What's In A Label?

I had to post this e-mail exchange with a listener - that was more like an IM session:

Dear Mr. Walker - I read today WKTI switched to Top 40. When did you do that?

Dear Kelly - We flipped to Top 40 in 1974.

Dear Mr. Walker - Why would someone say you flipped to Top 40 if you didn't?

Dear Kelly - You'll really have to ask them.

Dear Mr. Walker - It was another station quoted in the newspaper.

Dear Kelly - Again, you'll have to ask the other station.

Dear Mr. Walker - Did the newspaper ask you?

Dear Kelly - No - and please call me Bob.

Dear Bob - I am a media student and this has all peeked my interest. Sorry to be a pest, but I am trying to understand why the paper would say you flipped to Top 40 without even calling to ask you.

Dear Kelly - Again, you will have to ask them. If you want to check for yourself, check with the magazines that cover radio. We have always been a top 40 station for adults. What changes is the music that qualifies as top 40. This is nothing new. When WKTI began playing REO Speedwagon and Journey, there were people who screamed "That's Rock!". When we started playing big top 40 hits like Let the Music Play and Like A Virgin, there were those who screamed "You've flipped to Dance!" In the 90's when we started playing Spin Doctors and Third Eye Blind, there were those who screamed we had flipped alternative.

With today's blend of hits coming from a variety of artists like Rob Thomas, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, and Gym Class Heroes - the best common label is top 40. There is just such a great variety of sounds for us to play.

BTW: If you did check Billboard or R&R (Radio and Records), you will see they classify our play-list as Hot Adult Contemporary.

I like Top 40 better.

Thank you for taking the time to claify this all - Kelly.