Radio Stations Today
Most radio stations nowadays are owned by media companies such as Cumulus, ClearChannel or Cox. These companies utilize programme directors down pat as "Trade-mark Managers." It is primarily the responsibilty of the Trade-mark Employer to complete the songs played at radio stations on all sides of the nation. The managers dream of the consequent factors when determining song choice.
Name Recognition
An indivisible artist or crowd with an established audience and fan replica Testament fare more useful than an far artist or a accumulation ethical starting gone in the bop Production. A Trade-mark Employer Testament eyeful, headmost and foremost, at popularity. Once an artist's popularity has been established, the Trade-mark Gaffer Testament depend on the recommendations of the folder classify association. This is where the adjacent transaction, promotion, comes into play.
Promotion
Compose companies fix up a promotion budget for every artist they constitute. Promotion may contain buildup of folk videos, Concerto appearances, the figure of CDs produced, and the exclusive song off an book that Testament be promoted heavily. The also promotion an artist is obsessed, the amassed doable the Trade-mark Manager is to choose that artist's songs for airplay.
Sales and Distribution
New artists, especially in the alternative music side of the industry, will distribute their music through various avenues of the Internet. That's why a Brand Manager will note high "view" numbers of a YouTube music video, or if an artist is promoting through MySpace. Web word of mouth is important! Increased visibilty and tracking sales, whether it is actual CDs or downloadable tunes, can heavily influence a Brand Manager to add a song to a playlist.With an already popular artist, this promotion may not be as important as with an emerging artist. Thus, if a Brand Manager sees a record company investing heavily in promoting a new artist, the manager is much more likely to include that new artist's song on a playlist. But, even without a big promotional budget and backing from the record label, an artist can get a song on the radio. A Brand Manager will also consider sales and distribution through self-promotion.
Once the songs of a playlist are established, a manager will work with a native Program Director to determine what songs will be played in each radio station market.
Programming
How often a song is played is referred to as "song rotation" and though song rotation can change depending on a station's music format, there are some basics involved. Most stations follow a playlist something like this: 40 songs in the A list (Most popular songs), 70 songs in the B list (Recently popular songs) and a collection of songs for the C list (oldies). With this playlist, the song rotation may be something like this: seven popular songs, five recently popular songs and three oldies in a given hour. The choice of songs is computer-generated because most radio stations are now digital. A native Program Director may be allowed to adapt the playlist. For example, a regionally popular band's song may be added into a song rotation. Once songs are played on the radio, the songs are "charted." That is, a song's rank on the charts is watched closely. A song that does not chart well can be taken off the playlist. A song that is charting well, though not on the playlist, can be added.
Music Services
Independently owned radio stations may rely on the use of music services. Music service companies will provide a list of songs and make recommendations as to song rotation for a monthly fee. Sure, a small radio station can add their own songs also. But again, even in the independently owned radio station, a Program Director is likely to consider popularity, promotion, sales and distribution of a song before ever putting that song on the air!
