Glad i could stir things up a bit--this board was getting sleepy--
carry on!
carry on!
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Study proves listeners want hits, not deep cuts
- Thread starter Whiplash
- Start date
The real difference between "corporate radio" and "NPR" is that corporate radio has to actually please enough people to sell commercials and make money. This enables them to pay people wages and keep them employed. NPR only exists because liberal politicians steal money from taxpayers and operate on the premise that if the politicians like it, they'll play it. It's really cheap to operate with mostly volunteer staff. Voice of experience, top ten market in both public and corporate radio.
S
stevensonair
Guest
NPR affiliate stations also exist because corporations and listeners support it.
Go to a station like WNKU, WXPN, or KCRW and see if their programming department has goals to increase audience and serve their underwriters and donors, like any station. I'm betting you'll find that they do - and that "playing what politicians like" doesn't enter into it.
And NPR also isn't "public radio." They are a programming supplier TO public radio stations. And then there's noncomms that are listener and underwriter supported and are not NPR affiliates at all. So there's that.
Go to a station like WNKU, WXPN, or KCRW and see if their programming department has goals to increase audience and serve their underwriters and donors, like any station. I'm betting you'll find that they do - and that "playing what politicians like" doesn't enter into it.
And NPR also isn't "public radio." They are a programming supplier TO public radio stations. And then there's noncomms that are listener and underwriter supported and are not NPR affiliates at all. So there's that.
It would be nice to keep politics out of radio discussion boards. But since you went there..You say liberal like that's a bad thing.... Can you give an example of a liberal politician stealing money to support NPR? If I wanted to here conservative options I would listen to talk radio and I don't! I don't really care about your political options. Your radio opinions are welcomed. If you want to voice your political options call WLW.
TANKSBACK said:
TANKSBACK said:
Voice of experience, huh? If you really had top-ten market experience in Public radio... you would know that the amount of taxpayer money going into public radio would probably buy the paint to put eyebrows on a gnat sitting on the end of Uncle Sam's nose if we were painting a portrait of Uncle Sam.
In Top Ten markets... I'm not sure they have volunteers in the building on a daily basis. During pledge season they bring in volunteers to answer the phones.
It's O.K. to be mad at the world about something... but it's not O.K. to paint untruthful pictures.
Not sure why this has devolved into com vs non com. Sorry if I took us there. My intended point was playing the hits=ratings and revenue. Deep cuts= a hobby. Are there exceptions to the rule? Maybe a few.
Side note... I wish my mom was still here to see someone call me a "suit". I think partymarty and suit have never been uttered in the same breath... Except perhaps "clown suit"... Love it!
Remain calm.. It's radio!
Side note... I wish my mom was still here to see someone call me a "suit". I think partymarty and suit have never been uttered in the same breath... Except perhaps "clown suit"... Love it!
Remain calm.. It's radio!
.Now, that's just not right. It's thinking like that that's killing this business. Hopefully more creatively people with stay involved. But, it doesn't look like it. Hey "BO" can you play Free Bird again? I havent heard since this morning. Spin those hits till you die. Then when you get sick and tired of em buy an IPod like I did.
1250WTAE said:
Another great programmer who I'd admire and respect said this:
Individuals want deep cuts - the ones they like. With precious few exceptions, everyone's deep cuts are different. For example, one of mine is "Black Pepper Will Make You Sneeze" by Roy Lee Johnson, but I'm sure you've never heard of it, and I wouldn't want to inflict it on an audience.
Radio stations program to groups, not to individuals. When you've got half a million people listening, even if they all prefer your radio station, it's hard to find enough songs that they all agree on and are popular enough to merit the airplay.
This is why music is carefully chosen, why the DJs don't select their own songs, and why free-form radio is on the non-commercial portion of the band, where it belongs.
Individuals want deep cuts - the ones they like. With precious few exceptions, everyone's deep cuts are different. For example, one of mine is "Black Pepper Will Make You Sneeze" by Roy Lee Johnson, but I'm sure you've never heard of it, and I wouldn't want to inflict it on an audience.
