Music Based Programming

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.