Emmis has blown up Smooth Jazz in NYC for Adult Rock. 101.9 WRXP, "The New York Rock Experience," merges New Music, Classic Rock, Alternative & Local Rock into a new adult blend. 101.9 RXP will feature a variety of rock from artists like Franz Ferdinand, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, Coldplay, U2, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, The Police, Beck, Radiohead, The Who, Oasis, Arcade Fire, Social Distortion and REM. The station says its playlist "not determined by era, but rather by the acoustic quality of each song, as determined directly by on-air personalities and staff."
"On-air personalities will play a direct part in choosing the music," said 101.9 RXP PD Blake Lawrence. "It’s unheard of in radio these days, but 101.9 RXP is about the music and not so much the music business — we’re merging rock styles and generations into a singular community that we call The New York Rock Experience."
The first song to air on 101.9 RXP was "Rock and Roll" by legendary New York Icon Lou Reed & the Velvet Underground, followed by the world premiere of REM’s "Supernatural Superserious.
Smooth Jazz CD101.9 will continue to exist on their HD2 channel. The station, which is located in the NYC’s West Village, will include another feature that is unique to New York radio with the regular inclusion of local rock artists. Local acts like Vampire Weekend, Hold Steady, White Rabbits, Santogold, The National, and Nada Surf will all be part of the initial playlist.
Emmis commissioned research projects from Paragon Media Strategies prior to the launch. Programming consultants included Mike Henry of Paragon Media Strategies and John Bradley and Dave Rahn of SBR Creative Media.
Buyers are excited, as well. Rich Russo, JL Media’s SVP/Director of Broadcast Services, tells RBR: "It’s about friggin’ time, I’ve had a few discussions over the last three years with Rick Cummings on the need for this kind of format in NYC and that ‘QCD was a perfect place for it. I guess the light bulb finally went on. I think there are a few forces also in play–most importantly the need for this in the most important cultural market in the world; the PPM and how Rock always looks great on it-and the fact the K-Rock so missed the boat, formatically. It left a gaping hole for ‘RXP to come in. If they stick with it and build trust with the audience, this will be a home-run in this market and can ultimately become one of the most influential music stations in the country in a short time."
RBR observation: With the return of CBS’s K-Rock and now WRXP, we now have two Rock stations back in the market. Hopefully, WRXP will lean hard on Indie Rock and not play too many of the same old tired tunes. We congratulate Emmis on taking this to their main signal, rather than trying it as a multicast channel first-the market was starving for more rock. Letting the DJs pick their own music is a great idea, too. Bring back the original WNEW, so to speak!
We’ve got a few songs to suggest…
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah:
Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood
Underwater (you and me)
Satan said dance
Over and over again (Lost and found)
Heavy metal
Death Cab for Cutie:
Title and registration
A Movie Script Ending
Why you’d want to live here
Photo Booth
Technicolor Girls
Hindsight
Silversun Pickups:
…All the go inbetweens
Kissing families
Little Lover’s so polite
Lazy eye
Mates of state:
I got this feelin’
Ha Ha
Goods (all in your head)
Quit doin’ it
Fraud in the 80’s
Middle is gold
So many ways
Beck:
Missing
Nausea
Elevator Music
Black Tambourine
Que Onda Guero
Sexx laws
Motorcade
Earthquake weather
