Should all Top 40 radio stations play an equal amount of music?

Question

I believe that many Top 40 radio stations all over the United States are playing an unequal amount of music when it comes to genres. Contemporary hit radio is sometimes repetitive because the latest hits get played all over again, while the oldest hits receive small amounts of airplay. Look at my example: In some cities, especially coastal areas such as Los Angeles, more rap is played on the radio than rock, and I'm very annoyed by how a rock artist like Simple Plan gets replaced by a rapper like Snoop Dogg.

Isn't it time that all Top 40 airplay should be controlled to ensure that stations receive an equal amount of music genres played? I'd wish that 50% of pop/rock should be played, with the 50% of rap, R&B, and dance also played, not counting commercials or talk radio. Plus, US Top 40 should play their domestic hits that were only popular overseas so that the US leads the world in contemporary hits radio.

What do you think?

Answer 1

top 40 playlists are based on current top 40 chart positions of songs...if more rap/hip hop is on the top 40 than rock music; of course top 40 stations are gonna play rap and hip hop...

older hits (or 'recurrents' as they are called) are gonna get limited airplay as they go down the charts; again...that's the whole concept of 'top 40' radio...

that's just the nature of the beast...and there's no way to mandate that a station is gonna play this percentage of a genre in ratio to this genre...

Answer 2

As others said, the playlist genres played depend upon two factors... the age group the station is going after and the make up of what that demographic likes in music.

More African Americans moved to the coastal regions years ago and that has pushed listening in that direction in heavily african american areas more urban than say North Dakota.

Snoop Dogg is a established artist more so than Simple Plan and listeners sometimes heavy tried and true

But as most pointed out.. what's played is what people want to hear over what is requested.

The last point of your post however is making me scratch my head. Most music is heard in the US first and then shipped overseas.. vary rarely will a European hit make it in North America without heavy pushes from record companies or the listeners first.

Because we definitely don't want to hear what's popular overseas.... For example...David Hasselhoff (you know him from that 1980s show Night Rider... well he is an American) has had top singles in the UK and Germany .. want to hear him on the top 40?

Answer 3

Well, you said it right there:  "I'd wish".  This whole question is about what *you* want to hear.  Everybody has different preferences.  Personally, I could go for no rap at all, and not even most of the current rock.  But I'm older than you, with very different tastes.  :)  Should we require that they also give "equal time" to classical, opera, country, new age, christian, etc.?

Radio stations play music that they feel (based on current ratings, etc.) will get them an audience, and thus get them advertising income.  If you tries to tell them what they *must* play, you are taking away their ability to make money.  So they'll shut down and get into a business where they *can* make money.  I'm sure that's not what you want.

If you want more control of your music, either complain to the station (probably won't help), or buy your own music to play.

Answer 4

Good answers above me.

What you say is ludicrous. Controlled by who? You? How much did you invest in that station?

Even the FCC does not control a radio station's content (if they get naughty or break the rules they may get fined or lose their license, but there's no control).

The owners paid big bucks for these stations. They get to pick what they air. If they pick right, they make money. If not...

-a guy named duh