The Active Rock Format
 

Hi guys
I'm going to be interning in the spring at 93.3 WMMR, Philadelphia's Active Rock Station, in their music department and I want to ask the rock music fans about how they feel about the active rock format. What do you like? What don't you like? What artists should these stations be playing? What shouldn't they be playing?

Hey, it might be helpful to explain exactly what "active rock" is. For those that aren't inside the radio business.

Play more Clutch.

From Wikipedia:Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays the popularly demanded new and recent hard rock and heavy metal and some alternative rock songs.

An active rock station may include songs by classic rock artists due to popular demand whereas an alternative rock station would not (e.g., Boston, Thin Lizzy). Conversely, unlike classic rock stations, an active rock station also plays music by popular demand of new and recent hard rock and heavy metal artists, which are also usually absent from modern rock radio playlists (e.g., Nothing More, Islander). Active rock station playlists may often include some popular alternative rock and punk rock songs that have crossed over from modern rock radio (e.g., Awolnation, The Gaslight Anthem).

Since the 2010s, active rock radio started being more diverse. During its rise in popularity during the early 2010s, the Hot Topic artists catalog is one of the most popular themes on active rock radio with many artists making high carting success (e.g. Motionless in White, Of Mice & Men). With the movement starting sometime in the mid-2010s, the active rock radio format now plays a type of hard rock/post-grunge leaning of indie rock music, (often known as "post-indie"); some bands with this movement sometimes cross over to modern rock radio, but others may not (e.g. Royal Blood, Beware of Darkness). Another popular genre for the mid-2010s is Djent (a combination of Progressive Metal and Experimental Metal), which is commonly recognized as the most popular metal genre for that time and still is today (e.g. Periphery, Veil of Maya).

Similar to active rock stations, mainstream rock stations play current rock music, but emphasize classic rock songs more than current rock songs.

Stations such as 93.3 WMMR and WIYY in Baltimore would qualify

So you're basically here to advertise your station?

No, I'm here to discuss the format. There's rock stations all over the country and I need to see what people think of the active rock format as a whole

Okay, here's a suggestion: play better music. I vomited in my mouth a few times just reading this.

Okay, did I miss something or did you just contradict yourself? First you said this:
and then this
So, basically, you just play rock like any other rock station? Or do I just not get it? The first quote I was nodding, understanding but then the second one seemed to undermine that idea...

I want a rock radio station that doesn't just play what's popular. Popular does not translate to, equate to, or mean 'good' music. Radio stations thrive so to speak, on the popular bands, it gets more listeners tuning in and keeps the station active. The problem is that radio in general only seems concerned about playing the popular music. I don't see any interest to play good music. I see that as a big issue, and it's the reason why I don't listen to the radio in the first place. Sure, I listen to Of Mice & Men. But they're not what I'd want to hear played. Why not play CKY, or more Clutch as mentioned by Plankton, or even some Killing Joke, or Nick Cave, music that is actually good and not bullsh*t.

Call it the fault of your every day casual music listener that isn't concerned with music one could be immersed in, or substantial music with a point to it. There's a whole other breed of music listeners that I am a part of that is more or less ignored, we're people that appreciate music, music that isn't dictated by the demands of a label and what a band or artist is told they should cater to in order to get radio play or noticed. These are all things that radio just seems to have no interest in. So take that to your radio station so they get a bit of a reality check that people like me don't want to hear their bullsh*t 'music' over and over again, give some attention to bands and artists that give a sh*t about what they're doing. No more cheesy a$$ Nickelback, but like that will ever happen, no more 3 Doors Down clones, as much as I hate to say it because I like the band, I've heard enough Chevelle as well, we could all do with less Nirvana clones like Seether, please move away from the overplayed Weezer, they had their day in the sun, but they're overblown, heard enough Slipknot, Godsmack, Stone Sour. People listen to that stuff, but it isn't the sh*t I want to hear.

To be fair, if radio stations didn't play popular music, it would turn away the casual music listener. That's likely a big part of their listener base so they stand to lose a lot of money by stepping out of the box.

Yeah, I know man...but the music I hear...revolting. Suppose it wouldn't be fair to those casual listeners so, point goes to you on that...point.

Even Nine Inch Nails? :D

F*ck you, but yes.

Here are some suggestions you could play...

No god damn chance to any of those, aside from Kesha but you put her there for sh*ts and giggles.

I put them all there for ****s and giggles. Of course, if I was a DJ, I'd definitely slip in a solid half hour of grindcore/powerviolence on the day I quit.

I'd be the only guy left on that dance floor, moshing in my own little world.