The Internet Is The New Radio Pt.1

Posted on 01.13.08 in Music and there are 13 comments.

I was looking through my iTunes library tonight and I noticed something.

I’ve bought more music in the last couple years than I have in any other season of my life.

But out of the dozens of albums I’ve bought, radio didn’t play a part in any of those purchases. I rarely listen to radio and when I do I seldom hear something new (that’s not a knock on radio, I’m just stating fact).

The Internet Is The New Radio

People are hearing about new artists from their friends on blogs and social networking sites.

They are introduced to great music through sites like Pandora, Last.fm and eMusic.

Even online stores like iTunes and Amazon.com are diversifying our music collection with recommendations based on our recent purchases.

When I was young and the dinosaurs were roaming the earth, we used to sit and listen to the radio waiting for our favorite songs to play or the DJ’s to introduce us to the next big hit.

There were several artists that I liked just because I didn’t have any other options. The DJ said it was cool and it was the closest thing I could find to my ideal.

That has all changed now. I can search for the exact music I want. My thirst for Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers needn’t go unquenched.

You don’t have to listen to Toby Mac if Lecrae is more your style.

Radio airplay doesn’t limit our musical horizons anymore.

What Are You Listening To?

So let’s kick this up a notch. Let’s start sharing our favorite music finds.

Every Monday here on TSLOK will be Music Monday (yes, I’m a sucker for alliteration.)

On Music Mondays I’ll ask you to write a post on your blog about a song, artist or album you like. You’ll then post a link and one line summary here and I’ll compile a post with all the recommendations.

Some weeks we’ll do interviews with artists, music giveaways and I’ll post a Top 5 from your recommendations for those folks who want to find good music but don’t want to spend a lot of time looking.

I think it will be fun and interactive.

We’ll start next Monday (the 21st).

Questions? Comments? Who’s In?

The Comments:

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Sweet!  Are there any limits on genre or anything else?

You know I was thinking about that. I think for this first week I’ll leave it wide open - just to let everyone be involved.

Then in other weeks I’ll provide a theme so that we’ll have a bit more focus.

How does that sound?

that sounds good.  Do you meant next Monday as in tomorrow?

Good question. Next Monday as in the 21st.

I was recently thinking about how little reach radio actually has.  Especially when you drift outside the AC and CHR formats.  I was looking at Radio & Records Christian Charts the other day.  They publish airplay lists for AC, Soft AC/Inspo, CHR, and Rock formats.  Currently Chris Tomlin’s “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” sits atop both the AC and Soft AC lists.  For the AC format stations this translates into an audience of ~3.6 million, with 1538 plays on AC stations (Casting Crown’s “East to West” has the highest audience total at ~4.4 million).  For the Soft AC stations, the same number one spot translates into 264 plays for an audience of 80,000 (the largest audience for a song on the Soft AC list).  The largest audience for the CHR format is for Skillet’s “The Older I Get”, at 507,000 (761 plays).  (AC and CHR are the most widespread formats.) For the Rock format, the top audience is 97,000 for Demon Hunter’s “Carry Me Down”.

Take a look at those audience numbers: combining the top audiences for the formats, you get a total audience for the Christian genre of ~5 million.  Yes, going to mainstream AC and CHR show much bigger audience numbers, and also a little more variety (the top song on the AC chart, according to R&R;, was Colbie Caillat’s “Bubbly”, with an audience of 16.8 million and 2059 plays - or, 500% the audience 130% the plays of Tomlin’s hit).  But, overall, you have a relatively small audience getting served from the same menu.  With the internet, you suddenly have the opportunity to dine out at someplace that doesn’t fit the Chili’s/Applebees/Bennigan’s/Chotchkie’s mold.  You can even, with the blessing of some artists, choose to make your own menu from their ingredients.

I’ll try to have something up for next Monday.  Maybe Steven Delopoulos, maybe Gaelic Storm, maybe Andrew Peterson, maybe . . .

I’m in…

i’m in! i had music for mondays going occasionally, but not consistently… maybe i’ll try and be more consistent!
=)

have you heard of Christa Black? You may like her. From what I have read...Brooke and her may be friends.

Woohoo! I’m in!
I was going to ask the same question Texas in Africa asked, but she beat me to it. I think your plan sounds good.
I’m excited about this!

Does it need to be Christian music we reference?

BTW - I have recently gotten reacquainted with Twila Paris.  Her music seems to be timeless.  It moves me after 20 years:

more now than ever, I run to you.

Sounds good.  My question was mainly because, I, um, well, I don’t really like or listen to Christian music, and just wanted to be sure that I wouldn’t be upsetting anybody if I post on other stuff.

Texas in Africa and Deemus,
No, it definitely doesn’t have to be “Christian Music.” I do request, though, that it be relatively family friendly.

Euphrony,
Very interesting! I loved the Andrew Peterson lyric you posted today, “In stubborn spite of my stubborn spite...”

I’d not heard that before…

Lorijo,
I’ve seen her name, but I haven’t heard her music. Thanks for the tip!

Oh girl.  I’m so in.  Uh… just don’t let me forget.

kat - just read your post, after posting on a new band recommended to me by Robbie Seay...I know you’re starting this next Monday, but I have a “music Monday” post today...not sure if that counts.

Anyway...check them out, you may like it.

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