Dayparting Classic Hits (like in the old days)

[Avid Listener]

If you're a fan of an artist, so much so that you want to hear album cuts, then you should BUY the album. Maybe support that artist financially. Maybe see the artist perform a full show. Radio is not in the business of providing entire albums to listeners for free. We are the free sample, so that you'll be interested in hearing more, and perhaps purchasing some of that artist's music. And we find that a lot of people do this.

That's what I find more and more people doing on a regular basis. And once we buy CDs with our favorite artists' music, we plunk that into our dashboards instead of turning on the radio.

 

[TheBigA]

That's what I find more and more people doing on a regular basis. And once we buy CDs with our favorite artists' music, we plunk that into our dashboards instead of turning on the radio.

Great, now if only the RIAA would realize that.

 

[radiodadtx66]

That's what I find more and more people doing on a regular basis. And once we buy CDs with our favorite artists' music, we plunk that into our dashboards instead of turning on the radio.

And you're well within your rights to do so.

It seems to me that the size of music libraries for radio follows a bell curve of sorts. There's a peak (optimum) range for each format. Too few, you risk complaints of repetition. Too many, and listeners tell you you don't play their favorites often enough.

 

[Avid Listener]

And you're well within your rights to do so.

It seems to me that the size of music libraries for radio follows a bell curve of sorts. There's a peak (optimum) range for each format. Too few, you risk complaints of repetition. Too many, and listeners tell you you don't play their favorites often enough.

It's worse than that. Ask 100 different listeners for their favorites, and you'll get 100 different lists. And, the complaint of repetition goes beyond just playing the same few songs. It includes burning favorite songs out so that they are no longer favorites.

 

[davideduardo]

And you're well within your rights to do so.

It seems to me that the size of music libraries for radio follows a bell curve of sorts. There's a peak (optimum) range for each format. Too few, you risk complaints of repetition. Too many, and listeners tell you you don't play their favorites often enough.

Complaints of repetition don't come from having too small a library. They come from playing too many songs that an individual does not like.

They may not like a song because they never liked it, or because they got tired of it or because it is embarrassing to admit that they once liked it. But a station that plays too many songs that are not broad based consensus hits today and you get the illusion and perception of repetition.

The larger a library gets, more the perception of repetition by the average, non-fanatical listener sets in.

 

[davideduardo]

It's worse than that. Ask 100 different listeners for their favorites, and you'll get 100 different lists. And, the complaint of repetition goes beyond just playing the same few songs. It includes burning favorite songs out so that they are no longer favorites.

That is why asking listeners to name their favorite songs is not a practice used by radio stations. The average listener will forget many, many true favorites... and also include lots of songs that have "favorite memories" but which they really don't want to hear today.

 

[davideduardo]

That's what I find more and more people doing on a regular basis. And once we buy CDs with our favorite artists' music, we plunk that into our dashboards instead of turning on the radio.

I don't know anyone who buys CDs anymore.

 

[oldies76]

Yeah, it's a terrible idea to ask listeners what they want to hear. Better to dictate to them what you want them to hear.

Well, in this day and age, many listeners get that impression, that specific songs are being forced at them, with hardly any other alternatives. That is not my idea of radio. When listeners are hearing the same thing weekly, some get that impression, especially when their requests go ignored, after a DJ says we'll look for it, or it's coming soon and their own favorites are never touched!

 

[oldies76]

It's worse than that. Ask 100 different listeners for their favorites, and you'll get 100 different lists. And, the complaint of repetition goes beyond just playing the same few songs. It includes burning favorite songs out so that they are no longer favorites.

Like I've always said too, every person has his or her own personal favorites, most of which are never aired today, period. Of the 20 songs from 1980 heard last night on CBS-FM, during their weekly countdown, probably 3 are aired regularly today. That is unacceptable!

 

[oldies76]

DavidEduardo wrote:

"I don't know anyone who buys CDs anymore."



Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, and countless small "record" stores (Norwalk records in L.A....) sell CD's. People buy them. Just because "technology" advances, does not mean everyone follows. Only the freaks stand in line at midnight to get the latest gadget!

Btw, my 1970 Akai reel to reel tape player, VCR, DVD player, telephone, turntable, CD player, radio and 35mm camera all work well......today.

 

[TheBigA]

Like I've always said too, every person has his or her own personal favorites, most of which are never aired today, period. Of the 20 songs from 1980 heard last night on CBS-FM, during their weekly countdown, probably 3 are aired regularly today. That is unacceptable!

I said this in another thread, but I listen to the old Casey Kasem shows on Sirius, and am amazed by two things: How terrible the writing was, and how many awful songs got played on the radio. Especially in the 70s. Just because a song gets played in a countdown show doesn't mean it's any good, or actually connected with the mass audience. Old songs are a lot like old clothes. We shake our heads and ask "What were we thinking?"

 

[oldies76]

The average listener will forget many, many true favorites... and also include lots of songs that have "favorite memories" but which they really don't want to hear today.

Do you have solid proof of this statement?? How do you know what any individual person likes or dislikes today? Maybe a psychologist are the only ones qualified to answer these questions.

