Are AC and classic rock sounding too much alike?

[shocker]

It seems lately that some AC outlets are spinning more rock songs from the '70s and '80s than they used to. David Bowie and Lynard Skynyrd are just a couple of artists that AC is playing more of these days. AC is also still fond of playing classic soft-rock by artists like Elton John and Chicago.

On the other hand, I tuned in to my classic rock station the other day and heard the following songs -
"Fire and Rain" by James Taylor
"Babe" by Styx
"Gypsy" by Fleetwood Mac
"New Kid in Town" by the Eagles
"You're in My Heart" by Rod Stewart
"My Life" by Billy Joel

Those songs are AC gold staples that I was really surprised to hear on a classic rock outlet. Ironically, AC stations are also still spinning those kinds of songs in their rotation, along with somewhat harder songs that are true classic rock staples.

AC and classic rock have always been 2 completely separate formats that are worlds apart from each other. So why is it that the 2 formats are starting to sound more alike than ever before?

If classic rock stations are spinning more soft-rock standards, it seems to me that AC really needs to quit playing so many oldies and get with the newer material!

[Libra]

AC is a constantly evolving format - what was thought to be unheard of on AC stations one year may some years down the road be the norm.

But on the other hand, I do think that your classic rock station is incredibly AC-friendly. Of that list, I'd think that only The Eagles could be heard normally on both formats without batting an eye. Maybe I'm wrong, but your station just doesn't seem like a 'typical' classic rocker.

[tico]

My AC station started playing Boston and Lynyrd Skynyrd earlier this year. It was the first time I heard either on AC, other than when "Amanda" by Boston was #1 back in 1986.

Some of the artists mentioned are key artists at classic rock. I do wonder, however, if that classic rock station is actually classic hits. Classic hits is very similar to classic rock, but classic hits tend to lean towards songs that were, well, hits, as to where classic rock will play those songs, but will also tend to play album cuts.

To be honest, I'm surprised AC hasn't opened up itself to classic rock songs before now other than the usual artists you hear, such as Elton John, Billy Joel, the Eagles, Rod Stewart and Fleetwood Mac.

[Slinky]

I agree with Golden Eagle. Your station is probably more of a Classic Hits station than a Classic Rock station. The Rod Stewart and James Taylor songs stick out to me especially, because I've never heard those on a Classic Rock station, but they would be Classic Hits staples.

[atlantaboy]

^Yeah usually think of Classic Rock as Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Skynard, Bad Company, etc. - but the one in ATL is pretty mellow (plays a lot of Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, etc.) and still calls itself Classic Rock for some reason (not sure why)

[shocker]

Sept 6, 2008 0:11:51 GMT -5 @tico said:

My AC station started playing Boston and Lynyrd Skynyrd earlier this year. It was the first time I heard either on AC, other than when "Amanda" by Boston was #1 back in 1986.

Same here.
:o

I've also heard the Romantics, David Bowie, and harder stuff by the Eagles played on my AC station lately. I'm sure they can be classified more as pop-rock, instead of classic rock; but they're certainly more rock-sounding than James Taylor! I really couldn't believe that my classic rock station played "Fire and Rain". "Cat's in the Cradle" too! That was crazy!

Sept 6, 2008 0:11:51 GMT -5 @tico said:

Some of the artists mentioned are key artists at classic rock. I do wonder, however, if that classic rock station is actually classic hits. Classic hits is very similar to classic rock, but classic hits tend to lean towards songs that were, well, hits, as to where classic rock will play those songs, but will also tend to play album cuts.

The station I was referring to is KSLX in Phoenix; and yes, that station is a classic rock outlet - not classic hits. They still play a good share of Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and early Eric Clapton - as well as some album tracks by Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin. But the soft-rock/AC gold songs I mentioned by James Taylor, Eagles, Rod Stewart, and Billy Joel were also thrown in the music mix.

Sept 6, 2008 0:11:51 GMT -5 @tico said:

To be honest, I'm surprised AC hasn't opened up itself to classic rock songs before now other than the usual artists you hear, such as Elton John, Billy Joel, the Eagles, Rod Stewart and Fleetwood Mac.

To be honest, AC shouldn't be the format to hear classic rock!!! That's why AC and classic rock have always been 2 distinct and separate formats. Lately AC has become a little harder-sounding with their inclusion of more classic rock artists, and classic rock is playing more soft-rock; so the 2 formats are sounding too much alike. AC needs to stay true to their format, which is contemporary music of a softer nature - not so many oldies.

[EvanJ]

I heard "Jump" by Van Halen on AC.