Why do radio stations shy away from playing Gaga's songs?

[itaita 0]

Why do radio stations, at least most of them shy away from playing Gaga's songs? Does it come down to low sales, reception, or bias? All of the above?

What was it about Applause that faired better than other songs in radio rotation?

 

Because, all in all, it is the most cohesive and commercial song on the record.

[Antidote 95]

Actually I heard Applause and DWUW all the time on the radio! 

German radio stations also play Marry The Night and TEOG a lot.

 But there's only on station where I hear GUY all the time

 

It only shows once again that the radio and TV stations have so much power, they decide who will be successful

[HORRORHOLIC 104]

General public doesn't have much interest in Gaga as someone said. At least not compaired to some of the other artists right now. You need to remember, radio is pay to play (radio plays songs certain amount of times depending on how much the record label pays them) So when radio gets a single from someone like Gaga they will play it a certain amount of times and then the rest depends on how much demand there is for the song. If it gets a good response, lots of requests etc... it will get played more.

 

Applause did good because people were excited to hear new music from Gaga and it was a really good song. I've said from day one G.U.Y. wouldn't be a good choice for a single. A lot of fans were saying it would "SLAY" the charts and I said people would hear it say cool, a new Gaga song and then move on to whoever the next flavor of the week is. G.U.Y. just isn't that kind of song, especially when it comes to someone like Gaga. What Gaga should have done is picked a song that showed of her amazing talent or a song that really stood out like Aura!!! Trust me, if Gaga put out a single and the general public was crazy about it, it would be played non stop.

[TheOriginalOne 10,771]

I don't know. I just want to here G.U.Y. on the radio at least once.

[feelitinmybones 0]

If we were requesting it too much or too aggressively to the extreme point radio stations won't play her songs they could just make a limit of how many times you can request a song

[Bowie 4]

Partially, I think, it's due to all the bad press and the push of hatred she receives a lot, even from a minority group of people/listeners. It's so widely publicised that people think everyone must hate Lady Gaga apart from her core fanbase, and so, radios want to be cool, get good listening figures, and maintain popularity, therefore, unfortunately, they won't "risk" playing one of her records, even if it's really a great song.

 

With "Applause", for example, there was a reasonably big promo campaign (in comparison with the rest of the era) - interviews meant that stations would play the song, and it was a simple, catchy track that most people in the GP could latch on to when they heard it on the radio.

 

Applause did good because people were excited to hear new music from Gaga and it was a really good song. I've said from day one G.U.Y. wouldn't be a good choice for a single. A lot of fans were saying it would "SLAY" the charts and I said people would hear it say cool, a new Gaga song and then move on to whoever the next flavor of the week is. G.U.Y. just isn't that kind of song, especially when it comes to someone like Gaga. What Gaga should have done is picked a song that showed of her amazing talent or a song that really stood out like Aura!!! Trust me, if Gaga put out a single and the general public was crazy about it, it would be played non stop.

 

I've always said "Aura" should be a single, if it wasn't the lead 'Machete Kills' was a huge missed promo opportunity for that song

[Shadow 6,632]

General public doesn't have much interest in Gaga as someone said. At least not compaired to some of the other artists right now. You need to remember, radio is pay to play (radio plays songs certain amount of times depending on how much the record label pays them) So when radio gets a single from someone like Gaga they will play it a certain amount of times and then the rest depends on how much demand there is for the song. If it gets a good response, lots of requests etc... it will get played more.

Applause did good because people were excited to hear new music from Gaga and it was a really good song. I've said from day one G.U.Y. wouldn't be a good choice for a single. A lot of fans were saying it would "SLAY" the charts and I said people would hear it say cool, a new Gaga song and then move on to whoever the next flavor of the week is. G.U.Y. just isn't that kind of song, especially when it comes to someone like Gaga. What Gaga should have done is picked a song that showed of her amazing talent or a song that really stood out like Aura!!! Trust me, if Gaga put out a single and the general public was crazy about it, it would be played non stop.

Do you think if Gaga had picked Aura, it would have faired better? And between you and me, does a video really make a difference like in the absence of the DWUW? DWUW did get some promo with TV performances, collaborations with R. Kelly and Christina Agulirea...

[HORRORHOLIC 104]

Do you think if Gaga had picked Aura, it would have faired better? And between you and me, does a video really make a difference like in the absence of the DWUW? DWUW did get some promo with TV performances, collaborations with R. Kelly and Christina Agulirea...

Oh I definitely think Aura would have faired much better, especially if they didn't butcher it and edit it. The thing with that song is that yes, at 1st people would have been WTF ? but because it's stands out so much it would get stuck in their heads and really grow on them. It's not just another typical song. 

 

As for DWYW, I just think everything about that was bad timing. A video could have helped but everything going on with R. Kelly at the time certainly didn't do the song any favors video or not. 

[HORRORHOLIC 104]

Partially, I think, it's due to all the bad press and the push of hatred she receives a lot, even from a minority group of people/listeners. It's so widely publicised that people think everyone must hate Lady Gaga apart from her core fanbase, and so, radios want to be cool, get good listening figures, and maintain popularity, therefore, unfortunately, they won't "risk" playing one of her records, even if it's really a great song.

 

With "Applause", for example, there was a reasonably big promo campaign (in comparison with the rest of the era) - interviews meant that stations would play the song, and it was a simple, catchy track that most people in the GP could latch on to when they heard it on the radio.

 

I've always said "Aura" should be a single, if it wasn't the lead 'Machete Kills' was a huge missed promo opportunity for that song

For sure

[Dann 354]

Gaga is not a radio artist.

Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Rihanna, these types of "artists" have music MADE for the radio.

Gaga makes pop music, but she doesn't depend on the radio for success because she has become more of a cult icon, so she can branch off and do her own thing.

It shouldn't be hard to see the difference here.

The album "Prism" for instance is basically a collage of what the radio has been playing 2011-2014.

God bless our queen. Stay true to her tune

[Shadow 6,632]

Oh I definitely think Aura would have fared much better, especially if they didn't butcher it and edit it. The thing with that song is that yes, at 1st people would have been WTF ? but because it's stands out so much it would get stuck in their heads and really grow on them. It's not just another typical song.

As for DWYW, I just think everything about that was bad timing. A video could have helped but everything going on with R. Kelly at the time certainly didn't do the song any favors video or not.

Yeah, maybe it's after the fact, but I think Aura would have kicked serious butt especially if they timed with the Machete Kills release. It would have been perfect timing as a second single...

I know it leaked, but I think it would have given people a slice Gaga that would appeal, especially with the Tarantino/Rodriguez style she shows off well, like a bad ass. I still think she played a decent villain and I could see her do something like that again, or other roles.

https://soundcloud.com/alehandro-muziek/lady-gaga-aura-machete-kills

I know people didn't like the edited version, but I liked it as well, because it smoothed out and sounded clean, but still sizzling with that guitar... :music:

[sobercool 0]

It doesn't bother radio stations to get requests! They expect stans to request. Really...it is not unusual and Gaga fans are NOT close to the worst or the most persistent. A bunch of (mostly) young guys just aren't very organized or focused. ;) They can't even read a two page thread, so they aren't likely to spend hours requesting. :haha:

 

You should see some other stanbases and their organization behind radio requests! We look like complete amateurs compare to some of those groups.

 

Well, yeah I agree with you. I remember the MTN days when the Saturday Happy Hour (?) number would be ALL over Twitter and those guys boiled because they got a hundred calls in a minute to play the song. The same happened with "Applause"

It's good to see Gaga fans have more important things to do that militarily organize themselves to request songs, like I said it's her label's job to make sure she's getting airplay, not ours. I think I help enough with the RTM thing already.

[tokyodisko 0]

 But how are we supposed to know if the GP is interested in Gaga if the radios to want to play her songs? Also, don't most songs on the radio become hits because they are catchy?

It was, but I think that's the only thing it had going for it to the GP. I mean, Roar and other songs are much more relatable at face value. Applause got a lot of negativity, because people thought it was about ego, but the song hooked them with the "applause-pause" part. I have friends who don't like Gaga, but have had that song in their heads before. 

So yes, by that standard, I think the song was a good choice, but I don't think the lyrics caught on with people as much as the music did. It's a good song,

GP has many ways to find out about music now aside from the radio. I forget people even listen to it tbh. People just are not into her at the moment. 

As more time passes I feel like Gaga only released GUY to have a great video for her fans, which is why it included ARTPOP, Venus, and MANiCURE- the latter two which could have been considered for singles. Gypsy wasn't included since she wants to do another video for that, even if it isn't a single, from what I understand. 

I think it was kind of an (expensive) last ditch half-effort for the album. And it did help a little, but she just isn't what people like right now in the top 40. 

If they played up the Zedd aspect a lot and had them perform together as a simple, s-xy duo with a good promo opportunity, that could help a bit, but even Zedd isn't really top 40- at least not his harder stuff. GUY is made for radio and would have done well if this was the first or second single. People would have not been as turned off already. 

If she releases Act II then she needs a catchy, fun party song to at least hook GP. I love her party music, because it's quirky and not basic like a lot of BTW-era fans think. It's all well constructed. 

[tokyodisko 0]

How do people think Aura would have done better? 

The verses in Applause already had the GP on the fence, so "gorgeousness of my face" would have had people mocking her.  

I think the beginning would have been cut for radio, so there goes that flair.

She would have gotten backlash for the burqa part.

 

The ONLY part of Aura that would have sit well with the GP is the chorus and she cannot rely on just a chorus to save her chart position again.   Just because it's a fan favorite doesn't mean it is a good choice.

[Shadow 6,632]

It was, but I think that's the only thing it had going for it to the GP. I mean, Roar and other songs are much more relatable at face value. Applause got a lot of negativity, because people thought it was about ego, but the song hooked them with the "applause-pause" part. I have friends who don't like Gaga, but have had that song in their heads before.

So yes, by that standard, I think the song was a good choice, but I don't think the lyrics caught on with people as much as the music did. It's a good song,

GP has many ways to find out about music now aside from the radio. I forget people even listen to it tbh. People just are not into her at the moment.

As more time passes I feel like Gaga only released GUY to have a great video for her fans, which is why it included ARTPOP, Venus, and MANiCURE- the latter two which could have been considered for singles. Gypsy wasn't included since she wants to do another video for that, even if it isn't a single, from what I understand.

I think it was kind of an (expensive) last ditch half-effort for the album. And it did help a little, but she just isn't what people like right now in the top 40.

If they played up the Zedd aspect a lot and had them perform together as a simple, s-xy duo with a good promo opportunity, that could help a bit, but even Zedd isn't really top 40- at least not his harder stuff. GUY is made for radio and would have done well if this was the first or second single. People would have not been as turned off already.

If she releases Act II then she needs a catchy, fun party song to at least hook GP. I love her party music, because it's quirky and not basic like a lot of BTW-era fans think. It's all well constructed.

What do you consider Top 40 material these days? Is it going back to alternative with a few exceptions?