the era when Depeche But PD Gary Cee says that WLIR Universal senior VP of promotion there's much music shared between Chicago assistant Mode, New Order, and Pet Shop Boys hasn't changed format; everybody Steve Leeds is also a supporter of modern rock and album rock stations, PD /music director were core acts and when one -off dance else has. While modern rock and WLIR, despite the fact that it is a but there's no problem there. "The li- Mary Shuminas records like M/A /R/R /S' "Pump Up active rock have morphed together, holdout on several of his label's big- brary is going to be different, but so says Q101 is very The Volume" were also common fare. WLIR is doing what made the station gest records, including ones from is the presentation," Leeds says. careful about which In recent years, however, most one of the format's cornerstones 15 Godsmack and 3 Doors Down. "If A survey of other PDs, including rhythmic titles it dance records that got played at mod- years ago. "When alternative began, you're truly alternative, you play some who've been in modern since the picks. It plays very ern ACs, from such acts as Prodigy it wasn't just guitars," says Cee -it the unpredictable," he says. Leeds, Depeche/Pet Shop era, found most of few, but when it and Fatboy Slim, have had some rock was also keyboard -based. who notes that them sympathetic to some dance FRAM does, she says, "the credentials. Records like "Blue" or Cee traces his station's latest evo- Ace Of Base actu- music -although few were willing to good thing about Basement Jaxx's "Rendez-Vu" repre- lution to WLIR's Saturday night ally started in the go as far as WLIR. the rhythmic stuff is, demowise, it sent another level of the electronica dance parties. When Andre Ferro U.S. at KROQ Los WFNX PD Cruze says the true spreads from low end to upper end." boom, because while they might be plays tracks from William Orbit, Bob Angeles, believes modern rock fan thrives on variety. It all gets back to modern's mission, cool dance records in the '80s modern Marley Vs. Funkstar De Luxe, Groove there's a hidden "They have a tendency to embrace the says Poff. Modern has always brought tradition, they don't seem to have the Armada, or Alice Deejay, "the place snobbishness at dancey side and the rock side." As underground movements closer to the same edgy connection to a Korn song goes nuts." work. "If 'LIR was does WLIR's Cee, Cruze thinks the mainstream. It happened when early that one from Chemical Brothers So Cee tried Eyes Cream's "Fly playing Tricky, gender mix is an issue. He works a '90s punk hit the air via Green Day; might. Away (Bye Bye)," a European hit that LEEDS there'd be no dis- roughly equal male/female balance. now people who have heard about All of which has the industry won- samples Sylvester's "(You Make Me cussion," but since WNNX (99X) Atlanta PD Leslie raves can experience them through dering, What is WLIR? It's not main- Feel) Mighty Real," in his nightly these are tracks with pop potential, Fram is also constantly surprised at Fatboy Slim and Moby. stream top 40. Despite the consider- make- it -or- break -it feature and got some of which have already come to how "musically savvy our listeners "If they're all hits and they're all able dance component, there's no massive instant phone reaction. That fruition, people are up in arms. are, purchasing music from one working, you can play almost anything straight -ahead R &B music or boy helped spur Alice Deejay, Marley/ "Commercial pop stations like extreme to another." She also says she next to almost anything else," Shumi- bands or Celine Dion. Funkstar, and others into rotation. [WHTZ (Z100) NewYork] and WFLZ is open to dance, although, she notes, nas says. "We tend to program to It's closer to modern AC, but not an "We're going in the right direction," [Tampa, Fla.] hopped on the band- "we tried Eiffel 65 for one weekend" demo and not to sound." The Radio Power Book 2000 contains all the The power of information to make your job easier. Locate Thousands of Listings in a Snap: information... Comprehensive listings of radio stations in all 15 formats covered by Airplay Monitor Consultants: Complete Label Promotion Directory Arbitron Ratings and History for Top 125 Markets BDS and How It Works right at your Order your copy now for S105 (plus S6 shipping and handling) by calling 1- 800 -344-7119. Fax your order to (732) 363 -0338 or mail this ad with payment to: Billboard Directories, P.O. Box 2016, Lakewood, NJ 08701 Please add appropriate sales tax in NY, NJ, PA, CA, TN, MA, IL. OH. VA & DC. fingertips! Orders payable in U.S. funds only. All sales are final. www.billboard.com BDPB3169 BILLBOARD MAY 20. 2000 www.billboard.com 105 www.americanradiohistory.com.

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