The last two times I was in an office, the soundtrack was furnished by Spotify. I'm wondering if this is the new norm.
Back in the day, Chicago radio leaders such as WLIT-FM, WTMX-FM and WLS-FM during the Scott Shannon True Oldies era were heard. The music was listener friendly and a staple of many businesses.
I'm wondering how much local listenership has remained given so much music options.
To younger listeners, radio is no longer the AM/FM band. It's Spotify, SiriusXM, YouTube and others.
If office listening has dropped, what's next? Corporate radio has very real restrictions. Voice tracking from out-of-town personalities, commercial loads which run up to eight minutes and more, music which has been played to death, etc.
Are we to believe the only true office listening is when WLIT-FM begins their yearly all-Christmas music?
Back in the day (pre 1990) CHR's would skew AC so they were office friendly during the day. That is how important it was and you would not hear Metallica on Z95 during the day. Nights and overnight were flat out 12+ machines and you heard Metallica on Z95.
SXM is actually not a younger generation go to. Why pay for it when you can go to YouTube? What is SXM's golden feather? Howard Stern. His time is limited as he is ready to retire and what age group do you think listens to him? Def is not 6 - 40 female demo.
Also, there is a not well known or enforced rule that SXM and other platforms can't be played in businesses, whether an office with certain amount of listeners or a pizzeria.
But, you are correct. Terrestrial radio is delusional, more comfortable having their heads in the sand than approaching reality that fragmentation is occurring. I believe Terrestrial radio will keep cranking out commercials to appease shareholders and the banks. They will appeal to the lowest possible listeners. Passive listeners in passing/forced to listen or those that can't afford streaming or the added costs to do it. ---- That is assuming that the current players (iHeart, Audacy, Cumulus, etc...) don't win by moving all their signals to IP based and turn off all transmitters (long run saving a ton of money and eliminating having to run hundreds of different market Top40 or Urban or Oldies signals. 1 stream and tailor for the market with commercials and local information - Like they are ALREADY doing online).
Are we to believe the only true office listening is when WLIT-FM begins their yearly all-Christmas music?
Yes, totally correct. It is not an overnight thing. It is trickling little by little where is not obvious. Just wait until the ratings and cume starts dropping on that year to year and it is no longer a ploy to increase billing!
Things have changed and will continue to change. It will not be good for terrestrial radio.
on June 27, 2023, 3:17 pm