Triple M Classic Rock returns from the dead
Just nine months after axing its digital radio offering Classic Rock, Southern Cross Austereo has had a change of heart and is to revive the brand.
The move comes as part of a wide rebrand of its digital offering which sees SCA rebrand all of its stations as part of either its Hit network or Triple M offerings.
As of today, digital radio stations including Easy Hits, Buddha Hits and Oldskool will be rebranded under Hit network while Triple M will introduce Modern, Greatest Hits and Classic Rock.
Triple M Modern will offer alternative rock and pop from the 2000s while Triple M Greatest Hits will focus on the 60s and 70s, playing artists such as Led Zepplin, Beatles, Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Skyhooks.’
SCA killed off Triple M Classic Rock in October last year.
At the time SCA’s chief creative officer Guy Dobson said the station was “eating” into Triple M’s audience.
Easy Hits SCA’s challenger to Nova Entertainment’s dominant Smooth FM – will play feelgood favourites, while Buddha Hits will focus on being the ‘Tune In – Chill Out’ station.
Oldskool’s offering will feature hits from artists including Destiny’s Child, Pink, Justin Timberlake and Rihanna.
The new additions will boost Triple M’s network to 38 stations across Australia, while Hit’s new digital radio stations will take the network to 46 stations.
SCA’s chief creative officer, Guy Dobson, said: ““The rebranding of our digital stations reinforces SCA’s powerful, straightforward ability to deliver unrivalled content and scale on a national level using two highly recognisable audio brands.
“Our clients will now have easier and more effective access to leading and growing digital radio audiences via SCA’s suite of Triple M and Hit radio stations.”
The new Classic Rock offering will actually be the third time a network has used the brand.
In 2010, Lachlan Murdoch’s DMG Radio – now Nova Entertainment – axed Vega and briefly launched Classic Rock in Sydney and Melbourne.
The station tanked in the ratings and was axed a year later before being replaced with easy listening station Smooth FM.
And there is already a Melbourne Classic Rock Radio offering, being broadcast on AM as a sister station to 1116SEN. Classic Rock Radio launched late last year, replacing 3MP.
The owners of Classic Rock Radio applied for the brand as a trademark when they launched. It has yet to be granted.
Austereo also once lodged the “Classic Rock” trademark but later allowed it to lapse ion 1992. DMG Radio then did the same thing, with its protection lapsing in 2012.
It’s great that it’s back. Hope they bring back Alice Coopers show. Now I don’t have to listen to the same songs on the hour every hour on Triple M FM. Only dilema now is the choice between Triple M classic or SEN classic rock which is also great.
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Great news – looks like a solid offering across the board.
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Great news.
I haven’t listened to the radio in my car since Vega 95.3 became Smooth and Gold 104.3 rebranded to play more modern music.
Hopefully, they’ll take a page out of Vega’s book and play some of the more obscure rock tracks rather than just sticking to the mega hits. I used to Shazam a track at least once a week when I was listening to Vega.
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Can’t get enough of ‘Stairway To Heaven’.
Bring it on babe.
P.s. Did you know Jimmy Page eats Marmite on toast instead of Vegemite under the blankets at night.
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I am so glad that classic rock digital is back.
And Alice is also back!!!!
win win for everyone
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all these stations are rubbish
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I prefered OMG &
EASY to what’s on now. Another ratings flop for MMM
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I’m liking MMM GHD. It’s more or less OMG with a new playlist. You’ll even catch some of the ad’s saying ‘OMG it’s Triple M Greatest Hits Digital’ I’m hearing songs Gold used to play before they changed their playlist
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So happy. So so happy. I was totes devvo when they took Classic Rock away (or whatever the youngsters say these days). Thank you Triple M. Thank you. Please never take CR or Alice away ever again!
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Excellent news. Hopefully they don’t fall into the trap of playing just hits. Real music fans want variety which includes lesser known album tracks. Totally pumped Alice is back. Looking forward to 11am albums again. Well done on a sensible decision.
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Excellent news. Hopefully they don’t fall into the trap of playing just hits. Real music fans want variety which includes lesser known album tracks. Totally pumped Alice is back. Looking forward to 11am albums again. Well done on a sensible decision.
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So glad to hear Alice Cooper on triple m classic rock
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Thank god its back, just turned on the radio , first song on
Slowride – Fogat . Im in heaven
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Great to have MMM Classic back,would have to be the best radio station around.
Tremendous variety of music with minimal advertising.
Enjoy listening to Alice Cooper every evening. Keep it up
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…and now the commercials for online gambling and other garbage have been slotted in. Knew it couldn’t last. Greed wins again thanks Tripple $$$
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What the fu### ads ads ads ads where is the music you have turned a great station to crap
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Ads ads ads ads and dribble in the afternoon something great has gone down hill fast to many ads together
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I agree, you HAD a great station…Why screw with something that works, we don’t want ‘classic’ Martin/ Molloy or a lot of crap ads. Just play the classic rock PLEASE
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I AGREE – the one dodgy finance house ad per hour was bearable, but enough of the ads, already.
If it continues, I’ll tune out of MMM-CRD permanently.
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I agree with the recent comments above. The new Triple M Classic Rock is crap – the original one was my dream come true. I can’t stand all the adds & Martin/ Molloy crap!!!
PLEASE BRING BACK THE ORIGINAL CLASSIC ROCK.
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Well good that they are back but I noticed in the last week or two they increased the ad content by about 100% .. more ads means they loose me as an avid listener I hate those stupid radio ads which seem to dumb us down so they can just jump In with the other ad ridden stations and go to hell.
Comment edited under Mumbrella’s editorial policies.
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Can’t believe it now being bombarded with ads just like all the other FM stations
It’s a shame really enjoyed listening
You have lost me
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…. Why must YOU edit great songs “ie” Night Moves – Bob Seger, Wont Get Fooled Again – The Who? Just to name a few and there are heaps… There’s no real reason is there! More & more ads have scabbed their way in, shit from MMM Eddy opinionated bogan FM.. Martin/Malloy are about a funny as a fart in an elevator, ….Alice Coopers Show has embarrassing programming issues, example, after the song he’s saying “that was ACDC’s High Voltage” when what was just played was Rolling Stones? WTF? Why is Ugly Fill-in and Jane cringy accent Gazzo on! Jane has minimal music knowledge regardless of what she’s done. Obviously it wasn’t Rock, Australia wasn’t good enough for her, she spent years in the UK at the BBC presenting anything but Rock Music,…….Her voice has some whack accent makes me cringe and repeated and off the back of someone else’s write up vinyl album reviews, as for Ugly over the top Phil-in! There you go.. Again, I’m back listening to Alice Cooper from his own website, with the full show “untouched”, playing my own stuff, no ads, no ego’s, no uneducated bogan jocks, no cheap vinyl album reviews, no edits. The people UPSTAIRS killed a good system. We listeners were happy, for a little while……. Scuze me, I have to go now and turn my album over.
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Couldn’t agree more they are all about self promotion crap station now
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OMG ! The ” Block radio ” on MMM Classic Rock . Shame on you MMM , way to ruin an already shirty day
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