Why Do Radio Stations Play the Same Songs Over and Over Again

I think it's safe to say that the number 1 complaint that virtually people have confronting even their favorite radio station is that they play the same songs over and over over again throughout the 24-hour interval. Later interning at a radio station in college, working part-time on and off for years, and even giving sales a try for a yr – I can safely say we heard it all the time. And we know! Merely it's not our fault or unique to a certain station… all stations likewise particular time catamenia stations (oldies, classic rock, etc.) will take this complaint from frequent listeners. Notice I said frequent. Casual listeners don't normally notice, but if you lot're listening every day or for a skillful chunk of time, yous are leap to hear repeats.

I think there is a huge misconception that the DJs choice all the songs that play and that couldn't exist further from the truth. Back in the 24-hour interval, they could play songs of their choosing, and Plan Directors, the master person in accuse of that particular station, had a lot of liberty besides. Yes, DJs tin still throw in a vocal or two for requests or if they have a asking hr built into their normal schedule, that'southward accounted for. But overall, that week's playlist is called by the parent company at least a calendar week in advance.

Radio playlists are made up primarily by what songs are charting nationally on the song charts in the genre of the radio station. Streaming has added a whole other chemical element of charting, but traditionally a record label and their rep would substantially 'sell' their artist to the various Program Directors at the appropriate radio stations throughout the country. They'd send avant-garde copies, special merch, and sometimes stop by in person to pitch their artist'southward new release. New artists, especially, are 'sold' more than established artists and might fifty-fifty stop by in person, do a alive interview, event, etc.

Now though, most radio stations are owned by huge conglomerates and are not locally owned and operated like they were back in the solar day. As I write this, iHeart Media has 858 radio stations, Cumulus has 429 and third up is Townsquare Media with 321. I worked initially for Townsquare Media, but our stations were sold to Cumulus shortly after I started my internship. With the large conglomerates like this, in that location is more syndication and cohesiveness between like genre'd radio stations. A rock station in Illinois owned past the aforementioned company will probably have the aforementioned songs playing equally a rock station in Texas. Now, each genre has a Vice President that decides what new songs will get played vs individual Programme Directors. I know they practice accept meetings with the plan directors and practise take their input, but ultimately it is upward to the parent visitor.

How ofttimes songs get played is a picayune unlike. Songs at the pinnacle of the charts are always in heavy rotation. They are really trying to entreatment to the casual listener by making sure they hear that hot song the 1 time they might tune into the station. The meridian v songs or so will ordinarily exist played well-nigh one time an hour. Throughout the day, older merely still pop songs will besides play to mix things upwards, which are either "Recurrents" or "Golds" – depending on their age. Recurrent songs are songs that used to be the top hits just are slowly moving downward the charts and are on their way out. People even so like them, just not the "hottest" song correct now. Each genre has different qualifiers for how they determine a vocal is recurrent or not. A "Aureate" is a song older that everyone knows when it comes on and that was at the acme in its heyday.

So, long story curt is that the radio station plays the same songs over and once more to appease the casual listener, and if you're noticing, that means y'all are a "P1 radio listener" for that station aka you listen to that station more than than whatever other. You're likely to hear their repeats, which we understand can become annoying, merely I ask y'all to keep a few things in mind:

• The radio station is free for you lot! Gratis music and localized content is provided to you via your car radio or even streaming device. You either love the format, DJs, or some combination to listen every bit often equally y'all practise.
• The radio station has to brand coin! To stay in business and remain free for you, the radio must make money. Having the hottest, most pop songs play oft for those casual listeners improves the chances of them sticking around and listening for longer and and then hearing the paid-for ads.
• Vesture your P1 listener badge with pride! If you're noticing the playlist schedule, yous are certainly a P1 listener or at least pretty dang close. Cut the station some slack, I hope they aren't doing it to annoy y'all. It'due south simply all-time practices for the overall business.

Well, there you become! A very long caption for a very common question/complaint about radio stations. I too found a good video on the topic, likewise, so check that out below. Did that all brand sense or are you still going to change the station adjacent time that vocal comes on over again?

dickersonwher1959.blogspot.com

Source: http://blog.kirstenkrupps.com/why-does-the-radio-station-play-the-same-songs-over-and-over

Share this post