Sorry, just don't buy your statement.

 

[oldies76]

I said this in another thread, but I listen to the old Casey Kasem shows on Sirius, and am amazed by two things: How terrible the writing was, and how many awful songs got played on the radio. Especially in the 70s. Just because a song gets played in a countdown show doesn't mean it's any good, or actually connected with the mass audience. Old songs are a lot like old clothes. We shake our heads and ask "What were we thinking?"

I believe you are making this sound to the extreme. Music is attached to memories, things people did when they were younger, great times. Most songs connect to these situations. I'll give you the sad songs..."Honey" from '68 or "Seasons in the Sun". But most everything else can be aired today.

Btw, the songs in the countdown last night were top 20 and once the top 12 were being played, they were very familiar, but only 3 or 4 of them may get aired today.

 

[TheBigA]

Btw, the songs in the countdown last night were top 20 and once the top 12 were being played, they were very familiar, but only 3 or 4 of them may get aired today.

As I've said throughout this thread, most songs don't stand the test of time. They simply don't. Playing them in a specialty show on a Sunday night is OK. But inserting them in a rotation is a very different thing. It elevates weak songs to the level of classics, and most are not. It's simply insulting to the other quality songs that have held up better as time has passed.

 

[oldies76]

Big A: Are any of these hits airable today on classic hits? From the March 1980 countdown last night, listed in random order.
If not, then why? 1980 is in the middle / upper portion of the target demos classic hits stations are reaching out today.

Him - Rupert Holmes
Lost in Love - Air Supply
Working My Way Back To You - Spinners
Fire Lake - Bob Seger
Special Lady - Ray Goodman & Brown
Off the Wall - Michael Jackson
Longer - Dan Fogelberg
Call Me - Blondie
Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
Ride Like the Wind - Christopher Cross
Yes, I'm Ready - Teri DeSario
Desire - Andy Gibb
On the Radio - Donna Summer
Too Hot - Kool & the Gang
I Can't Tell You Why - Eagles
Second Time Around - Shalamar
How Do I Make You - Linda Ronstadt
Romeo's Tune - Steve Forbet
Refugee - Tom Petty
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

 

[TheBigA]

Big A: Are any of these hits airable today on classic hits? From the March 1980 countdown last night, listed in random order.
If not, then why?

Because most of them are awful. When I think of Dan Fogelberg, I don't think of "Longer." He has so many better songs. Same with Ronstadt. In a countdown of their greatest songs, those don't make the list. Just because they got played then doesn't mean we want to hear them again now.

There are songs that represent a year to people, their prom song, or things like that. One song for an entire year. "Longer" is not on that list. Neither is "How Do I Make You." That may have been the Top 20 for that week in 1980, but how many made it to the Top 20 for the entire year? Show me that list, and compare the song quality.

 

[oldies76]

But inserting them in a rotation is a very different thing. It elevates weak songs to the level of classics, and most are not. It's simply insulting to the other quality songs that have held up better as time has passed.

But, they are all classics...they are from 34 years ago...classics. The Pinto or Edsel is just as classic as a 1962 Corvette or a '64 Bug. The quality may greatly differ, but they are still classics.

"Honey" is a 1968 classic and so is 'Hey Jude"

"Undercover Angel" is just as classic as "Hotel California", see the point?

 

[oldies76]

Because most of them are awful. When I think of Dan Fogelberg, I don't think of "Longer." He has so many better songs. Same with Ronstadt. In a countdown of their greatest songs, those don't make the list. Just because they got played then doesn't mean we want to hear them again now.

There are songs that represent a year to people, their prom song, or things like that. One song for an entire year. "Longer" is not on that list. Neither is "How Do I Make You." That may have been the Top 20 for that week in 1980, but how many made it to the Top 20 for the entire year? Show me that list, and compare the song quality.

134 songs hit top 20 in 1980.

"Longer" is his biggest hit, #2 in early 1980...Or would you rather hear "Same Old Lang Syne, #9, "Hard to Say" #7, "Leader of the Band" #9, "Heart Hotels" # 21, "Run for the Roses" #18 or "Language of Love" #13.

 

[TheBigA]

But, they are all classics...they are from 34 years ago...classics. The Pinto or Edsel is just as classic as a 1962 Corvette or a '64 Bug. The quality may greatly differ, but they are still classics.

That's equating crap with good stuff again just because it's old. The Corvair is a classic piece of junk. Put one next to a 62 Corvette and see which one attracts the biggest crowd. Radio needs to attract the biggest crowd. You want it to play songs that only one or two care about. That's not going to happen. You want to hear songs that only you like? Buy them or download them. You shouldn't force the rest of us to hear the songs just YOU like.

134 songs hit top 20 in 1980.

Way too many. It's the musical equivalent to giving every kid in school a trophy or an "A." Giving every movie an Oscar. There HAS to be some selectivity. I asked for the songs that were in the year-end Top 20. Not how many hit Top 20 during the year.

 

[oldies76]

I asked for the songs that were in the year-end Top 20. Not how many hit Top 20 during the year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1980

and many of those still don't get aired.....today!