Tune in to 92.3 xFM, the all-music station

There’s a new sound that’s dominating the airwaves. It may be unlike your typical radio station, but that’s precisely where its appeal lies. Instead of DJs who babble on and on, all you hear is music, which is why people listen to a radio station in the first place.

 The changes started to be felt months ago, when Nation Broadcasting Company decided to relaunch 92.3 xFM with a new format. That was when they began airing more “house” music — and based on listener response, they want to hear more of it.

According to my friend 92.3 xFM president and CEO Raymund Miranda, this is exactly what the radio audience has been clamoring for: A return to basics, which he defines as “a unique sound, a return to music programming and a commitment to quality.”

As part of its efforts to deliver this to its audience, 92.3 xFM signed an exclusive deal with the London-based Ministry of Sound, one of the leading purveyors of house music in the world. The deal gives 92.3 xFM access to the Ministry of Sound’s huge catalog, which includes Hed Kandi and other big names in the field of house music.

The search for a new format began when a new management team was appointed to take over the station last January. After studying research data from all over the world — and touching base with listeners — Miranda and xFM’s managing director Al Torres realized that this was the kind of format and music that would allow the station to, “creep back into the consciousness of our listeners.”

It goes by different names: Chill-out, trip hop, electronica, new jazz, ambient, lounge and eclectic. This type of music has been used to great success in commercials, movies like American Beauty and Cruel Intentions and TV series like House, Grey’s Anatomy and 4400.

Miranda and Torres refer to it as downtempo music. “This came out as the most popular choice. What we want to do is cater to listeners who just want to escape from the frenzy of life, who always try new things, who work and play hard while keeping abreast with the world, and who want to be a step ahead of the rest,” says the duo.

 ”We found a strong demand among listeners who had deserted the FM band,” adds Miranda. “They wanted a unique sound, they wanted to listen to music again and they were looking to radio to be the music expert it used to be in the past.”

Given the research they had available, downtempo was the choice they made.

“It’s been around for over 25 years in various forms,” adds Miranda. “There is no present form, and that’s why it continues to have survived over the years. It is constantly evolving and in mutation,” he explains. But that’s not all. “To this mix, we’ve also added a bit of house and indie,” says Torres. “A lot of great Filipino artists have been performing this music over the years and we’re pleased that they’ve been supportive of the station.”

92.3 xFM intends to move with an audience whose taste is constantly evolving — hoping to keep in step with this taste shift. As well, xFM promises to have its audience shape its sound, keeping the station fresh and in tune with the times.

The response to the reformat has been gathering steam judging by the number of forum threads, blogs and postings on the Internet. As of press time (and a month after the reformat), a simple Google search has shown 408 results to a search for 92.3 xFM. “People have been listening to this music all over the place,” explains Miranda. “Clubs, bars, TV, commercials, ring tones — everywhere but never in one single place on FM in Mega Manila...until today,” he ends. xFM is that gathering place for all these listeners — not just between 18 and 39 year olds it would seem, given that the station has also become a favorite preset station across all demographics. Tune in to 92.3 xFM or listen on-line via xSTREAM at http://www.923xfm.ph and be a part of a gathering storm.

It’s all work for The CompanY

The CompanY will have a repeat performance of Destination: Bossa Live! on Aug. 25 at the Mandarin Oriental Manila’s Captain’s Bar. The group returns to Metrobar in a concert titled, In Company with The CompanY (A Night of Music for a Cause) scheduled on July 27, 8 p.m. Expect a greatest hits concert alongside the group’s strongest tour de force numbers. Provincial shows are also scheduled for the country’s premiere vocal group on July 28 in Naga City and Aug. 15 in Davao for the NCCC Mall’s Star of Davao Year 4.

The CompanY’s next major project will be a big band project with the UP Jazz Ensemble (under the leadership of Reyben Maigue) and Saxophoro (under the leadership of Michael Guevarra). Seven years in the making, the dream concert finally comes true as it tours major cities nationwide and culminates at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Titled Let’s Kick Some BrASS! (a big band celebration), it kicks off on Sept. 15 at the Davao Central Bank Convention Center. The Cultural Center of the Philippines concert is on Oct. 13.