Radio & Records' closing yesterday was a sad day for its staffers and the industry overall. And it was a poignant day for Edison Research's Sean Ross whose industry career began at R&R more than 25 years ago. In this week's Ross On Radio muses on what R&R meant to the industry and offers "Some Personal Thoughts."
This could have been the summer that tough times were reflected on Top 40 radio. Instead, we have our best crop of uptempo summer music in several years. Join Edison's Sean Ross in "Handicapping the Summer Hit of 2009."
Okay, it's been a few years since you've read a lot about Bob- and Jack-FM in the trade press. But there are still stations doing the format very successfully in 2009. On the seventh anniversary of the format, Edison Research VP Sean Ross takes a clear-eyed look at the new issues that have emerged in "Bob- and Jack: After the Goldrush."
In the first-ever "Instant Request" edition of Ross On Radio, we take up a reader's question about why broadcasters are launching so many CHRs if teens don't like radio. For the first time in a decade, new Top 40 stations have the potential to expand the format's audience, not just cannibalize it. But bringing the teens back is going to take more than two Top 40s in a market.
There's been a lot written lately about the Website that suggests your "real age" based on your overall health and lifestyle. But that concept applies for songs, too. "I Will Survive" has a lot of currency for a 30 year old record. "Brown Eyed Girl" doesn't sound 42. In this week's Ross On Radio, Edison Research's Sean Ross looks at why and how records endure. See his quiz for "Determining A Song's Real Radio Age."
Ten Great Radio Battles Of The '80s and Early '90s
(Apr 02, 2009)
Even For Touring Artists, Radio Support Matters
(Mar 10, 2009)
Keeping Your Station Moving
(Mar 04, 2009)
First Listen: The CHR Battle For L.A.
(Feb 24, 2009)
What To Do When You Can't Do A Music Test
(Feb 19, 2009)
The Clichés Of PPM
(Feb 19, 2009)
If Satellite Radio Went Away Tomorrow
(Feb 11, 2009)
What National Radio Could Be
(Jan 28, 2009)
Is The People Meter The Enemy Of New Music?
(Jan 22, 2009)
The Most Intriguing Stations of 2008
(Jan 08, 2009)
2008: The Best Of ... You!
(Dec 11, 2008)
No Longer Spinning Out Of Control
(Dec 04, 2008)
First Listen: New York's Holiday Radio Battle
(Nov 25, 2008)
Organizing The '90s Into A Format
(Nov 11, 2008)
V103 Celebrates 20 Years As Urban AC Landscape Changes
(Oct 17, 2008)
Oldies Become Classic Hits, And Motown Goes MIA
(Oct 03, 2008)
The Official Radio Station Of Bad Times
(Oct 02, 2008)
Is Your Station Smarter Than A "Genius"?
(Sep 16, 2008)
Why Is It So Hard To Be Today's Soft Rock?
(Sep 10, 2008)
A Tight Race, But We Declare A Summer Song Winner
(Aug 26, 2008)
What's At The Bottom Of The Music Test?
(Aug 13, 2008)
The Mark Of The Wolf At Country Radio
(Jul 31, 2008)
Why 2008 Is The Year Of The Comeback
(Jul 22, 2008)
Recommendations For "Recommending" New Music
(Jul 17, 2008)
First Listen: On Air With Ryan Seacrest
(Jul 01, 2008)
Taking Control Of The Infinite Dial
(Jun 27, 2008)
Tackling The Streaming Stopset Problem: 18 Months Later
(Jun 18, 2008)
From Top 40 To Country (With Irony)
(Jun 10, 2008)
30 Under 30 Honorees Pick The Next Hot Format
(May 28, 2008)
Handicapping the Summer Song of 2008
(May 21, 2008)
For Some, Radio Is Still The Best Way To Hear Music
(May 06, 2008)
Closing In On a National New Music Channel
(May 02, 2008)
Is the Industry Open to Interpretation?
(Apr 17, 2008)
At Classic Rock, AC/DC (And The '80s) Gain Current-cy
(Apr 07, 2008)
How Fast Is Too Fast? The 45-Minute Power Rotation
(Mar 19, 2008)
Catching Up On the New Oldies
(Mar 13, 2008)
When Kenny G Was an Urban Artist: How the Smooth Jazz/Urban AC Coalition Formed And Foundered
(Mar 04, 2008)
No Country For Middle-Aged Men?
(Feb 27, 2008)
Is Radio Suffering From Too Little Research?
