The Illusion Of "Variety"

[Michael1973]

Does it seem to you like radio stations are trying too hard to create the illusion that they have more "variety" than they actually do? It seems to me that even the stations that really are making an effort to widen the playlists are going overboard to make it seem like we should be impressed by what they're playing, when sometimes I, for one, am not.

Here's a prime example. Two stations in my listening area frequently have "whatever we want" or "forgotten favorites" type weekends. I love these, and enjoy listening to them. But I cringe when the DJs or the announcers say things like "Here's one I bet you haven't heard in years"...

...and then play something they played last week, or even three days ago. Even something that five other local stations play regularly.

I'm sure a lot of people don't even notice, but it just doesn't sound right at all to me. What does everyone think of this?

[tico]

The term "variety" is really a ploy to get people to listen to a certain station. Just as one man's junk is another man's treasure, what is considered variety is different to each listener. You can listen to CHR and think they have the best variety of music since you can hear pop, rock, rap and dance. But listen to a Jack FM station, you'll hear everything from Marvin Gaye to Linkin Park. So now which one has more variety or even the best variety?

To me, variety is something that can't be truly defined.

[Libra]

michael1973 said:

But I cringe when the DJs or the announcers say things like "Here's one I bet you haven't heard in years"...

Ah, yes...Joe FM used a similar saying a couple of months ago. Fortunately, they've since stopped (once it started being paired with more and more songs that they played more often).[/font]

[Michael1973]

I'm not condoning the use of the word variety, as I know many stations like to use it to promote themselves.  I'm just disagreeing with some of the methods they use to imply that their music mix is more impressive than it really is.

For example, I consider it an insult to my intelligence when a station says things like "we're digging out all your old favorites this weekend" and then goes about playing the same exact songs you hear during the week.

[ClassicCase]

Couldn't agree with you more. Just like the Jammin' Oldies of late that literally went and gone like a one-hit wonder, the single name formats who actually call themselves variety are wearing very thin. Running the same 200 songs every day can be totally annoying.

[Walking Contradiction]

I don't know...with the stations I listen to, it seems like when stations I listen to do those "flashback" weekends, they do in fact play songs that they don't play normally (and sometimes songs I've never heard at all).  Of course they're mixed with songs that they DO play, but hey, there has to be SOME familiarity, or else they'll alienate listeners.

Now Jack-FM on the other hand - I think they're could stand to be more variety.  In particular, I think they should play more modern rock, more urban, and maybe a little more 60s music.  And also, it seems like every time I turn on the station, I hear a song (or two or three) that I also heard the last time I turned it on. 

[Arson]

michael1973 said:

But I cringe when the DJs or the announcers say things like "Here's one I bet you haven't heard in years"......and then play something they played last week, or even three days ago.  Even something that five other local stations play regularly.

I totally agree with you, and it bugs me to no end.