-
Decline Of Consensus Hits
Radio and the Top 40 format have lost the long time #1 position as the gatekeeper of the music discovery where the hits start, also radio has lost the large amount of listening from passionate music fans looking for music discovery. Now that's #1 position belongs to Streaming platforms and apps
The factor that has built hits in the past, a consensus of agreement on the most popular songs due to exposure by radio (and especially Top 40 radio). Radio has lost its gatekeeper crown and there are multiple streaming platforms (and their playlists ) and TikTok as well as radio to hear the songs. The challenge is that the star making platforms that expose music are no longer at ONE CONSENSUS destination. For 55 years Top 40 radio as a whole picked up on 90% of the same hit music - when a song reached CRITICAL MASS with a huge number of listeners after it was high on the Billboard Charts and in POWER ROTATION at the same time across the country by these Top 40 stations it became a massive hit almost automatically. Those days are gone.
Read full article » Comment on this article -
January 31, 2023
Success Is In The SetupWhy do some shows set up interactive topics that attract an overload of engaging responses and others get boring lists or zero responses? Interactive topics with listeners by phone, text and social media live or die by the setup. 4 Reasons Interactive Topics Fail Yes ...
-
January 26, 2023
A Legendary TV Producer Takes Us To SchoolOver the holidays, I read Dick Ebersol’s “From Monday Night to Sunday Night” autobiography. An excellent read from start to finish. There are some lessons and takeaways for all of us in the radio industry. To give you some background, Ebersol was the ...
-
Worst Doldrums Of The Music Cycle Means Tough Times For Top 40 Radio So why is it the worst Doldrums cycle ever for Top 40 radio because over the last few years we’ve seen Top 40 radio’s average ranking in the ratings reached its lowest point ever. During ...
-
January 24, 2023
Why Agree To Disagree?In meetings, how many times have you "agreed to disagree?" It’s a way out of endless arguments that can stall and prolong meetings. This phrase enables both parties to maintain their positions. But there’s a big downside to agreeing to disagree. When ...
-
January 19, 2023
Today’s On-Air Talent -- The Job DescriptionWhen I entered the radio business (and, no, Marconi and I were NOT classmates!), the responsibilities of an on-air talent were short and simple. You had to know how to run a control board very well (how I remember those classified ads that said “Tight board, willing ...
-
January 18, 2023
The Secret To On-Air ChemistryHow do you build chemistry on a radio show or podcast? What listeners sense between on-air players is a key determinant of the show’s success. What can you do to create a partnership that vibes? If you want the audience to feel something you have to ...
-
Well, I do not think it’s any surprise to anyone that we’re in The Doldrums of the Music Cycle, but as I stated early last year, “We’re in the ‘worst music Doldrums’ in history and certainly the worst for radio itself.” Music ...
-
January 12, 2023
‘The Tonight Show’ Offers Some Sound Programming AdviceI’ve been a regular viewer of NBC’s late night “The Tonight Show” since the days of Johnny Carson. The show has endured only three host changes, with Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien for a short time, and now, Jimmy Fallon. If you look back, you can ...
-
January 11, 2023
Goals vs ResolutionsAs we roll into the first full week of 2023, most of us have set some form of goals or resolutions. There are countless studies on how long people stick with resolutions. Unfortunately, only about 9 to 16% of people are able to follow through on their resolutions. ...