October 18, 2002 – 9:19 pm
Radio a turn-off
Bob Geldof exposes the central logical flaw behind radio programming being about giving people what they want. If you play people stuff, they might find they like it. If you don’t play them something, they won’t demand it. How could they possibly, without having heard it?
It’s not like books, where you buy something you’ve never read…
Rock star Sir Bob Geldof has accused Australian radio stations of killing part of Australia’s culture by not playing enough home-grown music. “You are failing … you are killing part of the culture of this country,” he said. “And if radio is about community, what are you doing?”
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Cox Radio cracks down on ‘middlemen’ promoting airplay
I’m not sure I understand this article. Something about a large radio company in the US distancing itself from unethical practices by refusing to play the ‘indies’ (independent promoter) game. Have I read this right…?
Seriously – I’m impressed. Bloody good on them. Even if the motivation is self-preservation, at least it’s a bit more far-sighted and progressive than we’ve come to expect from most broadcasters.
Atlanta-based Cox Radio, one of the nation’s largest radio chains, plans to sever its ties with independent record promoters to distance itself from a payola-like practice that runs rampant in the music business. The decision makes Cox the first big broadcaster to revolt against the record labels’ three-decade-old practice of hiring independent “middlemen” to push songs to radio programmers. Critics say the promoters’ existing deals with major radio companies smack of payola, or undisclosed payments made in exchange for airplay.
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