A friend and I recently found a pretty hefty backlog of several syndicated music shows. Outside of countdowns and new music shows, I was kind of surprised at how many of these current, relatively popular shows don't seem to actually be producing new content or episodes anymore, but instead rely on repackaging reruns. I guess it works for them and 99% of listeners probably have no idea.
Here is what we have (roughtly) figured out, and obviously there are likely exceptions to all of this.
Time Warp with Bill St. James - seems to be on a four year rotation of shows that started about a year into its run. Shows that aired in 2013 repeated in 2017 and 2021, shows from 2014 repeated in 2018 and are repeating now, 2015 repeated in 2019, 2016 repeated in 2020. A song or two in each four hour show looks to be swapped out, but the host segments and all of the production elements are the same.
Flashback with Matt Pinfield - Hour 1 and 4 are produced new each week, Hours 2 & 3 are recycled from past shows. Stations taking the two hour version air only Hour 1 & 4, so this makes sense.
Absolutely 80s and New Wave Nation with Nina Blackwood - both shows are on a one year rotation. What aired this weekend aired a year ago this week, etc.
Little Steven's Underground Garage - the majority of the shows seem to be on a one year rotation, and this is confirmed on the official site of the show, as it has a playlist of every episode since the show began almost 20 years ago. I'm not sure when it started, but outside of an occasional timely special and some shows in 2020 that centered around pandemic life, it seems to be reruns.
Backtrax USA with Kid Kelly - despite production elements and a general script that hasn't changed now in more than 20 years, these shows actually have enough "what's up with them now?" moments in them that they are clearly still produced new each week. It's also the only non-countdown non-timely syndicated show I can think of that utilizes sub hosts, even though there's really no reason a lot of episodes can't all go "in the can" at once
The Amazing 80s with M.G. Kelly - seems to be on the one year rotation. I'm not sure if his other shows are as well.
America's Greatest Hits with Scott Shannon - lots of repeated themes and mini countdowns, but I can't tell if they are repackaging old shows or if Scott is still voicing new episodes
Rewind with Gary Bryan - same as Scott Shannon. Plenty of repeated themes, but I'm not able to tell if the shows themselves are recycled or still recorded new.
The Classics with Steve Downes - seems to be a mix of new and recycled shows
Off The Record with Uncle Joe Benson - seems to be a mix of new and recycled shows
Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown - the official website shows that the majority of shows look to be encores these days, but it specifically states reruns/new shows
House of Hair with Dee Snider - Looks like lots of recycled shows, and Hour 2 (the middle hour) looks to always be a recycled hour.
Here is what we have (roughtly) figured out, and obviously there are likely exceptions to all of this.
Time Warp with Bill St. James - seems to be on a four year rotation of shows that started about a year into its run. Shows that aired in 2013 repeated in 2017 and 2021, shows from 2014 repeated in 2018 and are repeating now, 2015 repeated in 2019, 2016 repeated in 2020. A song or two in each four hour show looks to be swapped out, but the host segments and all of the production elements are the same.
Flashback with Matt Pinfield - Hour 1 and 4 are produced new each week, Hours 2 & 3 are recycled from past shows. Stations taking the two hour version air only Hour 1 & 4, so this makes sense.
Absolutely 80s and New Wave Nation with Nina Blackwood - both shows are on a one year rotation. What aired this weekend aired a year ago this week, etc.
Little Steven's Underground Garage - the majority of the shows seem to be on a one year rotation, and this is confirmed on the official site of the show, as it has a playlist of every episode since the show began almost 20 years ago. I'm not sure when it started, but outside of an occasional timely special and some shows in 2020 that centered around pandemic life, it seems to be reruns.
Backtrax USA with Kid Kelly - despite production elements and a general script that hasn't changed now in more than 20 years, these shows actually have enough "what's up with them now?" moments in them that they are clearly still produced new each week. It's also the only non-countdown non-timely syndicated show I can think of that utilizes sub hosts, even though there's really no reason a lot of episodes can't all go "in the can" at once
The Amazing 80s with M.G. Kelly - seems to be on the one year rotation. I'm not sure if his other shows are as well.
America's Greatest Hits with Scott Shannon - lots of repeated themes and mini countdowns, but I can't tell if they are repackaging old shows or if Scott is still voicing new episodes
Rewind with Gary Bryan - same as Scott Shannon. Plenty of repeated themes, but I'm not able to tell if the shows themselves are recycled or still recorded new.
The Classics with Steve Downes - seems to be a mix of new and recycled shows
Off The Record with Uncle Joe Benson - seems to be a mix of new and recycled shows
Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown - the official website shows that the majority of shows look to be encores these days, but it specifically states reruns/new shows
House of Hair with Dee Snider - Looks like lots of recycled shows, and Hour 2 (the middle hour) looks to always be a recycled hour.
