How corporate radio killed Eruption

There was a time when DJs had some control over what they played on the radio. We couldn't pick the playlist, but we could play some requests and play live cuts or alternate versions of songs. Whenever I played "You Really Got Me," I played "Eruption" with it. Kids who never heard this kind of noise would light up the phones asking what was going on. Many of them picked up the album and some even picked up a guitar.

"Eruption" doesn't test well. I found this out after our wonderful station had been bought for the 3rd or 4th time, a consultant had moved in, and the corporate parent was beginning to squeeze the life out of us. I had "Eruption" cued up when my music director told me to cue past it - she played it a few days earlier and got yelled at by the consultant. I knew this was the beginning of the end. Radio would be dictated by auditorium tests that show time and again that people listen to songs they know. This is why you'll hear "Dancing In The Dark" but not "Jungleland." This is also why you won't hear live cuts, including the mind-bending version of "Must Have Got Lost," and you certainly won't hear "Eruption."

After a few more takeovers, this station was replaced by a completely research-driven corporate format called The River, which is enjoyed by cubicle-dwellers happy with the familiar sounds of America and Creed (but just their hits), and with taped patter from DJs with no soul.

[Mondy]

Sounds like the film Airheads...

Anyway, reminds me of something that happened to me recently...

As you may or may not know, I'm a big fan of Thunder, a UK Rock Band. Well, recently Thunder have reformed. They broke up because they hated so many things about the Music Business. Two words that the singer says can never really go together well.

Anyway, they reformed because they realised they simply love making music. However, they did something different this time around. They did it themselves. No record label, management, etc. So, they relied on their fanbase, their internet site, and word of mouth.

They released an E.P. entitled Thunder, Back For The Crack



And sold this through the internet. They then used sales from this to finance their new album. They sold this through the internet, but stated that for a high chart position, it would have to be bought from HMV. They then used sales to finance a single, the first song from the album, LOSER



They then said that this could ONLY be bought from HMV. They urged fans to buy it and tell everyone else to buy it. If it made it into the top 40 then it would be a wonderful achievement for a band without a record label. Also, if they made it into the top 40, they would then be guaranteed airplay.

So I rang up some radio stations.

I was told that they wouldn't play it. It wasn't what people wanted nowadays. I told them that I was asking for it, so some people must want it. I also told them that since it was hovering just outside the Top 40, then some people must want to listen to it. Still, no-one would play it. I was annoyed with the Catch 22 situation of, we won't play it until it's in the Top 40, but it needs to be played to get into the Top 40.

A shame, because it finished at number 47 I think. A few hundred more sales and they would have had radio airplay and possibly made it onto Top Of The Pops.

Ah well, I'll shut up now and go and see them on their November tour !

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[CanyonCarver]

I stopped listening to radio in december 1992, when Pirate Radio here in LA shut down and when KNAC was replaced overnight on the same wavelenght, by a hispanic station.
Heavy Metal died literally overnight in California, and out went the radio from the dashboard of the car.
To this day I only listen to CDs in the car and don't even have a radio receiver in it. I route a portable CD player right into a 100 watt amp system.

That's how I feel about radio... I refuse to eat their shit, and consider myself above that. FUCK radio!

[EddieMan2003]

96 Rock plays eruption, dont know what your talking about...

[Mondy]

Some of us aren't in the States. I don't think the younger generation in the U.K. even know what a guitar is anymore.

Nay, let me correct that. I'd be surprised if they even know what ANYmusical instrument is !

Think about it. All they get nowadays is Rap, R+B, boybands or Pop Idol/Popstars.

My Point ?

These people just turn up on stage on there own and sing away. The music just magically appears. We've turned into a bloody nation of Karaoke !

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People often are surprised that I don't know the latest songs. In fact, someone saying, "How can you NOT have heard it ? It's one of the biggest hits at the moment. Every radio station is playing it !"

When I tell them I mostly listen to 24 year old songs, they just look at me in astonishment. My VHI tape hasn't left the car stereo in months. In fact, it's so warn now, I have to turn it up to 14 just to hear it. When I put the radio on for the traffic news, it blows my ears off !

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[CanyonCarver]

[ QUOTE ]
EddieMan2003 said:
96 Rock plays eruption, dont know what your talking about...

[/ QUOTE ]

I have travelled to other states such as Texas and NC, and was happy to hear that they have stations that play heavy rock and Metal.
But if you're in So-Cal, aside from late night programs or KROQ that play Nu-Metal, forget about it!
If you're into soft shit like smooth jazz, soccer mom music, RnB, Rap and all that insipid garbage, knock yourself out and come to L.A.

THE AIRWAVES HAVE BEEN VIRTUALLY NEUTERED OUT HERE!

[EddieMan2003]

thats why i only listen to 96 rock, playing new and classic rock with a deadly force hiya! lol awesome station. www.96rock.com stream it and listen they rule!

I hear Eruption on the radio all the time. My local rock station, Rock 103 , has been playing it since day one.

[ericgtr]

Here in Oregon we get it every now and then on KUFO. Welcome to the site RBJ.