Was There Ever Really a Time when Radio Played what WE Wanted to Hear?

Question

Or have they always played what the Record Companies PAY Them to Play?

Answer 1

Yes, eons ago. I was on public radio in Texas between 1979 and 1986. I could play whatever struck me; same for my pals. We roamed the whole musical landscape, playing whatever sounded good or was funny when played between or on either end of something that seemed like a fun match. However, its been payola-based for years and such stations are very rare now, or have few such programs on the schedules, usually late at night. That has a LOT to do with why people are getting a sideways revenge in stealing things by file-sharing. The problem is, that screws the artists who deserve to make at least a basic living from the work that everyone prizes so much... but not enough to see it as more than just iPod filler, apparently. I write music for synth and have enjoyed playing live a few times, but overall, greed from all points has undermined the pleasure of music all too much. Please buy at least some of what you hear as independent CDs or pay-per-downloads. If you really want to screw the corporate greedy, do it by handing the money more directly to the artists and leaving those bloated companies in the dust. That makes all the hard work done in small or home studios more worthwhile to the people you like most. Thanx!

Answer 2

No I remember back in the day you could call them and request what you wanted to hear any time of the day and they would play it for you within about a half hour at the most...now it seems they just play the same thing over and over wear the songs out and they aren't even that good. So I stopped listening to the radio along time ago...CD's it's where it's at, or I guess MP3 players now for the younger generation...whatever it's better then the radio.

Answer 3

As long as I have been alive it has always been a corporate decision on what is played. I have had friends who were dj's and hated having to play the same thing continuously.

We are kind of lucky here in Reno, NV now, because there is a one independent radio station that actually plays anything you want from 80's, 90's and whatever. They are not corporate, and it is kind of crazy to hear some of the stuff that people ask them to play.

Answer 4

Yeah, way back when there were actually DJs in the station all day and night. Now there's usually just somone there that says something once in a while and flips a switch for a tape to play. Sometimes I will listen to a station, and hear an ad pertaining to something that happened MONTHS before!!! My favorite time of being able to actually request songs was on ono of the local stations, and every Sunday night, they had "Dedication Night". You could call up and dedicate a song to someone...Ahhhh, those were the days!!!

Answer 5

A very long time ago before the record companies took over

Answer 6

Kasey Kasem used to play our favorites a long, long time ago in the late 1970's. Now, the stations all play the same stuff over and over again until you think you're gonna hurl. I get so tired of it, I pop in a CD and call it a day.

Answer 7

i work at subway, and i have to hear pop music all day long, whats worse, is they replay the same songs 12 times a day. I want all record companies to die, and for music to be freer

Answer 8

Actually, Dick Clark's American Bandstand show had a huge impact on what played on the radio, and it was because of what the viewer's voted on.

Answer 9

i have had XM radio in my car for about a year and it is WAAAAAY better than the fm radio. my car was recently stolen and crashed. the guy took my XM radio also. i have had a rental while my car is being repaired and let me tell you....FM really sucks. go get sirius or xm. they are only like 12 bucks a month. well worth it. :)

Answer 10

yea that's why i got serious satellite radio. listen to what ever u want and no commercials. check it out and you will love it.