1 of 1- RadioActive
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Why Does Every Pop Radio Station Sound The Same?
I don't necessarily agree with everything he says and this applies more to the U.S., but this critic's lengthy (over 11 minutes) video attempts to trace the reasons why there's so much repetition on pop radio stations in North America.
If nothing else, he's certainly made it visually interesting. And there's some history here I never knew - if it's true: he says the forerunner of the FCC once had its own radio station designed to check the airwaves for other radio stations.
You may not want to sit through the whole thing, but the gist of his argument is one I do back - the rules allowing one company (like Audacy or iHeart) to own so many stations has created a cookie cutter environment where everyone sounds the same. And that, sadly, may have contributed to the decline in the medium.
- mic'em
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Re: Why Does Every Pop Radio Station Sound The Same?
This is why I only listen to Max Fm 89.1, alt rock. Even at age 67, I like the variety and not hearing the same crap every two hours. On a side note, I don't know alot of the music by the Weeknd, but I know his stuff is aired huge all over the world. Based on the reviews of his series The Idol on HBO , he is lucky he has a second job to fall back on, apparently acting is not his forte.
- paterson1
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Re: Why Does Every Pop Radio Station Sound The Same?
Let's face it, there are many more ways to get music today. And there are many more radio stations available than before. Thousands available on line with the net.
The more interesting radio to me often is in medium and smaller markets and from the smaller broadcast companies. Case in point stations in Barrie, Oshawa, Orillia, Bruce Peninsula, Owen Sound, Wingham and a couple of rim shot stations in the GTA. I bet these stations and companies are profitable.
I don't totally think the conglomerates have been all bad for radio. And I am only speaking from a Canadian broadcasting point of view and FM. Some of the stations that the larger conglomerates bought up needed new equipment, studios, even transmitters and importantly a new image. I enjoy some of the network shows on Virgin radio. The evening show is better than what KOOL FM in Kitchener and CIQM in London were running independently prior to becoming Virgin stations.
Where I live, I can think of five outlets in this area that the sound quality is much better now. These stations were outfitted with new equipment and studios and their overall product on air is better than 10-12 years ago. Radio in Woodstock, Stratford, one or two in Kitchener and London actually sound better IMO. However these stations for music are pretty safe, repetitive and overall lack personality. The only time the quality of sound breaks down is occasionally with voice tracking. When VT is bad it is dreadful and should never happen.
I am surprised that there have been very few radio stations actually go dark in Canada. Even a few of the six AM's that Bell closed last week aren't necessarily gone forever.
Too many stations, especially in large markets put too many eggs in the music basket and if they forget about the other things that makes radio popular, fun and necessary, there will be storm clouds ahead.
- mace
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Re: Why Does Every Pop Radio Station Sound The Same?
I still like KOZT "The Coast" in Ft. Bragg, Ca. for an extremely wide and varied playlist. Every weekday morning, they have a Guess The Artist contest with clues given every half hour. Prizes are usually things like t-shirts, coffee mugs etc. Most winners are online listeners from around the world. It is rare that a winner is from the Ft. Bragg area.
- Tomas Barlow
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Re: Why Does Every Pop Radio Station Sound The Same?
Top 40 radio has always been like this. Motown had a sound, 70's country crossover had a sound, disco had a sound, early 90's dance had a sound, grunge had a sound and today's pop has a sound. There are always a few artists experimenting and charting. I would count the Weeknd as one of them.