Why many FM stations suck.

Have you notice "and this goes way back even in the 1970s" most stations avoid music related with drugs or drugy music specially the acid TYPE . But yet when Eric Clapton came out with Cocaine they ran that song 24/7 in the 1980s and even some times Today? does the FCC really get on theyr case "i doubt this days" the DJ is lazy or too young "not the case here in this town" what do you think?

 

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well is the dam thruth.

 

the reason FM radio sucks is because radio has become merely another avenue for advertising... that and the music to be played is decided not by the disc jockeys, but by fuckers basing their song-picks on statistics

 

The radio isn't even worth listening to. All songs are over played. Even on oldies stations and classic rock stations. It's ridiculous.

 

Its been like that since the 70s. now in early 70s the first FM stations were cool and play just about anything . The late 60s AM radio were petty cool "even tho the FCC keept an eye on them" .

 

dude, kshe here in st louis was great for as long as i can remember, but lately i've heard them play crappy music. they play all kinds of good rock, but just a while back, they were playing green day and stupid music. they used to be the perfect station, but now they're different and i don't like it.

 

yes its true that these are mere advertising stations, however chicago has got two ecellent radio stations: best of old and new rock 97.9 and 97.1 which is more mellow and older rock. u just need to pick out the right stations. however, we all know the radio can only play singles (in most cases). therefore they cant play most of the other underground songs or albums that we all love to jam to. for that, we should stick to our own musical library, and good old fashioned records.

 

Exactly.

 

You've got an excellent point there ...

It's like here (in quebec), they were doing on FM radio an interview with singer about his debut album. But the DJ couldn't even play his songs because: ''it wasn't on the playlist''

 

You can attribute the decadence of FM radio based on several factors.

So much listening is done on FM these days. The prices of FM stations are astronomical. While AMs are less expensive, they are by no means reasonable. In order for a broadcaster to pay off the massive debts that they encrue by purchasing such a facility, they need to find a format that will generate the largest profit possible, preferably in as short of a period of time as possible. On FM, this means that they almost always select from one of the following formats: Pop-Adult (sometimes known as Adult contemporary), including the contemporary "smooth jazz" and on occasion "lite hits" stations, although even the latter are rare; Rock formats, including alternative and active rock; Country; R&B/Soul (sometimes known as "Urban"); Oldies, including classic rock, classic hits and sometimes traditional versions of the aforementioned formats (although this format is currently falling on hard times) and Top-40/Current Hits (CHR)-once again while this format has made a comeback, during the early to mid-1990s, it was going through tough times as well. 'Religious' formatted stations can do well on FM as they survive mainly by donations that listeners provide to the programs who, in turn, provide the fees to the stations.

News and talk formats are making their way onto FM as well. In Washington D.C., we have what may be the only commercial all-news formatted station on FM in the country (WTOP 103.5). Also, talk radio is making its way to FM, particularly entertainment-based or what I'll call contemporary 'personality-talk' radio.

I have only seen one positive trend in FM radio over the last 25 years, and that is the virtual eradication of the traditional easy-listening or 'beautiful music' format. Although many will argue that the new 'smmoth jazz' format has to some degree followed in its footsteps. Anytime a format's music revolves almost exclusively around playing remakes, it's a clear sign that that format and the artists that provide music for it have no real talent.

Music anymore is heavily researched. Radio stations strive to maintain 'safe' playlists so as to not drive listeners away. With most of the stations programming any one of the aforementioned formats (with Rock being a possible exception), I doubt if they have an on-air library of more than 700 songs, sometimes less-even much less!

Advertisers are mainly concerned with how a radio station's ratings are performing in the demographic group which will usually bring them the most 'bang for the buck.' This is almost always adults aged 25 to 54. Anything that deviates from this demographic too much and advertisers will be more hesitant to purchase time as they feel that their dollar could be wasted.

Most major market radio stations are now owned by mega-corporations. The biggest one in America is Clear Channel. They own over 1,000 radio stations across the country! They maintain a 'top-down' approach to business decisions and their ultimate goal is 'how to maximize the bottom line'. The 'local powers' have a limited say in many matters.

 

The most expensive 1 item for a radio station are the RF tubes and neither AM or FM are cheap . once long long ago a FM station was begging for money to replace the $10.000 tube it might have been $20.000 . still chump money . RF tubes are the one the large radio wave frequency amp uses before it goes out into the main antena. with computers a radio station DJ got it made, he practically dont do anything but maybe talk once in a while.

 

The thing to remember about radio is that whatever they play will be to further the agenda of the media giants that own the radio station, i.e. Clear Channel (may God smite them and their families). Therefore, where once it may have been common to hear such things as protest music, now there's no way you'd hear anything that's in opposition to the empire.

 

you must be crazy. for 4/20 they had a whole set of music on the hard rock station dedicated to pot. at 4.20 PM. it included sabbath's sweet leaf, and an assorted other stoner related music.......

the radio does play alot of music dedicated to drug use, if you dont think so, then you must be listening to that soft rock station that plays barry manilow.....

cocaine isnt clapton's original song either. it was jj cale.

lucy in the sky with diamonds was played constantly, even on oldies stations, and alot of people think that has to do with acid. along comes mary as well......... goodbye stranger...... I could go on and on.

 

I have other reasons to hate FM radio, and that has to do with the corporations that control what they play. they seem to play the same shit over and over, unless you can find a really good station that doesnt conform to the classic rock staples.

 

thats why i only listen to public radio. its much easier. or you could get a cd player, its better than ripping out your hair.

 

i don´t listen to the radio and i don´t miss it either, internet should be enough to provide you in all music you want right? and if you don't like that, you can always buy a cd. but the radio? i don't miss it

 

not quite our 2 FM station did not play Barry Manilow . and were far from a evelator music. still they did not play our favor drugy anthem songs.

 

If there's a non-commercial station in your area with good programming, you're in luck. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

While I'm at it, With the majority of FM stations being in the state that they're currently in, would anyone be willing to listen to an AM station if it offered decent programming?

 

A lot of radio stations in the UK are folowing the safe format of hitradio or oldies. Some call themselves a rock station, but will only play "safe rock", i.e. Green Day and Nicklelback style music.
Radio is just not exciting anymore, and dj's are more of a necessary evil than a friend to listen to. They are there to promote whatever the record companies want, not what they feel the audience wants to hear.
I remember the days when I would get excited about the prospect of listening to stations like Radio Caroline, Mi Amigo, Radio Northsea, Veronica, and several landbased pirates in Holland. Especially Caroline was fantastic, they were the ultimate album rock station.
Radio as a medium is now so fragmented and style based, the competition is so high that they will generally go for a format that guarantees the highest amount of revenue based on the estimated amount of listeners.
To find something more alternative you have to look online or subscribe to podcasts. I used to have a real rock station that broadcast online through Live 365 for about a year. The good thing about that was that I was in charge of the playlists, I decided what to play and when to play it.