The "Progressive" Promised Land
"Brenda Ann" wrote in message
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"David Eduardo" wrote in message
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Not so. Playlists existed back to the time of live bands at local radio
staitons... someone determined the songs the bands would play. And since
recorded music has been a staple of American radio, going back to the
rejection of the AFM rules and Petrillo's policies, stations have
pre-programmed music in almost every instance. In fact, the format
concept that "saved radio" in the early and mid-50's, Top 40, was based
entirely on the concept of a playlist and zero deviation from it.
The "Drake" format, a top 30 format, preceded the top 40 format. Even back
then, stations figured out that there is such a thing as limiting a
playlist TOO much. Something current broadcasters seem to have forgotten.
OMG.
Top 40's concept was developed by Todd Storz in 1952, and put on the air at
KOWH in Omaha in August of that year. By the mid 50's there were several
hundred top 40 stations in the US... and Canada, and Mexico and all over the
world.
Bill Drake's update of the format, developed in Fresno in 1963 and 1964,
debuted on KHJ in Los Angeles in 1965. While the existing Top 40's played
the 40 hits, Drake played those 40 hits but added "gold" songs to the
library and expanded the list to well over 100 songs. Drake never played a
top 30 list, ever. Did I say "ever?"
In fact, the "big deal" with Drake was that KHJ beat existing Top 40 LA
stations KFWB and KRLA in just a few months, and then KFRC in San Francisco
beat KEWB and KYA just as fast.
I had a top 40 on the air in Quito, Ecuador, a year before Drake debuted
KHJ.
You have your dates and formats and names reversed.
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