Song Tags

[LasVegasRadioJunky]

Does anyone have any research on the new fad of broadcasting the artist/title song tags at the end of every song in the playlist?

Why do stations use generic voices and not let the on-air personalities pop-in?

 

[davideduardo]

Does anyone have any research on the new fad of broadcasting the artist/title song tags at the end of every song in the playlist?

Why do stations use generic voices and not let the on-air personalities pop-in?

A lot of stations have done research, often a quesiton set at music tests, that show how important song IDs are for listeners. I guess those that think the information value overcomes the clutter value do it.

 

[Roger That]

My opinion, but the "how" you do it is much less important than actually doing it. As I'm sure DE will attest to, there have been a ton of studies over the course of many years that show listeners continuing to cry for the infamous phrase, "tell us what you're playing."

Again, my opinion, but you could backsell/frontsell any song you play, and not get hurt by it. Particularly new music, and especially music that is still new to the listener (which we assume is familiar because WE are familiar with it).

As to the "how"...if you're doing it the same way every time, it's likely to get cumbersome. But at least the programming is attempting something that doesn't pop up as much as it should: giving the listener what he/she wants.

 

[ricoontheradio]

I guess those that think the information value overcomes the clutter value do it.

"Clutter" is a thing radio people over-think sometimes. Many studies over the years report complaints by women of not being told what the artist/title info is on the song. So, I'd say for older-targeted female stations it might be an important element.

On an 18-34 station? Maybe not so much because that group is often driving newer cars (can see song info on RDS), or they are listening online (which provides song data), or they are just more of tech/internet users, so they know they can go to the station's website to find out the name of a song if they absolutely have to know.

It obviously all comes down to your own research, but more importantly, knowing what your audience wants.

 

[elchupacabras]

Re: Song Tags AND PET PEEVES

Song tagging is something "old" that is new again. Old Century 21 automation reels from the 70's and 80's often times had back announced songs recorded on the tape!

I don't personally care for the practice, but it depends on the station and demos. What does sound bad are the stations that tag their songs during a music sweep and then on the last song before an intervention (break), you hear a sterile recorded voice announcing it followed by a separate jock talking out of it, into the stop-set. Sounds like an unmade bed to me!

Another pet peeve: As a programmer, I used to get on my jocks for not hitting the posts of a song, or overextending themselves over the top of them. It seems like nobody takes the time to do radio well anymore. And then there is the case of backtiming, a lost art. I hear stations that fade out songs to hit network or sports programming without taking the "time" to do it. 20+ years ago, my backside would have been whipped had I failed to backtime for the TOH news some 20 minutes before the hour. SLOPPY STUFF!

 

[gr8oldies]

We always loved, at my station in the 70s, backtiming two or three songs ending with the super-cold ending of "Sir Duke", hit the ID and ABC news. Instrumentals were for wimps!