iHeartMedia clusters that have zero local personalities

[vchimpanzee]

I take it you don't live in Van Wert, Ohio?

Online, but I got geofenced for several weeks. Or at least that's what people said. I think it was a glitch.

The station was recommended in a Facebook group for people who share my taste in music. It's a whole different world there.

 

[davideduardo]

Here's the thing: library size is irrelevant to an ordinary listener, because they don't listen all that much. One individual listener tends to listen to the radio (all stations combined) about 90 minutes a day.

In PPM markets, the average top rated station gets around 3 hours of use per "average" listener per week. Total radio use per person is not relevant here, as we are talking about how often your listener hears your station.

Radio is generally programmed for a listener who listens for short periods (20 minutes to an hour), because we know that's how people listen. That's why CHR stations can do well by spinning their top hits every couple of hours.

In PPM, the average span is around 15-20 minutes, but there are often many such tidbits in a day, separated by other things people do.

It would take 2-3 months for our "average" listener to hear every song in a 600 song classic hits library once, the way most classic hits stations are programmed. And by then, the PD will usually swapped some songs out.

And one thing that we know through deep research is that weak songs cause tune-out. If you play the very best, and always make the sets of songs different... scrambled in a nice way... there is no perception of repetition.

Heck, if you want to play "Brown Eyed Girl" or " Go Your Own Way" again for me right now, I'll still turn up the volume.

The biggest misconception: thinking "variety" means "lots of songs". It does not. It means "only songs I really love and none that I don't like".

 

[davideduardo]

The number one complaint I hear about music radio in general and Classic Hits stations in particular is the lack of variety and repetitive playlists. While I don't have empirical data to back that up, it is certainly a common complaint.

"Lack of variety" when examined actually means, "they play songs I do not like". As I posted a moment ago,"variety" means "only songs I like". It does not mean "lots of songs.

If you have a sample of listeners hear a music set with just high researching songs, they say they love it. If you add in two songs that are lower researching ones, the same sample will say that there is not enough variety. What they mean is that the set was destroyed by the less liked deep cuts. "Variety" is "a bunch of songs I all like".

And some Classic Hits stations acknowledge it. Some iHeart Classic Hits stations use a liner about not repeating the same songs during the workday "so you can listen longer."

And that is a trick as it is not hard to do. No song on such a station repeats ever in just 8 hours.

If one listens to a Classic Hits station at work, he or she will find that the same songs are repeated daily. Some Classic Hits stations spin songs up to 12 or 13 times a week. There is no need for that kind of repetition.

Average listener to a well performing station: 3 hours a week. That means that they won't hear the same songs on average for spaces as long as three or four weeks!

 

[ScottBurns]

You don't see the numbers I see. The rotation changes every week. The most played songs this week drop next week.

Even if the rotation changes, it’s the same songs that get beaten to death. Using the Bruce Springsteen example from above, there’s no reason that only two of his songs ever get airplay on iHeart and Audacy stations.

Thirteen times a week is twice a day. That's very low in terms of formats. Top 40 stations play over 100 times a week.

Twice a day is too many when there’s a potential library of thousands.

That's not true. Lots of radio stations take calls automatically. Having said that most large market stations have live bodies in the studio during the day. Just having a live body in the studio doesn't mean that person is going to take calls.

Then let me rephrase it: It’s more difficult to handle phones when there’s no live human in the studio. And that’s the case in hundreds of markets during many day parts.

And those other formats you mentioned: I find the repetition unbearable on most Hot AC and Country stations too. Hot AC has gotten particularly bad. And Country playlists were never this repetitive 30 years ago.

 

[ScottBurns]

That, and the general public isn't interested in calling radio stations. Participation is via social media. Phone calls are so 2000.

So come up with a better idea for listener interaction and investment in the station.

 

[CTListener]

Even if the rotation changes, it’s the same songs that get beaten to death. Using the Bruce Springsteen example from above, there’s no reason that only two of his songs ever get airplay on iHeart and Audacy stations.

Twice a day is too many when there’s a potential library of thousands.

Then let me rephrase it: It’s more difficult to handle phones when there’s no live human in the studio. And that’s the case in hundreds of markets during many day parts.

And those other formats you mentioned: I find the repetition unbearable on most Hot AC and Country stations too. Hot AC has gotten particularly bad. And Country playlists were never this repetitive 30 years ago.