(Feb 21, 2008)
Which Presidential Candidate Plays The Hits?
(Jan 28, 2008)
The Last Days of CKLW: Why the New Austerity Isn't New
(Jan 24, 2008)
Why Idol Changed Radio . . . And Will Likely Continue To
(Jan 15, 2008)
Does Imaging Still Matter?
(Dec 17, 2007)
What We Learned From Testing Christmas Music In 2007
(Dec 05, 2007)
How Format Trends and Press Coverage Intersect
(Oct 31, 2007)
Who Goes Deeper? Satellite Or Terrestrial Radio?
(Oct 16, 2007)
Top 40 Reclaims B94, But What About Now?
(Oct 09, 2007)
Is This The Year You Can Compete With Christmas?
(Oct 02, 2007)
Second Listen: HD Radio
(Sep 25, 2007)
Rock Radio Is Back . . . But As What?
(Sep 18, 2007)
New Adult Music Emerges: Who Will Own It?
(Sep 11, 2007)
Slower Charts and the Summer Song Of 2007
(Aug 30, 2007)
The Greatest Hits Of The '60s, '70s . . . And '80s?
(Jul 23, 2007)
Jack Hits The Road In New York, But Hold Your Fire
(Jul 09, 2007)
Oldies' New Lease on Life, Or Maybe An Extended Warranty
(Jun 25, 2007)
How Urban Radio Can Compete In a PPM World
(Jun 06, 2007)
Handicapping The Summer Song Of 2007
(May 29, 2007)
First Listen: Clear Channel's New Lone Star 92.5/Dallas
(Apr 24, 2007)
Mainstream AC Moves On To Hot AC's Territory
(Apr 23, 2007)
Is It Right To Not Be Lite?
(Apr 18, 2007)
After Imus' Firing: Instilling A Culture Of Respect
(Apr 13, 2007)
"Failure To Launch" And How To Avoid It
(Mar 22, 2007)
The Most Intriguing Stations Of 2006
(Feb 02, 2007)
In Search Of The Novelty/Reaction Record
(Jan 24, 2007)
Can Access For Indie Labels Be Governed?
(Jan 11, 2007)
First Listen: New York's Fresh 102.7
(Jan 03, 2007)
First Listen: Radio Shack's $99 HD Radio
(Nov 28, 2006)
R&B/Hip-Hop: Did It Take Justin To Bring TempoBack?
(Nov 21, 2006)
Winning Vs. Losing: It's The People . . . But It's More
(Oct 12, 2006)
Okay, So What Was The Summer Hit Of 2006?
(Aug 31, 2006)
Rhythmic AC: In Search Of The Funky Cold Medina
(Aug 24, 2006)
Is It Finally Time To "Drop" The Reported "Add"?
(Aug 23, 2006)
What Is Top 40 Going To Do With Its Best Music In Years?
(Jul 11, 2006)
What Are Adult Hits' 25-to-54 Winners Doing Right?
(Jun 28, 2006)
A Breakthrough For African-American News/Talk
(Jun 19, 2006)
First Listen: WFNX’s "Snapple Summer Free-For-All"
(May 31, 2006)
Handicapping The Summer Song Of 2006
(May 25, 2006)
Hip-Hop: Faltering? Or Just Fragmented?
(May 19, 2006)
First Listen: KQMV Seattle (Alan Burns’ Movin’ Format)
(May 02, 2006)
When Contest Winners Will Not Scream
(Apr 18, 2006)
In Search Of Women Who Rock
(Apr 04, 2006)
Has Modern AC's Time Come Again?
(Mar 19, 2006)
So What Is AC Going To Do About The Early ’90s?
(Mar 08, 2006)
Praising Mass-Appeal In An Increasingly Niched World
(Feb 21, 2006)
News/Talk on FM: An Overnight Success That Took 15 Years
(Jan 12, 2006)
The Most Intriguing New Stations Of 2005
(Jan 03, 2006)
This Is What It Sounds Like When Formats Die (Or Don’t)
(Nov 09, 2005)
Bob And Jack: Everything You Know Is Wrong?
(Nov 02, 2005)
Should You Open Your Music Meeting to Listeners?
(Oct 25, 2005)
Does Terrestrial Radio Need National Brands?
(Oct 03, 2005)
Three Stations Go "Commercial Free," But Can You? First Listen: WDRE/WBON Long Island, N.Y.
(Sep 19, 2005)
Is There A Halo Effect for Remakes?
