Is it true that small-town country radio stations in the South play less-popular songs?

My parents said that back in the 80′s and 90′s, the small-town country radio stations (less than 5000 watts of power) in the South played a lot more of the songs lower on the country music charts than the major-promote stations did.

We’re from Michigan, but they used to travel to Florida each year for vacation, and they heard a lot of songs on the radio while on the road that they never heard on the Detroit stations.

If this was right, what’s the reason for this?

Answer by Leo D
Many stations are heavily influenced by the money from record marks, who control what gets played and how often.

Less vital stations have confidential advertisers who really just want their commercials played, so the dj really controls the choices ofcprogramming.

Answer by Jett
That is everywhere Country’s roots are, naturally the appreciation for the classic stuff is gonna be more widespread down here.

Answer by Brent
It’s all about marketing. Many stations in city areas such as Chicago and St. Louis, and even less vital markets like Toledo or Grand Rapids are owned by huge corporations based far away. Marketing people choose based on national charts and assessment information what songs are standard. They have the real control over what is played on those stations. The variety of songs played on these stations is very narrow because the opinions of locals is often not questioned, because this takes time and money. Instead, the corporate office along with the local program director toss together a list of songs based on what’s huge on CMT and the Billboard charts. In less vital towns and rural areas though, the stations are often owned by less vital companies who deal directly with the residents of that community. Some corporations though, have infiltraited the rural promote. You will hear a couple corporate stations in the rural areas, but most stations out there you’ll notice play a much wider variety of music. You’ll hear ancient and new country, and they are often the ones who will answer the phone when you call instead of closing down the phones except during a contest or designated question for show. Some stations do not even have a local studio. Examples include KLove, the christion contemporary network and Jack FM, a network that plays a mix of music ranging from the 70′s to the current era. The playlist is again designed by marketing executives based on promote segments. The signal is sent via a satellite or the internet, and a local transmitter broadcasts it so you or I can hear it. KLove has dj’s and programming, but stations like JackFm do not. They simply run a playlist like you would on Windows Media player on your computer with your downloaded music files with scheduled commercial breaks terrified in. I hope this information helps.
I have been attracted in radio since I was a child, and I have noticed this over the being.

Answer by blakree
……Most of the large promote stations are owned by major companies(Clear Channel.Cox and so on).These large companies send play-list to their stations telltale them what to play( and most play the same songs as other stations from the same company at the same time) and when to .These companies airplay are controlled by huge dollar recording and advertising.
Most of the less vital stations are owned by independents who form their own play-list thus they play music they or their local sponsors,advertisers and fans want to hear.
So yes alot of small stations do not play what the large ones do.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

WERH Radio Station


Image by jimmywayne
Located in my hometown. Up in anticipation of 2-3 being ago it was a country station broadcasting on FM 92.1 and AM 970. Then for some weird reason, the format altered to top 40 type pop music.

Alabama Music Hall of Fame member Edgar Clayton place a future AL & Country Music Hall of Famer on the radio for the first time at this station the 1960′s. Tammy Wynette was renowned by her birth name at the time: Wynette Pugh. Other local talents that have passed through this station and later became renowned in Nashville included Sonny James, Billy Sherrill and Carmol Taylor.

I’m going to church camp which is located in gonzales,tx. I can only listen to FM radio stations. I listen to country stations. delight help.

Answer by isawmarty
Here’s the list from Newslink:

http://www.newslink.org/txradi.html

What do you reckon? Answer below!
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