Radio for Boomers..Would this work in Cincinnati or Dayton?

[davideduardo]

Having worked in Dayton in the past, I find it hard to believe that anyone has money to spend on "research" to determine how many spins "Radar Love" requires. This isn't 1990 anymore.

No research determines how many spins a song "requires". Music tests determine which songs to play a lot, which to play less and which not to play. The PD will determine the rotations based on that and an analysis of time spent listening by heavier users of the station.

In many cases, stations of the same format in similar markets share music tests. Back in the 90's I shared AMT expenses for a country station in Tallahassee with other country stations in Albany and Pensacola. We rotated tests between markets and each market got a test every 18 months. Oh, and we did not discuss the test outside of the GM and PD... it was a "secret" to the rest of the staff.

 

[fedacct1]

That is because those stations do extensive and expensive research on the songs they play to reach 5he target age groups they want.

If you are in a rated market like Fort Wayne, then the ratings and owner research shows that is what most listeners want.

And, other than your personal preference, what proof do you have that such a blend would work?

I don’t, but surely I can’t be the only person that doesn’t like to hear the same fifteen 80s rock-40 songs driven into the ground in every city I go to.

 

[TheBigA]

I don’t, but surely I can’t be the only person that doesn’t like to hear the same fifteen 80s rock-40 songs driven into the ground in every city I go to.

You realize there are lots of other radio stations on that same dial, some that play current songs, not just old stuff? If the station you hear is playing songs you're tired of, change to a different format and you'll hear lots of songs you've likely never heard before. That's the magic of the radio dial. If that's not enough, you can pay for other services. Radio isn't in the music distribution business, but there are companies that are. They pay record labels to do that, and your subscription supports the music and artists you love.

This isn't about ratings or getting enough people to listen. It's about getting enough people that advertisers want to reach. That's a different thing. Advertisers don't use music to reach over-65s. They use news and talk.

 

[fedacct1]

You realize there are lots of other radio stations on that same dial, some that play current songs, not just old stuff? If the station you hear is playing songs you're tired of, change to a different format and you'll hear lots of songs you've likely never heard before. That's the magic of the radio dial. If that's not enough, you can pay for other services. Radio isn't in the music distribution business, but there are companies that are. They pay record labels to do that, and your subscription supports the music and artists you love.

This isn't about ratings or getting enough people to listen. It's about getting enough people that advertisers want to reach. That's a different thing. Advertisers don't use music to reach over-65s. They use news and talk.

The solution you suggest of changing the station is oversimplified. There is no changing the dial to find what I want in most cases. My point is radio has become homogenized. It didn’t used to be like that. You used to have localized top 40 charts and songs that would hit the charts only for certain cities. Even XM didn’t start out that way. It had great variety and would play lost songs and deep cuts. It’s now gone the way of being cookie-cutter like any other service. I find myself at least half the time streaming individual songs on Apple Music or listening to the Classic American Top 40 stream.

I’m not over 65. I’m 53. Solid income, major consumer. So, I maybe the advertisers don’t want to reach me either. Their loss!

 

[BruceB]

The solution you suggest of changing the station is oversimplified. There is no changing the dial to find what I want in most cases. My point is radio has become homogenized. It didn’t used to be like that. You used to have localized top 40 charts and songs that would hit the charts only for certain cities. Even XM didn’t start out that way. It had great variety and would play lost songs and deep cuts. It’s now gone the way of being cookie-cutter like any other service. I find myself at least half the time streaming individual songs on Apple Music or listening to the Classic American Top 40 stream.

I’m not over 65. I’m 53. Solid income, major consumer. So, I maybe the advertisers don’t want to reach me either. Their loss!

A lot if things "didn't used to be like that" things change friend.

 

[TheBigA]

The solution you suggest of changing the station is oversimplified. There is no changing the dial to find what I want in most cases. My point is radio has become homogenized. It didn’t used to be like that. You used to have localized top 40 charts and songs that would hit the charts only for certain cities.

That was when you also had lots of small record labels. Today you have three international record labels. They own everything you've ever heard. Sony, Universal, Warners. That's it. They don't target cities, states, or regions. They target the world. At one time, new albums were released on Tuesdays. (Partly because US charts were released on Mondays). The record labels wanted to do international releases all on the same day, so now all new music is released on Friday.

So what you're talking about isn't a radio problem, it's a music problem. The record labels have ruined music.

As far as "radio is homogenized," that's only if you look at things in a narrow way. There are thousands of non commercial radio stations that don't depend on advertising. They instead ask for listener sponsorship. Chances are you'll find less homogenized radio there.

I’m not over 65. I’m 53. Solid income, major consumer. So, I maybe the advertisers don’t want to reach me either. Their loss!

Not with music radio, no.