Music Based Programming
Music based programming is what genre of music a radio show
wants to play. Each show the radio tries to play the same kind of music to be
recognizable each time someone switches on the radio. London’s Capital FM has a
target audience of young adults and teenagers so they play new music or music
from the past year – year and a half to keep their feed fresh and current so
their listeners don’t get bored. However Absolute 80’s specifically focuses on
the 80’s music for an older genre but Foster the People (who were founded in 2009) are actually on their playlist.
Heart FM has an audience of
25-44. Despite the stereotypical role we use to describe the audience of this
radio station (wives, parents and professionals) the listeners still like to
listen to new or old music. Heart time tunnel, is especially aimed at the older
listeners. They set a specific time in the radio show which plays a certain era
of songs, this keeps the older listeners entertained. Heart also has different
radio shows which are presented by different people at different times of the
day. These shows are broadcasted in shops, supermarkets or hospitals to make
more peoples trips more relaxed. Using the shows in shops helps promotion of
the radio station and show. By playing the same show at similar times of the
day, allows the listeners to identify who or what they’re listening too without
having to wait around to be told.
Kiss FM, like heart, have a
scheduled show where they play music from a different era. This show is called
Kisstory. Kiss FM’s genre of music is R’n’B, hip hop, urban and dance. This
suggests the audience ages between 16-30. However this can vary with Kisstory. Kiss
FM’s listening figures have grown tremendously over the last 8 years however
recently the statistics have gone down. Kiss FM have a specific schedule of
shows through the week, these shows are repeated every week. Monday – Thursday the
shows are the same. The shows start off at 00:00am and finish the same evening
at 23:59pm. The schedule then repeats itself until the weekend. Friday,
Saturday and Sunday all have their own schedule and share no shows. Changing
the shows on the weekend give Kiss a wider audience and most people are heading
out.
In store radios are used to
provide enjoyable audio to the crazy, hectic shopping environment. Using radio
in these shops makes the audience feel like they can engage with the
information provided; the content has to be entertaining. Stores like New Look,
Co-op, Top shop and Asda all have in store radios to make their customers enjoy
the atmosphere. In store radios like Asda, may have presenters of different/old
radio shows which not many people can remember. The presenter may have a lot of
experience but no one can ‘remember their face’. In store radios use their
shows to promote offers and deals within the store but too also give the
shoppers something to listen to while shopping. The radio in stores aren’t very
recognizable, if anything they are very quiet but people still manage to hear
the content provided by the store. Asda became the biggest UK in store radio,
by playing up to date music as well as old. Co-Op also get good feedback from
the element of using a radio to promote the store and music, the feedback
allows the shop to improve on any areas the customers feel the radio is failing
in. In shops like New Look and Top shop, I don’t think radio is necessary. Providing
music should defiantly be included but the speaking and adverts in a radio show
shouldn’t. Clothes shops likes these two should make a playlist, which just
loops music to stop shoppers having to listen to uninformative content from
other shops. I personally like to enjoy just a music playlist in any shop I enter.
Playlists can be made on iTunes, Spotify, Shout cast or even YouTube. Using YouTube gives a wider range of music and is more user-orientated. More music is
available to play and be enjoyed by the audience and staff.
YouTube and iTunes are two
very big music providers of this generation. iTunes allows you to keep up to
date with the newest music to keep your playlist fresh and current however you
have to purchase the music to listen whereas YouTube providers you with live
performances, videos and new music for free. Downloading/purchasing from iTunes
is legal however downloading from YouTube is legal depending on the situation
you are going to use the music in.
