Letter to Radio DJ regarding BB airplay

[Burny Charles]

My brother e-mailed me this letter and reply that he sent to a local radio station concerning Bama Breeze. It confirmed my suspicion that they [DJs] have it but just have not listened to it. Isn't that the normal thing for radio to do to JB, "just stow it away"?

At first, I didn't think it would get much airplay because of the taboo phrase "smokin' a joint", but now I see it's because it's just Jimmy Buffett.

I was very impressed with the letter that my older brother Mike had written, and the response that followed (I'm too lazy to write something that good). So I think I'm just gonna flood e-mails with this same letter all across the country. Sure, I'll do my research and change the DJ and station name to accomodate.

We know that Jimmy has called 'some' radio stations to 'talk' about Bama Breeze. We know that he wants it to be played. If you've seen him sing it live, than you know how much he loves the song. Radio is dictated by listener demand. So, I'm gonna try my best to give him a great 60th Birthday present,(BNers can do it) something that fans/listeners could only create. (I'll just recreate that scene in Shawshank Redemption where they finally got sick of all the letters of requests )

Bubba,

I am an avid listener of your morning show and let me start by saying great job to you and Katie. I have a question that I hope you can and will answer for me. How do country music stations decide who is played? Is there some hidden politics involved that prevents radio stations from playing certain artists or certain songs in particular? Does the record label pay a certain amount of money to get songs air time and if they don't pony up big, radio stations don't play their song?


The reason I ask is I am a huge Jimmy Buffett fan and although I know that most of his work can't really be classified in any genre, he has been trying to break into the country scene the last couple of years. He has had a new single released for some time now called Bama Breeze. I know I am biased, but this song is really a great song and I have yet to hear it played on the radio.


I am not singling W4 country out, hence why I have stated "radio stations" and not just you. I live in the Toledo area and work in Ann Arbor and listen to several different country stations. Don't fret, from 6:00Am to 7:00AM, Monday through Friday, I'm listening to your morning show on the drive to work, and it is mainly because of reception problems why I switch to other stations down in Ohio, but with as much country music as I listen to, spread out over multiple stations, why is nobody playing this song?


Thanks in advance,

Mike

Hi Michael!

Thanks for writing. The music process is a big, convoluted mess sometimes. The good news is, there is very rarely politics involved and there is no pay-for-play at most radio stations.


Radio does a tremendous amount of audience testing and adjusts play lists accordingly. That is done at the larger-market level. From there, many of the smaller stations base what they are doing on what the larger stations are doing. It is not perfect by any means, but it does work.


In the meantime, a lot of people get passed over. I just got the new music testing scores in yesterday. I am amazed that of the top ten songs in ALL of country music (again, it is really expanding on the genre), Jimmy Buffet has two of them!

Thanks for listening – I will take a listen to Bama Breeze…I have it in my office. If I can squeeze it in, I will.


Brian Cowan

Program Director

Morning Show Host

102.9 W4 Country

WWWW-FM, Ann Arbor

(734) 302-8123

Yes Brian, I spelled your last name incorrectly above, but you are in the radio business, not catering.

[Quiet and Shy]

Radio does a tremendous amount of audience testing and adjusts play lists accordingly. That is done at the larger-market level. From there, many of the smaller stations base what they are doing on what the larger stations are doing. It is not perfect by any means, but it does work.

In the meantime, a lot of people get passed over. I just got the new music testing scores in yesterday. I am amazed that of the top ten songs in ALL of country music (again, it is really expanding on the genre), Jimmy Buffet has two of them!

Thanks for listening – I will take a listen to Bama Breeze…I have it in my office. If I can squeeze it in, I will.

Thanks for posting this, BC. And good work by your brother.

I've been wondering how Bama Breeze has been doing on the charts, both video (GMC) and Billboard. Does anyone have any info on this?

Also, I'm very curious re. Jimmy having two of the top 10 songs. Which songs are these? And if he has two of the top 10 songs and smaller market stations derive their play lists from larger market research, why isn't the local station playing these songs? (and other stations, too, for that matter).

