The Infinite Dial

One of the most fascinating stations of the mid-'90s was Rawlco's CKIS (Kiss FM) Calgary. At a time when Country music, despite its popularity, was M.I.A. from Top 40 and Hot AC, Kiss was an Adult Top 40 with a healthy compliment of Country titles, capable of going from Savage Garden into Vince Gill or a pre-stardom Shania Twain. For several years, it functioned as Hot AC, Top 40, and second Country station to the market.

The original Kiss is now Calgary's Jack FM and owned by Rogers, but Rawlco is back with CIGY (Calgary 97.7), that market's second new station this week. During the day, CIGY is very much like Kiss a decade later: a 50/50 Country/Hot AC mix that plays both Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer" and Emerson Drive's "Moments," Colbie Caillat's "Bubbly" and Dixie Chicks' "I Can Love You Better," as well as almost any song you can think of that straddles Country and AC. At night, it becomes considerably more eclectic: a mix of Triple-A and alt. country/Americana. (Canadiana?)

Throughout, the presentation is decidely mainstream -- reminiscent (in a good way) of the George Johns-consulted personality Hot ACs of 20 years ago. The eclectic nighttime mix is a product of the station's promise-of-performance to Canada's broadcast regulator. But something interesting happens when you take eclectic singer/songwriter music and present it like any other AC music, it sounds like AC music. (Of course, the late-'90s singer/songwriter boom proved the same thing.) And the positioning here is no more exotic than "all your music on one station."

Here are two monitors of Calgary FM. The first is from 5 a.m. this morning and thus doesn't include the Canadian music, which doesn't start rolling until 6 a.m. at most stations.

Bruce Springsteen, "Dancing In The Dark"
Alison Krauss & John Waite, "Missing You"
Faith Hill, "The Lucky One"
Traveling Wilburys, "Handle With Care"
Keith Urban, "I Told You So"
John Mellencamp, "Wild Night"
Big & Rich, "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)"
Eagles, "Busy Being Fabulous"
Carlene Carter, "I Fell In Love"
Jack Johnson, "Upside Down"
Lee Ann Womack, "I Hope You Dance"
Georgia Satellites, "Keep Your Hands To Yourself"
Rascal Flatts, "Stand"

And here's a stretch of the more eclectic 10 p.m. version from last night (the first day):

Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car"
Justin Rutledge, "Robin's Tune"
Byrds, "Mr. Tambourine Man"
Cowboy Junkies, 'Misguided Angel"
Jennifer Warnes, "First We Take Manhattan" (one of two Leonard Cohen Cancon covers heard in 80 minutes time)
Tift Merritt, "Broken"
Barra McNeils, "Darling Be Home Soon" (cover of Loving Spoonful song)
Randy Hutchings, "South Country"
Randy Scruggs & John Prine, "City Of New Orleans"
Jeremy Fisher, "Cigarette"
David Gray, "Babylon"
Proclaimers, "Life With You" (from their new album)
Rankin Family, "North Country"
Piscale Picard, "Gate 22"
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, "Please Read This Letter"