It's Official and Shocking: Any Song 15 years old or older is "OLD SCHOOL!"

From the Madame Noire.com article WHEN DID “CANDY RAIN” BECOME OLD SCHOOL??? HOW I REALIZED I WAS GETTING TOO OLD FOR THE CLUB by Charing Ball

"...when the DJ cuts gets on the mic and says, “aiiiiight, we ’bout to get it in tonight.” With a few scratches of his turntable, “Candy Rain” by Soul for Real began to boom out of the speakers. Everyone got hype. The whole club collectively threw our arms up in the air while simultaneously singing, “Candy-coated raaaaaiiin drops…“  The DJ gets on the mic again, “Yeah we taking it back to the old school on this jawn.” Err…record scratch. Old school? What the heck is he talking about?"

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Now if this is what they are saying in the clubs then some may think the same philosophy should or would apply to the music that is programmed on Urban Adult contemporary radio. But programmers see it quite differently. We decided to take a look at what was played today on Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex area station "Old School 94.5" KSOC. What we found is music generally aimed at listeners at the upper end of the 35-54 demo. Here's a sample: TEDDY PENDERGRASS - Feel The Fire f/S. Mills, TEMPTATIONS - Treat Her Like A Lady, AL GREEN - You Ought To Be With Me, FREDDIE JACKSON - Jam Tonight, WHISPERS - And The Beat Goes On.

Now our quick and very brief survey of Old School 94.5 (which competes with "Smooth R&B" KRNB) does not speak to ALL Urban AC stations, especially those that brand themselves as "Today's R&B and Classic Soul." But in general terms at other Urban AC stations (WBLS, WDAS, etc.); today's mature R&B artists (think KEM and Ledisi) and music from 15 years ago (Guy and Pebbles) is played right along side music from 30 years ago (Earth,Wind, & Fire and Anita Baker).  For some of you knowing what's played on "Old School 94.5" might make you feel better!

So we were wondering what is the definition of "Classic Soul" and "Old School" to you? Let's not even get into Old School Hip Hop?

For a fun read here's the article at Madame Noire.com and check out "For 80s Babies: The 7 C's of People Too Old For The Club Scene" at Talented Generation.com