How Pop music was shaped by Radio Industry
This article is from a person who seen the change in the radio industry and have decided to speak up.
Since my early years of Rap music, my brother and I have been struggling to get music broadcasted on local radio stations throughout California but we would hear the same thing time after time, POLITICS. This would puzzle me because I would wonder what POLITICS had to do with music until I came to realize that it wasn't the politics but the other big P; PAYOLA. The all mighty dollar that fuels the airwaves and keeps the records spinning. This is why so many up and coming artists receive little if close to none in rotation on radio stations operated by conglomerates who are in bed with major Record labels who have the resources and budgets to fuel a 3 month marketing campaign to get their flava of the month heavy rotation morning, noon and night.
We put out several singles and Eps and added more miles on cars we owned than Greyhound whole fleet of buses during the late nineties but we would hear POLITICS. Was it politicians deciding our music content wasn't acceptable for local radio? was it politicians who decided that local individuals just didn't stack up to those in another region? I always thought POLITICS helped the common man not destroy his hopes and dreams of improving his family, community and outlook on life. While most of the artists that we encountered during our trek through the muddy and sometimes confusing wilderness called radio industry POLITICS wrote and produced some of the best music heard on the local radio stations, quite a few became one hit wonders and made you scratch your head in amazement and question the music director in his ability to pick and choose quality programming. I witnessed how the quality of the music deemed popular was changing more into hooks than substance and it was no longer about leaving the listener with something to dwell on but catch phrases and shout-outs to the homies and major Record Labels that was footing the bill for a higher return.
Once a week I will write an article regarding the Industry since I have been in the game for more than 20 years so please follow me and feel free to log onto kpr1radio.com and become a member to help build a wonderful entity for the betterment of mankind.
Since my early years of Rap music, my brother and I have been struggling to get music broadcasted on local radio stations throughout California but we would hear the same thing time after time, POLITICS. This would puzzle me because I would wonder what POLITICS had to do with music until I came to realize that it wasn't the politics but the other big P; PAYOLA. The all mighty dollar that fuels the airwaves and keeps the records spinning. This is why so many up and coming artists receive little if close to none in rotation on radio stations operated by conglomerates who are in bed with major Record labels who have the resources and budgets to fuel a 3 month marketing campaign to get their flava of the month heavy rotation morning, noon and night.
We put out several singles and Eps and added more miles on cars we owned than Greyhound whole fleet of buses during the late nineties but we would hear POLITICS. Was it politicians deciding our music content wasn't acceptable for local radio? was it politicians who decided that local individuals just didn't stack up to those in another region? I always thought POLITICS helped the common man not destroy his hopes and dreams of improving his family, community and outlook on life. While most of the artists that we encountered during our trek through the muddy and sometimes confusing wilderness called radio industry POLITICS wrote and produced some of the best music heard on the local radio stations, quite a few became one hit wonders and made you scratch your head in amazement and question the music director in his ability to pick and choose quality programming. I witnessed how the quality of the music deemed popular was changing more into hooks than substance and it was no longer about leaving the listener with something to dwell on but catch phrases and shout-outs to the homies and major Record Labels that was footing the bill for a higher return.
Once a week I will write an article regarding the Industry since I have been in the game for more than 20 years so please follow me and feel free to log onto kpr1radio.com and become a member to help build a wonderful entity for the betterment of mankind.
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