Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

How come The Beatles are rarely ever played on the radio?


Recommended Posts

I listen to a mix of radio stations including Absolute, Radio 2, Planet Rock, BBC Gloucestershire and random others. While you can hear endless Abba, other than special requests I can't remember The Beatles ever being on a playlist. Planet Rock regularly play stuff by the Stones, Kinks, Who, Doors, Hendrix and other 'classic' 60s-70s bands but the closest I've heard the Beatles getting played is Motley Crue or Aerosmith doing Helter Skelter.  Why do they get next to no airplay these days? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, PaulWarning said:

not that I listen to it but doesn't Radio 2 play Beatles stuff? as @bigthumbsays, Gold play Beatles stuff

I used to pretty much listen to radio 2 all day when I was driving for a living and I don't recall them playing the Beatles that much. I certainly prefer Gold radio over radio 2 now. 

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would think it's partly because they have been played to death over many years.
Plus the 60's bands are not getting the Radio 2 plays that they used to. They are moving more towards playing stuff from this century only.
As we get a little older, it will move towards the kind of identikit crap computer music that I can't bear, which meant I stopped listening to Radio 1 about 20 years ago.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’d guess it may be to do with the cost of getting the rights.

I noticed a while ago that commercial stations don’t often play an artist’s biggest hits. For example Gem, our local commercial station in Notts, will regularly play Man In The Mirror (which peaked at 21 on release) but rarely play Billie Jean or Beat It, for example.

I can only guess that the rights for Man In The Mirror are cheaper than the big hits. Though I may be completely wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, from previous record company experience (and I've just checked and it is still the case) - nearly all music is broadcast through a license with PPL. There is no negotiating fees for radio stations for individual tracks*, so it is not a cost issue. 

*There may be one or two exceptions, but I've checked and the Beatles are not one of them.

 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Mykesbass said:

OK, from previous record company experience (and I've just checked and it is still the case) - nearly all music is broadcast through a license with PPL. There is no negotiating fees for radio stations for individual tracks*, so it is not a cost issue. 

*There may be one or two exceptions, but I've checked and the Beatles are not one of them.

 

Makes sense.

Why would whoever owns the rights want to price themselves out of any radio income?

I read an article somewhere (can't seem to find it online so it may have been in print) a while back that said that R2 was planning to play less music from the 50s and 60s and more from the 70s and 80s.

Something to do with the changing demographics of their listeners.

Edited by Cato
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, unless you are over 50 the beatles have no been going in your lifetime, so maybe they just wanted to play something for a younger audience. I think a lot of people have heard enough beatles for a lifetime anyway, and there is a lot of other music produced in the last 50 years that is worth listening to.

I am sure they have done studies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Woodinblack said:

Well, unless you are over 50 the beatles have no been going in your lifetime, so maybe they just wanted to play something for a younger audience. I think a lot of people have heard enough beatles for a lifetime anyway, and there is a lot of other music produced in the last 50 years that is worth listening to.

I am sure they have done studies.

this is probably it, most stations are playing 80's onwards stuff in their pursuit of yoof, I'm of an age that grew up with the Beatles and listen to very little radio these days, with the exception of Gold I don't know of any stations that cater, musically, for the over 60's

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, PaulWarning said:

 most stations are playing 80's onwards stuff in their pursuit of yoof

While I don't disagree with this,  my 20 year old daughter seems to know a lot of 80s stuff for example, I find it very odd.  1981 was 40 years ago. Radio 1 didn't play Glen Miller in the 1980's in pursuit of youth.🤔

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personally I welcome the shift by Radio 2 to accommodate those left behind by Radio 1. It’s inevitable that emphasis on certain decades moves with time I guess. I like the fact they play the more mainstream recent stuff too, as I probably wouldn’t otherwise get to hear it. I love 60’s and 70’s stuff as well, as it’s what I grew up with, but it can get a bit tiresome and repetitive unless it’s the songs that are less well known. Johnnie Walker’s Sunday afternoon 70’s show is great for playing these. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...