Country radio sounded much the same in 1992; in fact, more recurrents and gold are played now than back then. The difference, most likely, is that you loved more of the songs in the format back then compared to what's on country radio now.

 

[TheBigA]

Even if the rotation changes, it’s the same songs that get beaten to death.

That's your interpretation. The millions who listen disagree. Radio is in the business of programming to mass audiences. If you want personal service, you're free to subscribe to one.

Twice a day is too many when there’s a potential library of thousands. .

The potential library is not the actual library. The actual library is the one that attracts millions of listeners. It is successful in achieving those results. If you don't like it, find another station.

Then let me rephrase it: It’s more difficult to handle phones when there’s no live human in the studio.

Radio stations are not in the phone answering business.

Country playlists were never this repetitive 30 years ago.

You're wrong. I can show you the numbers. Playlists were tighter, repetition was more frequent. Songs only lasted 14 weeks on the chart. Chattahoochee was 14 weeks from release to #1 to off the chart. Country now is aiming at a slightly older audience so things have slowed down.

 

[ScottBurns]

But the keep the basic menu. Heck, they even have a "McPalta" in Argentina... a Big Mac with avocado on it. And they have mate as well as coffee. But the rest of the menu could be in Rapid City, SD.

That means that there’s some regional variation at McDonald’s, proving my point. What regional variation exists when WHYI and WLDI have the exact playlists? Or when WSRZ and WQOL have the same playlist?

Indicating that they were struggling to do as well in the rimshot market as in the home market.

Respectfully, a few posts ago, you thought that the station targeted Fort Pierce. The format flips had more to do with ownership changes than anything. WOVV had a strong run, and had good numbers for a statin that you call a rim shot.

The transmitter is not home to the market, and about half the market is right on the edge of the 60 dbu signal. For in-home listening, you really need a 65 dbu.

That was nearly three decades ago. The influence of streaming services changed everything, as did the lack of good research at some stations.

As we discussed earlier, streaming services don’t even subscribe to local books.

There have always been stations with small owners that ignored research, did absurdly large playlists and thought that they could "make hits". With deeper programming support staff, as soon as those stations got bought they generally improved with either local or shared research and better programming practices.

Remember that 1995 was when full consolidation began. The reason that step was approved was that over half of all US radio stations were not profitable... and that was in the pre-Internet and pre-mp3 world. The Docket 80-90 proliferation of new stations made it hard for small and medium market stations to be profitable and all the upgrades and move-ins added many more stations to markets like Austin or Jacksonville or Phoenix; when there is no profit, programming suffers.

I won’t argue any of this, as you’re the expert. I am arguing that music radio just doesn’t sound good or creative today. I’m amazed that a radio genius like you likes what you hear.

 

[ScottBurns]

Country radio sounded much the same in 1992; in fact, more recurrents and gold are played now than back then. The difference, most likely, is that you loved more of the songs in the format back then compared to what's on country radio now.

Not where I grew up. Today, Country stations hand pick about a dozen gold songs that test well. A generation ago, most gold was fair play on Country radio, especially songs that were 10-15 years old.

 

[TheBigA]

Not where I grew up. Today, Country stations hand pick about a dozen gold songs that test well. A generation ago, most gold was fair play on Country radio, especially songs that were 10-15 years old.

That's not correct. Country Aircheck just did a study on Power Gold. They list 100 songs covering 25 years, the oldest from the mid 90s.

 

[ScottBurns]

That's your interpretation. The millions who listen disagree. Radio is in the business of programming to mass audiences. If you want personal service, you're free to subscribe to one

And as we have established, we are all entitled to our opinions. I shouldn’t have to subscribe to a personal service because you don’t like my opinion. I’m advocating for better radio.

The potential library is not the actual library. The actual library is the one that attracts millions of listeners. It is successful in achieving those results. If you don't like it, find another station.

It’s hard to find another station when the entire dial is filled with corporate owned stations that play the same songs in an extremely repetitive manner. That’s my opinion, once again, to which I’m entitled.

Radio stations are not in the phone answering business.

*And no one said they were.

You're wrong. I can show you the numbers. Playlists were tighter, repetition was more frequent. Songs only lasted 14 weeks on the chart. Chattahoochee was 14 weeks from release to #1 to off the chart.

