Company News · April 10, 2009
Determining A Song’s Real Radio Age
By sross
There has been a lot written lately about the Website health quiz that determines your “real age” based on your current physical condition and lifestyle. Clearly the concept resonates: we all know people who look and act younger than their physical age. And most of us think of people currently in their middle age as more vital than their counterparts of a generation earlier.
This can apply to songs as well. Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” — still a heavily played record at multiple formats and an inevitable wedding/party staple — first charted almost 42 years ago. By contrast, it’s hard to imagine the 1925 recording that would have been on the radio when “Brown Eyed Girl” was new; just being on this side of the rock ‘n’ roll era has made an longer lifespan possible for most songs. But very few records from 1967 have the same overall currency with the general public; (“Are You Lonely For Me” by Morrison’s label-mate Freddie Scott, a record just a few months older, is timeless to me. But it’s sadly lost to many.)
So here’s our own quiz for determining a song’s Radio Age. Start with the actual age of the song and then add or subtract, based on the following:
1) Is the song still readily available on the radio?
That one seems pretty obvious, but airplay begets airplay, particularly at a time when less music research is being done. Those songs excised by “Greatest Hits” stations in recent years — first the early ’60s, then any mid-’60s song that wasn’t “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Mony Mony,” or “Respect” — do feel older now, just for being heard less in the context of those songs that still get played. So….
*If a song is still heard regularly on major-market Classic Rock, Classic Hits, or Greatest Hits stations, subtract five years from a song’s age;
* If a song is still heard at AC, Hot AC, Urban AC or Country, subtract seven years;
* If a song is still heard at Mainstream or Rhythmic Top 40, Alternative or Active Rock, or Urban, subtract nine years;
* If a song maintained a presence at radio, but has recently been culled, add five years;
* If a song was a “terminal current” — never played as an oldie — add seven years for a major hit and nine years for a mid-charter.
2) Did a song come to national prominence years after its release?
A lot of enduring hits built their relationship with the audience over a period of years, not months: “Red Red Wine,” “In Your Eyes,” “What I Like About You,” “I Melt With You,” “Old Time Rock & Roll,” “I Wanna Be Sedated,” and “Dancing With Myself” feel newer than their release date to many listeners because much of the audience didn’t hear them until years after their release date.
* If a song had a significant “afterlife” at radio, subtract the number of years between initial U.S. release (1983 for “Red Red Wine,” say) and when the song came to prominence for most people (1988 in this case).
3) Has a song been rediscovered somewhere other than the radio: movies, TV, sporting events, or now video games?
Violent Femmes’ “Blister In The Sun” was released in 1985, but its durability comes from its 1994 inclusion in “My So Called Life,” (which took on much of its own appeal posthumously). Etta James’ “At Last” must have already felt like a throwback as a 1961 R&B hit (it was a remake of a 1942 standard), but has maintained a consistent home in movies and commercials for nearly 20 years now. Zombie Nation’s “Kernkraft 400” is a nine-year-old dance hit, but outside New York, sports fans have only taken up its “whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh” chant recently.
* For a major usgae in a movie (“What A Wonderful World” in “Good Morning Vietnam,” say), subtract the years between the original and the movie;
* For a secondary usage in a hit movie, subtract three years;
* For a major TV commercial that’s running now, subtract 10 years;
* For a TV commercial over the last five years or so, subtract three years;
* For a major TV showcase (“At This Moment” on “Family Ties”, “Hallelujah” on “American Idol”), subtract the number of years between the original and the show;
* For a secondary showcase (more routine “Idol” appearances) over the last few years, subtract three years;
* For use at sporting events or at wedding, subtract five years;
* For use in video games, subtract three years. (You hear a lot about the “Guitar Hero” effect, but it hasn’t shown up at radio yet.)
4) Has a song been successfully remade?
Rod Stewart’s “The First Cut Is The Deepest” was scarce on the radio when the Sheryl Crow version came along. Same for the Supertramp original of “Give A Little Bit,” when the Goo Goo Dolls remade it.
* For a major remake of that magnitude, subtract 10 years.
