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Why do radio stations all play the same songs?

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Right, that's it!  I can not listen to the radio any more.  I have had enough of the same rubbish every day.  I have 6 pre-set radio stations on my car stereo.  Unfortunately I have just recently changed cars and don't have my CD multi-changer fitted otherwise I would not have this problem.

I have noticed for some time now that all the commercial radio stations that I can tune in to seem to have the same play lists.  You see, I'm a bit of a channel surfer, when I hear a song I don't like or that has been over-played I will change station.

Tell me, where's the variety?

I listen to the radio on my short (20 minutes) journey to work every morning and evening.  Recently my local radio station Oxfords Fox FM, have changed their morning quiz to "Guess the Year".  This wasn't a problem to me until they played a song that I really didn't like so I decided to switch over to another radio station, this time I tried Horizon.

Car stereo, radio stations lack variety I could not believe my ears when I realised they were playing exactly the same song at exactly the same time and strangely enough were also playing the same quiz.  So once again I decided to change station, this time GWR Swindon and to my horror they too were playing the same song and the same quiz.  It was definitely different radio stations as the presenters were all different.

I want to know what exactly is going on here.  Why are all the commercial radio stations playing from the same play list, sometimes in a different order, and now the same quizzes?  It really cracks me up when they advertise themselves as 'your local music variety station' or whatever.  Tell me, where's the variety if everyone is playing the same stuff?


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nonentity

nonentity

23/11/23.
Commercial radio has killed off what radio was meant to be and that was innovative and entertaining. It's all geared to getting the listener to sing along to well-known songs from their youth. Doing this it is engineered so that adverts will passively wash over you at the end of these songs and soon you are familiar with them too. Competitions offer mind-blowing money to keep you engaged and even persuade you to repeat some silly catchphrase when answering the phone. The listener is slowly but surely brainwashed even when you switch from one station to another the format is the same as it's owned by the same global empire. There is a particularly annoying thing that has happened recently when tuning in from a smart speaker, the station will play an advert before commencing the programme, oh boy what a cheap shot.
04/12 nonentity
3
Annie

Annie

It doesn't matter which station you listen to, they are so boring, I love music but I am sick of hearing Phil Collins Bruce Springsteen and their ilk over and over again Songs and artists I quite liked I now HATE because of the inability to have a decent playlist.
03/11 Annie
2
grumpyoldwoman

grumpyoldwoman

Try Boom! Loads more variety than any of the others and Diddy David Hamilton at lunchtime.
10/08/23 grumpyoldwoman
0
Dizzy

Dizzy

Same songs and same artists every day, boring. Didnt realise these FEW artists they play only have 2 or 3 songs too their credit. Come on Smooth give us some more variation please.
09/08/23 Dizzy
0
Paavali

Paavali

Exactly the problem I get. Thats why I dont repeat the tracks on my radio shows much at all.
04/07/22 Paavali
0
 Fed up

Fed up

Totally fed up with Smooth Radio playing the same old same old few tracks. Where's the tens of thousands of other tracks that were produced?
I remember there were no adverts, no presenters. Now they presenters, they dribble on talking crap!
Which reminds me, most of he presenters on radio 2 especially the worst one being Steve Wright who totally disrespect not only the listener but the artist too with his constant childish talk over at the beginning, middle and ending of the songs! A guy who thinks he's funny but actually the most annoying pathetic git on the radio!
Certainly likes listening to his own voice.. Utter crap!
03/06/22 Fed up
4
EQUINOX

EQUINOX

Careless whisper a, fantastic song, SMOOTH RADIO play it that often I'm sick of hearing it now
20/05/22 EQUINOX
3
Boredofsmooth

Boredofsmooth

Smooth radio must be the worst station for playing the same records time and time again.. They are record killers..
Why do you do it smooth,? Surely the presenters get sick and tired of the same repeats.
I have now tuned in to planet rock I find more variety and a lot lesser repeats.
Good bye smooth never will I return.
26/04/22 Boredofsmooth
3
Gilly

Gilly

I have just spent 11 days in High Wycombe General Hospital so as there's no TV in hospitals I've been tuning into Smooth... Heart ... Magic... 3 Counties ... practically 24 hours a day as is impossible to sleep....but same tunes play every day about 3-4 times....this is utterly annoying... can't call it greatest hits as over 60 years with the amount of releases and charters this is just a minimal selection...so stuff all your radio stations...radio 1 and 2 only play crap now
22/03/22 Gilly
1
burst eardrums

burst eardrums

I understand that radio stations have a particular format and have favourites but totally agree. Smooth radio was good when they were owned by GMG sooo much variety and the it turned into a dementia station in 2014. It really wouldn't kill them to play more variety. Also presenters, music & sweepers can be very annoying on chart stations specifically Clyde1 and even radio 2's got worse recently. I recommend either Magic, Boom or PaisleyFM depending on your taste. Still have their favourites but more variety than say... Global!
25/06/21 burst eardrums
3
Clothe Ears

Clothe Ears

Smooth Radio are the worst, not only do they play the same records time after time, they play them at the same time. At the end of news on the hour they play George Michael, we are now putting our clocks right by it. Is it a code signal or just lazy planning. Bye Bye Love, we're off.
11/03/21 Clothe Ears
3
Oaktreeman

Oaktreeman

Yes agreed, and that is why I listen to worldwide and streamed community /independent radio. Even radio six, which is apparently radio 6 'music' plays a monoculture playlist short on varied genre. Part of the problem is the incursion of corporate and commercial pressure. The loss of independent radio in the U.K has been devastating for artists and listeners alike.
03/03/21 Oaktreeman
1
The Urban Scotsman.

The Urban Scotsman.

I am a lover of music from the fifties through to the eighties. There are millions of tunes in the world so why do the radio stations insist on playing the same discs every day? Very annoying! Do the stations have access to this site?
04/10/20 The Urban Scotsman.
3
bilvo

bilvo

If SMOOTH radio play Whitney Houston one more time I will go mad. !!!!
24/09/20 bilvo
2
Mac

Mac

Bought a DAB radio which we used on Monday for the first time.

Heard Dont sleep in the subway by Petula Clark refreshing not heard it in ages
But heard it Tuesday and Wednesday as well.
Also you got your troubles .and if you want it here it is 3 days running.
Probably more as well
Why not mix it up a bit.
14/08/19 Mac
3

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