LCD Sound System:
Losing my edge
Daft Punk is playing at my house
Never as tired as when I’m waking up
Tribulations
Someone great
Disco Infiltrator
Yeah Yeah Yeahs:
Maps
Cheated Heart
Down boy
Elliott Smith:
A Fond Farewell
Needle in the Hay
Coming up roses
New Monkey
The White Stripes:
A boy’s best friend
Blue Orchid
Rag & Bone
We’re going to be friends
Modest Mouse:
Trailer Trash
Dramamine
Dashboard
Blame it on the Tetons
She ionizes and atomizes
Talking shit about a pretty su
Heart Cooks Brain
The Good Times are killing me
Lounge (Closing Time)
The World at large
Polar opposites
Ohio
Iron & Wine:
Upward over the mountain
Jesus the Mexican Boy
Mother
Beneath the Balcony
Boy with a coin
Cinder and smoke
Bright Eyes:
When the President Talks to God
Down a Rabbit Hole
First Day of Life
Solid Jackson
Magnetic Fields:
I think I need a new heart
Village in the Morning
World Love
The dreaming moon
The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side
You and me and the moon
Belle & Sebastian:
Step into my office, baby
Wrapped up in books
The boy with the Arab strap
Your cover’s blown
Mayfly
Peter Bjorn & John:
Chills
Let’s call it off
Amsterdam
Eels:
Fresh Feeling
Souljacker
Trouble with Dreams
Last stop this town
Snow Patrol:
Run
Chocolate
Spitting Games
Interpol:
Obstacle 1
Next Exit
Say Hello to the angels
NYC
Kasabian:
Club Foot
L.S.F (Lost Souls Forever)
Processed beats
The Shins:
Kissing the lipless
Sleeping lessons
The Hives:
Two Timing Touch and Broken Bones
Walk Idiot Walk
Flaming Lips:
Fight Test
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1
Pinback:
Offline P.K.
Good to sea
Seville
Tripoli
Offcell
Neutral Milk Hotel:
Everything Is
In the aeroplane over the sea
Cocorosie:
Promise
Rainbowarriors
Japan
Hot Chip:
Over and Over
Colors (DEA Remix)
Boy from school
Ladytron:
Re Agents
Startup chime
Track Star:
Something very winning
Sooner it dies
The Streets:
Fit but you know it
Lets’ push things forward
CSS:
Let’s Make Love and Li…
Alala
Clinic:
Harvest (Within You)
Welcome
Walking with thee
Tarwater:
Rome
Sweethome under white clouds
The Liars:
The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack
Houseclouds
TV on the radio:
Staring at the Sun
Don’t love you
A method
Of Montreal:
I was never young
Heimdalsgate like a Promethean curse
Forecast Fascist Future
Arcade Fire:
Wake Up
Rebellion
Say Hi to Your Mom:
Super
A hit in Sweden
Unicorns:
Les Os
Child Star
Tegan & Sara:
You wouldn’t like me
I know I know I know
Pavement:
Father to a sister of thought
Here
Muse:
Supermassive Black Hole
Knights of Cydonia
Time is running out
The Bravery:
No Brakes
An Honest Mistake
Tom Waits:
Make it rain
How’s it going to end?
Superchunk:
1,000 Pounds (Duck Kee style)
Long Dark (Alt.)
Ben Kweller:
Wasted & Ready
My Apartment
The Faint:
Drop Kick the Punks
Desperate Guys
Peaches:
Boys wanna be her
AAXXX
Simple Kid:
The Twentysomething
Love’s an enigma
Yo La Tengo:
Autumn Sweater
Little eyes
Mirah:
Don’t die in me
Body below
The Moldy Peaches:
Who’s got the crack?
Anyone else but you
The Raveonettes:
Love in a Trash Can
Aly walk with me
Film School:
P.S.
Ms. Connection
American Analog Set:
Gone to Earth
Don’t wake me
The Innocence Mission:
Tomorrow on the Runway
Bright as Yellow
McClusky:
Rice is nice
She Will Only Bring You Happiness
Clouddead:
Pop Song
Rifle Eyes
The Postal Service:
DC sleeps alone tonight
Such great heights
Brand new colony
The starlight mints:
Margarita
The Twilight Showdown
Radiohead:
Climbing (fila brazillia)
Reckoner
Lily Allen:
Smile
LDN
Black Lips:
Veni Vidi Vici
Vampire Weekend:
A-Punk
Rainier Maria:
Artificial light
Shotgun Jimmie:
Bedhead
Mia Doi Todd:
Autumn
Kunga 219:
Could it be me?
