Q3....I brought this over from twitter and thought you might want to discuss it.
TALCvids @talcvids 5m5 minutes ago
Thoughtful piece by an experienced radio professional about interacting with stations www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1slb13d thanks to @violetfeline(TwitLonger):
Okay, so I tend to stay out of this kind of stuff in fandom because often I don't have answers nor am I a Program Director. But there's been some misinformation going around as well as some arguing and I felt the need to address some radio stuff as far as requesting "rules" go.
Those who run this site:
requestadamlambert.com/fan-guide-tips/ have done a pretty thorough job of relaying good information for the most part, but there's one section I would ~adjust slightly.
This one:
"Top 40 only wants young listeners. That may be maddening but it’s the way it is. If you aren’t in the desired under 30 demographic, Top 40 pop radio doesn’t want to hear from you. Anyone older than that who is requesting or tweeting about a song will only put them off – just the opposite of encouraging them to play a song. And if you think you can fool them, think again. Someone 45 doesn’t talk the same as an 18 year old. And look at your avatar and user name, does either or both give your age away?"
My addendum:
While most of your information here is correct, the Top 40 demographic is a little off. I’ve worked in radio for 15 years at CHR and HAC stations. Top 40 (CHR) target demos are primarily Women 18-34 and secondarily Women 25-54. (Sorry, boys! We love you, too! Just… not as much lol!) Think about it – radio companies want to make money. They do this via advertising revenue. These are the demos with money. Teens do not have as much disposable income while a 38-year-old would. (I can even further break down target demos based on specific day-parts if we're gonna get really geeky, but I'll save that for another day!)
And we welcome interaction from everyone. That being said, when someone clearly doesn’t listen to our station, yet spams us with their music “demands” in a rude manner, THAT is off-putting no matter how old you are. And honestly if you’re 75-years-old and emailing/tweeting a Top 40 Program Director every day to play a certain artist, that’s just… no. *facepalm* You won’t be taken seriously at all. So yes, I agree somewhat with the staying in the demographic rule. But we are certainly not limited to only those under 30.
Simply show interest in our [your local] station. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Read/share content on our websites! Tell us you love our on-air personalities and bits! Show interest in other artists. Enter our contests! Come to our appearances! Support our advertisers (many of them, after all, are a part of YOUR local economy)! All we ask is that you are polite. Don’t go overboard, spam us, or tell us “you guys suck and need to play XYZ…” or, worse, "I never listen to the radio, but..." Honestly, in my opinion, I really don’t care if you’re 16 or 43, as long as you’re nice and tell me you love my station.
None of the aforementioned things really have an effect on airplay, but you get more flies with honey or whatever that saying is - LOL. You don’t want to leave a bad impression on an entire fan group for being obnoxious, rude or clueless. And when we value you as a listener, we may be more inclined to consider your opinions.
Also, it’s worth noting that on-air personalities have no control over playlists. Everything is properly and strategically scheduled ahead of time, save for maybe daily benchmark features on specific shows (i.e. aforementioned [in link] “Pump It or Dump It” or what have you).
And you are very much correct when you say that requests don’t matter. This is true – they really don’t. You are also exactly right about callout research/testing, etc. This has the biggest influence on song airplay for most stations. Chart positions, song sales, radio company consultants and Program Directors, etc. also come into play. Each radio company may do things slightly differently. And yes, Shazam, Vevo, etc., all things digital are very important now for charting reasons!
Again, I’m not a Program Director, nor do I know anything about that certain company’s “deals” (I don't work for them) but hopefully what I’ve offered here helps, at least from the on-air personality side of things. Basically, it comes down to this: a song is either a hit or it's not - that's pretty much how it goes.
I try to stay out of fandom tiffs, but I just felt the need to comment on this because there's been erroneous misinformation passed around on BOTH sides of this argument.
Let’s just all be happy, polite, positive and EXCITED!!! Because I am!! :D
P.S. No, I haven't had any the pleasure of any sneak previews of the single, but I've already been in my boss's ear about that lol. Any inkling of it coming to us, he knows where to find me! Haha! But please know that if I do get to hear it ahead of time (and I really may not), I will NOT be allowed to share it -- out of respect for Adam, his people, and my job!
Glad you got to meet him Zachary!
