comparing the evolution of 'classic rock' between uk and usa

After spending the last three days driving across the Upper Midwest and Northern Ontario, I am feeling qualified to speak on FM rock radio formats in this stretch of mostly small-town North America. I am wondering if this might help clarify some of the discussions/arguments earlier.

So:

i) Proper bona fide classic rock stations that e.g. play Styx or Kansas on the hour and play nothing since the mid-80s and are well-described by this thread are still a staple pretty much everywhere in the US along this stretch. I don't think I actually came across one along this stretch in Ontario. They seem to have largely been phased out in favour of either a) stations named after carnivorous mammals (wolf, fox, or bear) that play Rush alongside Sam Roberts or the Tragically Hip or the Black Keys or b) stations named after monosyllabic male first names that play Golden Earring alongside Abba and Kool and the Gang.

The Wikipedia list of radio stations in Ontario (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_radio_stations_in_Ontario) lists 5 classic rock stations but 16 'classic hits' stations, 18 'active rock' stations, and 16 'adult hits' stations. Of those classic rock stations, I know that at least the Ottawa one plays plenty of 90s and 00s music as well. On the other hand, this list lists 22 classic rock stations, 32 classic hits stations, 7 adult hits stations, and 4 active rock stations.

ii) In the same way that a St Louis accent sounds more 'neutral' to me than my own, your classic rock format seems more 'normal' to me on some level. (Your classical music stations are kind of lame though.)

iii) I am a little intrigued as to whether this difference is indicative of a trend that will eventually spread to the US or whether it is due to the fact that Canadian stations have to play a quota of Canadian music, which didn't really come into its own until after rock's classic period.

iv) The White Stripes and Black Keys have a remarkable ability to blend in so well on the a) sort of station that until the obvious hook enters, I sometimes can't tell whether I'm hearing a 70s song or a recent one.

v) Most interestingly, oldies stations that plays 50s and 60s pop are still a real thing on FM radio in the US. I haven't come across one in Canada in 20 years, I don't think. (According to Wiki, they still exist on the AM dial.) Some stations CALL themselves oldies stations but are basically in this format.

Also, this is my new favourite radio programme:
http://www.prairiepublic.org/radio/radio-programs-a-z/friday-night-swing/

Most interestingly, oldies stations that plays 50s and 60s pop are still a real thing on FM radio
in the US.

there are stations that switch to an all-christmas music format during the holiday season where they play modern favorites like mariah but otherwise it's heavy on classics from the 50s/60s and earlier.

Our local "oldies" station ("Continuous 60s and 70s hits!") does the all-Christmas thing starting in like fucking October or some shit. Fills me with ia.

Fuck Mannheim fucking Steamroller.

Timely: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/what-your-favorite-classic-rock-band-says-about-you

Steely Dan: You have snorted cocaine off a copy of Remembrance of Things Past.

Fleetwood Mac: You have snorted cocaine off a copy of The Hobbit.

Blue Oyster Cult: You have snorted cocaine off a copy of Type 2 Diabetes for Dummies.

Mountain: You have snorted cocaine off a Blue Oyster Cult record.

Nazareth: You have snorted cocaine off a member of Mountain.

Hawkwind: You sell cocaine to Nazareth fans.

Molly Hatchet: You sell baking soda to Hawkwind fans and tell them it’s cocaine.

s/timely/relevant, e.g. it's old but I saw it again today and it's perfect for the thread

hahaha:

The Eagles: You can only reach orgasm while listening to talk radio.

Issue #9 of Classic Rock Magazine presents AOR
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Comments 9
gbarton at 04:50pm September 16 2013

Issue nine of melodic rock’s finest magazine tells how AOR’s barracudas held their own against industry sharks, ex-boyfriends and the 1980s. Our in-depth Heart cover story spans the years 1974-1985 and features exclusive all-new interviews with Ann and Nancy Wilson.

PLUS! FREE CD: Supersonic – 15 soaraway melodic rock songs with Sammy Hagar, Reckless Love, Houston, Robin Beck, Newman, Harem Scarem, Degreed, Screaming Eagles and many more.

