The Top 22 Tastemaker Songs for the Week Ending 5-29-11

Panel includes the following hand-picked stations monitored by Mediaguide:

Commercial Alternative: KBZT, KNRK, WEQX, WWCD
College Alternative/Eclectic: KEXP, KCRW, KDHX, WDET, WSGE
Commercial AAA: KBCO, KFOG, KGSR, KINK, KMTT, KPIG, WMMM, WRLT, WRNR, WRXP, WTTS, WWMM, WXRT
Non-commercial AAA: KCMP, KUT, WERS, WFPK, WFUV, WNKU, WTMD, WXPN, WYEP, WYMS

Download The Top 100 here.

The Top 22 Tastemaker Albums for the Week Ending 5-29-11

Panel includes the following hand-picked stations monitored by Mediaguide:

Commercial Alternative: KBZT, KNRK, WEQX, WWCD
College Alternative/Eclectic: KEXP, KCRW, KDHX, WDET, WSGE
Commercial AAA: KBCO, KFOG, KGSR, KINK, KMTT, KPIG, WMMM, WRLT, WRNR, WRXP, WTTS, WWMM, WXRT
Non-commercial AAA: KCMP, KUT, WERS, WFPK, WFUV, WNKU, WTMD, WXPN, WYEP, WYMS

Download The Top 100 here.

Let’s start with the German website Pundo3000, which has put together a fun little project where they compare the packaging and the reality — when it comes to food.

We’ve all experienced, and perhaps come to expect, that the Big Mac in the photo doesn’t look at all like the train wreck that we’re often served.

The same thing applies to radio, and the worst offender is Alternative radio. Nowhere is the disconnect between the promise and the product greater.

In the case mentioned above, the radio station repeatedly positioned itself as that city’s “Alternative.” A quick scan of the playlist, however, revealed literally zero indie label acts, and zero local acts among its top 40 currents. And this is a town with a robust local scene.

I pointed this out, politely adding that the target demographic is not stupid, has alternate sources for music, and doesn’t particularly like being lied to.

Bottom line was, 20+ times an hour the station advertised itself to be the Alternative. The fact was, like the rice pudding shown below, the reality was something a bit different- more Corporate than Alternative.

But the issue isn’t exclusive to just this unfortunate cellar dwelling radio station. A scan of today’s Alternative chart reveals that just 2, possibly 3 songs in the top 40 are from indie labels. Now, nothing against the majors here, we love ‘em. But even they’d agree something’s amiss.

Clearly the major labels don’t command 95% of the Alternative music sales. So why would they command 95% of the airplay?

AAA radio, by contrast, had 8 indie label songs in its top 40, or 20% — and they’re not even advertising themselves as delivering the next big thing.

Determining the correct percentage is beside the point here. The larger point is about credibility.

And if you’re wondering why 12 out of 12 kids in a focus group talk about Pandora, maybe you need to check out the mis-match between your packaging and your product.