Revisiting the 102.1 The Edge Playlist
Published January 2, 2009 @ 15:30 in Edge 102 ~ CFNY, Radio
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" - COLDPLAY | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:35 PM | "LOST!" - COLDPLAY | NEW |
| 2:31 PM | "TURN YOUR BACK" - BILLY TALENT FEAT. ANTI-FLAG | NEW |
| 2:27 PM | "TRY HONESTY" - BILLY TALENT | RECENT |
| 2:22 PM | "MAN IN THE BOX" - ALICE IN CHAINS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:19 PM | "WOULD" - ALICE IN CHAINS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:11 PM | "LITTLE BONES" - THE TRAGICALLY HIP | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:07 PM | "BLOW AT HIGH DOUGH" - THE TRAGICALLY HIP | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:03 PM | "COME OUT AND PLAY (KEEP 'EM SEPARATED)" - OFFSPRING | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:00 PM | "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING | NEW |
| 1:56 PM | "LOSER" - BECK | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:53 PM | "ABOVE" - FINGER ELEVEN | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:48 PM | "SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT" - AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT | NEW |
| 1:43 PM | "SWEET CHILD O' MINE" - GUNS N' ROSES | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:36 PM | "THE KILLER" - MOBILE | NEW |
| 1:30 PM | "ALIVE" - PEARL JAM | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:27 PM | "NOT READY TO GO" - TREWS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:24 PM | "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON | NEW |
| 1:21 PM | "STILL WAITING" - SUM 41 | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:18 PM | "RE-EDUCATION (THROUGH LABOR)" - RISE AGAINST | NEW |
| 1:11 PM | "GUERRILLA RADIO" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:08 PM | "CIVIL TWILIGHT" - WEAKERTHANS | NEW |
| 1:03 PM | "EVERLONG" - FOO FIGHTERS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:01 PM | "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL | NEW |
| 12:58 PM | "SANTERIA" - SUBLIME | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:54 PM | "BULLET WITH BUTTERFLY WINGS" - SMASHING PUMPKINS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:47 PM | "SHEEP GO TO HEAVEN" - CAKE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:42 PM | "BREATHE" - MOIST | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:38 PM | "NO RAIN" - BLIND MELON | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:35 PM | "BRAIN STEW" - GREEN DAY | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:30 PM | "VASOLINE" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:26 PM | "WAKE ME" - RUSTY | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:22 PM | "ASKING FOR IT" - HOLE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:18 PM | "LITHIUM" - NIRVANA | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:11 PM | "THE IMPRESSION THAT I GET" - MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:05 PM | "YELLOW LEDBETTER" - PEARL JAM | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:00 PM | "HANG TEN" - EDWIN | CLASSIC ALT |
| 11:56 AM | "THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING" - OASIS | NEW |
| 11:53 AM | "GIRLS" - BEASTIE BOYS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 11:49 AM | "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR | NEW |
| 11:44 AM | "JEREMY" - PEARL JAM | CLASSIC ALT |
| 11:41 AM | "CATH..." - DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE | NEW |
| 11:34 AM | "SO FAR SO GOOD" - THORNLEY | RECENT |
| 11:31 AM | "TROUBLEMAKER" - WEEZER | NEW |
| 11:26 AM | "700 FT. CEILING" - THE TRAGICALLY HIP | CLASSIC ALT |
| 11:23 AM | "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING | NEW |
| 11:20 AM | "OH, THE BOSS IS COMING!" - ARKELLS | NEW |
| 11:17 AM | "THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE" - RISE AGAINST | NEW |
| 11:11 AM | "WALLS FALL DOWN" - BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH | RECENT |
| 11:07 AM | "IN THE END" - LINKIN PARK | CLASSIC ALT |
| 11:03 AM | "AMERICAN WOMAN" - LENNY KRAVITZ | CLASSIC ALT |
| 10:59 AM | "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON | NEW |
