Radio gripes

[Big Disney Fan]

This is sort based on a similar thread (Movies on TV). In this thread, I have some gripes about songs being played on the radio. I have some complaints about it.

See, I really like classic rock and such. But the radio stations I listen to are notorious for taking long songs and unscrupulously editing them and shortening them. For example, just the other day, I was listening to American Pie and what do they do? They completely cut off the entire second half of that song! Why do they do that? Is it ALL because of commercials, which are apparently the ONLY source of revenue for media? And more importantly, how can I get around commercials on the radio and listen 100% to the song with no edits whatsoever?

[BrandonH]

It is mostly about commercials. As you said, that is how radio stations make their money. It also allows for more variety in the playlist (more songs per hour).

There are only two ways around commercials: satellite radio and buying the songs or CDs yourself. I don't know if satellite radio edits songs down for length, though.

[Big Disney Fan]

There are only two ways around commercials: satellite radio and buying the songs or CDs yourself. I don't know if satellite radio edits songs down for length, though.

What good would satellite and CDs do?

[BrandonH]

Satellite radio is commercial free, so you wouldn't have that particular problem. It's a flat fee per month. There are many online radio subscription services as well where you can play whatever songs you want.

I thought CDs were pretty self-explanatory. You'll get the whole songs, and you can play them whenever you want.

[Big Disney Fan]

Well, I forgot to mention one thing, one very important thing: I think that if they can't play a song on the radio ALL THE WAY THROUGH, then they should not play the song at all.

I thought CDs were pretty self-explanatory. You'll get the whole songs, and you can play them whenever you want.

I know what you mean, but suppose (this is unlikely) that the song is not available on CD.

[MK Sharp]

I know what you mean, but suppose (this is unlikely) that the song is not available on CD.

Do what I do and get your hands dirty with other formats - LPs, vinyl 45s, 78s...

[Chernabog_Rocks]

Really easy solution: Don't listen to it

The radio station here plays the exact same songs or artists every day at the same time, it's really pathetic so I don't listen. Another easy solution Mp3 player put the songs on it and listen to that instead.

Well, I forgot to mention one thing, one very important thing: I think that if they can't play a song on the radio ALL THE WAY THROUGH, then they should not play the song at all.

Well, people run their stations however they choose so there's not much you can do unless they hire you and you make a rocket leap up the ranks to the point where you can decide what to play. So just take one of the easy solutions and don't worry so much, it's the radio stations loss if people stop listening, and it's their problem if you and/or other people complain about it enough

[Big Disney Fan]

Really easy solution: Don't listen to it

The radio station here plays the exact same songs or artists every day at the same time, it's really pathetic so I don't listen. Another easy solution Mp3 player put the songs on it and listen to that instead.

But what do you listen to?

And furthermore, isn't it illegal to listen to your MP3 or iPod while driving in a car? To listen to one of those things, you'd have to use headphones. And unless I'm mistaken, it's illegal to wear headphones while driving.

Well, people run their stations however they choose so there's not much you can do unless they hire you and you make a rocket leap up the ranks to the point where you can decide what to play. So just take one of the easy solutions and don't worry so much, it's the radio stations loss if people stop listening, and it's their problem if you and/or other people complain about it enough

How do get people to stop listening to radio stations? We'd have to run a big campaign-like boycott against it, wouldn't we?

[Chernabog_Rocks]

I listen to a variety of stuff.

I think you might be thinking of Cell Phones, though I'm not sure. Isn't there a way you can attack the mp3 player to your speaker system? I thought I heard you can do that so it doesn't require headphones or anything I could be wrong.

[Big Disney Fan]

I listen to a variety of stuff.

Sorry, I didn't clarify that. I didn't so much mean what you listen to by what songs you listen as what is your source of the songs being played?

I think you might be thinking of Cell Phones, though I'm not sure. Isn't there a way you can attack the mp3 player to your speaker system? I thought I heard you can do that so it doesn't require headphones or anything I could be wrong.

No, I wasn't talking about cell phones. I was in fact talking about headphones. I certainly don't know have the know-how to plug in an mp3 or ipod or anything so that it doesn't require headphones like you do, apparently.

[CJ]

You can buy adapters to plug in your ipod or mp3 players into your car stereo. Some(not all) car stereo systems have an auxiliary input jack. I have a cable to plug my ipod into my stereo through the input jack. My cousin has an older car stereo, but he was able to find a cassette adapter that works with his system.

