So what does it take to have a winning radio station? First of all, it's not entirely about the music. Just playing listeners favorite music is not enough. They can get their favorite music on their iPod, YouTube or any other digital service. How that music is presented is what it's all about. What's happening between the songs is as important as the music itself. A new confirmation of that is included in the recent Alan Burns and Associates study of female radio listeners. Results showed that respondents distinguish between "entertaining talk" and "useless deejay chatter" and that distinction drives much of the behavior that is observed in PPM ratings. "CHR's unique advantage is providing fun and helping listeners plug into shared experiences and tastes" says the man who conducted the study. Burns adds that "the station that does those things better than others, wins." ...
The study ranked the top 5 favorite music artists among CHR listeners. They are, in this order: Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Rihanna and Usher. Ke$ha is the hottest new artist. And if you've been wondering why you just don't hear as much hip-hop booming out of cars recently, hip hop has slipped to 4th in popularity for CHR listeners. Other interesting findings include that the highly coveted CHR P1 listeners are more likely to tune out "A Song I Don't Like" (71%) than "A Song I'm Tired Of" (48%). Top needs in a morning show for CHR listeners are "Play A Lot Of Music" (66%) and "Make Me Laugh" (58%)...
In another key finding, respondents knew the difference between "entertaining talk" and "useless talk" which results in holding listeners' interest and getting repeat listening. Song or artist pre-sells into commercial breaks help bring listeners back for more tune-ins and finally the listeners most inclined to join a CHR station's Facebook tend to be its heaviest listeners...
With the exception of Facebook and different music artists, all of the findings in this study have been practiced by winning CHR stations since CHR started. There are no surprises here but lots of confirmation about what it takes to be a winner...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1948] Final Bambino Sighting: Babe Ruth is seen publicly for the last time attending the premiere of "The Babe Ruth Story" in Manhattan...
2.1953] They say you want a revolution: Fidel Castro begins his revolt against Fulgencio Batista with an unsuccessful attack on an army barracks in eastern Cuba. Castro eventually ousts Batista 6 years later...
3.1971] Moon shot: Apollo 15 is launched on a manned mission to the moon...
4.1981] I started to choke: New York Mayor Ed Koch is given the Heimlich maneuver when he chokes on chinese food. It saves his life...
5.1984] Blue busted: Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends pitcher Vida Blue for the remainder of the season for cocaine possession...
6.1987] Going to Hall: Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame are Catfish Hunter, Billy Williams and Ray Dandridge (from the Negro Leagues)...
7.1990] Acting on disability: President George H.W. Bush signs into law the Americans with Disabilities Act...
8.1992] "Happy Trails": Mary Wells, Motown's first Diva, dies from larynx cancer, first diagnosed in 1990. Mary was just 49...
9.1997] Going to Hall: Giants owner Wellington Mara and Dolphins coach Don Shula gain entrance into the NFL Hall of Fame (7/26)...
10.2006] Insanity ruling: A jury in Houston finds Andrea Yates not guilty by reason of insanity in the drowning of her children in a bathtub in her second trial. She will be committed to a state mental hospital...
Music Memories:
•1963] Released on this date: "Mickey's Monkey" - Smokey Robinson & Miracles...1969] "Beggar's Banquet" LP - Rolling Stones...
1968] Hey Jules: Paul McCartney writes a song in tribute to Julian Lennon while dad John adds his finishing touch to it on this date...
•1972] #1 on this date: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Kate Beckinsale (37), Jeremy Piven (45), Sandra Bullock (46), Kevin Spacey (51), Dorothy Hamill (54), Helen Mirren (65), Mick Jagger (67), Bobby Hebb (69), Brenton Wood (69), Dobie Gray (70), Darlene Love (72) and Blake Edwards (88)...
Timeline Countdown: 13 days until the Pro Football induction, 13 days until the 1st NFL pre-season game, 42 days until Labor Day and 45 days until the NFL opener (Minn. at New Orleans)...
