WPLJ to add Mystery... Options

[GiovanniPrego]

After speaking with one of the DJs earlier today, it appears that WPLJ in NYC will add Mystery to the playlist next Tuesday, if, and I quote, "the requests keep coming"

Go to wplj.com and email Race Taylor...look at the contact list

[SJN1279]

After speaking with one of the DJs earlier today, it appears that WPLJ in NYC will add Mystery to the playlist next Tuesday, if, and I quote, "the requests keep coming"

Go to wplj.com and email Race Taylor...look at the contact list

Here are all the important emails at PLJ:

race@plj.com (Race Taylor- great DJ, nice guy!)

crichie@plj.com (Christine Richie- super-nice DJ who makes it a point to read all her e-mail and tries to respond to the best of her ability)

bigshow@plj.com(Be sure to e-mail the big show, the Program director of the station is part of it, don't expect a response though)

E-mail these three and we are in business! If NYC and LA are playing the song so early on, expect a hit for Live!!!!!!

[SJN1279]

Also feel free to call 1-800-321-WPLJ at will. There is an online feed on WPLJ.com, so you can listen from anywhere in the world. Its really not a bad station.

[SJN1279]

I just wrote someone that I know at PLJ about what Race Taylor stated about how making requests will get the station to add Mystery, and this is the response that I received:

P L E A S E! Do not believe that stuff. Requests from Live fans aren't going
to make or break the decision to add the song. That's just crazy.

Just wanted to let you know.

[Soxwsc]

Unfortunately it seems like the only ones who care about getting this single added to radio are the hardcore Live fans and a few Chris fans. The buzz over the song was basically non-existant, even though it was performed in front of 200 million people. I heard from more than a few people that said they didn't care for the song. I'll be shocked if this gets any airplay.

In retrospect, I think it was a bad move to perform a new single that no one had heard. If Live had performed Lightning Crashes, everyone would have sang along, and it would've generated an enormous buzz for Live. Lightning Crashes would've hit #1 on iTunes, and then all the media would've picked up on that. Then the word would spread that Live has a new cd coming out on the 6th.. and then after Awake hit #1, Live would be back in the spotlight just in time for the release of SFBM. Oh well, the more attention on Live's latest release, the more crap we'd be hearing. What I'm trying to say is.. the buzz is over, and I'm fine with that.

[GiovanniPrego]

I just wrote someone that I know at PLJ about what Race Taylor stated about how making requests will get the station to add Mystery, and this is the response that I received:

P L E A S E! Do not believe that stuff. Requests from Live fans aren't going
to make or break the decision to add the song. That's just crazy.

Just wanted to let you know.

Interesting. Begs several questions.

1) Does this mean that we, as listeners to radio in general, have no influence whatsoever in what stations play? Theorectically I find it hard to believe that a station could receive 10,000 seperate reuqests for a song, and yet not play it, in spite of the fact that that means 10,000 listeners are being ignored.

2)Do DJs say things similar to what Mr. Taylor said to me simply in order to boost ratings? I believe what you state Nick, about the person you know at PLJ, but does that make it mutually exclusive that Mr. Taylor didn't make his statement to me?

3) If this is indeed true, what does then drive a station's playlist? Is this all record company promotion? I know that its not, at least not here in Minneapolis.

4) Did you ask the person why, "that's just crazy"?

This post has been edited by GiovanniPrego: Jun 1 2006, 10:02 am

[SJN1279]

Interesting. Begs several questions.

1) Does this mean that we, as listeners to radio in general, have no influence whatsoever in what stations play? Theorectically I find it hard to believe that a station could receive 10,000 seperate reuqests for a song, and yet not play it, in spite of the fact that that means 10,000 listeners are being ignored.

2)Do DJs say things similar to what Mr. Taylor said to me simply in order to boost ratings? I believe what you state Nick, about the person you know at PLJ, but does that make it mutually exclusive that Mr. Taylor didn't make his statement to me?

3) If this is indeed true, what does then drive a station's playlist? Is this all record company promotion? I know that its not, at least not here in Minneapolis.

4) Did you ask the person why, "that's just crazy"?

The person I speak to from PLJ tends to tell me things as they are. She pretty much cuts through the BS. Requests are probably a really small part of what makes a station add a song. That's all she meant. Its more label politics than anything else that gets a song on air in the big markets.

That said, Race Taylor is much more in the know about what the station is going to add than the person I spoke with. I think we should continue to request the song to PLJ because it certainly can't hurt the situation. No word yet if Mystery is playing on any stations besides LA. PLJ is the make or break station for the song, I have my fingers crossed for next Tuesday.