[dvdjunkie]

When "American Pie" came out on a 45 rpm disc it was two-sided and has a real grating fade at the end of side one. The song is 8 minutes long and most classic album rock stations play the whole thing. I know that BOB-FM, which is satellite based plays nothing but LP cuts of their songs, I haven't heard the split-edit of "American Pie" since I was a deejay, way back when.

Wish I knew how to post a picture, I still have a copy of the two-sided 45 rpm disc of this great song. I show it to people when they complain, as you, about the way the song is edited on most radio stations.

One time I took two copies of the 45 and cued them up so I could play the song in its entirety and the phones rang off the hook for over an hour afterwards. I finally convinced our music director to schedule playing of the entire 8-minute version for different times in the day, and it worked. We were hailed by United Artists records for being the first AM radio station to play the entire version of the song each time it was played, while it was on our Top 40 List.

The CD of Don McLean's Greatest Hits features only the complete versions, unedited of "Vincent (Starry starry night)", and "American Pie", along with the other semi-hits of Don's career.

[Big Disney Fan]

Well, I was just using American Pie as an example. There are LOTS of other long songs out there that are also edited by radio stations that, in my opinion, have no business messing with those songs, just so that there can be time for them for the "sponsors" to have a say somewhere. I mean, why can't they just do something like member-supported public radio?

[I Love Bambi]

This is sort based on a similar thread (Movies on TV). In this thread, I have some gripes about songs being played on the radio. I have some complaints about it.

See, I really like classic rock and such. But the radio stations I listen to are notorious for taking long songs and unscrupulously editing them and shortening them. For example, just the other day, I was listening to American Pie and what do they do? They completely cut off the entire second half of that song! Why do they do that? Is it ALL because of commercials, which are apparently the ONLY source of revenue for media? And more importantly, how can I get around commercials on the radio and listen 100% to the song with no edits whatsoever?

I agree with you. They do this a lot to many of my favorite classic and alternative rock songs.

The radio station here plays the exact same songs or artists every day at the same time, it's really pathetic so I don't listen.

Same here. I rely more on my CD collection than the radio when it comes to good music.

[dvdjunkie]

You are all whining about 'commercial' radio. Get it - commercial? They have commercials, and they have to allow time for those commercial spots.

And you are probably listening to AM radio at that.

Find a good classic rock FM station. The majority of those that I worked on use only album tracks and are uncut and unblemished by a deejay talking over the intro or the last few bars like on AM radio.

There are several good non-commercial stations on Satellite radio if what you really want is commercial-free unedited music. As long as you listen to regular 'commercial' radio, you will more than likely only hear the version that they want you to hear.

Take your CD's and load them into your computer and burn your own CD-R's and that way you can listen to the music you want, the way you want - and there is no commercials.

[I Love Bambi]

Find a good classic rock FM station. The majority of those that I worked on use only album tracks and are uncut and unblemished by a deejay talking over the intro or the last few bars like on AM radio.

I still get the cut songs and long commercials with those stations. (these are the only music stations that I listen to, actually; very rarely do I turn on AM)

[DaveWadding]

The one thing that REALLY pisses me off is when they decide to cut the endings to Layla and Hotel California early.

[Big Disney Fan]

Find a good classic rock FM station. The majority of those that I worked on use only album tracks and are uncut and unblemished by a deejay talking over the intro or the last few bars like on AM radio.

I still get the cut songs and long commercials with those stations. (these are the only music stations that I listen to, actually; very rarely do I turn on AM)

Same here. It's on FM. But doesn't satellite radio need to stay in business, too?

[dvdjunkie]

Remember, satellite radio is subscription only and it isn't free. So YOU are paying for the radio station to play the music uninterrupted by commercials.

If you listen to an FM station that cuts songs, I feel sorry for you. I rarely listen anymore since I learned to burn my own CD's with the music I want to hear. Then I don't have to put up with any deejays and their stupid jokes or the commercials.

About the only radio I listen to anymore is The Jim Rome Show and Don and Mike. Rest of the time I listen to "my" music on my CD-R's. That's the way to rock.

[Escapay]

The only radio station I listen to at all is 102.9 WMGK, which is a classic rock station. And like Bill said, they only use uncut album tracks. I absolutely love hearing the 1-minute intro to "American Woman" and was always pissed if another radio station cut it off. Same with "Tainted Love", as most stations would stop around the 2:42 mark, while 102.9 would always play the full version which included Soft Cell's cover of "Where Did Our Love Go?"

Aside from 102.9, I don't even listen to the radio. I always have on hand a selection of CDs for driving, and try and change it around every couple of months.

Scaps