How come no radio station ever plays the early/late Pink Floyd?

Question

Like the Syd Barrett stuff? Like I understand why they don't play stuff off Ummagumma (it's a little hard to get use to) but they always play stuff off Dark Side, The Wall and Wish You Were Here, but they never play stuff off Piper, which is strange cause it is very catchy. And they never play stuff off the Division Bell either? Does anyone know why or could guess why?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, this is what has happened to radio for the most part and that's why satellite has become such a big thing. The fact is that the play lists are heavily controlled by the corporations(IE Clear Channel, Fox, and so on) who now own most stations in the U.S.. The FCC even voted a couple of years ago to let corporations be able to purchase more than 50% percent of all media which can now be owned by one person or company. The head of the FCC was Michael Powell(Colin's son) and the vote was done by five FCC chairpeople(three Republicans and two Democrates) with the vote being split along party lines. Most radio is owned by conservatives. This was at a time when Rupert Murdock was under investigation for trying to illigally own a monopoly and Clear Channel was under investigation(by Congress) for blacklisting the Dixie Chicks from all of it's stations because of their political views which is illegal. Even Rebuplican John McCain who ran the hearings was upset by what he heard. Remember Roger Waters Radio Chaos?

Answer 2

I think the answer is a bit complicated, but all together pretty obvious.

Re: The Syd Barrett stuff - it is pretty dense, psychedelic and can be (at times) tough to find a strong melody - three things that commercial radio usually avoids. This is quite unfortunate, as the Syd stuff is their most interesting, hands down.

Re: The Division Bell era - i occassionally hear "Learning to Fly" on the radio, but you have to understand, this is not really Pink Floyd - this is David Gilmour with some session guys who happen to have been in Pink Floyd. Without Roger Waters, many fans refuse to accept Gilmour/Wright/Mason as Pink Floyd. Plus, the post-Waters albums were just not all that good.

Finally, the stuff that gets played on the radio in general is popular, well-selling, easily accessible stuff. Unfortunately, the Barrett-stuff doesn't fit those three criteria, and the post-Waters doesn't fit the first criterion.

Answer 3

Mass appeal, sister Sarah.

For some reason, hardly anyone appreciates experimental rock. No, no, they would MUCH prefer to have the same few songs crammed in their head, just to be screamed out by annoying kids at school. "Because WE DON'T NEED NO EDUCATION!!!!!!!!" I would prefer to have my ears ripped out, personally.

Idea- when I grow up and get rich and whatnot, I'll found a radio station that makes sure to play unknown classic rock. A dusty Led Zep album here, some of Lynyrd Skynyrd's earliest stuff there... and of course, my music only hour would consist of only Echoes and Atom Heart Mother.

I need to make a list of stuff to request next time they have a request-fest thing going on. Hmm...
Astronomy Domine
See Emily Play
Arnold Layne (not sure if they'll play stuff about crossdressers, but I'll try anyway :D)
Saucerful of Secrets (note to self... you still don't have Live in Pompeii)
Careful with That Axe Eugene
Free Four
Summer '68
One of These Days
Any Colour You Like

Bah, all I can think of right now.

Answer 4

We have a local college station that plays prog rock sometimes usually in the middle o the night and that is where I first heard Piper at the Gates of Dawn I first thought it was some people making a alien talk show in the beginning but then I looked up the lyrics

Answer 5

Because radio stations don't care about the music, they care about getting the most listeners. To do that they play the most popular music.

Answer 6

I stay approximately a hundred miles NW of Pittsburgh and that i basically can wish we had the techniques of stations you do. we've approximately 10 usa and a million classic rock it incredibly is satellite tv for pc and that they supply the effect of being stcuk on Zeppelin

Answer 7

Because radio stations know NOTHING about good music, all they play is the new stuff that people consider "music".

Answer 8

Radio stations around me play it all the time.

Answer 9

I love PINK FLOYD! I think it is because there are fewer and fewer "classic rock stations." It is all hip hop stuff now!

Answer 10

hey listen to" it would be so nice" 1968 pink Floyd :} Jolly english breakfast time music :}