Sparklehorse:
Don’t take my sunshine away
Architecture in Helsinki:
Heart it races
Kyle Andrews:
Your tester bunny
Devendra Banhart:
Bad girl
Prinzhorn Dance School:
You are the space invader
Stereolab:
Metronomic underground
Akron/Family:
Ed is a portal
Joanna Newsom:
The book of right on
Tricky:
Hell is around the corner
Cinemascope:
Desert Inn
My Morning Jacket:
Cobra
Beirut:
Nantes
Great Lakes Swimmers:
Where in the world are you
New Buffalo:
You’ve gone my friend
Flecton:
Summer down flames
Wilco:
Pot Kettle Black
Sunset Rubdown:
Up on your leopard…
The hidden cameras:
Ban Marriage
Midlake:
Roscoe
The new pornographers:
Myriad Harbour
The Strange:
Texas
White Rabbits:
The Plot
Low:
Sunflower
Calvin Harris:
Acceptable in the 80’s
The Thermals:
Back to Gray
The 1990’s:
You’re supposed to be my friend
The Sweet Homewreckers:
Wild America
The Saint Alvia Cartel:
Don’t wanna wait fo…
Shrink:
The Notwist
!!! (Chk Chk Chk):
Take Ecstasy With Me
The Radio Dept.:
1995
Grand Analog:
Around this town
Half right:
Heatmiser
Amy Honey:
Old Reliable Death
Cat Power:
Cross Bones Style
Corrina Rapp:
No one’s telling
Thurston Moore:
Psychic Hearts
Black Fiction:
Magic Hands
The Vaselines:
Jesus don’t want me for a sunbeam
The Good, The Bad and The Queen:
History Song
The Pink Mountaintops:
Can you do that dance?
Michael Franti and Spearhead:
Yell Fire
Autolux:
Angry Candy
Damian Marley:
Welcome to Jamrock
They Might be Giants:
I’m impressed
Tim Armstrong:
Into action
The Ponys:
Double Vision
The Polyphonic Spree:
Running Away
The Blow:
True Affection
Mew:
The Zookeeper’s Boy
Annuals:
Carry Around
Great Lake Swimmers:
Where in the World are you now?
Hot Chip/Rolling Stones:
I’m Free
Gisli:
Go Get Em Tiger
John Vanderslice:
Exodus Damage
Radar Bros:
Capital Gain
Tommy Guererro:
Tomorrow’s Goodbye
Jose Gonzalez:
Heartbearts
Dead meadow:
Sleepy Silver Door
Lou Barlow:
Yawning Blue Messiah
Jennifer O’Connor:
Exeter, Rhode Island
Annuals:
Carry Around
Cold War Kids:
Hang me up to dry
Teddybears:
Punkrocker
Band of Horses:
The funeral
Page France:
Chariot
Placebo:
Meds
The Long Winters:
The commander think…
The Grabs:
Already forgotten
Block Party:
This modern love
The Wolf Parade:
You are a runner
Eames Era:
Could Be Anything
Band of Bees:
Horsement
Love As Laughter:
Pulsar Radio
Built to spill:
Strange
Hopewell:
Calcutta
Make Out Club:
You Were the First One
The John Spencer Blues Explosion:
She said
Viva Voce:
Business Casual
Lali Puna:
Clear Cut
Transplants:
Gangsters and Thugs
Stephen Malkmus:
Baby C’Mon
Mark Lanegan:
Hit the City
Superchunk:
Late-Century Dream
The Kills:
The good ones
West Indian Girl:
Trip
Bloc Party:
Banquet
Karen O:
Hello Tomorrow
Mark Farina:
Cali Spaces
Seam:
Inching toward Juarez
Charles Douglas:
Splitting the Atom
Apples in Stereo:
Strawberryfire
The Wanteds:
Confess
Massive Attack:
Risingson
Portishead:
Mysterion
The French:
Canada Water
The Libertines:
Campaign of Hate
Scrabbel:
Riot Series
Faultline:
Where is my boy?
