Last June, I took a closer look at the Edge 102.1 playlist. I was curious how many different songs were in rotation at CFNY. While I was crunching the numbers, I assigned each song a label: New, Recent or Classic Alternative.
A comment from egerton on my 102.1 The Edge's top 102 songs of 2008 entry piqued my interest. Egerton said they "put a whack of '80s and '90s songs back in rotation." A visit to the 102.1 the Edge playlist page did reveal a lot of 90s music, so I took every song they played today and did a little analysis.
New: I labelled a song new if it was new to the playlist in 2008. Yes, I was pretty generous with this label.
Recent: I created this category to cover songs that aren't exactly Classic Alternative but also aren't new. Songs less than five years old were labelled as "recent".
Classic Alternative: This covers the "golden oldies" CFNY likes to play. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, U2, Beastie Boys, STP, etc. Songs older than five years, essentially.
Here are the songs with their assigned labels. After the chart, I'll hit you up with some stats.
2:38 PM"YELLOW" - COLDPLAYCLASSIC ALT2:35 PM"LOST!" - COLDPLAYNEW2:31 PM"TURN YOUR BACK" - BILLY TALENT FEAT. ANTI-FLAGNEW2:27 PM"TRY HONESTY" - BILLY TALENTRECENT2:22 PM"MAN IN THE BOX" - ALICE IN CHAINSCLASSIC ALT2:19 PM"WOULD" - ALICE IN CHAINSCLASSIC ALT2:11 PM"LITTLE BONES" - THE TRAGICALLY HIPCLASSIC ALT2:07 PM"BLOW AT HIGH DOUGH" - THE TRAGICALLY HIPCLASSIC ALT2:03 PM"COME OUT AND PLAY (KEEP 'EM SEPARATED)" - OFFSPRINGCLASSIC ALT2:00 PM"YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRINGNEW1:56 PM"LOSER" - BECKCLASSIC ALT1:53 PM"ABOVE" - FINGER ELEVENCLASSIC ALT1:48 PM"SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT" - AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENTNEW1:43 PM"SWEET CHILD O' MINE" - GUNS N' ROSESCLASSIC ALT1:36 PM"THE KILLER" - MOBILENEW1:30 PM"ALIVE" - PEARL JAMCLASSIC ALT1:27 PM"NOT READY TO GO" - TREWSCLASSIC ALT1:24 PM"SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEONNEW1:21 PM"STILL WAITING" - SUM 41CLASSIC ALT1:18 PM"RE-EDUCATION (THROUGH LABOR)" - RISE AGAINSTNEW1:11 PM"GUERRILLA RADIO" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINECLASSIC ALT1:08 PM"CIVIL TWILIGHT" - WEAKERTHANSNEW1:03 PM"EVERLONG" - FOO FIGHTERSCLASSIC ALT1:01 PM"WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METALNEW12:58 PM"SANTERIA" - SUBLIMECLASSIC ALT12:54 PM"BULLET WITH BUTTERFLY WINGS" - SMASHING PUMPKINSCLASSIC ALT12:47 PM"SHEEP GO TO HEAVEN" - CAKECLASSIC ALT12:42 PM"BREATHE" - MOISTCLASSIC ALT12:38 PM"NO RAIN" - BLIND MELONCLASSIC ALT12:35 PM"BRAIN STEW" - GREEN DAYCLASSIC ALT12:30 PM"VASOLINE" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTSCLASSIC ALT12:26 PM"WAKE ME" - RUSTYCLASSIC ALT12:22 PM"ASKING FOR IT" - HOLECLASSIC ALT12:18 PM"LITHIUM" - NIRVANACLASSIC ALT12:11 PM"THE IMPRESSION THAT I GET" - MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONESCLASSIC ALT12:05 PM"YELLOW LEDBETTER" - PEARL JAMCLASSIC ALT12:00 PM"HANG TEN" - EDWINCLASSIC ALT11:56 AM"THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING" - OASISNEW11:53 AM"GIRLS" - BEASTIE BOYSCLASSIC ALT11:49 AM"SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOURNEW11:44 AM"JEREMY" - PEARL JAMCLASSIC ALT11:41 AM"CATH..." - DEATH CAB FOR CUTIENEW11:34 AM"SO FAR SO GOOD" - THORNLEYRECENT11:31 AM"TROUBLEMAKER" - WEEZERNEW11:26 AM"700 FT. CEILING" - THE TRAGICALLY HIPCLASSIC ALT11:23 AM"YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRINGNEW11:20 AM"OH, THE BOSS IS COMING!" - ARKELLSNEW11:17 AM"THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE" - RISE AGAINSTNEW11:11 AM"WALLS FALL DOWN" - BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASHRECENT11:07 AM"IN THE END" - LINKIN PARKCLASSIC ALT11:03 AM"AMERICAN WOMAN" - LENNY KRAVITZCLASSIC ALT10:59 AM"SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEONNEW10:56 AM"ABOUT A GIRL" - NIRVANACLASSIC