BTEC Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production (Level 3)

Unit 44 Music Based Programming

Paul Rossington

Unit 44 Music Based Programming

Unit introduction

Jobs in the radio industry often involve planning, producing or presenting music sequences, or all three. There are literally hundreds of music radio stations – national, regional, local, student, hospital and community stations – which organise their output within lengthy sequence programmes of three to five hours duration.

In-store audio, once distributed exclusively by recorded means, is increasingly being delivered live, either by satellite or online. As a result, differences in content between in-store audio and radio broadcasting have become less marked than ever before. Specialist production companies make in-store programming for supermarkets and other retailers. Music-based programming in radio and for in-store use requires a number of pre-production skills, including selection and scheduling according to the purpose of the material and the contexts within which it is to be heard. In both cases, its impact can be considerably enhanced by the incorporation of other elements, from branding to infotainment. Sometimes an element of audience interaction can make such programming even more interesting.

This unit will enable learners to develop skills in music-based programming for two different but closely related contexts in the radio and sound recording industries: radio broadcasting and in-store audio. Learners will develop an understanding of this type of programming in order to inform their production work and will also develop their ability to explain how the production choices made are suitable for the intended audiences.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit a learner should:

1 Understand different types and styles of music-based programming

2 Be able to create music sequences for different audiences

3 Be able to incorporate added speech and feature content into music sequences

4 Be able to review own music-based programmes with reference to purpose and audience.

Different types and styles of music based programming

Music-based programming:

Contemporary hit radio (also known as CHR, Contemporary Hits, Hit List, Current Hits, Hit Music, Top 40, or Pop Radio) is a radio format that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts. There are several subcategories, dominantly focusing on rock, pop, or urban music. Used alone, CHR most often refers to the CHR/pop format. The term Contemporary Hit Radio was coined in the early 1980s by Radio & Records magazine to designate Top 40 stations which continued to play hits from all musical genres as pop music splintered into Adult contemporary, urban contemporary and other formats. The term Top 40 is also used to refer to the actual list of hit songs, and, by extension, to refer to pop music in general. The format became especially popular in the sixties as radio stations constrained disc jockeys to numbered play lists in the wake of the payola scandal.

Recurrent radio refers to a group of songs still frequently aired on a contemporary hit radio station even several months or even years after the initial debut. It is also used to describe core songs in other radio formats as well. Most charts have special rules to determine when a song has become recurrent, at which point they are removed from current charts (such as the Billboard Hot 100) and placed on special "recurrent charts." Recurrent charts tend to be more static, with less week-to-week changes in popularity, than current charts.

Other radio formats include;

Gold,

Easy listening,

Classical,

Specialist;

From chosen eras, eg rock ‘n’ roll, seventies, current;

Selection criteria, eg aesthetics, target audience, constructing a narrative, audience interactivity, Top 40 charts

TASKS

Name a radio station that plays predominately each of the following radio formats

Adult Contemporary BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 2 country, BBC radio 2 Eurovision, heart London, Magic 105.4 FM, Real Radio, Redstone FM, The Wire.

Recurrent Gold, easy listening, classical, specialist, from chosen eras, eg rock “n” roll, seventies, current. And the tracks tend to be more static with fewer changes week to week in popularity, than current charts.

Easy Listening Easy listening is for the older generation who are more into the classics rather than the more current charts, so this would require the research into the type of audience that likes this sort of music and it would regularly come up with the older generation with older and middle aged people.

Classical Classical is mainly based on the culture choice of the audience and this culture is mainly found in the older generation and the middle aged

generation and a very select few of the younger generation who are interested in the classical era of music

Rock n Roll Rock is a very old type of music going back to the fifties and has always influenced many artists to branch out to this sort of brand of music

Indie Rock Indie rock is a vague term used to identify rock artists that are or were unsigned, or have signed to small record labels, rather than major record labels. It may also describe artists which have a specific "sound", and is therefore a genre, although this label is contested by many

Asian When you are playing music that is normally heard in other countries and is being played in your country and it would be heard in a certain radio station

Gold Gold will continue on four frequencies – London on 1548 AM, Manchester on 1458 AM, Derby on 945 and Nottingham on 999 AM. Smooth Radio is already available

on FM in these areas

Types:

Broadcast radio (public service, commercial)

The two types of broadcast radio stations each develop their playlists for a variety of reasons. Each of the public service stations have specific demographic profiles that their music is supposed to appeal to whereas commercial radio stations intended target audience dictates the music that their station plays.