* For a prominent and identifiable sample or interpolation (e.g., Flo Rida’s use of Dead Or Alive), subtract five years.
5) Has a song suffered serious burn in recent years?
Both “Old Time Rock & Roll” and “Sweet Home Alabama” have had many years taken off their age by ongoing airplay, movies and TV commercials. They’re still massively liked records, but they have been diminished in years by over-exposure.
* For a song with massive burn, add five years.
6) Is a song on the wrong side of a generational divide?
Songs like Usher’s “Yeah” or Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” have lost a little of their hipness by becoming mom-friendly Hip-Hop. The same goes for grunge which may be the strongest, most enduring rock music of the last 15 years, but is finally becoming a little less hip with 18-year-olds than some Classic Rock music.
* For a song that your mom or big brother likes, add three years.
7) How contemporary does a song sound in 2009?
* Was a song ahead of its time in terms of production? Subtract five years..
* Was it already a sonic throwback or an artist at the end of their career? Add five years.
8) Has the act’s stock overall improved at radio in the last year or two. Subtract 5 years.
9) Has a song experienced an iTunes resurgence in the last year or two? Subtract 5 years.
Finally, let’s also say that no song can take more years off its age than it actually has.
So let’s do some math. (All calculations are subject to the author’s relatively low TV watching, so you make take off some years for “Idol” appearances or TV spots that I missed.)
Beatles, “Twist & Shout” (1964) – A U.S. hit 45 years ago today. A movie-driven radio hit again in 1986 subtract 22 years). Still heard on “Greatest Hits” stations (subtract 5 years.) Radio Age: 18.
Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” (1964) – It’s only a few months older, but, despite its Earth-moving significance at the time, much less present on radio now. It should add five years for having disappeared from the radio, but it loses five years for being groundbreaking. Radio Age: 45, same as its real age.
Beatles, “Come Together” — It’s 40 years old (1969), but gets 10 years off for the Aerosmith remake and another three for a movie, even the disastrous “Sgt. Pepper” movie. It also gets five years off for its Greatest Hits/Classic Hits airplay. Radio Age: 22.
Ben E. King, “Stand By Me” — A hit almost 48 years ago in spring ’61. A movie/radio hit again in 1986 and one of the few songs from that era to make the cut at radio. Subtract 25 years for the movie/chart resurgence and another 5 years for ongoing airplay. Radio Age: 18
Ramones, “I Wanna Be Sedated” – It’s a 31-year-old cult classic that finally made its way to the Weekend Kick-off shows in the mid-’90s. So subtract 17 years for incubation time. You could add five years because it’s not quite as present on the radio as it was a few years ago, but you also have to take off five years because it was a cutting-edge song in 1978. Radio Age: Like its creators, an eternal 14 years old.
Abba, “Take A Chance On Me” – Another 31-year-old record. It deserves three years off apiece for its inclusion in both the Broadway and movie versions of “Mamma Mia” and another five for making its way back on to the radio over the last year. Radio Age: 20.
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, “You’re The One That I Want” – Also 31-years-old, it was on the radio next to “Take A Chance On Me” in spring ’78. Then it disappeared for many years, but with the enduring popularity of the movie “Grease,” we have to give it back the 18 years between the original and the radio success of “The Grease Megamix” in 1996, toss in three years for the reality show “Grease: You’re The One That I Want,” three years for the recent Broadway show, and seven years for being back on many AC stations. Give back three years for some recent signs of generational polarization and five for some burn and the Radio Age is eight.
Green Day, “Brain Stew/Jaded” – Came out in 1995 at a time when Green Day’s decision to make a less radio friendly record in “Insomniac” drove its stock among programmers down for those few years between “When I Come Around” and “Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance).” It has become a much bigger Rock radio record and gotten a little Top 40 airplay in recent years, helped further by the success of “American Idiot.” Actual age, 14, but subtract nine years for current airplay and five years for its edginess at the time. Radio Age? Effectively, a current.