ALT10:53 AM"PAPER PLANES" - M.I.A.NEW10:49 AM"LEARN TO FLY" - FOO FIGHTERSCLASSIC ALT10:44 AM"STARSEED" - OUR LADY PEACECLASSIC ALT10:40 AM"HUMAN" - KILLERSNEW10:32 AM"ULYSSES" - FRANZ FERDINANDNEW10:29 AM"ARIEL VS. LOTUS" - LIMBLIFTERCLASSIC ALT10:26 AM"WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METALNEW (R) 10:23 AM"HOLLOWPOINT SNIPER HYPERBOLE" - USSNEW10:19 AM"INTERGALACTIC" - BEASTIE BOYSCLASSIC ALT10:14 AM"BEING HERE" - STILLSNEW10:09 AM"GIVE IT AWAY" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERSCLASSIC ALT10:05 AM"WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE GONE" - SAM ROBERTSRECENT10:00 AM"KIDS" - MGMTNEW9:46 AM"IN TOO DEEP" - SUM 41CLASSIC ALT9:42 AM"SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOURNEW (R) 9:25 AM"EVERYTHING IS AUTOMATIC" - MATTHEW GOOD BANDCLASSIC ALT9:21 AM"VIVA LA VIDA" - COLDPLAYNEW9:15 AM"ONE MORE ASTRONAUT" - I.M.E.CLASSIC ALT9:03 AM"YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRINGNEW (R) 8:45 AM"SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEONNEW (R) 8:36 AM"ANIMAL I HAVE BECOME" - THREE DAYS GRACERECENT8:23 AM"JUDITH" - A PERFECT CIRCLECLASSIC ALT8:19 AM"BETTER MAN" - PEARL JAMCLASSIC ALT8:03 AM"WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METALNEW (R) 7:46 AM"KIDS" - MGMTNEW (R) 7:36 AM"BROTHER DOWN" - SAM ROBERTSCLASSIC ALT7:19 AM"BLEED IT OUT" - LINKIN PARKRECENT7:15 AM"DAUGHTER" - PEARL JAMCLASSIC ALT6:59 AM"SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOURNEW (R) 6:54 AM"KILLING IN THE NAME" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINECLASSIC ALT6:37 AM"SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEONNEW (R) 6:28 AM"FAT LIP" - SUM 41CLASSIC ALT6:16 AM"RIVER BELOW" - BILLY TALENTRECENT6:12 AM"RE-EDUCATION (THROUGH LABOR)" - RISE AGAINSTNEW (R) 6:00 AM"YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRINGNEW (R) 5:57 AM"DISCIPLINE" - NINE INCH NAILSNEW5:35 AM"NOTHING ELSE MATTERS" - METALLICACLASSIC ALT5:33 AM"WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METALNEW (R) 5:26 AM"SONG 2" - BLURCLASSIC ALT5:22 AM"HOLIDAY" - GREEN DAYCLASSIC ALT5:19 AM"ALL EMPIRES FALL" - WAKING EYESNEW5:14 AM"SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY" - U2CLASSIC ALT5:08 AM"CATH..." - DEATH CAB FOR CUTIENEW5:06 AM"FELL IN LOVE WITH A GIRL" - WHITE STRIPESCLASSIC ALT5:00 AM"KIDS" - MGMTNEW (R) 4:57 AM"BLEED IT OUT" - LINKIN PARKRECENT (R) 4:54 AM"LAST KISS" - PEARL JAMCLASSIC ALT4:50 AM"THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING" - OASISNEW (R) 4:46 AM"BELIEVE IN ME" - SLOANNEW4:42 AM"LOSE YOURSELF" - EMINEMCLASSIC ALT4:36 AM"SUNDAY MORNING" - K-OSRECENT4:33 AM"TROUBLEMAKER" - WEEZERNEW4:29 AM"SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOURNEW (R) 4:22 AM"PARADISE CITY" - GUNS N' ROSESCLASSIC ALT4:18 AM"SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT" - AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENTNEW (R) 4:14 AM"TONIGHT, TONIGHT" - SMASHING PUMPKINSCLASSIC ALT4:08 AM"YOUR ENGLISH IS GOOD" - TOKYO POLICE CLUBNEW4:04 AM"UNDER THE BRIDGE" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERSCLASSIC ALT4:01 AM"SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEONNEW (R) 3:56 AM"HEAD LIKE A HOLE" - NINE INCH NAILSCLASSIC ALT3:51 AM"HUMAN" - KILLERSNEW (R) 3:46 AM"SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT!" - NIRVANACLASSIC ALT3:43 AM"LOST!" - COLDPLAYNEW (R) 3:39 AM"INNOCENT" - OUR LADY PEACECLASSIC ALT3:36 AM"PAPER PLANES" - M.I.A.NEW (R) 3:30 AM"ALL THE SMALL THINGS" - BLINK-182CLASSIC ALT3:26 AM"AUDIENCE OF ONE" - RISE AGAINSTNEW3:23 AM"YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRINGNEW (R) 3:20 AM"ISLAND IN THE SUN" - WEEZERCLASSIC ALT3:17 AM"HELP I'M ALIVE" - METRICNEW3:13 AM"LEARN TO FLY" - FOO FIGHTERSCLASSIC ALT (R) 3:07 AM"DO IT OR DIE" - DIE MANNEQUINNEW3:05 AM"WRONG WAY" - SUBLIMECLASSIC ALT3:02 AM"NUMB" - LINKIN PARKCLASSIC ALT3:00 