Alan Cross' new job

TLEJ · Post by **TLEJ** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:04 am

Well, CFNY (ooops) THE EDGE...still sounds exactly the same....Glorified Top 40 repetitive crap!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:32 pm

"You've captured The Spirit Of Radio. Some people in this thread don't have a clue and it's made obvious from the junk they spew out here. They think the station over the last 16 years has been just fine and is wonderful today. You people are a joke."

The station today has higher ratings than it ever did in it's "Spirit" days. It probably makes more money as well. Yes, that's only one way to measure a station's success, by the number of ears it reaches. The fact that it reaches more ears now than ever before says something. It's also the way that Corus (and any other corporate owner evaluates success).

How do you evaluate a station's success (such as CFNY's Spirit days)? I don't ask this in an attempt to prove a point. I also don't want to start the venim spewing either. I'm just curious. What made the Spirit of Radio so successful compared to the Edge today (or CHUM-FM for that matter)?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:34 pm

Calling people "a joke" is not the sign of a well-made or persuasive arguement, by the way. Keep that crap of this board and let's keep it rational and well thought-out like 99% of the messages here.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:44 pm

The Spirit's programming philosophy was unique. That made it enjoyable to listen to. It was a success in that it didn't play by the rules and managed to do this for a decade in a mass market. The Edge can get higher ratings because it plays it safe. You and I could program the station these days. The Spirit was creative. It took imagination and having a different perspective from the norm. It's really too bad a lot of people don't appreciate this. The Edge is calculated and careful to get ratings, that's easy and also very boring.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:48 pm

The Censor Board arrived. Thanks Dad for telling me what words I can't use.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:12 pm

How do you know in not your mother, now go to your room.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:37 pm

Because my mother would have used the word I'm, not in.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:41 am

Last night, while listening to A.J., know what I heard? The Smiths. Yes that's right. Then in the new rock preview, a band that was from Toronto.
Later on, High Holy Days.

You can see the changes beginning already. let's just sit back and see what happens.

To answer one of the major questions here about what made CFNY. I'll tell you my thought. CFNY knew they were the station to make the charts, not follow them. Here's to that attitude resurfacing! Time to be the trend setter, not the follower.

That will raise the Spirit once again! Listeners will listen to experience something new, something old and something that just plain makes them feel.

RWB · Post by **RWB** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 9:19 am

This may be a step by step, day by day venture, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

I doubt the "EDGE" will ever change their format, but I'm sure they could add new shows with alternative formats into certain time-slots (mainly weekends).

The Edge will never replace or be what CFNY 102.1
was!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 2:42 pm

I think that there is no doubt that if profit is the only motivation and goal, the EDGE is a bigger success than Spirit was. However, that is what made Spirit so special. Sure they wanted the station to make money, but not if it meant caving to the top 40 format of the day. We should applaud the creativity, guts and commitment to new and exciting artists that Spirit had. That's what made them a success. Music is an artform and not just a product sold to make money. I also think that Spirit contributed to our culture. Most artists we hear on radio today are American (less and less British stuff being played, and only your obligatory Can-Con Canadian bands), and they are mostly the same packaged bands that dominate American Top 40 radio. 102 was truly an "alternative" to other stations. It no longer is. Money is not the only objective in life people.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:45 pm

Well said!

The Zapper · Post by **The Zapper** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 7:02 pm

Are you sure Alan Cross is the new PD and not the EDGE-o-matic?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:16 am

I think the Edge was still an "alternative" in the mid-90's... at least, as close an alternative as they could/can be in mainstream commercial radio.

A lot of that was lost when Live in Toronto disappeared... a show which catered to indie bands and even import bands. Today, only the big name bands get live studio interviews there.

Also, the New Rock Preview which ran several times a day disappeared for the longest time. It's back on during the weeknights and weekends. Perhaps re-introducing some of these elements will begin a small skew back to a more diversified "alternative". I can see Alan Cross making some small moves such as these, but nothing major.

TRUTH_MAN · Post by **TRUTH_MAN** » Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:55 pm

Alan will not change a thing. It is out of his hands. Wake up people!!! Nothing will change!! Radio is nothing more than commercial slop carefully programmed for most of the population who are zombies and drones. It's nice to have Alan Cross back, but anyone here could fill that role. IT IS ALL PROGRAMMED FOR THEM! Face reality...the spirit of radio is gone. The world is one big corporate maze.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:47 am

To bad, this looks like a never ending battle, I am sure Alan can't pull off a miracle, music will remain as programmed, (some *&!#%^&* HAS TO MAKE WAY TO MUCH $$$$)

It sucks, I am sure a (the?) majority of us live for the day when radio "LIVED (strived) FOR" the listener audience.

The best I have heard has been KEXP from Seattle, Wa. an of course the MARZ bar!!!.
Someone, anyone,S.O.S.!!!!