Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Which List - "A" or "B" - Reflects You?

"A" = Top Five A&O AccuTest currents, ranked by total “like a lot” score (your local mileage may vary, of course)
1. Alan Jackson
2. Jason Aldean
3. Carrie Underwood
4. Sugarland
5. Brad Paisley

OR "B" = Top Five Big Champagne Digital Singles (who knows what radio station these folks use?)
1. Miley Cyrus
2. Taylor Swift
3. Carrie Underwood
4. Kellie Pickler
5. Rascal Flatts

Tip: local country radio listeners, a 60/40 mix of men and women, balanced 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54, half heavy users and secondary users, say that they are "A."

It's nice to look at the newly unveiled "Twitter chart" too, of course, but now, more than ever: you need to be asking a carefully-balanced local sample of your listeners what they’d like to hear. Then, the final step: make sure your airplay reflects those tastes.

3 comments:

Chuck Geiger said...

The comments have been coming in for years, I remember hearing them when I first started programming Country radio, some 11 years ago in Allentown, PA. What if Rock radio quit playing AC-DC, Rush and Van Halen, or Classic Hits said "No more Fleetwood Mac and Elton John" - We play so much pop-Country that listeners can't hear the real or true Country that is logically part of the sound structure.

"What happened to the good old country?"
"You don't play the good singers anymore"
"I don't like all those new songs and new singers"

It's gotten to the point now, like Jaye Albright says "You are adding to the perception of this" if you don't keep it Country. Check out this poll from THE BOOT.COM

Does today's country music
favor pretty people?

Yes 69% 57,645
It depends 17% 13,687
No way 14% 11,806

Total Votes: 83,138

Which kind of country music do you prefer?

I like both! 43%  
Traditional country 39%  
Today's country 18%  

Total Votes: 89,305

- Chuck Geiger
mailto:provencountrypd@gmail.com

Tresa Robinson said...

I would have to say I'm in the "A" group. Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley are big favorites, and although I do like some of the new country, I prefer the traditional TWANG.

Dave Wright said...

You made some very good points about the fragmentation of Country Radio. If we in radio continue to program for the MySpace, Facebook, Tweeting, I-Tune buying demographic then that's all we're going to get.