Radio stations program to groups, not to individuals. When you've got half a million people listening, even if they all prefer your radio station, it's hard to find enough songs that they all agree on and are popular enough to merit the airplay.
This is why music is carefully chosen, why the DJs don't select their own songs, and why free-form radio is on the non-commercial portion of the band, where it belongs.
S
stevensonair
Guest
"where it belongs" is not your determination to make.
I know I'm repeating myself but.... KHUM is at 104.7 and 104.3 in Northern California and it is for profit. It is making a profit! I know because I recently was interviewed for the MM job at the station. I have seen the books! It is also the top rated station in the market. Just to prove that deep cuts can make it.
1250WTAE said:
TANKSBACK said:
I disagree with some of this. Specifically, nowadays, Corporate radio exists to gather much needed dollars to pay down their all encompassing DEBT. They hire few and fire many. They do little for their communities and their main focus is on the all mighty dollar. They have no spirit and really don't care about anything else. That's my impression in being in this business for 37 years.
I agree Card. Ask 1250WTAE of his successes. I know him personally and I can say plenty that speak otherwise. No innovation there.cardradio said:
The study is 100% correct and so is Marty. I don't think he intended to slight the public stations, but you can take that as you wish.
Mr. Spry, your station actually CONFIRMS this study. With the overwhelming majority of listeners tuning in to commercial stations for familiar music (please note huge ratings for WGRR and WOFX), ClassX is the niche station and you are well serving your audience. Bottom line is, most radio listeners use the medium to be entertained. They don't care who owns a station. Most of them don't know or even think about it. They want to turn on the radio and hear their favorite songs.
And this really has nothing to do with Corporate radio. The best and smallest companies use this research. They've been using it for decades. This is not something new.
Hard to believe that you would argue this.
Mr. Spry, your station actually CONFIRMS this study. With the overwhelming majority of listeners tuning in to commercial stations for familiar music (please note huge ratings for WGRR and WOFX), ClassX is the niche station and you are well serving your audience. Bottom line is, most radio listeners use the medium to be entertained. They don't care who owns a station. Most of them don't know or even think about it. They want to turn on the radio and hear their favorite songs.
And this really has nothing to do with Corporate radio. The best and smallest companies use this research. They've been using it for decades. This is not something new.
Hard to believe that you would argue this.
How do you explain this article?
http://www.wmtw.com/news/entertainment/-/8791692/16636154/-/xkoh6j/-/index.html
http://www.wmtw.com/news/entertainment/-/8791692/16636154/-/xkoh6j/-/index.html
Really micobob? A silly puff piece from a TV station web site?
I can explain it better by describing my angst at sitting in music test after music test begging and praying that the listeners give "Fire & Rain" and "Sweet Home Alabama" the "thumbs down" vote. But they NEVER did.
I understand there's a contingent of people on this board who think deep cuts is a good idea. It is, as a niche. Listeners want what they know. You'd better give it to them or someone else will. Whether you like it or not, or whether you think people are dumb, that's the way it is.
And, by the way, the ten songs in that article are some of the highest testing songs in the country. Looks like some reporter had an idea and just went with it on his own. I didn't see any real objective qualification of the opinion.
I can explain it better by describing my angst at sitting in music test after music test begging and praying that the listeners give "Fire & Rain" and "Sweet Home Alabama" the "thumbs down" vote. But they NEVER did.
I understand there's a contingent of people on this board who think deep cuts is a good idea. It is, as a niche. Listeners want what they know. You'd better give it to them or someone else will. Whether you like it or not, or whether you think people are dumb, that's the way it is.
And, by the way, the ten songs in that article are some of the highest testing songs in the country. Looks like some reporter had an idea and just went with it on his own. I didn't see any real objective qualification of the opinion.
There is no doubt that those songs are staples of Classic Rock/Hits and they are good songs, but to hear them in rotation every day for the last 30 years does become fatiguing and I think that was the point of the article. I think most listeners to radio would agree with that and when WEBN plays the same burned out AC/DC or GNR Welcome to the Jungle it is a tune out for a certain group of listeners.
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