Key features in the issue:

Sammy Hagar – The Tequila man on Van Halen, Ronnie Montrose… and how he gets by with a little help from his (famous) friends.
The Babys – Over three decades after their split, The Babys are back, without original singer John Waite – but with his blessing.
Obscure UK AOR – They’re the also-rans and coulda-beens of Britain’s Adult Oriented Rock scene, the Top 30 great groups the world at large never heard about– until now. With Midnight Blue, Moritz, She, Torino, Monro, Geneva, Kooga, LaRoche, AOK, Arena and many more. Come meet your new favourite old bands…
Patty Smyth – The Scandal-ous story of how Patty made it big, how she almost joined Van Halen, and how she’s coming back.
Robin Beck – With her new LP, Underneath, the girl from the Coke ad proves she’s the real thing alright.
Reggie Knighton – The strange-but-true story of the AOR singer-songwriter who penned songs about Elvis, love and UFOs, before disappearing into the computer world.
Graham Bonnet – The veteran frontman talks Rainbow, MSG, Alcatrazz… and flashing his bits in West End restaurants.
Santa Cruz – The unfeasibly young Scandi-rockers grew up listening to Eminem and Limp Bizkit. But they’re (more than) alright now.
Chasing Violets – French sisters are doing it for themselves – with a little help from Frédéric Slama of AOR (the band).
Steve Overland – “I’ve sung on some weird things, like Kit-E-Kat advertisements,” purrs the FM man.
Lost Weekend – It’s a long, twisting tale of record label frustrations, of cutting albums in less-than-ideal situations, of chasing a dream against all odds and with little in the way of tangible reward. But one listen to this band’s finely honed AOR will prove it was all worth it…
Arc Angel – Thirty years on, Arc Angel have risen again. Jeff Cannata talks us through his journey from the proggy majesty of his Cannata project, back to Arc Angel’s effortlessly melodic rock.
Live reviews – Sweden Rock, Steve Lukather, The Val, Vega, Steelhouse Festival, Bryan Adams, Heaven’s Basement, Rick Springfield, Richie Kotzen…
Album reviews – New releases from Reckless Love, Newman, Robin Beck, Houston, Santa Cruz, King Kobra, Sammy Hagar, Michael Monroe; reissues from REO Speedwagon, Nick Gilder, Warrant, Derringer…

The new issue of AOR magazine goes on sale this Wednesday (September 18).

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Noodle Vague did you buy any of these mags?

OMG happy hardcore and ska! Trying to imagine that on a construction site, failing.

Bros working on the parking garage next door have been listening to classic rock (np: Pink Floyd - "Run Like Hell") all day. I just had a chuckle imagining them working to happy hardcore.

taglines like "Classic rock that rocks", "New Zealand's real rock station", "Just great rock", "We Endorse This Music", etc

Do any American CR stations have obnoxious taglines? Like defend-the-Alamo type stuff?

Or is it just The Sound in New Zealand? It began as a competitor to Hauraki and
The Rock, both of which are (now) mostly focused on the last 30 years. It seems like Hauraki removed a lot of the older rock it used to play, in response to The Sound grabbing that audience. You wouldn't expect MGMT and Amy Winehouse on Hauraki, but there they are.

Then there's The Sound. The Completely New No-Hype station!! Which is why their slogans have been "Less Lady Gaga, More Radio Gaga" "Keeping our music alive", and "This is the greatest music ever written"... Not that there's anything *wrong* with a white Anglicised '70s time-warp, but it makes it a bit unlikable altogether.

I wonder which listeners really believe The Who and Genesis are endangered music :) They should've just called it "Your Vinyl Collection, With Ads". Someone buy them a Herbs record, or something...

Highly debatable. The UK has never come up with anything as ancestor worshipping as 'classic rock' radio.

Yeah we did.

''The inhabitants of Britain originally worshipped their ancestors''

That truly was the golden age...

I just had a chuckle imagining them working to happy hardcore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBuehLCn_XE