Foo - Radio stations playing the same songs over and over

I have been wondering about this phenomenon.

I don't know about your area, but some stations, speciffically the new rock stations in my area that I listen to, rotate the same songs in a very short loop. They would repeat the new ones at least 3 or 4 times a day and play some older stuff like once a day repeated and the list is very short.

Why is this?

Do they have a certain contract they have to obey from the record companies or their head companies like clear channel or cocks radio, or song ratings, or is it their own choice, DJ's choice that is.

Personally I would like to hear a wider range of songs. For example, they used to play that song, " I can ride my bike with no handlebars", but I haven't heard it in like a year.

So is it like this in most areas and if it is, does anyone know why?

Thanks

radio generally sucks....

You say this like its new.....this is how radio has operated for decades. New songs are played more and yes, I think they are under contract to play them so many times per day. Older songs that are played every day are probably decided on by some higher level program director because they are popularly requested or something.


radio generally sucks....
+1

This is why I like music online...especially services that let me rate and then propose new music for me based on what I like and dislike. Pandora is the big one now-a-days. It gets to know your tastes pretty well, pretty fast and suggests new artists that are often spot on to my musical tastes.

I've been listening to radio since the late 60's, and it's ALWAYS been that way -- nature of the business.

What little I've heard of the satellite radio, it hasn't been like that, but I'm not about to SUBSCRIBE to RADIO to find out for sure! I may LOOK stupid....

There's a local station that plays the rock I grew up with, and like, but it's still the same thing. There's waaaay too much Rush and AC/DC, and not enough of any of a dozen others I could name. I listened at work last year, but now it's either my co-worker/bud's radio on a different station, or my mp3. His station isn't bad, and it's low, so we can torment each other with gutter absurdity.

college radio ftw

college radio ftw
+1 College radio is generally much better. Much more new bands and variety. Same with public radio (that isn't all TALK all the time that is).

The median of the time people spend listening to the radio is short, so the loops are short too.

Satellite is not much better when it comes to playing the same stuff over and over.

people still listen to the radio? Pandora when I don't have my Ipod, 10000 songs from many genre's on random when I do. Nothing like a segue from John Coltrane to Lamb of God to keep your co-workers guessing! Ipod + powered monitors for the win.

I have been wondering about this phenomenon.

I don't know about your area, but some stations, speciffically the new rock stations in my area that I listen to, rotate the same songs in a very short loop. They would repeat the new ones at least 3 or 4 times a day and play some older stuff like once a day repeated and the list is very short.

Why is this?

Do they have a certain contract they have to obey from the record companies or their head companies like clear channel or cocks radio, or song ratings, or is it their own choice, DJ's choice that is.

Personally I would like to hear a wider range of songs. For example, they used to play that song, " I can ride my bike with no handlebars", but I haven't heard it in like a year.

So is it like this in most areas and if it is, does anyone know why?

Thanks

75% of the time there is no "real" DJ, its just a recording playing on a loop.

I'm sure that radio has been like this for a long time, but what I am questioning is why. I guess my suspicions have been correct that DJ's have very little control of what they play and it's all directed from some smartasses in the background.

Internet radio is awesome, it's just that it's more limited as to when and where you can listen to it. It would be just great if I could crank up my radio and not listen to the same 10 cd's they have at their disposal. It really gets old and dull, but it's not like I don't have a choice.

What little I've heard of the satellite radio, it hasn't been like that,

It is. Perhaps to a smaller degree though.

I've been listening to radio since the late 60's, and it's ALWAYS been that way -- nature of the business.

What little I've heard of the satellite radio, it hasn't been like that, but I'm not about to SUBSCRIBE to RADIO to find out for sure! I may LOOK stupid....

There's a local station that plays the rock I grew up with, and like, but it's still the same thing. There's waaaay too much Rush and AC/DC, and not enough of any of a dozen others I could name. I listened at work last year, but now it's either my co-worker/bud's radio on a different station, or my mp3. His station isn't bad, and it's low, so we can torment each other with gutter absurdity.

+1. I could go for months without listening to music radio and then turn it on to the "classic rock" station here and hear Steely Dan, CCR, Eagles, etc. within minutes it seems.

Satellite radio, FTW. Commercial free music and a HUGE range of music channels to choose from.

The DJ's are on the take at that station, much like that new hire at WKRP. I wonder if Les Nesman's feet are still strung out on cocaine.

Ah, there was nothing the underground FM movement of the late 60s and early 70s.
All the music was chosen by actual real live DJs -usually very, very stoned- who understood the power and concept of The Segue.
By the 80s, it was all pretty much corporate driven. When the started announcing "what (i.e., which artists) was coming up in the next hour and I could reliably name exactly which songs they would play (because they never, ever strayed from that list), I was done. All I listen to now, in the way of radio, is a local college Jazz station.

The median of the time people spend listening to the radio is short, so the loops are short too.

My listening time is very short as well, but I always seem to hit to the same point of that loop.


+1 College radio is generally much better. Much more new bands and variety. Same with public radio (that isn't all TALK all the time that is).

I definitely agree. There is no college radio that plays edgy music in my area but I really like the public radio's lounge segment which is very short, but still it's something out of the ordinary.

A lot of it will depend on where you are in the country or world.

I've found Detroit "rock city" has some of the very worst radio stations in the US. Northern Michigan stations are definitely an improvement, but some of my absolute favorites have been in New Mexico and Texas.

