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Do major radio stations ignore unsigned local music on purpose?

wealllikeradio said:
It seems that way since they all seem to have their local shows on Sunday night at 11pm, and only have playlists with nationals. I like how this video lampoons it.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLXbijMW73s
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from a programming standpoint, playing local music does nothing for a station. the only ones who really care are the bands themselves, and their friends. playing the stuff late on a sunday night when it doesnt make much difference in the ratings is to gain the street cred with the local bands.
sorry just speaking the truth...
 
Because the bands are not signed for a reason, people do not want to hear them. With the exception of indie kids (who proudly do not listen to the radio) no one likes their music.
 
the_paul said:
Because the bands are not signed for a reason, people do not want to hear them. With the exception of indie kids (who proudly do not listen to the radio) no one likes their music.
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That's BS. The reason performers are signed to labels is because the label feels they can not only make back the investment money but make a killing to offset all the performers they've signed that didn't make them any money. This means that a band has to have a huge draw, not just a good one. In addition, much of label promotion these days is form, not content. Keeping a star's name in the headlines helps sales, regardless of how good the music is. Amy Winehouse is not a particularly good singer (I can name a bunch of local singers who are better), but her albums sell because what with her rehab and her run-ins with the law, she gets lots of press.

And for a number of years running, the biggest grossing band was one that the labels weren't even clamoring to sign: the Grateful Dead.

For years one of the biggest grossing singer/songwriters in Europe was Joan Baez, someone who could fill stadiums but couldn't even get a U.S. record contract.
 
DavidKaye said:
the_paul said:
Because the bands are not signed for a reason, people do not want to hear them. With the exception of indie kids (who proudly do not listen to the radio) no one likes their music.
Click to expand...

That's BS. The reason performers are signed to labels is because the label feels they can not only make back the investment money but make a killing to offset all the performers they've signed that didn't make them any money. This means that a band has to have a huge draw, not just a good one. In addition, much of label promotion these days is form, not content. Keeping a star's name in the headlines helps sales, regardless of how good the music is. Amy Winehouse is not a particularly good singer (I can name a bunch of local singers who are better), but her albums sell because what with her rehab and her run-ins with the law, she gets lots of press.

And for a number of years running, the biggest grossing band was one that the labels weren't even clamoring to sign: the Grateful Dead.

For years one of the biggest grossing singer/songwriters in Europe was Joan Baez, someone who could fill stadiums but couldn't even get a U.S. record contract.
Click to expand...

the 60's have been over a loooong time.
things dont work that way anymore.
 
punkdj said:
the 60's have been over a loooong time.
things dont work that way anymore.
Click to expand...

I know a lot of bands, probably about 100. I put on a live music show every Tuesday night. I've put on about 300 shows over the past 8 years. I've seen bands signed to labels, but for the most part they're small indie labels, even though the bands can pack houses.

ALO is an example. They have a very big following. They tour most of the year. The band has supported itself fulltime with its touring. Their music is phenomenal. I've known the bassist, Steve Adams for about 12 years. I never see him these days because they're always touring. But yet they're on a small label.

They'll likely never be on a big label because they're not a blockbuster band. They aren't dysfunctional like Amy Winehouse, so they can't keep themselves in the headlines. While Amy is a good singer, I can name any number of local singers who are better and choose better material. But they don't have the ability to attract attention to fill stadiums.

Local stations aren't going to play local music because they don't feel it's going to bring listeners. Local bands, even those that tour a lot aren't going to make the bigtime because they don't have that extra oomph that not only propels them into the spotlight, but will do it so spectacularly well that a national label can bank a ton of money.

Oh, and one thing I've learned about showbiz is that ordinary sells better than great. In music, most listeners don't like challenges. The Bay Area is blessed with some of the greatest musicians on earth, playing some of the most imaginative and complex music in existence. But the average listener does not want this. They want those 2- and 3-chord wonders. This is why TV theme songs do so well. They're simple. Great musicians don't play simple. But successful musicians do.
 
Unfortunately, the best musicians or hottest bands may not be the best at getting attention, not the prettiest, and may not, as one former Bay Area ballplayer once said "put butts in seats." Madonna is a marginally talented singer and good dancer, but her ability to stay in the headlines and move music that makes money for the record companies is what makes her command the huge money she rakes in.

This has also been true of air personalities...some of the most brilliant have not had the talent for self promotion that other lesser personalities have had...and the lesser one who can grab listener attention and headlines best often comes out on top. (There are some obvious exceptions to this, and if you listen to and follow radio enough, you probably know who they are.)
 
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