Question about music scheduling for the PD's/MD's/CHR listeners on the board

[Rob Mackenzie]

Interested in opinions from programmers, CHR fans, whoever wants to give input. I know alot of PD's hang out here from time to time, I'm curious as to your philosophy on it.

Just thinking as I was driving home last night....When you're scheduling your music or setting up your clock...do you play a power coming out of the spots?
I've heard both arguments. "Why play the power song after your audience just tuned out during spots?"
But alot of audience sticks around, so do you reward them with their favorite song (power) right away, or throw a gold in quick?

Perhaps a power recurrent and THEN the current?

Just interested in your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[Mid West Clubber]

When I was programing I would give them a Power right after the break, and let the listener's know it is coming up next. However, this was in a very small market in Illinois on a 1kw station that didnt have any other local chr competition. So I say for you, mix it up a bit, and see what works for you, just dont come out of a stopset with a gold track, never do that.

 

[rayne931wnou]

Some overpaid consultant thought of this in 1985.



How about you come out of spots... with a hit...?



See. Even I could be a consultant.


Rayne

 

[CHRles]

Time is coincidental as I've been listening to Radio Now 100.9 the past couple of hours 8)

 

[Rob Mackenzie]

So, Rayne, you're saying basically it doesnt matter what category it falls into, as long as its a big song, its all good? (dig RadioNow btw 8))

I'm not in programming...yet! Someday I hope. Just was curious on what you guys thought.

 

[Adam Rivers]

I've alternated between the two when making clocks by hours... one hour will use a power, and one hour will use a power/hot recurrent. This way, you can not lose... because the song coming out of your spots is most likely strong. But, you've gotta use your supplemental records to build TSL and keep the listener around for a quarter hour. Any weak records you play have gotta be surrounded by strong ones.

 

[froggiesmother]

I've alternated between the two when making clocks by hours... one hour will use a power, and one hour will use a power/hot recurrent. This way, you can not lose... because the song coming out of your spots is most likely strong. But, you've gotta use your supplemental records to build TSL and keep the listener around for a quarter hour. Any weak records you play have gotta be surrounded by strong ones.

Why would you play weak records?...My philosophy was to always come out of a stopset with a high energy current or recurrent.

 

[mistermicrophone]

Why would you play weak records?...My philosophy was to always come out of a stopset with a high energy current or recurrent.

Who's to say a gold (something other than a curent or recurrent) is weak? The reason you play the gold you play is becasue they test well and will be on your station longer than 25 - 30% of the songs you add (not to mention even more will drop off after going to recurrent). I buy coming out into a current/recurrent...just don't underestimate the strength of your gold category!!

That being said, I'd never, ever look at any position as a throw away position in your clock. Make every song, break, imaging element, service element COUNT!!

 

[jjmac]

I'm with Rayne on this one...I try not to come out of stopsets with an unfamiliar song, but a hit's a hit - whether it be a Gold or a power or a hyperrecurrent or even a strong testing subpower. Your listeners don't care what category it is in Selector. If you're questioning whether or not you should be playing a song out of a stopset, perhaps you should question whether or not you should be playing it at all...

 

[froggiesmother]

Why would you play weak records?...My philosophy was to always come out of a stopset with a high energy current or recurrent.

Who's to say a gold (something other than a curent or recurrent) is weak? The reason you play the gold you play is becasue they test well and will be on your station longer than 25 - 30% of the songs you add (not to mention even more will drop off after going to recurrent). I buy coming out into a current/recurrent...just don't underestimate the strength of your gold category!!

That being said, I'd never, ever look at any position as a throw away position in your clock. Make every song, break, imaging element, service element COUNT!!

My point isn't that a gold would be weak...my point was that you shoudn't be playing a song in the first place if you deam it to be "weak" whether it's a gold, recurrent or current....I just always felt that coming out of a stopset you should be playing something that best represents what a CHR is a "contemporary hit"...and if you're coming out of the stopset with a high energy sweeper or jingle then don't be hitting me with a sleeper ballad...make it have some sort of tempo and energy to set the stage for the music sweep you're getting into.

 

[Adam Rivers]

I've alternated between the two when making clocks by hours... one hour will use a power, and one hour will use a power/hot recurrent. This way, you can not lose... because the song coming out of your spots is most likely strong. But, you've gotta use your supplemental records to build TSL and keep the listener around for a quarter hour. Any weak records you play have gotta be surrounded by strong ones.

Why would you play weak records?...My philosophy was to always come out of a stopset with a high energy current or recurrent.

I don't play weak records - I'm just saying that doctor has a few in his sample hours

 

[russ973]

Mostly power or power recurrent for me. At night it doesn't matter as much.

Most important is the flow and the mix. Protect the new music (should be surrounded by familiar songs) and make sure the listener knows your station in any 3 song sweep. i.e. Don't sound like the Hot AC, Urban, or Rock station.

 

[The Truthsayer]

I've alternated between the two when making clocks by hours... one hour will use a power, and one hour will use a power/hot recurrent. This way, you can not lose... because the song coming out of your spots is most likely strong. But, you've gotta use your supplemental records to build TSL and keep the listener around for a quarter hour. Any weak records you play have gotta be surrounded by strong ones.

Why would you play weak records?...My philosophy was to always come out of a stopset with a high energy current or recurrent.

I don't play weak records - I'm just saying that doctor has a few in his sample hours

I am in KCK's listening area so I listen to it regularly since it is more interesting than the typical station.
They are a wannabe CHR with a playlist as wide as the Grand Canyon. Doctor Radio's station (that he is the MD of) lost its focus around 2002. Very sloppy sounding station.
It can't decide whether it's a CHR, Hot AC, or alternative.

They're known to alienate their P-1's to do "Old School" weekends that are 80% 70's and 80's classic rock and have been known to jump all over records that are utter stiffs. I am sure that Hot 104.7 has gained listeners in that area from those absolutely stupid 70's and 80's weekends.
Their sample logs from last weekend's "Old School" weekend are in another thread on here.

Huey Lewis, Black Sabbath, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Eddy Grant, Pink Floyd, and the like are not "old school". Not even close.

 

[Rob Mackenzie]

Cool, thanks for all the replies guys! Like I said, just was curious and thinking out loud via R-I 8)

 

[mistermicrophone]

I am in KCK's listening area so I listen to it regularly since it is more interesting than the typical station.
They are a wannabe CHR with a playlist as wide as the Grand Canyon. Doctor Radio's station (that he is the MD of) lost its focus around 2002. Very sloppy sounding station.
It can't decide whether it's a CHR, Hot AC, or alternative.

They're known to alienate their P-1's to do "Old School" weekends that are 80% 70's and 80's classic rock and have been known to jump all over records that are utter stiffs. I am sure that Hot 104.7 has gained listeners in that area from those absolutely stupid 70's and 80's weekends.
Their sample logs from last weekend's "Old School" weekend are in another thread on here.

Huey Lewis, Black Sabbath, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Eddy Grant, Pink Floyd, and the like are not "old school". Not even close.

Yeah...we get it...you hate that station...and all things associated with it. You really get fired up about that station. Did they fire you once? Or did one of the jocks sleep with your girlfriend? What gives?