A lot of it will depend on where you are in the country or world.

That is true. I'm in Jacksonville FL, but in Orlando, or Tampa, Miami etc, their rotation is much wider.

The median of the time people spend listening to the radio is short, so the loops are short too.

This. Many people listen to the radio for that short car trip... not all day at work. They want to make sure that everyone hears those "new" songs.

Also... I'm not sure on this one... but have heard this from some DJs. Songs are "purchased" to be played. They pay each time they play the song, but mentioned that songs can be purchased for "unlimited play" also. It therefore becomes cheaper to play a group of "unlimited play" songs instead of per song for a bunch of older stuff. Then they can rotate to the next new song available for unlimited play, and drop one of the older ones off the list. But ofcourse they throw in the single play songs along the way too in order to keep you happy... which is a fine line of keeping people happy.

<I listen to the same station over night (so I wake up to it), in the shower, in the car, and at work until 4pm, then on the way home.... so yeah, lots of repeats.>

Also, listening to Offspring, Smash album song now... and loving it... even though it's old, they need to play it more :D

Used to be the FCC demanded public radio work for the interest of the public.. That was the original FCC charter commandment.. That went out the window about 30 years ago...
.My solution podcasts from Canadian Radio where they have demands of original content and a charter that commits radio to the public good.. My radio station with original content is CIDR, Windsor.. Stuff you will hear no where else..

http://www.939theriverradio.com/


Music says it better than I can... Tom Petty's "The Last DJ." Something you won't hear on the radio , for sure..

The Last DJ
Well you can't turn him into a company man
You can't turn him into a *****
And the boys upstairs just don't understand anymore
Well the top brass don't like him talking so much,
And he won't play what they say to play
And he don't want to change what don't need to change

There goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey

And there goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice
There goes the last DJ

Well some folks say they are gonna hang him so high
are Cause you just can???t do what he did
There are some things you just can't put in the minds of those kids

As we celebrate mediocrity all the boys upstairs want to see
How much you are pay for what you used to get for free

There goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey

And there goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice
And there goes the last DJ

Well he got him a station down in Mexico
And sometimes kind of come in
And ll bust a move and remember how it was back then

And there goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey

And there goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice.
And there goes the last DJ


organizations fighting corporate consolidation in the US.. The Future of Music Coalition
.http://futureofmusic.org/

Where I live, Coastal Redneckistan, I get two odd radio stations. One is from Savannah and is DJ driven playing an add mix of classic rock, pop, and disco with some country thrown in between Jimmy Buffet songs. The there is one from Charleston, CR that has no DJs at all, just programmed content, and they play everything. I've heard No Doubt, Stevie Wonder, the Muppets, Alan Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Coldplay, Queen, Garth Brooks, Norah Jones, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Glen Miller all strung together between commercials.

I also have a decent collection on my iPod that can keep me entertained for hours and not have a repeat. I have a tape deck in my car that my iPod runs through.

I personally like it. They tell me what I want to hear, and I'm ok with that. You think to much.

Radio stations play what the music labels tell (pay?) them to play. When I'm driving, I only ever listen to talk stations. And when it comes to TV, sheesh, I've hated watching that crap for ages. But now there's internet TV, isn't there?

Also... I'm not sure on this one... but have heard this from some DJs. Songs are "purchased" to be played. They pay each time they play the song, but mentioned that songs can be purchased for "unlimited play" also. It therefore becomes cheaper to play a group of "unlimited play" songs instead of per song for a bunch of older stuff. Then they can rotate to the next new song available for unlimited play, and drop one of the older ones off the list. But ofcourse they throw in the single play songs along the way too in order to keep you happy... which is a fine line of keeping people happy.

I just remembered, when I read your post, someone saying that each time a song is played, the artist gets some royalty so I'm connecting the dots here. I am glad about the fact that the artist gets something, but it's kinda obvious that the regular listener has very little say about what's played because the record companies will promote only the songs and artists they want and the listener will support artists they like that record company has selected for them, leaving them with very little choice compared to what is out there.

Radio is coin operated and preaching to the choir is what I'm doing.

Commercial radio has been bought up by Clear Channel and a couple other big players, local radio has died. The play lists come out of Clear Channel HQ and play with no local involvement. Our public broadcasting stations are the only thing worth listening to, great variety of music and local news and talk, it's the best. I've also been using internet radio a lot lately, great stations from all over the world available, internet radio tuners hook directly to the stereo system via the wireless internet in the house.

Remember, while there may be thousands of radio stations in North America, they are all owned by a very small number of corporations.

Their total play list is astonishingly short, which is why you tend to hear the same songs / artists repeatedly. Around the holidays, one of the stations in Denver make a big deal about playing every song in their collection in alphabetical order. It only takes them a few days to get through the whole lot and I've calculated their music library is about 1/5 the size of mine.

Additionally, where radio stations once set music trends, nowadays their play lists are driven by market research. People say they like Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Eric Clapton et all, so that's what they get. Over and over and over again.

My wife totaled my car a few weeks ago and I'm currently driving around in a beater truck which only has a radio. I've come to the conclusion I'd rather listen to the creaks and rattles of the truck.

I personally like it. They tell me what I want to hear, and I'm ok with that. You think to much.

You are a good little cog in the wheel.. Maybe you wear your pin stripe and wear Grey Flannel too.