Sublime, “Santaria” – A similar story here. Came out in 1996. Didn’t get significant pop airplay. Since then, however, the Sublime album has become a dorm room staple. So, actual age 13, minus eight years for current airplay. Radio Age: five.
AC/DC, “You Shook Me All Night Long” – 29 years old (1980), but an airplay perennial at Classic Rock, Active Rock and even a few Hot ACs. So take off nine years. And another five for the group’s resurgence with a new album and more playable songs at Classic Rock last year. And another five for ongoing arena usage. Radio Age: 10.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama” – It’s 35 years old (1974), but with airplay even at Active Rock gets nine years back, plus three for “Con Air,” another three for the KFC commercials, and five for Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long.” But you’ve got to add in massive recent burn. Radio Age: 20.
Def Leppard, “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (1988) – It’s 21-years-old but loses nine years for recent airplay, even at Hot AC. Radio Age: 12.
Sir Mix-A-Lot, “Baby Got Back” (1992) – It’s 17 years old, but has had a new currency since 2002-03. With ongoing airplay at Mainstream and Rhythmic Top 40 (9 points) and 10 points for the recent Burger King spot, this one is also effectively a current. And that’s not even including the Grand Skeem remake.
Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991) – Eighteen years old, but never disappeared from Alternative or Active Rock. So subtract nine. Then add three because grunge is losing a little cachet with today’s 18 year olds. Radio Age: 12.
Toni Basil, “Mickey” (1982) — Almost 27 years old. This one added seven years by disappearing from the radio almost immediately. And in New York, you might have to add a few more years for those WXRK (Now FM) promos attacking it. But we can take off five years each for “Hollaback Girl” and “Girlfriend.” And another three years each for the movie “Bring It On” and the Subway commercial with the cheerleaders. That nets out at a Radio Age of 18.
Journey, “Don’t Stop Believing” (1981) — The Sopranos finale gave it so much bounceback two years ago that you have to take off 26 of its 28 years. Figure in the iTunes boost or the new musical “Rock Of Ages” and its Radio Age effectively becomes that of a current.
Eager to hear your additions to the iist. Or any suggestions for modifications to the formula.
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There has been a lot written lately about the Website health quiz that determines your “real age” based on your current physical condition and lifestyle. Clearly the concept resonates: we all know people who look and act younger than their physical age. And most of us think of people currently in their middle age as more vital than their counterparts of a generation earlier.
This can apply to songs as well. Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” — still a heavily played record at multiple formats and an inevitable wedding/party staple — first charted almost 42 years ago. By contrast, it’s hard to imagine the 1925 recording that would have been on the radio when “Brown Eyed Girl” was new; just being on this side of the rock ‘n’ roll era has made an longer lifespan possible for most songs. But very few records from 1967 have the same overall currency with the general public; (“Are You Lonely For Me” by Morrison’s label-mate Freddie Scott, a record just a few months older, is timeless to me. But it’s sadly lost to many.)
So here’s our own quiz for determining a song’s Radio Age. Start with the actual age of the song and then add or subtract, based on the following:
1) Is the song still readily available on the radio?
That one seems pretty obvious, but airplay begets airplay, particularly at a time when less music research is being done. Those songs excised by “Greatest Hits” stations in recent years — first the early ’60s, then any mid-’60s song that wasn’t “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Mony Mony,” or “Respect” — do feel older now, just for being heard less in the context of those songs that still get played. So….
*If a song is still heard regularly on major-market Classic Rock, Classic Hits, or Greatest Hits stations, subtract five years from a song’s age;
* If a song is still heard at AC, Hot AC, Urban AC or Country, subtract seven years;
* If a song is still heard at Mainstream or Rhythmic Top 40, Alternative or Active Rock, or Urban, subtract nine years;
* If a song maintained a presence at radio, but has recently been culled, add five years;
* If a song was a “terminal current” — never played as an oldie — add seven years for a major hit and nine years for a mid-charter.
2) Did a song come to national prominence years after its release?
