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Radio is the problem with Pop


giskardsb

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giskardsb

Pop radio in the US is horrible.   There is a reason that the UK can break artists like Adele and Amy Winehouse that would never happen in the US.   Pop radio in the US is afraid to be different, all they want is repeats of the same formulas that they think are necessary to bring in listeners.    This is why material like Gaga's new work or from other more interesting artists doesn't get a chance, because if it's not immediately a "hit" it gets pulled from playlists and isn't supported.

By their actions, radio has created a particular demographic for a particular pop sound.  However, radio is dying.  I literally don't listen to radio; whats the point when you have your own music library available at all times, streaming services, etc?  Why should I put up with the myopic view of music from pop radio stations and get bombarded with commercials I don't want to hear and DJ's that are trying to be comedians? I can play anything I want on demand at any time.  Any new artists that show up on pop radio are likely to be rehashing the same sound as everybody else.  There are many other ways to find new artists, many of the best will never be played on pop radio.  

If radio is to survive, it needs to expand.   Pop radio doesn't give listeners enough credit for wanting to hear different material.  To maintain vitality, it needs to be willing to support a variety of musical expression and not just target the same very particular demographic.  It's created it's own little circle of pop fans that only basically consume what radio thinks will appeal to them.  Pop fans themselves need to break out and start proving to radio, by requests and comments, that they are tired of all the same crap and want some expansion of the musical formula Pop is stuck in.

Thankfully internet streaming radio is picking up.  There are many interesting "radio" stations on the internet expanding in all genres and not limited to "hits".  It's the traditional stations that are dying.  Even they will eventually consolidate into a couple of big iHeart stations that just get played everywhere and keep feeding pop fans the same material.

If I was Gaga I wouldn't even bother with radio promo after the way they treated PI.    If they aren't willing to put in a little time to support a slow starting song, then it's not worth spending the time with them. 

Radio Gaga indeed.

So don't become some background noise
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don't know or just don't care
And just complain when you're not there
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio - radio

All we hear is radio ga ga
radio goo goo
radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
radio blah blah
Radio what's new?
Radio, someone still loves you

 

 

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Chiunzhan

No. Stans, fanbases, and chart-obsession are the real problems with pop tbh.

Twinks that start shitty online wars about whose fave is charting higher and bla bla.

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giskardsb
Just now, Chiunzhan said:

No. Stans, fanbases, and chart-obsession are the real problems with pop tbh.

Twinks that start shitty online wars about whose fave is charting higher and bla bla.

that too, but those people are just a natural offshoot of the type of demographic radio has created.   Those fans are not just fans of a pop star, they are fans of the commercial product of pop.

 

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ChicaSkas

People are the problem with pop.

Do YOU own the 4' by 6' Perfect Illusion promo Poster? Will pay you for it. Pic: http://i.imgur.com/UWuzumk
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ImNotBritney

This is actually 100% true. 

They single-handledly tried to end Britney's career on many occasions. 

If it wasn't for the Army doing the MOST for Make Me, it would have not gotten as much air-play as it had. And when I say the most, I mean the MOST, as in handwriting letters to radio stations and pressuring RCA and etc etc. :ladyhaha:

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Robo Ga

Honestly there are a lot of radio platforms that are improving on that. Beats1 radio and Apple Music do a really good job with variety of sounds, talented hosts, interesting guests, premiers, etc. I agree though, traditional radio has fallen into the pit of being way too formulaic  to increase listener base. I hope radio is able to evolve because it's my favourite platform.

🤖⚡️
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giskardsb
2 minutes ago, ChicaSkas said:

People are the problem with pop.

people are the problem with everything. ;)

 

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Ok no, Radio 1 has a group of people who sit in a room every week and determine what is 'relevant' and then that's how they make their playlists. So yes, Adele and Amy broke on Radio 1, but only because Radio 1 wanted them to. The problem with radio is that its controlled by people other than the listeners. Don't even get me started on Captial/Heart

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its 2016. people who still have this pre-notion of 'pop' do not deserve to be in the position of mass influence.

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The only reason why I wouldn't legitimately I agree with you is because there are songs I keep to myself away from the GP and most of those songs usually end up in people's playlist which means I can't keep it to myself anymore smh.

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Dorothy Gale

Radio will eventually be irrelevant. I mean Beyonce has succeeded without much radio support, and I think Gaga could do the same. 

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