Howdy

[BTH73]

Former car stereo installer for 20yrs. Auto electric, mechanic, and aircraft assembler, (Boeing).
I grew up listening to radio. I had a transister AM radio from the age of 4. I was listening to the very first FM brodcast when it arrived. They used to play full albums without interruption. I think it was KLOS that was the first in southern California, that used to be a college radio station.
During my install days, we listened to the radio all day long while working. Couldn't ask for a better job. Total freedom. Smoked weed all day and listened to music and worked.
After many years, the play list got smaller and smaller. Eventually we switched to cassett tapes, then CD's because we hated hearing the same songs 10 times a day. I came here the other day because I was wondering how large the typical Fm station library was. 250 to 300 songs is PATHITIC. I haven't listened for any length of time since the mid 90's. I now have a personal MP3/ FLAC library of over 22,000 songs and growing slowly.
I own 4 portable players, of which 2 are Fiio M6's that are android and can deal with an unlimited amount of songs. Currently the library is around 311gb on 512gb micro SD card's.
It's too bad that the people in radio killed their own buisness. It would be nice if they returned to a varity of music that didn't repete every hour. At least a library of 10,000 or more. Times change and things go by the wayside, never to return.

 

[radiofan2023]

Welcome and prepare to learn why stations only play 250 to 300 songs

 

[bturner1]

Welcome. Let's set some things straight. Radio people have not killed radio. The reason a library of 10,000 or more is no longer heard is because it's not viable financially. If it was it would be around. Second, most stations playing currents have libraries like you describe and like top 40 in the 1960s and 1970s, the biggest hits are heard about every 2 hours, sometimes a bit more. This is nothing new.

Radio is a business and research has never been better now than at any point in time. We know most listeners tune in about 20 minutes at a time several times a day. Very few are all day listeners.

We have learned to shorten playlists to what songs everyone likes in our target audience. In theory is you play a song 5 in 10 in your target demo like, 50% of your listeners left for another station. Programming's job is to retain listeners as long as possible.

Like you, I'm a music lover. We are the minority. Most music listeners want something familiar they can sign along with. That means the 500 or so songs a station might play suit them just fine because when they turn on their radio they hear songs they love.

What I don't understand, having been in radio for decades, is why someone with such disdain for radio wants to post here. You admit there's nothing you like on radio. I just find that perplexing. Can you enlighten me so I can learn something?

And let me add, your opinions are welcome here and I think most of us will offer a factual answer in a polite way.

Speaking of polite, while you offer your opinion, keep in mind many people here, like myself, are in this business and it's sort of rude to say we ruined radio when we are just doing our jobs as our bosses dictate.