The No Fun Medium
Written Sep. 11, 2009 by Larry Rosin in Content with 7 Comments
I sometimes get frustrated with rose-colored memories about how great radio once was, and the idea proffered by critics that 'corporate' radio is nothing compared to the 'good old days.'
But I will grant this: One way that radio was more fun when I was a kid, listening to WLS in Chicago, was the extensive play of 'novelty songs'. From Disco Duck, to the Super Bowl Shuffle, to Dickie Goodman's crazy song-bite reports, to King Tut, to any number of others, WLS always had something silly, funny and goofy threaded through the playlist.
While the definition of a novelty song is slippery (is "Stacy's Mom" a novelty song? Is "My Humps"?), I'm talking about true throw away songs. Songs that a station can play the crud out of for maybe a week, but maybe only a few days, and then move on. What ever happened to them? Is it that radio stations simply won't play anything that they can keep on until it researches, or doesn't? Did a memo go out, or heaven forfend, did research say that these 'don't work'?
Every time I hear a funny song, I ask Sean (Ross, here at Edison), "Are any stations playing 'White and Nerdy'"? "Is anyone playing Susan Boyle's version of 'I Dreamed a Dream'"? "Anyone playing 'Gimme Stuff' by Rappy Mcrapperson?" "Anyone playing 'Lazy Sunday' or 'D*&k in a Box"? etc., the answer is always no. I'm not sure if this was a novelty or not, but every 11 year old girl in America was dancing to Miley Cyrus's "Hoedown Throwdown" this summer (I have one, so I know). I can't believe that no radio station put that on the air (save Radio Disney). But when I asked Sean, he said: "The label probably didn't promote it."
I know we live in a world where risks are not encouraged. But what risk is there in giving listeners a smile for a couple of days with a silly song?
A while ago the NFL banned what they call "excessive celebrations" in their football games. If a player seemed too excited or jubilant, the team was penalized. Media wags decided that the name NFL must stand for "No Fun League." While radio in general does a great job, and some stations provide lots of brilliant entertainment, when it comes to song choices, this is the No Fun Medium.
What do you think, Dialers? Am I right that Top 40 today could use an injection of novelties? Just periodically? And what are some of your favorite novelties that had you asking 'where's radio on this?"
Reader Comments
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It was those fun songs that I remember most from my "uh um" younger days...
Bob River's is another one that I miss. Which is why I started my own podcast. So I could share what I find with people that can enjoy it.
I think a lot of this sort of thing gets shunted off to the Dr. Demento show and such (altho I have no idea whether said Dr has any real competition, or should I say "competition"). Later this week, I'm interviewing a young (26) novelty song writer / street performer who promotes himself and his intentionally silly songs by getting his friends to request them on the Demento website. His songs have been played there. As for monetization...
I don't think it's just Top 40 that should be playing offbeat stuff. I can't imagine why Hot AC and AC didn't play Susan Boyle when it was getting millions of hits on YouTube. Everyone knew it. Just play these songs a week or three, and never again.
I think most of the novelty stuff is being left to the domain of the internet now. When I can get a laugh for three minutes at work from someone sending me the latest Weird Al video, or something from Jonathan Coulton - why does radio NEED to play those songs in the first place? I would postulate that listeners don't WANT novelty on their typical music stations anymore - because that's not what radio is FOR anymore. Or - better to put it as that's not what they PERCEIVE radio as for anymore.
--*Rob
If you haven't read Clark Weber's Rock & Roll Radio, The Fun Years, you've missed out on what defined fun on the radio. It amplifies everyrthing you said, Larry.
Jim
Larry, agree completely with you on these making radio great back in the days of the enormous, but not gaudy 89. While I would love to hear this kind of innovation, the flip side of the coin is that the level of competition today is several times that of what was around then.
Competing in a 30 station market provides a different stress level for the PD and probably a different tolerance level for the level. So we end up being gun shy and not doing things that are too cutting edge so as to not upset the balance.
Yea! Rappy Mcrapperson! play him!