I spent a bit of time on Monday trying to identify some AC radio stations.  I know that many of the boards have lists, but it seems just when you think you have an up-to-date list, the station changes it format.

I did read Clay’s last blog and know how important it is to request his new song, Bring Back My Love, on my local AC stations.  That certainly makes sense.  But, beyond my area, I was trying to put together a list that would be available if anyone asked for a station in their area.  Hopefully, with the help of a few friends, the list will be available soon (that’s my soon, not Clay’s).

Radio is certainly an enigma.  Trying to understand the rules and regulations is almost impossible.  I can never understand why the same 20 songs are played over and over and over on every station.  And I certainly don’t understand the roles of the radio promoter, the PD or the MD…thank goodness I don’t have to know that!

I did find it interesting to find out more about the “add date” for a song.  The “add date” is probably the most basic building block of radio airplay.  Everything a radio promoter does when talking to stations centers on the “add date.”  A radio “add date” is supposed to tell stations when to add a record to its play list.

Being added does not necessarily mean your song is being played.  The goal for the first few weeks is to get on the “most added” chart…then, move to the spin charts…According to most sources, a commercial campaign for a single song may last 3 to 12 months depending on the results.

Another bit of information that I thought was important was to really understand radio formats.  Luckily, I found a great site called The New York Radio Guide.  This site is written in a style that is easy to read and, more important, easy to understand.  They wrote the following about radio formats:

What a radio station’s music format sounds like is governed by four parameters: music style, music time period, music activity level, and music sophistication.

Music Style refers strictly to the type of music played, regardless of how the music is packaged for airplay.
Music Time Period refers to the time of the music’s release. “Current” music generally refers to music released within the last year, “Contemporary” music generally refers to music released within the past fifteen or twenty years, “Oldies” generally refers to music released between the mid-50’s and the mid-70’s, and “Nostalgia” refers to music released prior to the mid-50’s.

Music Activity Level is a measure of the music’s dynamic impact, ranging from soft & mellow to loud & hard-driving. Some names of music styles include built-in descriptions of the music’s activity level: “hard rock”, “smooth jazz”.

Music Sophistication is a reflection of whether the musical structure and lyrical content of the music played is simple or complex. Although difficult to quantify, this factor often determines the composition of a station’s audience.  It is also reflected in the presentation of the station`s air staff.

So, we were asked to request Bring Back My Love on AC stations.  The NY Radio Guide defines that format as:

Adult Contemporary (AC):  A station primarily playing popular and rock music released during the past fifteen or twenty years, designed for general listeners rather than for listeners actively interested in hearing current releases.  The playlists of many AC stations will also include a limited selection of older material and current hits.  See Lite AC, Hot AC, and Rock AC.

Another site defines AC as:

music stations that are aimed at people age 30 years and older. These stations offer lively contemporary music of the past decade or two without cutting edge music, rock or rap music.   Then there is Hot AC, Modern AC, Soft AC, AC-Oldies, and AC-Romantica.

Are you confused yet?

All I know is that I will request Bring Back My Love at the two AC stations in my area and hope that I will hear this great song on my radio!  AND…I will tweet the station if they play the song.

If any of you would like information about an AC station in your area, please let me know in a comment and I will get the most up-to-date information to you.

And…if you hear Clay’s new song on the radio, let us know.  We can all smile together.

If you want more information on radio formats, take a look at the NY RADIO GUIDE. It is an interesting site.