AM"WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METALNEW (R) 2:56 AM"VIOLET HILL" - COLDPLAYNEW2:50 AM"FORTY SIX AND 2" - TOOLCLASSIC ALT2:46 AM"EPIC" - FAITH NO MORECLASSIC ALT2:42 AM"AROUND THE WORLD" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERSCLASSIC ALT2:36 AM"SLEEP NOW IN THE FIRE" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINECLASSIC ALT2:31 AM"SEMI-CHARMED LIFE" - THIRD EYE BLINDCLASSIC ALT2:27 AM"KIDS" - MGMTNEW (R) 2:23 AM"STOP!" - JANE'S ADDICTIONCLASSIC ALT2:18 AM"BLOWN WIDE OPEN" - BIG WRECKCLASSIC ALT2:14 AM"MR. BRIGHTSIDE" - KILLERSCLASSIC ALT2:08 AM"NO RAIN" - BLIND MELONCLASSIC ALT2:05 AM"TEMPTATION" - TEA PARTYCLASSIC ALT2:01 AM"SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOURNEW (R) 1:58 AM"WALLS FALL DOWN" - BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASHRECENT (R) 1:55 AM"WHEN I COME AROUND" - GREEN DAYCLASSIC ALT1:52 AM"ULYSSES" - FRANZ FERDINANDNEW (R) 1:46 AM"REBELLION (LIES)" - ARCADE FIRECLASSIC ALT1:40 AM"THE DAY THAT NEVER COMES" - METALLICANEW1:33 AM"DISSIDENT" - PEARL JAMCLASSIC ALT1:29 AM"THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING" - OASISNEW (R) 1:25 AM"SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEONNEW (R) 1:21 AM"LAZY EYE" - SILVERSUN PICKUPSRECENT1:18 AM"THE KILLER" - MOBILENEW (R) 1:15 AM"DISARM" - SMASHING PUMPKINSCLASSIC ALT1:08 AM"DISCIPLINE" - NINE INCH NAILSNEW (R) 1:07 AM"NATURE OF THE EXPERIMENT" - TOKYO POLICE CLUBRECENT1:03 AM"TRIPPIN' ON A HOLE IN A PAPER HEART" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTSCLASSIC ALT12:59 AM"YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRINGNEW (R) 12:56 AM"TROUBLEMAKER" - WEEZERNEW (R) 12:53 AM"COME AS YOU ARE" - NIRVANACLASSIC ALT12:49 AM"SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT" - AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENTNEW (R) 12:45 AM"CIVIL TWILIGHT" - WEAKERTHANSNEW (R) 12:42 AM"HITCHIN' A RIDE" - GREEN DAYCLASSIC ALT12:36 AM"HELL SONG" - SUM 41CLASSIC ALT12:33 AM"BLEED IT OUT" - LINKIN PARKNEW (R) 12:31 AM"WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METALNEW (R) 12:26 AM"DANI CALIFORNIA" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERSRECENT12:22 AM"HUMAN" - KILLERSNEW (R) 12:18 AM"KARMA POLICE" - RADIOHEADCLASSIC ALT12:11 AM"LOVE REMOVAL MACHINE" - CULTCLASSIC ALT12:08 AM"OH, THE BOSS IS COMING!" - ARKELLSNEW (R) 12:03 AM"JEREMY" - PEARL JAMCLASSIC ALT (R)
Here's what we learn from this random spot check of Edge 102's playlist.
- # of songs played: 170
- # of different songs played: 130 / 76.47%
- # of "new" songs: 71 / 41.76%
- # of unique "new" songs: 35 / 20.58%
- # of "recent" songs: 13 / 7.64%
- # of unique "recent" songs: 11 / 6.47%
- # of "classic alternative" songs: 87 / 51.17%
- # of unique "classic alternative" songs: 85 / 50%
Without a doubt, 102.1 the Edge is playing more classic alternative than ever before. Over 51% of songs played thus far today were older than five years, and if we look at the number of unique classic alternative songs (85) compared to the 130 different songs played, we're looking at a whopping 65.38%.
That's a definite increase since six months ago when that figure was 40.25%. In layman's terms, in case you're having trouble following, if we remove the repeats (they played Eagle's of Death Metal's "Wanna Be In LA" six freakin' times), almost exactly two-thirds of the music played today was older than five years and of the "classic alternative" genre. There's lots of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice in Chains and the songs you know and love, mainly from the 1990s.
I first wrote about the Classic Alternative radio format five years ago and asked aloud if a truer form of "classic alternative" was in 102.1's future. It might be closer than we realize. It might already be here.
Update: I've written the new program director at CFNY, Ross Winters, to see if he'll comment. If he does, I'll post what I learn.