Internet radio (public service, commercial);

Internet radio services are usually accessible from anywhere in the world—for example, one could listen to an Australian station from Europe or America. Some major networks like CBS Radio and Citadel Broadcasting (except for news/talk and sports stations) in the US, and Chrysalis in the UK restrict listening to in-country because of music licensing and advertising concerns. Internet radio remains popular among expatriates and listeners with interests that are often not adequately served by local radio stations (such as eurodance, progressive rock, ambient music, folk music, classical music, and stand-up comedy). Internet radio services offer news, sports, talk, and various genres of music—every format that is available on traditional radio stations.

In-store audio (promotional, ambient)

Many major shopping centres and major retailers use in store audio for a couple of major reasons. These can be for promotional purposes where songs are used to promote products and sales or where they choose to play ambient sounds to create a relaxing mood or atmosphere while patrons wander around the premises.

Styles:

TasksListen to a radio show of your choice for 1 hour and take note on the following aspects

ratio of speech or other audio to music(How much time was given to music/general speech/ news & Weather etc?)

In the first few minutes of the radio station starting I heard 2 songs with no added speech or jingles and each one of the songs was 3 minutes long and at the end of the two songs the jingle was spoke along with 2 minutes’ worth of speech included explaining what is coming up later in the station such as the weather and the news and that would take up to 5 minute of the stations time and then back to the music.

branding and identification (How many times do you hear the station name/logo/jingle)

Throughout listening to the radio station I heard the logo and the name of the station said over 6 times between each song. And each jingle takes up to 20 seconds to complete and then it carries on to the next song.

Was the content chosen for aesthetic reasons The radio station was trying to stick to the classic rock style because it was what people who tuned into the radio station wanted to hear because they would send in requests in of different song that stayed true to the genre of music.

Was it suitable for its intended target audience

The target audience of the radio show are younger adults and middle aged people who would have listened to the music when they were younger and would want to hear it on this radio station and the DJ stays true to this and plays respectful songs from that era.

Presenters style:

Personality

Anonymous

The presenter’s style is very laid back and relaxed not rushing anything casually transferring between songs, with a chilled out personality who loves the music he plays and knows a lot of things about the type of music he is playing, and the genre and style of the music is clear.

vocal delivery:

conversational

He delivers his voice in such a way that if you just wanted to just calmly listen to it you wouldn’t be distracted if you were in mid conversation and on the station he talks to the

informativelisteners as if they are his friends and talks to them casually not rushing them into anything if there is a competition or a request point in the broadcast.

Be able to create music sequences for different audiencesOur assignment task relates to producing a 1 hour radio show for a designated target audience.

Content: specific formats, eg CHR, AC, gold, recurrent, easy listening; appropriate to time period (breakfast, daytime, drive-time, evening); duration (for broadcasting, for internet, for in-store)

TasksPrepare a playlist for an hours show for two completely different radio formats

Format 1 Format 21. radioactive imagine dragons https://youtu.be/iO_WxYC34eM

1.ledzeplin stairway to heaven live https://youtu.be/9Q7Vr3yQYWQ

2. centuries fall out boy https://youtu.be/sCbS-TLEoRA

2. war pigs by Black Sabbath https://youtu.be/pf8CuLIOCwc

3. this is war 30 seconds to mars https://youtu.be/aGNeKR0gom0

3. Hells Bells AC DC https://youtu.be/1XJkjVMk_oE

4. monster imagine dragons https://youtu.be/hhSA9H9Iaqw

4.IRON MAIDEN run for the hills https://youtu.be/86URGgqONvA

5. break by 3 days grace https://youtu.be/2VkFkreJN6U

5. Welcome to the jungle by guns and roses. https://youtu.be/kr8-E8may2Y

6. rise skillet https://youtu.be/67m29fOF6xs 6. wanted dead or alive by Bon Jovi. https://youtu.be/SRvCvsRp5ho