Fine. I’m wrong. But that wasn’t my experience with my local country stations or others that I observed at the time.

 

[ScottBurns]

That's not correct. Country Aircheck just did a study on Power Gold. They list 100 songs covering 25 years, the oldest from the mid 90s.

I apologize to you, sir. But again, this is not my personal experience.

 

[TheBigA]

And as we have established, we are all entitled to our opinions

You're entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. You're basing your opinion on incorrect information. I'm giving you the facts. Facts are not in dispute. If you don't agree with my facts, show me your documentation. I've stated my sources.

 

[davideduardo]

Even if the rotation changes, it’s the same songs that get beaten to death. Using the Bruce Springsteen example from above, there’s no reason that only two of his songs ever get airplay on iHeart and Audacy stations.

Obviously, those are the only two that get listener approval in music tests. Why would they play songs listeners dislike?

Twice a day is too many when there’s a potential library of thousands.

But there is not a library of thousands. There is a library of only those songs a consensus of listeners wants to hear today. There are lots of former top ten songs that are universally disliked today.

Then let me rephrase it: It’s more difficult to handle phones when there’s no live human in the studio. And that’s the case in hundreds of markets during many day parts.

Hint: nearly nobody under 50 wants to use the phone today.

 

[ScottBurns]

You're entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. You're basing your opinion on incorrect information. I'm giving you the facts. Facts are not in dispute. If you don't agree with my facts, show me your documentation. I've stated my sources.

Which facts?? I granted your point about country stations, but noted that it wasn’t my experience.

 

[ScottBurns]

Obviously, those are the only two that get listener approval in music tests. Why would they play songs listeners dislike?

So thousands of songs have been tested, and there are only 150 songs that deserve heavy rotation? OK. Then I give up. But I am not backing down from my personal preferences, and nor should I have to.

But there is not a library of thousands. There is a library of only those songs a consensus of listeners wants to hear today. There are lots of former top ten songs that are universally disliked today.

Hint: nearly nobody under 50 wants to use the phone today.

Then come up with other ways to make radio better and more engaging. It’s tough to listen for me right now.

 

[TheBigA]

Which facts?? I granted your point about country stations, but noted that it wasn’t my experience.

On the size of the KRTH playlist, rotation, etc. Country chart data from the 90s and present. Etc

I shouldn’t have to subscribe to a personal service because you don’t like my opinion. I’m advocating for better radio.

You're advocating for what you and a handful of others want. Along the way you say you hate the most popular station in LA. I'm sorry but radio is not in the personal entertainment business. You want something specific for you. It's available for a subscription fee.

 

[ScottBurns]

On the size of the KRTH playlist, rotation, etc. Country chart data from the 90s and present. Etc



You're advocating for what you and a handful of others want. Along the way you say you hate the most popular station in LA. I'm sorry but radio is not in the personal entertainment business. You want something specific for you. It's available for a subscription fee.

You have some sort of personal animosity toward me. For years, you’ve been trolling my comments - not even allowing me a personal opinion without nastily telling me how wrong I am.

I will not concede the K-Earth point. They might have 400-600 songs in their playlist, but you completely ignore frequency.

I’m entitled to hate K-Earth. I’m sick of nearly every song they’ve beaten to death. Maybe it’s you who takes personally the fact that there are people who don’t like your preferred station(s).

 

[TheBigA]

You have some sort of personal animosity toward me.

Not at all. I'm trying to help you understand how things work, and you keep telling me how much you hate radio.

Yes you're entitled to hate anything and anyone. But if you state that opinion and base it on wrong information, then doesn't it make that opinion wrong?

 

[CTListener]

You're wrong. I can show you the numbers. Playlists were tighter, repetition was more frequent. Songs only lasted 14 weeks on the chart. Chattahoochee was 14 weeks from release to #1 to off the chart. Country now is aiming at a slightly older audience so things have slowed down.

Older? I thought the early '90s new traditionalists and "hat acts" (Garth Brooks, Clint Black, etc.) were just the beginning of country radio's transition from an older, Southern, rural format to one with broad geographic and demographic appeal, a transition that progress through the later '90s with Shania Twain and Kenny Chesney, through the '00s with Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts, the '10s with Fla-Ga Line and Miranda Lambert, right through today with Kane Brown and Morgan Wallen. How, and why, is country radio in 2022 trying to aim older?