[GiovanniPrego]

Nick,

I agree completely with the last part of your email...next week is big. So how do we help to get it on? Is Epic promoting this internally to stations? Do record company wonks read stuff like this?

As to your friend and Taylor, I believe that they both can be right. I mean its not as if Taylor guaranteed that the song would be added...or that your contact guaranteed that it wouldn't...Polictics like this kinda suck.

[beau99]

1) Does this mean that we, as listeners to radio in general, have no influence whatsoever in what stations play? Theorectically I find it hard to believe that a station could receive 10,000 seperate reuqests for a song, and yet not play it, in spite of the fact that that means 10,000 listeners are being ignored.

Unless it's an all-request station, requests pretty much don't mean a damn thing.

3) If this is indeed true, what does then drive a station's playlist? Is this all record company promotion? I know that its not, at least not here in Minneapolis.

Ask Sony about that. They got busted for payola.

[SJN1279]

Unfortunately it seems like the only ones who care about getting this single added to radio are the hardcore Live fans and a few Chris fans. The buzz over the song was basically non-existant, even though it was performed in front of 200 million people. I heard from more than a few people that said they didn't care for the song. I'll be shocked if this gets any airplay.

In retrospect, I think it was a bad move to perform a new single that no one had heard. If Live had performed Lightning Crashes, everyone would have sang along, and it would've generated an enormous buzz for Live. Lightning Crashes would've hit #1 on iTunes, and then all the media would've picked up on that. Then the word would spread that Live has a new cd coming out on the 6th.. and then after Awake hit #1, Live would be back in the spotlight just in time for the release of SFBM.

I have to disagree with you. If LIVE sang Lightning Crashes or I Alone, it may have helped Throwing Copper or Awake(both got a huge boost anyway from Live's appearance on Idol alone), but it would have done nothing for Mystery or their new CD. Playing Mystery on Idol, at least gave the song a chance to pick up on radio. Singing Lightning Crashes would have been the equivalent of Meat Loaf singing whatever hit song he sang on AI. I didn't see any of Meat Loaf's songsshooting up on Itunes.

It would have made no sense for Epic to promote a song that isn't even on their label in front of 30 million people. Mystery at least got exposure and SFBM debuted at #8 with digital downloads. If they sang Lightning Crashes, that wouldn't have been the case.

Also, those I spoke to really liked Mystery and Live's performance on Idol. WPLJ DJ's even commented how good the song was. As I've said numerous times, Epic is at fault. Especially since Live is on a distribution branch who's artists barely ever get any radio airplay.

[SJN1279]

I have to disagree with you. If LIVE sang Lightning Crashes or I Alone, it may have helped Throwing Copper or Awake(both got a huge boost anyway from Live's appearance on Idol alone), but it would have done nothing for Mystery or their new CD. Playing Mystery on Idol, at least gave the song a chance to pick up on radio. Singing Lightning Crashes would have been the equivalent of Meat Loaf singing whatever hit song he sang on AI. I didn't see any of Meat Loaf's songsshooting up on Itunes.
It would have made no sense for Epic to promote a song that isn't even on their label in front of 30 million people. Mystery at least got exposure and SFBM debuted at #8 with digital downloads. If they sang Lightning Crashes, that wouldn't have been the case.
Also, those I spoke to really liked Mystery and Live's performance on Idol. WPLJ DJ's even commented how good the song was. As I've said numerous times, Epic is at fault. Especially since Live is on a distribution branch who's artists barely ever get any radio airplay.

Oh and a major reason the buzz is off Mystery is what has Epic done with Live since Idol? Ed may have called out to a view radio stations, but besides Ellen nothing has happened. It was just a poor planning job all around.

[beau99]

Especially since Live is on a distribution branch who's artists barely ever get any radio airplay.

Not exactly. Switchfoot and Chevelle are also on RED Distribution, and they both get played once an hour on multiple formats.

[SJN1279]

Not exactly. Switchfoot and Chevelle are also on RED Distribution, and they both get played once an hour on multiple formats.

Are they really? Well the new stuff by Switchfoot really didn't pick up well. Even though I thought both singles were pretty good. Chevelle, I don't follow. I'll have to check that out though.

[SJN1279]

As of now, it looks like Mystery hasn't been added to any stations this week. I'll have to email Mark and see what the deal is.

[NectarDan]

As of now, it looks like Mystery hasn't been added to any stations this week. I'll have to email Mark and see what the deal is.

You're kidding me, not even one? That sucks.