Editing songs for length in the US

[IBadget1]

I have been noticing how US radio edits songs for their length. For instance, on Hawaii's Smooth Jazz KORL 101.1, the short version of George Duke's "Sausalito" is played on Johnny Miro's "Smooth Morning Mix." I have the full (longer) version of "Sausalito" on my iPod. Philippine radio, OTOH, plays the full versions of songs. 106.7 Dream FM in Metro Manila recently played the full version of George Duke's "Sausalito" at about 12:50 PM Philippine Time. It seems Philippine radio is not ashamed of playing full, unedited versions of songs. Are there any good reasons why US radio edits songs for their length? Is editing songs for length done in other countries besides the US? Thanks in advance for any insightful answers.

 

[davideduardo]

I have been noticing how US radio edits songs for their length. For instance, on Hawaii's Smooth Jazz KORL 101.1, the short version of George Duke's "Sausalito" is played on Johnny Miro's "Smooth Morning Mix." I have the full (longer) version of "Sausalito" on my iPod. Philippine radio, OTOH, plays the full versions of songs. 106.7 Dream FM in Metro Manila recently played the full version of George Duke's "Sausalito" at about 12:50 PM Philippine Time. It seems Philippine radio is not ashamed of playing full, unedited versions of songs. Are there any good reasons why US radio edits songs for their length? Is editing songs for length done in other countries besides the US? Thanks in advance for any insightful answers.

Generally, stations don't edit songs. The labels do.*

US radio gets promo copies (often delivered by MP3) that include multiple versions... typical of multi-version cuts would be an album version and a radio version. The radio version will usually be shorter, although it might also have some words changed, etc., if the lyrics are hardcore. We even see CHR and AC versions, which are different mixes.

A station in the Philippines would only get the album version.

Radio likes shorter versions as it allows more different songs to be played in the hour. Many of us have music scheduling rules that don't allow more than a certain number of longer songs per sweep or per hour... and long songs have always been tough for record companies to get airplay on. The labels react by providing radio friendly versions.


* Stations do edit profanity if a clean version is not provided by the label.

 

[ROCKTHEMIC]

US radio is not "Ashamed" to play longer versions. It's simply more bang for your buck! The stakes are high here in America and the competition is much greater. If your playing a 12 minute version of something the competition is playing three to four different cuts or hits and is winning the commercial radio battle or game by feeding the listening audience a more satisfying musical meal. Think of it like a plate full of noodles vs. a plate with meat, fish, veggies, rice. Which sounds better and is more filling?

 

[IBadget1]

I can also see competition among terrestrial radio, satellite radio, Internet radio, Music Choice, and iPods. Because terrestrial radio is free to the listening public, it would not be feasible to play longer versions of songs. We are all familiar with the adage, "You get what you pay for." Anyone who wants to hear the longer version of a song must buy the song and put it on their iPod. I suppose people in the Philippines cannot even afford a radio, let alone an iPod. This is probably why Philippine radio is playing longer versions of songs, as well as songs that are not even heard in the US.

 

[ROCKTHEMIC]

Who says the longer version is "better" than it's shorter bretheran?

 

[davideduardo]

I can also see competition among terrestrial radio, satellite radio, Internet radio, Music Choice, and iPods. Because terrestrial radio is free to the listening public, it would not be feasible to play longer versions of songs. We are all familiar with the adage, "You get what you pay for." Anyone who wants to hear the longer version of a song must buy the song and put it on their iPod. I suppose people in the Philippines cannot even afford a radio, let alone an iPod. This is probably why Philippine radio is playing longer versions of songs, as well as songs that are not even heard in the US.

1. The "radio edits" as the shorter versions are generally called are provided by the promotion departments at the record labels. If the labels in the Philippines that represent international artists don't provide them, maybe they believe that in a smaller market it is not worth the extra expense.

2. Those same labels often look at places other than the US to determine what songs to release in promotion... certainly they look at Europe as well as the US, and they may find that different songs seem best suited to their market. As an example, some songs may be too related to issues and lifestyles of distant places for them to "work" in the Philippines, so the label releases what they feel is a better suited cut.

 

[elchupacabras]

Many satellite networks edit songs down to 3 minutes to use as fills for breaks. That way, when there is not a mandatory break for local stations, the spot is filled with music and not insipid PSA's.

 

[nd2023]

It's always been like this since the 50s, radio has preferred shorter songs. At a dance station, the short radio edits would be played in regular rotation, and the long club mixes would be played in mixshows.

 

[ajc_trw]

Who says the longer version is "better" than it's shorter bretheran?

1) A DJ that needs an extended bathroom break? (to put it politely)

2) Wait, that's the point. ;-)