If Mike can get some more info on this I'd be very interested. Thanks!!

[Dezdmona]

Ok....try this...just enter Jimmy Buffett in the search Artist Name category:

http://www.billboard.biz/bb/biz/archive ... search.jsp

Bama Breeze is not currently charting anywhere, so it obviously needs help.
But there is some really interesting info on that list.

[Quiet and Shy]

I couldn't get your link to work, Dez. Here's another Billboard link option:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/c ... ntry+Songs

Of course you need to be a subscriber to get 21-100.... While Bama Breeze isn't in the top 20 I'm wondering if it's popped up anywhere on the chart.... anyone?

[mirrorthatlies]

Radio station, 95.7, in Charlotte, NC has been playing Bama Breeze and they aren't a country station. Someone at the station must be a Buffett fan because they play a variety of his songs.

[Dezdmona]

I edited the above link where you can do the search yourself...
(perhaps the previous link couldn't show the search results)
I still think there's some really interesting info on that search.

I also found this article on Billboard about the Album release.
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/art ... 1003121645

[parrotpartygod]

I edited the above link where you can do the search yourself...
(perhaps the previous link couldn't show the search results)
I still think there's some really interesting info on that search.

I also found this article on Billboard about the Album release.
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/art ... 1003121645

Thanks for the linky kinky!

[SharkOnLand]

Radio is dictated by listener demand.

It's all about the kickbacks....

[Pablo Escobar]

wow. I can't believe someone actually wrote a radio station over a bad song.

[conched]

wow. I can't believe someone actually wrote a radio station over a bad song.

Pablo Pablo Pablo!

I really enjoy the song.

Radio station in my little town is playing it. Of course, they are indy owned.

Are you out there ...are you listening?

[Pablo Escobar]

Like I've said in other threads, I'm just criticizing...no personal hatred here. I work in radio (albeit sports radio), and even in FL there's no demand for Buffett. WHen LIC was about to be released, it was huge, b/c of the 'necks we have down here....but this year, nothing. I am real surprised that not even the 'country' fans are requesting this song on the stations here in Tampa.

[Carolinadreamin']

OK - I'm in the emailing mood tonight and I just sent one to the country radio station in my area asking why not BB? All I ever hear is Margaritaville and 5 o'clock Somewhere - not that I don't love hearing them. But Jimmy is so much more than those two songs. For gosh sakes - I've been in the Safeway and have heard Volcano!

Conched - I agree with you. I like the song too.

[Fragile Magic]

Radio station, 95.7, in Charlotte, NC has been playing Bama Breeze and they aren't a country station. Someone at the station must be a Buffett fan because they play a variety of his songs.

I also called a local country station in Charlotte - 96.9 - about BB - but haven't heard it yet (although the person who answered my call said that he is a Buffett fan)...I'll continue calling and urge any one else out there in the Charlotte region to make the call for it to play!!! 704-570-9609.

[Fragile Magic]

I just found the request line for the other country station in Charlotte - WSOC 103.7 Call 704.570.9762 to ask for Bama Breeze...let's get this song out there on the airways!
thanks

[fruitcake (aka drunkgirl)]

Like I've said in other threads, I'm just criticizing...no personal hatred here. I work in radio (albeit sports radio), and even in FL there's no demand for Buffett. WHen LIC was about to be released, it was huge, b/c of the 'necks we have down here....but this year, nothing. I am real surprised that not even the 'country' fans are requesting this song on the stations here in Tampa.

i find it hard to believe that "there's no demand for Buffett", considering his concerts generally sell out within 15 minutes. How many other people sell out that fast?

just my 2 cents...

[Burny Charles]

OK - I'm in the emailing mood tonight

I won't go into details, but me too!

[RinglingRingling]

Radio is dictated by listener demand.

It's all about the kickbacks....

and the playlists set by the central offices in the case of ClearChannel

[Hooray Beer!]

How's it doing on the iTunes hot lists ?