| 10:56 AM | "ABOUT A GIRL" - NIRVANA | CLASSIC ALT |
| 10:53 AM | "PAPER PLANES" - M.I.A. | NEW |
| 10:49 AM | "LEARN TO FLY" - FOO FIGHTERS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 10:44 AM | "STARSEED" - OUR LADY PEACE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 10:40 AM | "HUMAN" - KILLERS | NEW |
| 10:32 AM | "ULYSSES" - FRANZ FERDINAND | NEW |
| 10:29 AM | "ARIEL VS. LOTUS" - LIMBLIFTER | CLASSIC ALT |
| 10:26 AM | "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL | NEW (R) |
| 10:23 AM | "HOLLOWPOINT SNIPER HYPERBOLE" - USS | NEW |
| 10:19 AM | "INTERGALACTIC" - BEASTIE BOYS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 10:14 AM | "BEING HERE" - STILLS | NEW |
| 10:09 AM | "GIVE IT AWAY" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 10:05 AM | "WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE GONE" - SAM ROBERTS | RECENT |
| 10:00 AM | "KIDS" - MGMT | NEW |
| 9:46 AM | "IN TOO DEEP" - SUM 41 | CLASSIC ALT |
| 9:42 AM | "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR | NEW (R) |
| 9:25 AM | "EVERYTHING IS AUTOMATIC" - MATTHEW GOOD BAND | CLASSIC ALT |
| 9:21 AM | "VIVA LA VIDA" - COLDPLAY | NEW |
| 9:15 AM | "ONE MORE ASTRONAUT" - I.M.E. | CLASSIC ALT |
| 9:03 AM | "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING | NEW (R) |
| 8:45 AM | "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON | NEW (R) |
| 8:36 AM | "ANIMAL I HAVE BECOME" - THREE DAYS GRACE | RECENT |
| 8:23 AM | "JUDITH" - A PERFECT CIRCLE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 8:19 AM | "BETTER MAN" - PEARL JAM | CLASSIC ALT |
| 8:03 AM | "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL | NEW (R) |
| 7:46 AM | "KIDS" - MGMT | NEW (R) |
| 7:36 AM | "BROTHER DOWN" - SAM ROBERTS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 7:19 AM | "BLEED IT OUT" - LINKIN PARK | RECENT |
| 7:15 AM | "DAUGHTER" - PEARL JAM | CLASSIC ALT |
| 6:59 AM | "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR | NEW (R) |
| 6:54 AM | "KILLING IN THE NAME" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 6:37 AM | "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON | NEW (R) |
| 6:28 AM | "FAT LIP" - SUM 41 | CLASSIC ALT |
| 6:16 AM | "RIVER BELOW" - BILLY TALENT | RECENT |
| 6:12 AM | "RE-EDUCATION (THROUGH LABOR)" - RISE AGAINST | NEW (R) |
| 6:00 AM | "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING | NEW (R) |
| 5:57 AM | "DISCIPLINE" - NINE INCH NAILS | NEW |
| 5:35 AM | "NOTHING ELSE MATTERS" - METALLICA | CLASSIC ALT |
| 5:33 AM | "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL | NEW (R) |
| 5:26 AM | "SONG 2" - BLUR | CLASSIC ALT |
| 5:22 AM | "HOLIDAY" - GREEN DAY | CLASSIC ALT |
| 5:19 AM | "ALL EMPIRES FALL" - WAKING EYES | NEW |
| 5:14 AM | "SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY" - U2 | CLASSIC ALT |
| 5:08 AM | "CATH..." - DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE | NEW |
| 5:06 AM | "FELL IN LOVE WITH A GIRL" - WHITE STRIPES | CLASSIC ALT |
| 5:00 AM | "KIDS" - MGMT | NEW (R) |
| 4:57 AM | "BLEED IT OUT" - LINKIN PARK | RECENT (R) |
| 4:54 AM | "LAST KISS" - PEARL JAM | CLASSIC ALT |
| 4:50 AM | "THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING" - OASIS | NEW (R) |
| 4:46 AM | "BELIEVE IN ME" - SLOAN | NEW |
| 4:42 AM | "LOSE YOURSELF" - EMINEM | CLASSIC ALT |
| 4:36 AM | "SUNDAY MORNING" - K-OS | RECENT |
| 4:33 AM | "TROUBLEMAKER" - WEEZER | NEW |
| 4:29 AM | "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR | NEW (R) |
| 4:22 AM | "PARADISE CITY" - GUNS N' ROSES | CLASSIC ALT |
| 4:18 AM | "SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT" - AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT | NEW (R) |
| 4:14 AM | "TONIGHT, TONIGHT" - SMASHING PUMPKINS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 4:08 AM | "YOUR ENGLISH IS GOOD" - TOKYO POLICE CLUB | NEW |
| 4:04 AM | "UNDER THE BRIDGE" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 4:01 AM | "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON | NEW (R) |
| 3:56 AM | "HEAD LIKE A HOLE" - NINE INCH NAILS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 3:51 AM | "HUMAN" - KILLERS | NEW (R) |
| 3:46 AM | "SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT!" - NIRVANA | CLASSIC ALT |
| 3:43 AM | "LOST!" - COLDPLAY | NEW (R) |