7. demons imagine dragons https://youtu.be/GFQYaoiIFh8

7. Nothing else matters by Metallica. https://youtu.be/tqtaKkvCFaQ

8. hero skillet https://youtu.be/RRkIQ1Djlbs 8. Back in black by ACDC. https://youtu.be/pAgnJDJN4VA

9. in the end by black veil brides https://youtu.be/lWsJAsQ-RwA

9. we will rock you by queen. https://youtu.be/-tJYN-eG1zk

10. my songs know by fall out boy https://youtu.be/JQ0lE7e3yfk

10. dream on by Aerosmith. https://youtu.be/qzTZ76vhnKk

Discuss why you made the choices aboveFormat 1 the first format playlist is more contemporary which is aimed for more younger audiences and some from the slightly older generation from 18 to 25 and the genre of music would be more alternative rock.

Format 2 the next format is more for the older generation because it is music from the 70s and 80s which is a more classic rock for where rock was originated which would appeal to people from 30 onwards.

Audiences: eg age group, social class, gender, lifestyle, sexual orientation, geodemographics, local, regional, national

TasksPrepare a playlist for an hours show for two completely different audiences

Audience 1 Audience 21. Let it go Frozen. https://youtu.be/moSFlvxnbgk

Los Bondaleros by Don Omar https://youtu.be/HjROFCHo_ng

2. Under the sea little mermaid. https://youtu.be/GC_mV1IpjWA

Danza Kuduro by Don Omar https://youtu.be/6fjYYEhAffk

3. A coonamatata the lion king. https://youtu.be/xB5ceAruYrI

Adios by Ricky martin https://youtu.be/JluQoTEg2gU

4. be our guest the beauty and the beast https://youtu.be/afzmwAKUppU

Humanos a Marte by Cheyanne https://youtu.be/C8FQ4wQXyaE

5. Colours of the wind Pocahontas. https://youtu.be/HvvZ1TEQRB8

Requesta indecente by Romeo Santos https://youtu.be/QFs3PIZb3js

6.Bibedy bobedy boo Cinderella https://youtu.be/VNKuARjkWEg

Vivir mi Vida by Marc Anthony https://youtu.be/YXnjy5YlDwk

7.its a whole new world Aladdin https://youtu.be/hZ1Rb9hC4JY

Gente de zona by Enrique Englasias https://youtu.be/NUsoVlDFqZg

8.youve got a friend in need toy story https://youtu.be/nMN4JZ8crVY

Descemer Bueno by Bailando https://www.youtube.com/embed/zpt8wRKuEKM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

9. king of the king of the swingers the jungle book https://youtu.be/c9cWkUhZ8n4

Salio el sol by don Omar https://youtu.be/Z-3su2ov8Vg

10.im on my way brother bear https://youtu.be/PmJzLipDbIA

Tacabro by Taketahttps://youtu.be/BJ-CmHZrKHU

Discuss why you made the choices above

Format 1 the first format playlist is more contemporary which is aimed for more younger audiences and some from the slightly older generation from 18 to 25 and the genre of music would be more alternative rock.

Format 2 the next format is more for the older generation because it is music from the 70s and 80s which is a more classic rock for where rock was originated which would appeal to people from 30 onwards.

Audience 1 the audience is very young and it would good to listen to the classic and the new types of music from Disney films

Audience 2 the music c is fully Spanish and the music is very cool and full of rhythm and it would be good for younger people in different to listen to it.

Audience 1 the audience is very young and it would good to listen to the classic and the new types of music from Disney films

Audience 2 the music c is fully Spanish and the music is very cool and full of rhythm and it would be good for younger people in different to listen to it.

Context: eg broadcasting, internet, in-store (using sales techniques and promotion, point-of-sale advertising, brand awareness, general promotion, ambient music); targeting demographic groups (age, social class, gender)

