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Newsletter: Ross On Radio
Listening to Radio. Listening to Music. Listening to You.
A twice-weekly analysis of radio programming and music from Sean Ross, who has the knowledge to relate the past, convey the present, and look to the future.
Finally, ROR's Biggest Downers
For two weeks, ROR readers have offered their biggest downer songs of all time. This time, it's the author's list that includes Motown-style clinical depression, "Russian Roulette," and a song that is "like getting regular text alerts about your own mortality." There's a Canadian cultural treasure and a still-very-popular Country hit that most readers will be surprised to see included in "ROR's Biggest Downers."
Return Of Radio's Biggest Downers
You couldn't listen to Top 40 in the '70s if you got too attached to the characters in its plethora of morbid story-songs. But eulogizing a dog, particularly a real one, was too much for many "Ross On Radio" readers who chimed in this week with their list of downers. Also, the king of singer-songwriter depression, and why even "More Than A Feeling" is a bummer.
Radio's Biggest Downers
We asked ROR readers about the most depressing songs to ever make it to the radio. Their responses ranged from some already-reviled death-rock classics ("Seasons In The Sun," "Last Kiss," Bobby Goldsboro's "Honey") to some surprising choices that still play and research well at radio today. See their choices for "Radio's Biggest Downers" and feel free to send yours.
First Listen: EDM on FM
It was literally days ago when a Ross On Radio reader complained about commercial FM radio ignoring the underground dance boom. "When EDM DJs earn $50,000 a night… where's radio?" KDHT (Hot 107.1) Denver, which segued on Friday from Mainstream Top 40, isn't the first EDM station, but it's the first recent entrant in a major-market and the first that was already on the industry's radar. We take a First Listen.
Teen Acts Party Like It's 1999
On Monday, teen-pop acts held down three of the top four countdown spots on WBLI Long Island, N.Y., including Justin Bieber, who got more than 600 spins on "Boyfriend's" first day. One Direction mania has grown to the point where a Sony Music staffer reports being besieged by ticket requests… from other promo people. So what are the implications for Top 40 when "Boy Bands Party Like It's 1999?"
