[BC] Re: Making Format choices

[Glen Kippel]

On Sat, Jan 31, 2009 at 8:42 PM, <WBRadiolists at aol.com> wrote:

>
> When I filled out the survey forms from the Labels, that asked me how I
> made
> music decisions, "Instinct" always ranked high on the list. (Not the top 3,
> maybe 4 or 5.) The "charts" also factored, but not highly.
>
> Style and lyric were tied for #1. It's been a while, so I don't remember
> what
> the other choices were. You know the drill, tho.
>
-----------

Ah, yes.  And while some people call it "gut" or "instinct" I call it
"art."  Same difference.  Do painters, sculptors and composers operate on a
basis of "gut," instinct, or art?  You figure it out.

As to the charts, NEVER FOLLOW charts!  They are supposed to follow you!
Now I don't mean to imply that you should never look at them.  They are
useful to alert you to songs you may have overlooked and should at least
consider before you reject them, and to keep you from getting off track.
But my programming has never been format-driven -- it has always been driven
by what I perceive to be the desires of my potential audience.  IOW, I think
it is ludicrous to just pick a format, play a specific bunch of songs, and
think that will work.  I always gather all the data I can about the market
(your local Planning Commission and Chamber of Commerce are good places to
start) to try to get a handle on who is out there.  Then I look at what
other stations are doing and try to find a niche, preferably one that is
close to the median age.  This doesn't include everything that I do, but
that should give you a start.