(Aug 23, 2005)
Finding And Selling Today’s Best Music
(Jul 13, 2005)
Audio Killed the Radio Star?
(Jul 01, 2005)
A Return To 25-54itis?
(Jun 14, 2005)
WCBS-FM: A Final Appreciation
(Jun 07, 2005)
Green Day’s Lessons For Radio And The Music Biz
(Apr 18, 2005)
Jack/Bob: When To Co-Opt, When To Fight
(Mar 31, 2005)
Modern Rock’s Product Is Better, Why Aren’t The Numbers?
(Mar 14, 2005)
How All-Christmas Stations Fared In 2004
(Feb 25, 2005)
One Night In Bangkok Makes A Rock Fan...Nostalgic?
(Feb 09, 2005)
Adventures in the Land of Retail
(Jan 31, 2005)
Don’t Drop Oldies Before You’ve Read This
(Jan 24, 2005)
What We Learned From Testing Christmas Music In 2004
(Jan 13, 2005)
The Most Intriguing New Stations of 2004
(Jan 05, 2005)
Songs That Made A Difference in 2004
(Dec 14, 2004)
First Listen: WQCD (CD101.9)’s “New York Chill”
(Dec 02, 2004)
The Boss Is Back. Can “Boss Radio” Be Far Behind?
(Oct 28, 2004)
How All-Christmas Stations Fared In The Spring Book
(Oct 20, 2004)
Why Callout Hits No Longer Have Legs
(Sep 30, 2004)
Microsoft’s Sound-Alike Radio Stations
(Sep 16, 2004)
What Was The Summer Hit Of 2004?
(Sep 01, 2004)
“Stairway To Heaven,” “Summer Of ‘69” And The Myth Of Songs That Test Where They Aren’t Supposed To
(Aug 25, 2004)
Is Christian Radio Meant For So Much More?
(Aug 09, 2004)
What CC’s Spotload Initiative Means For You
(Jul 22, 2004)
As Mood On Iraq Changes, So Does Its Place In Pop Music
(Jul 14, 2004)
When Is A Hip-Hop Record Ready To Cross Over?
(Jul 01, 2004)
Are Jack and Bob Mere Mortals?
(Jun 23, 2004)
Are You Ready For Extreme Country?
(Jun 10, 2004)
Adult Modern’s “Pinprick,” More Bob/Jack Ratings, And Other Stories From The Winter Book
(May 19, 2004)
How All-Christmas Stations Fared In The Winter Book
(May 11, 2004)
First Look: Scott Shannon’s “True Oldies Channel”
(May 04, 2004)
A New Generation Of Teen Pop
(Apr 08, 2004)
How Did Modern Gold Come Back Before The Rhythmic 90s?
(Apr 01, 2004)
There Are Hits That You Haven’t Tested: And Other Things I Learned From My Spring Music Test
(Mar 25, 2004)
Jack/Bob Comes (Back) To America
(Mar 17, 2004)
Panel Cuts Didn’t Speed Up Country Chart
(Feb 25, 2004)
Songs That Will Never Test…Until They Do
(Feb 18, 2004)
Top 40’s Fall Decline: Why It Was Worse in 2003
(Feb 12, 2004)
Does Notoriety Mean A Radio Hit? More And More
(Feb 04, 2004)
First Look: “Modern Standards” Red 104/St.Louis
(Jan 21, 2004)
The Most Intriguing Stations of 2003
(Jan 02, 2004)
Songs That Made A Difference in 2003
(Dec 17, 2003)
So This Is Christmas: What Have You Done?
(Dec 10, 2003)
KLBU Santa Fe, NM: Radio Finally Chills Out
(Dec 03, 2003)
Wanna Be Startin’ Something?
(Nov 26, 2003)
A Shift At Pop Radio, If Not A Shift In Listener Tastes
(Nov 19, 2003)
Recapturing the Power of No. 1
(Nov 12, 2003)
Trouble Where You Least Expect It
(Nov 05, 2003)
If Rhythmic AC Works in London, Why Not Here?
(Oct 29, 2003)
Has Callout Become the New Request Line?
(Oct 22, 2003)
A Faster Country Chart: Now What?
(Oct 08, 2003)
Do Owners Understand Hip-Hop?
(Oct 01, 2003)
The Care and Feeding of “Anti-Radio”
(Sep 24, 2003)
So What Does the New, New Blink Sound Like?
(Sep 17, 2003)