TasksPrepare a playlist for an hours show for two completely different contexts

Context 1 student areas Context 2 guitar shop radio1. 1. radioactive imagine dragons https://youtu.be/iO_WxYC34eM

ledzeplin stairway to heaven live https://youtu.be/9Q7Vr3yQYWQ

2. centuries fall out boy https://youtu.be/sCbS-TLEoRA

war pigs by Black Sabbath https://youtu.be/pf8CuLIOCwc

3. wanted dead or alive by Bon Jovi. https://youtu.be/SRvCvsRp5ho

Wanted dead or alive by Bon Jovi. https://youtu.be/SRvCvsRp5ho

4. my songs know by fall out boy https://youtu.be/JQ0lE7e3yfk

Nothing else matters by Metallica. https://youtu.be/tqtaKkvCFaQ

5. Los Bondaleros by Don Omar https://youtu.be/HjROFCHo_ng

Dream on by Aerosmith. https://youtu.be/qzTZ76vhnKk

6. Dream on by Aerosmith. https://youtu.be/qzTZ76vhnKk

hero skillet https://youtu.be/RRkIQ1Djlbs

7. This is war 30 seconds to mars https://youtu.be/aGNeKR0gom0

ledzeplin stairway to heaven live https://youtu.be/9Q7Vr3yQYWQ

8. hero skillet https://youtu.be/RRkIQ1Djlbs Welcome to the jungle by guns and roses. https://youtu.be/kr8-E8may2Y

9. Danza Kuduro by Don Omar https://youtu.be/6fjYYEhAffk

Hells Bells AC DC https://youtu.be/1XJkjVMk_oE

10. demons imagine dragons https://youtu.be/GFQYaoiIFh8

We will rock you by queen. https://youtu.be/-tJYN-eG1zk

Discuss why you made the choices above

Context 1 I chose this playlist because I wanted a mixture of the different playlists I created to kind of blend in with all the formats so everyone can get a feel for different kinds of music such as alternative, classic rock and Spanish music to have a cool but controlled playlist of easy to listen to music.

Context 2 this next context is for the more classic rocker and the music is more from the last generation and with the classic guitar solos it would be perfect for a guitar shop that specialises in making good classic guitars and other instruments.

Be able to incorporate added speech and feature content into music sequences

Content: Live reads, eg dry, over beds; Cousin to the ad-libbed commercial, live read refers to when a DJ reads an advertiser’s spot on the air, delivered from a script, fact sheet or personal knowledge. It can also refer to when the DJ “endorses” the advertiser’s goods or services.

A link into pre-recorded material; for radio, eg interviews, feature items, traffic bulletins, competitions; can relate to a piece of material being pre-recorded that can be used numerous times on different shows. A presenter can be talking about a topic and then cue an interview or sound bite that adds depth to a story.

Content for in-store, eg sales and promotion, commercial messages, infotainment; transitional materials as punctuation, eg jingles, stings are used on loop in many occasions and are usually pre-recorded. It makes more sense than a voice over artist repeating the same script throughout a period of time.

Purpose: Adding speech and feature content into a radio show has numerous different purposes. On the radio the purpose of this content could be for ratings (An interview with a famous person) to aid the format (adding detail when identifying a song that was played), public service (News broadcasts fall in this category), commercial (Advertising or live reads), regulatory issues (, sponsorship; in-store, e.g. increased sales, brand awareness, customer retention

Be able to review own music-based programmes with reference to purpose and audience

After the broadcast of most radio shows, station managers and number crunchers want to gauge the response from the audience. Ratings figures dictate advertising revenues and listener satisfaction with content can determine whether they tune in again next time. For this reason it is important for us to thoroughly review our programmes to assess it on a variety of factors.

Key Words

Aesthetics for the purpose of this unit we will define aesthetics as "critical reflection on art, culture and nature”.Accessibility is the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible

TASKIn class we will listen to a 30 minute section of a chosen groups radio show where we have previously identified its target audience and what the show usually entails. Make some bullet point notes to comment on the following;

Fitness for purpose

Compared with original intentionsTechnical Qualities

Aesthetic qualities

Accessibility to target audience

Audience response: quantitative, eg ratings; qualitative, eg by appreciation index (AI); questionnaires; focus groups; peer reviews

TASKIn class we will attempt to gather information regarding the audience response to your radio show. This information can then be used for your assignment task.

Quantitative Research (Who listened)

Qualitative Research (Why did they listen)

How will you gather this information?

Resources

Beaman J – Programme Making for Radio (Routledge, 2006) ISBN 978-0415365727

McLeish R – Radio Production, 5th Edition (Focal Press, 2005) ISBN 978-0240519728

www.radioacademy.org – a site dedicated to senior industry figures and academics