Don't blame Britney Spears for ruining music. Blame the corporate execs who make us listen to it:
The FCC confirmed Thursday that it had requested documents this week from Clear Channel Communications Inc., CBS Radio Inc., Entercom Communications Corp. and Citadel Broadcasting Corp.
The agency wants to learn more about accusations that radio programmers received gifts, cash and other items in exchange for playing certain songs without publicly disclosing the deals.
[Sun-Sentinel...]
Clear Channel owns 8 area radio stations (4 AM, 4 FM) and the local CBS affiliate, WKRC-TV.
Find out who owns what in your state (and check out my other sidebar media links sometime).
3 comments:
It's pretty obvious payola's involved. It certainly has little to do with people who like music playing music they believe people will like.
Speaking of ... I was buying some breakfast this morning and the shop was playing Clear Channel's Kiss format, and they played what could be the worst song I've ever heard. At first I thought it was one of those parodies that morning-zoo shows sometimes put together, but after it went on for three or four minutes I figured out that it was real. I've heard better commercials, which gives me a thought...
Do you suppose programmers make the actual music content so bad that listeners are actually relieved when the commercials are on? Maybe people channel surf, looking for commercials?
My hunch is that marketers want you to remember the product rather than enjoy the commercial. For example, if you hear a stupid ditty and it stays in your head, that's successful marketing.
The field of neuromarketing seems to back up this perspective, as in this article at PBS.org which says:
For years, in the face of failed brands and laughably bad ad campaigns, marketers had argued that they could influence consumers' choices. Now, there appeared to be solid neurological proof.
Does anybody remember "Achy, Breaky Heart"? That was marketed for months to radio stations before it was ever released. I think execs wanted solid proof that they could make any song a hit if they threw enough money at it.
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