| 3:39 AM | "INNOCENT" - OUR LADY PEACE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 3:36 AM | "PAPER PLANES" - M.I.A. | NEW (R) |
| 3:30 AM | "ALL THE SMALL THINGS" - BLINK-182 | CLASSIC ALT |
| 3:26 AM | "AUDIENCE OF ONE" - RISE AGAINST | NEW |
| 3:23 AM | "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING | NEW (R) |
| 3:20 AM | "ISLAND IN THE SUN" - WEEZER | CLASSIC ALT |
| 3:17 AM | "HELP I'M ALIVE" - METRIC | NEW |
| 3:13 AM | "LEARN TO FLY" - FOO FIGHTERS | CLASSIC ALT (R) |
| 3:07 AM | "DO IT OR DIE" - DIE MANNEQUIN | NEW |
| 3:05 AM | "WRONG WAY" - SUBLIME | CLASSIC ALT |
| 3:02 AM | "NUMB" - LINKIN PARK | CLASSIC ALT |
| 3:00 AM | "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL | NEW (R) |
| 2:56 AM | "VIOLET HILL" - COLDPLAY | NEW |
| 2:50 AM | "FORTY SIX AND 2" - TOOL | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:46 AM | "EPIC" - FAITH NO MORE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:42 AM | "AROUND THE WORLD" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:36 AM | "SLEEP NOW IN THE FIRE" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:31 AM | "SEMI-CHARMED LIFE" - THIRD EYE BLIND | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:27 AM | "KIDS" - MGMT | NEW (R) |
| 2:23 AM | "STOP!" - JANE'S ADDICTION | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:18 AM | "BLOWN WIDE OPEN" - BIG WRECK | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:14 AM | "MR. BRIGHTSIDE" - KILLERS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:08 AM | "NO RAIN" - BLIND MELON | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:05 AM | "TEMPTATION" - TEA PARTY | CLASSIC ALT |
| 2:01 AM | "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR | NEW (R) |
| 1:58 AM | "WALLS FALL DOWN" - BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH | RECENT (R) |
| 1:55 AM | "WHEN I COME AROUND" - GREEN DAY | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:52 AM | "ULYSSES" - FRANZ FERDINAND | NEW (R) |
| 1:46 AM | "REBELLION (LIES)" - ARCADE FIRE | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:40 AM | "THE DAY THAT NEVER COMES" - METALLICA | NEW |
| 1:33 AM | "DISSIDENT" - PEARL JAM | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:29 AM | "THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING" - OASIS | NEW (R) |
| 1:25 AM | "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON | NEW (R) |
| 1:21 AM | "LAZY EYE" - SILVERSUN PICKUPS | RECENT |
| 1:18 AM | "THE KILLER" - MOBILE | NEW (R) |
| 1:15 AM | "DISARM" - SMASHING PUMPKINS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 1:08 AM | "DISCIPLINE" - NINE INCH NAILS | NEW (R) |
| 1:07 AM | "NATURE OF THE EXPERIMENT" - TOKYO POLICE CLUB | RECENT |
| 1:03 AM | "TRIPPIN' ON A HOLE IN A PAPER HEART" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTS | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:59 AM | "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING | NEW (R) |
| 12:56 AM | "TROUBLEMAKER" - WEEZER | NEW (R) |
| 12:53 AM | "COME AS YOU ARE" - NIRVANA | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:49 AM | "SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT" - AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT | NEW (R) |
| 12:45 AM | "CIVIL TWILIGHT" - WEAKERTHANS | NEW (R) |
| 12:42 AM | "HITCHIN' A RIDE" - GREEN DAY | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:36 AM | "HELL SONG" - SUM 41 | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:33 AM | "BLEED IT OUT" - LINKIN PARK | NEW (R) |
| 12:31 AM | "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL | NEW (R) |
| 12:26 AM | "DANI CALIFORNIA" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS | RECENT |
| 12:22 AM | "HUMAN" - KILLERS | NEW (R) |
| 12:18 AM | "KARMA POLICE" - RADIOHEAD | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:11 AM | "LOVE REMOVAL MACHINE" - CULT | CLASSIC ALT |
| 12:08 AM | "OH, THE BOSS IS COMING!" - ARKELLS | NEW (R) |
| 12:03 AM | "JEREMY" - PEARL JAM | CLASSIC 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.
dale
January 2, 2009 / 17:47
Looks like 102.1 is trying to get into the listenership of Q107 which has been dying lately playing the same songs constantly. I even changed my station at work from q107 to another a while back.