While I was no particular fan of the Mountain (as much as I did enjoy the music of Adele before hearing “Rolling in the Deep” every hour or so), the response to Clear Channel’s firing of the station’s morning show hosts recently and this weekend’s format change (which John Schuster referenced in this week’s Media Watch) hasn’t been terribly positive online:
And there’s reason to wonder what Clear Channel was thinking, flipping a station that ostensibly seemed to care about music and the community into a slightly edgier version of Mix 94.9 designed for people who like pop music, but are generally frightened by anything more urban than the Black Eyed Peas. Most of the playlist hasn’t changed all that much, so if you’re a big fan of “Pumped Up Kicks” or Colbie Callait, you’re still set, but some of the new songs that didn’t previously appear on the Mountain that are making the rounds on My 92.9 include Katy Perry’s “California Gurls”, Taylor Swift’s “Back to December”, and Lady Gaga’s “You and I”. Definitely not exactly anything you can’t hear nearly anywhere else, and almost certainly not the listeners of the Mountain were asking for.
If you think there’s a station in the market that’s already covering that sort of thing, you’re right, since 97.5 plays essentially 80% of the same songs. Most people might have already forgotten that American Idol winner Kris Allen exists, but both 97.5 and 92.1 played his “Live Like We’re Dying” already today. Same for Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight” and Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger”. Corporate radio will always likely suck, sure, but in an age where I can stream nearly anything I want musically on my phone, computer, or elsewhere on a whim, I’m not entirely sure why Tucson’s radio stations seem to be moving to one personality-less blob of dated adult contemporary hits. Why bother programming your radio anymore? Odds are you’ll just be subjected to Katy Perry, no matter which button you push.
This article appears in Nov 17-23, 2011.
Its all about the money and marketing…………..they really screwed the pooch on this one…….bring back Jenny and Craig you morons……………..
wow. and i thought 92.9 was bad before. kxci 4 lyfe
I am so sad this was my station for so long, now it is just anothe teen station playing the same stuff over and over leavign us middle aged people with nothing…another pop station….I hope Jenny leaves and works with grown ups again because she was good. She will be missed.So so many of the people I know have left the mountain, who needs them, we have internet and satellite radio…..still so sad…..
Who needs morning radio anymore? Jenny and chris were blooding. I always liked the different programming like acoustic sunrise and evolving u on occasion. Corporations will never get it. Free or are community supported radio all the way.
Jennie was an obnoxious misandrist. When I heard that Clear Channel had fired her I literally yelled out “FINALLY!!!!” Good riddance.
I liked “Acoustic Sunday” whenever Jeannie WASN”T hosting. I can’t tell you how many times I listened to that on Sunday and then accidentally left my dial on 92.9 the following monday only to be subjected to a lecture on female empowerement from Jeannie followed by non-stop Pink and Allanis Morissette song’s about how they hate men.
Yes. I get it Jeannie. You hate men. Maybe if you weren’t quite so misandrist you might have had a sufficient audience to save your job. That’s what happens when you alienate 50% of the listening audience day after day after day.
I stopped listening when they let Jennie go, however my 15-year-old granddaughter tells me she and her friends switched right over there becase 92.9 plays all the songs they like, including all the good rap songs, but none of the misogynistic, illiterate rap songs. She didn’t use those words, but she gave some examples when I asked what she meant when she said what she did say. Hers is a better demo than mine from the station’s point of view, I’m guessing. Kicked to the curb, yo.
I was excited to find The Mountain when I moved her in 08…now will be not listening. Sorry, canned music is not my thing. Sad change. Poor choice by the directors of the station.
I was sadden to hear that the station I had grown to like, with today’s adult music was gone. The new is all bubblegum music. Thankfully, the Mix FM is better then this new branding. Very thankful for Sirius in my car, go channel 10 and 12. Get the same music that the Mountain had, but without the commentary and talk.
Sad to have lost Jennie and Chris…Tucson is not the same without them on air 🙁
I loved the “The Mountain”..i loved new music monday, aucustic sunrise, and the morning show. It was refreshing to hear music that wasnt overplayed. It was because of the mountain that i first listened to my now favorite artist. Eric Hutchinson…Bad move Clear Channel.
I can’t even turn the station on anymore – I used to listen to it every day for 10 years and now there is nothing of substance to look forward to. Jenny & Chris were unique and genuine and it was nice to have an appreciation of music and true artists. I agree – this new style is completely unoriginal and now there is no option for people who appreciate upbeat, from the heart, original music.
To the person who said all Jennie talked about was hating men: Ummm, what are you talking about? I listened to the station for years and never once heard her complain about men. They talked about community related issues, not feminism .
I agree with everything said here – regarding how 92.9 was original and it used to stand aside from all other stations in town. I used to love this station because it made me feel “sane” during the day. I guess that’s the only way to explain why I used to like this station so much. Nothing too “peppy” or too “sad”, just mellow, positive and good music for us people in the upper-20’s mid 30’s who are over the whole flashing lights and loud music sometimes. Very sad news indeed.
Am I the only one around here who actually likes this station quite a bit, minus the morning show?? I’m listening to it now in fact. I love it.
i really miss the mountain, with jenny, my sons and i went to the studio c, they loved it, we loved it.
they are 31 and 28 now and we still talk about the days.
carbon leaf was my oldest sons favorite. we went to the plush that night, stood out on 4th to hear them.
what a time, what a memory, what a shame it had to end.
i really miss the mountain, so do alot of ppl.
sad, really sad.
I miss the old 92.9 when I was in elementary school I would liten to them during school it really helped me with my grades after I moved back to tucson from Phoenix I found out they had changed my favorite station to country when I hate country I just can’t stand it please bring it back.