A lot of enduring hits built their relationship with the audience over a period of years, not months: “Red Red Wine,” “In Your Eyes,” “What I Like About You,” “I Melt With You,” “Old Time Rock & Roll,” “I Wanna Be Sedated,” and “Dancing With Myself” feel newer than their release date to many listeners because much of the audience didn’t hear them until years after their release date.
* If a song had a significant “afterlife” at radio, subtract the number of years between initial U.S. release (1983 for “Red Red Wine,” say) and when the song came to prominence for most people (1988 in this case).
3) Has a song been rediscovered somewhere other than the radio: movies, TV, sporting events, or now video games?
Violent Femmes’ “Blister In The Sun” was released in 1985, but its durability comes from its 1994 inclusion in “My So Called Life,” (which took on much of its own appeal posthumously). Etta James’ “At Last” must have already felt like a throwback as a 1961 R&B hit (it was a remake of a 1942 standard), but has maintained a consistent home in movies and commercials for nearly 20 years now. Zombie Nation’s “Kernkraft 400” is a nine-year-old dance hit, but outside New York, sports fans have only taken up its “whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh” chant recently.
* For a major usgae in a movie (“What A Wonderful World” in “Good Morning Vietnam,” say), subtract the years between the original and the movie;
* For a secondary usage in a hit movie, subtract three years;
* For a major TV commercial that’s running now, subtract 10 years;
* For a TV commercial over the last five years or so, subtract three years;
* For a major TV showcase (“At This Moment” on “Family Ties”, “Hallelujah” on “American Idol”), subtract the number of years between the original and the show;
* For a secondary showcase (more routine “Idol” appearances) over the last few years, subtract three years;
* For use at sporting events or at wedding, subtract five years;
* For use in video games, subtract three years. (You hear a lot about the “Guitar Hero” effect, but it hasn’t shown up at radio yet.)
4) Has a song been successfully remade?
Rod Stewart’s “The First Cut Is The Deepest” was scarce on the radio when the Sheryl Crow version came along. Same for the Supertramp original of “Give A Little Bit,” when the Goo Goo Dolls remade it.
* For a major remake of that magnitude, subtract 10 years.
* For a prominent and identifiable sample or interpolation (e.g., Flo Rida’s use of Dead Or Alive), subtract five years.
5) Has a song suffered serious burn in recent years?
Both “Old Time Rock & Roll” and “Sweet Home Alabama” have had many years taken off their age by ongoing airplay, movies and TV commercials. They’re still massively liked records, but they have been diminished in years by over-exposure.
* For a song with massive burn, add five years.
6) Is a song on the wrong side of a generational divide?
Songs like Usher’s “Yeah” or Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” have lost a little of their hipness by becoming mom-friendly Hip-Hop. The same goes for grunge which may be the strongest, most enduring rock music of the last 15 years, but is finally becoming a little less hip with 18-year-olds than some Classic Rock music.
* For a song that your mom or big brother likes, add three years.
7) How contemporary does a song sound in 2009?
* Was a song ahead of its time in terms of production? Subtract five years..
* Was it already a sonic throwback or an artist at the end of their career? Add five years.
8) Has the act’s stock overall improved at radio in the last year or two. Subtract 5 years.
9) Has a song experienced an iTunes resurgence in the last year or two? Subtract 5 years.
Finally, let’s also say that no song can take more years off its age than it actually has.
So let’s do some math. (All calculations are subject to the author’s relatively low TV watching, so you make take off some years for “Idol” appearances or TV spots that I missed.)
Beatles, “Twist & Shout” (1964) – A U.S. hit 45 years ago today. A movie-driven radio hit again in 1986 subtract 22 years). Still heard on “Greatest Hits” stations (subtract 5 years.) Radio Age: 18.
Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” (1964) – It’s only a few months older, but, despite its Earth-moving significance at the time, much less present on radio now. It should add five years for having disappeared from the radio, but it loses five years for being groundbreaking. Radio Age: 45, same as its real age.
Beatles, “Come Together” — It’s 40 years old (1969), but gets 10 years off for the Aerosmith remake and another three for a movie, even the disastrous “Sgt. Pepper” movie. It also gets five years off for its Greatest Hits/Classic Hits airplay. Radio Age: 22.
