Most recent songs on "classic" rock stations

[NORTHCOAST]

I've been jumping around to various radio stations lately and came across one that calls itself "classic" rock. It got me wondering what the cutoff is for their playlist timewise. When does a song meet the critera of classic rock? Anyone listen to such a station and hear a song that is more recent than your would think would qualify? Your thoughts, please.

[iceman]

I guess there are always some stations that will play some new songs by established artists, check out the Classic Rock chart:
www.mmr247.com/mmrweb/allaccess/Charts.asp?format=r4M

I remember hearing "Smooth" (and some other newer tunes) on a Classic Rock station some 5 years ago or so and just figured it was odd and they were considering changing formats.

[tico]

I heard "Smooth" being played on a former classic hits station in San Diego. I can only speak for my local classic rock station WSTZ, which plays songs up until the early to mid-90s.

Classic hits is on the same wavelength as classic rock, but classic hits tend to play songs that were hits, as classic rock, while they do play hits, tend to play album cuts.

[singingsparrow]

I've heard 90's R.E.M and U2 hits, some Hootie & The Blowfish hits and Sister Hazel's "All For You" on my Portland classic rock station recently.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

Makes me wonder if classic rock is an age thing or if it's actually turning into a "sound". So a song can be "classic rock" if it sounds like it, the way 'Smooth' did at the time.

[Gorminako]

I've noticed that some songs get played on these stations quite soon. LIke "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" started to played there while it was still charting. One of those instant classics.

Also I've noticed that some of the traditionally classic rock stations around here have started playing some AAA songs, for example Chris Isaak's "King Without A Castle", Ben Harper's "A better Way", Tom Petty's "Saving Grace" and "Dani California". I'm sure they're not considering them classics yet, but probably they want to seem up-to-date.

[horenmich]

I heard Black Crowes - "Hard to Handle" a few days ago...