DC101 playing WARRANT?

September 19, 2007 6:38 PM

DCfilter: DC101 (fm radio) has been playing hair metal/classic metal since at least 3 p.m, today, as evidenced here.There is no mention of it on the station's site or Wikipedia. Is this a regular Wednesday thing? I enjoyed it, but am mystified by how many hours its lasted in light of the fact that Fall Out Boy, etc. is the station's usual fare.
posted by juniper to Media & Arts (11 answers total)

For many many years, DC 101 was a hard rock/hair metal/classic rock station. Maybe a return to its roots?
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:52 PM on September 19, 2007

LobsterMitten, I was thinking the same thing. "And this is different from my childhood... how?" If DC101 starts playing hair metal, maybe the real HFS will come back soon. *sigh*

In sum, sorry, no real answer, but I know DC101 does have Flashback programming, but I think that's usually during lunchtime.
posted by wildeepdotorg at 6:56 PM on September 19, 2007

Are they playing commercials? How about "bumpers" or station IDs? It's a pretty common tactic, when a station changes format, to only play one type of music (occasionally only one band or even one song) over and over for a few days, usually without interruption. For example, if a station were becoming a classic rock station, they might play only Led Zeppelin.

I assume this is mostly done as a publicity stunt, but perhaps there's a behind-the-scenes practical reason as well.

So, uh, maybe DC101 is becoming a hair metal station?
posted by Ian A.T. at 7:37 PM on September 19, 2007

There were commercials. Haven't listened to DC101 for ages. Basically only in situations where I'm a in a radio hostage situation. Nothing on DCist either. Wow, Ratt, "Lay It Down."
posted by Ironmouth at 7:54 PM on September 19, 2007

Best answer: Nobody knows yet - the first place you'll probably be able to find out is DCRTV. He mentioned it earlier in the day, but hasn't added any details since.
posted by god hates math at 8:15 PM on September 19, 2007

Response by poster: As much as I love (some of) the music, I think a hair metal format change would be ruinous, and is therefore unlikely. Kids These Days may Love The Eighties but I doubt they're into this stuff. And I'd hate to see DC 101, as a modern rock institution, fade.
posted by juniper at 8:22 PM on September 19, 2007

You might also check the Radio-Info forums.

When 103.7 KIOL in Houston changed from Classic Rock to a "Jack FM" station earlier this month, people knew about it about a week in advance. There was even a "play by play" of the last five or so songs played before the switchover, and the first five after.
posted by mrbill at 10:32 PM on September 19, 2007

In fact, here is the relevant DC101 thread.

"After midnight, they went back to playing alt. rock. Oddly enough they were jockless Wednesday (at least when I tuned in)"
posted by mrbill at 10:34 PM on September 19, 2007

Years ago, a station near me suddenly started playing "Shock the Monkey" over and over for 24 hours....

The next day they had new call letters...WGRL...The Gorilla.

Go Figure?
posted by keep it tight at 5:00 AM on September 20, 2007

Sounds like they are foreshadowing a format change. In the radio biz, this is called "stunting." Occasionally it's intentionally deceptive -- ie, wall-to-wall Led Zep, then suddenly a format change to Country.
posted by ROTFL at 9:14 AM on September 20, 2007

keep it tight, I remember that. And if you are in Charlotte, I'm guessing it was the same station (I was in Statesville at the time). iirc, it was the local classic rock station that went to a "kissfm" format. First thing I thought of reading the OP.
posted by alikins at 1:30 PM on September 20, 2007