Ben E. King, “Stand By Me” — A hit almost 48 years ago in spring ’61. A movie/radio hit again in 1986 and one of the few songs from that era to make the cut at radio. Subtract 25 years for the movie/chart resurgence and another 5 years for ongoing airplay. Radio Age: 18
Ramones, “I Wanna Be Sedated” – It’s a 31-year-old cult classic that finally made its way to the Weekend Kick-off shows in the mid-’90s. So subtract 17 years for incubation time. You could add five years because it’s not quite as present on the radio as it was a few years ago, but you also have to take off five years because it was a cutting-edge song in 1978. Radio Age: Like its creators, an eternal 14 years old.
Abba, “Take A Chance On Me” – Another 31-year-old record. It deserves three years off apiece for its inclusion in both the Broadway and movie versions of “Mamma Mia” and another five for making its way back on to the radio over the last year. Radio Age: 20.
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, “You’re The One That I Want” – Also 31-years-old, it was on the radio next to “Take A Chance On Me” in spring ’78. Then it disappeared for many years, but with the enduring popularity of the movie “Grease,” we have to give it back the 18 years between the original and the radio success of “The Grease Megamix” in 1996, toss in three years for the reality show “Grease: You’re The One That I Want,” three years for the recent Broadway show, and seven years for being back on many AC stations. Give back three years for some recent signs of generational polarization and five for some burn and the Radio Age is eight.
Green Day, “Brain Stew/Jaded” – Came out in 1995 at a time when Green Day’s decision to make a less radio friendly record in “Insomniac” drove its stock among programmers down for those few years between “When I Come Around” and “Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance).” It has become a much bigger Rock radio record and gotten a little Top 40 airplay in recent years, helped further by the success of “American Idiot.” Actual age, 14, but subtract nine years for current airplay and five years for its edginess at the time. Radio Age? Effectively, a current.
Sublime, “Santaria” – A similar story here. Came out in 1996. Didn’t get significant pop airplay. Since then, however, the Sublime album has become a dorm room staple. So, actual age 13, minus eight years for current airplay. Radio Age: five.
AC/DC, “You Shook Me All Night Long” – 29 years old (1980), but an airplay perennial at Classic Rock, Active Rock and even a few Hot ACs. So take off nine years. And another five for the group’s resurgence with a new album and more playable songs at Classic Rock last year. And another five for ongoing arena usage. Radio Age: 10.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama” – It’s 35 years old (1974), but with airplay even at Active Rock gets nine years back, plus three for “Con Air,” another three for the KFC commercials, and five for Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long.” But you’ve got to add in massive recent burn. Radio Age: 20.
Def Leppard, “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (1988) – It’s 21-years-old but loses nine years for recent airplay, even at Hot AC. Radio Age: 12.
Sir Mix-A-Lot, “Baby Got Back” (1992) – It’s 17 years old, but has had a new currency since 2002-03. With ongoing airplay at Mainstream and Rhythmic Top 40 (9 points) and 10 points for the recent Burger King spot, this one is also effectively a current. And that’s not even including the Grand Skeem remake.
Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991) – Eighteen years old, but never disappeared from Alternative or Active Rock. So subtract nine. Then add three because grunge is losing a little cachet with today’s 18 year olds. Radio Age: 12.
Toni Basil, “Mickey” (1982) — Almost 27 years old. This one added seven years by disappearing from the radio almost immediately. And in New York, you might have to add a few more years for those WXRK (Now FM) promos attacking it. But we can take off five years each for “Hollaback Girl” and “Girlfriend.” And another three years each for the movie “Bring It On” and the Subway commercial with the cheerleaders. That nets out at a Radio Age of 18.
Journey, “Don’t Stop Believing” (1981) — The Sopranos finale gave it so much bounceback two years ago that you have to take off 26 of its 28 years. Figure in the iTunes boost or the new musical “Rock Of Ages” and its Radio Age effectively becomes that of a current.
Eager to hear your additions to the iist. Or any suggestions for modifications to the formula.