Pitty Sing:
Radio
Astaire:
L-L-Love
Despistado:
A starsticks prediction
Takiko Minekawa:
Never/More
Silver Jews:
There is a place
Wormburner:
Skinny Leather Tie
Basement Jaxx:
Where’s Your Head At
Nic Armstrong & The Thieves:
Back into that room
Tilly and the Wall:
Fell down the stairs
Throwing Muses:
Ruthie’s Knocking
Guided by Voices:
Choking Tara
Sea and Cake:
The World is against you
John Wilkes Booze:
Meanwhile, at the Hideout
Mosquitos:
Dream Awake
Mouse on Mars:
Mine is in yours
Joseph Arthur:
Even Tho
Bishop Allen:
Rain
Ween:
Transdermal Celebration
Windsor for the Derby:
We fight til the death
The Hidden Cameras:
Doot Doot Plot
Singapore Sling:
My life is killing my rock ‘n’ roll
Rainer Maria:
Artificial Light
Tim Booth:
Wave Hello
The Walkmen:
Little House of Savages
Keane:
Bend and Break
Isidore:
Sanskrit
The Wrens:
Happy
The Cardigans:
Erase/Rewind
Scissor Sisters:
Take Your Mama
Go Sailor:
Silly
Secret Machines:
Nowhere again
Tulsa Drone:
Red’s Theme
Secret Square:
Sparkly Green Couch
Calexico:
Attack El Robot Attack!
Dirty three:
I offered it up to the stars
Elefant:
Sunlight makes me paranoid
22-20s:
Devil in Me
The Nationals:
Abel
The Rogers Sisters:
Fantasies are nice
Tiger Saw:
RU Courageous?
Will Johnson:
Closing Down My House
Tilly and the Wall:
A Perfect Fit
Pedro the Lion:
Foregone Conclusions
Macha:
Smash and Grab
The Go Find:
"Bleeding Heart"
The Concretes:
Say Something New
All Time Quarterback:
Why I Cry
Queens of the stone age:
Turnin’ on the screw
The Parkas:
Filthy rich kids
Kings of Convenience:
Misread
Devin Davis:
Giant Spiders
A Whisper in the Noise:
Silence
Earlimart:
The Hidden Track
The Dandy Warhols:
We used to be friends
Midnight Movies:
Strange Desire
Camper Van Beethoven:
51-7
Flipper:
Sex Bomb
Rilo Kiley:
Ripchord
All Time Quarterback:
Send packing
Brightblack Morning Light:
Everybody Daylight
Her Space Holiday:
Tech Romance
Boyracer:
We were wrong
Preston School of Industry:
Get your crayons out!
Mojave 3:
Bluebird of Happiness
Calla:
Don’t hold your breath
Electrelane:
On Parade
The Futureheads:
Piece of Crap
Matthew Dear:
Dog Days
Stars:
Look up
The Operators:
The old man doesn’t like it
Beat happening:
Down at the sea
Broken Social Scene:
Anthems for a seve
Lilys:
Elizabeth Colour Wheel
Her Space Holiday:
My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend
Dismemberment Plan:
What do you want me to say?
Midwest product:
motivator
Unrest:
Isabel
Will Oldham:
Antagonism
Virginia Dare:
Ship go down
The Russian Futurists:
Precious Metals
Portastatic:
Drill Me
SOME CLASSIC ALTERNATIVE:
The Velvet Underground:
I’m waiting for my man
Venus in furs
T. Rex:
Mambo Sun
David Bowie:
Fashion
Blur:
Beetlebum
Bjork:
Human Behaviour
The Church:
Invisible
The Flying Lizards:
I Want Money (That’s What I want)
The B-52’s:
Mesopotamia
311:
Don’t tread on me
The Pixies:
Where is my mind?
Devo:
(I can’t get no) Satisfaction
Blondie:
Dreaming
The Vapors:
I Think I’m Turning Japanese
The Cure:
A Forest
The Cowboy Junkies:
Sweet Jane
