The "split" had begun as early as 1974 when Colin & Ian had decided that so much great new music was coming out of America it was impossible to ignore - who else would have played "The Bottle" ? Now regarded as one of the biggest records ever played. Of course playing contemporary releases wasn't new - The Wheel was doing that back in the late sixties. A lot of the music released between 1973 to 1976 are now seriously sought after tunes - you could pick them up for less than a quid up The Highland Room back then - Bill Brandon, Bessie Banks, Ujima etc. Yes, there were people who went to Wigan & had never been to Central Drive who assumed all that was bought or played was "Disco sh*te !! In 75/76 up The Mecca, in my opinion, there were 3 choices given you the way that the music was going.
1) Leave the scene altogether because The Mecca wasn't playing what you wanted & neither was Wigan.
2) Stick with the music at The Mecca - but still embrace 60s because there was still good stuff being discovered.
3) Embrace all the new stuff & dismiss all the 60s stuff.
You have to remember in 1976/77 there was an influx of people to The Highland Room who went to hear new soul & Jazz Funk - Northern Soul meant nothing to them.
70s soul & crossover nights have never been more popular than today - yet certain DJs were heavily criticised for doing just that over 35 years ago !!!
What goes around comes around folks !!