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4/24: Springsteen not a big radio draw
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bruce Springsteen is an iconic rock figure with a deep catalog of songs and a passionate fan base that helps him sell out arenas nationwide.
But he’s not heard on Atlanta radio nearly as often as, say, the Rolling Stones or Tom Petty, according to Mediabase 24/7, which tracks radio airplay at stations nationwide.
97.1/The River, which has a fairly tight playlist of rock standards from the ‘70s and early ‘80s, has not spun a single Springsteen song this year. Rock 100.5, with its much broader and harder-edged array of rock songs from the past four decades, has played the Boss only 11 times since the station’s launch in January. Soft rock B98.5 features his pop-oriented hit “Dancing in the Dark” three to six times a week.
“His songs are simply not as widely popular in 2008 as they were in the 70s and 80s,” said Chris Miller, program director for the River, in an email. “He still has his rabid fans …. just not as many of them.”
Dave FM is by far Springsteen’s biggest supporter. The adult alternative rock station last year placed his latest single “Radio Nowhere” in regular rotation and peppers in a few of his staples such as “One Step Up” and “Streets of Philadelphia” on its playlist. In terms of total spins, Springsteen is Dave’s 28th most popular artist this year, tied with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. (Dave also airs an “Underground Garage” specialty show hosted by E Street Band member Little Steven every Sunday night.)
“He’s never gotten a ton of airplay in the South and I’m not sure why,” said Jimmy Baron, a big Springsteen fan and former 99X jock, who has seen him live about 30 or 40 times. “It might just a regional thing. He can sell out multiple dates at Giants Stadium but can barely sell out one night at Philips.”
We polled four rock jocks in town for their three favorite Springsteen cuts. Curiously, there wasn’t a single overlap:
Margot Smith, music director and night jock, Dave FM:
“I’m On Fire” It’s a great sounding, sexy, mildly dirty song. Very appealing!
“The Ghost of Tom Joad” I’m a big fan of songs that tell stories well. I’m a bigger fan of Americana. This hits both.
“Nebraska” This song is as sparse, desolate, and sad as its subject. It gets under my skin (in a good way).
Lexie Kaye, morning host, 97.1/The River:
“My Hometown” A great storytelling song that makes you think about and appreciate where you came from.
“Glory Days” A well-written upbeat tune that you can’t help but reflect on the good ole days.
“Tenth Avenue Freeze -Out” - A true rock tune where you can’t understand most of the lyrics but love the funky horns on the intro and the saxophone especially!
Axel Lowe, afternoon host, Rock 100.5:
“Born to Run” I just like the story about busting out of a small town.
“Cadillac Ranch” I love that song because it’s just fun to drive along to and listen to.
“Hungry Heart” This song has a great story behind it. Springsteen wanted to give it to Joey Ramone but his manager said, “Are you crazy?” It would have been cool to think what this would have sounded like all punk-rocked out!
Mara Davis, mid-day jock, Dave FM:
“She’s the One” (from “Born to Run”) I love how it picks up in the end. You just want to pump your fist!
“Trapped“ from the USA for Africa soundtrack) This is an old Jimmy Cliff song that is the best live. A perfect sing-along song, I just love it.
“Brilliant Disguise“ The song sounds so happy, you’d never know it’s about a gutwrenching break up. To me, this song displays why the Boss is one of the best songwriters of all time.
Comments
By Bob
April 25, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this
Its absolutely a regional thing. He’s the Patron Saint of Rock in New Jersey. I went to college with a lot of kids from NJ/NY in the late 70’s early 80’s.
“We just cross the Jersey Line. Put on Thunder Road….”
The bulk of his older songs are about teen/20’s life in NJ/NY. So its no wonder he can sell out the Meadowlands.
I’m sure that the Allman brothers are not as popular up there are they are down here. Don’t get me wrong. I like the Allman’s & I like Springsteen. Its just that the regional differences in popularity are no mystery.
By Fred
April 25, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
It does not matter if you know his songs or not. He will get you dancing for his show. Go see him in concert and he will bring the house down with his energy and his good old clean rock and roll. I saw him in Orlando Wed night and he brought the house down!! A No Brainer!!!
By Thrash
April 25, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
His music is dull, his whining is tiring.
By Grown Up
April 25, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Bruce and other aging rockers need to learn that music and lame liberal politics don’t mix. Most fans of aging rockers have grown up, have jobs, and WORK for a living and don’t like his constant pandering to the far left wackos in this country. Play your music, then SHUT UP!
By robo
April 25, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Bob,
Comparing The Allman Brothers, especially the early stuff, with Bruce Springsteen is like comparing a masterpiece painting with a velvet Elvis.
BS is just OK as a lounge act and a boring one at that. As for The Brother’s popularity up north, you might want to check out a somewhat landmark album recorded in New York City called “At The Fillmore Live”. That album is better than ANYTHING BS has ever thought about doing. Also, The Brothers have continued teaching yankees about great music at The Beacon Theatre with multiple sellouts year after year.
I tried to attend a BS concert in the late 70s or early 80s when all of the hype for him was so high. I fell asleep at both shows, no alcohol or chemical help either, just boring sets. It was kind of like trying to stay awake at a Styx show.
By the boss
April 25, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
that’s cause the local radio stations are weak, weak, weak
By Scarlett
April 25, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Boss, I still love to hear your early works (pre “The River”) but I couldn’t care less about your political views.
By Ditto
April 25, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
Excellent Post GROWNUP
By shaggy
April 25, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
Robo,
On the money. Sky Dog’s been dead for over 30 years and only a few can even come close. Most of them are dead too.
For the uninitiated, Sky Dog was Duane Allman’s nickname. He flew so high and looked like a hound dog.
By Steve
April 25, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
Comparing The Allman Brothers Band and Bruce Springsteen seems to be just an argument for argument’s sake. They play vastly different styles of music. And for the record, I like them both. Springsteen is a great songwriter and The Allmans are one of the best Blues/Jazz amalgamations of all time. Why can’t they both be enjoyed on their merits rather than trying to pit them against each other based on some kind of regionalistic bias? Real music afficianados know that there’s plenty of room for both.
By Clay
April 25, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Grown Up hit the nail right on the head. Springsteen’s outspoken political views don’t play well in Georgia. Why should I pay hundreds of dollars for a couple of tickets to his show just to listen to him tell me my political views stink? I really like the single “Radio Nowhere” but I’m not buying his CD because I don’t want to finance his liberal causes.
By Nan
April 25, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
No mystery there. He doesn’t get the airplay for same reasons musicians like Steve Earle, Neil Young, and others are rarely heard on mainstream radio. He’s openly political and despises the Repugnicans. It has nothing to do with the quality of the music or the size of his fan base.
By Guitarzan
April 25, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
In 1974 at Georgia Southern, I met a fellow guitar player from Philly who talked about this guy that was going to be the next greatest thing. There was nothing out yet, so I really had nothing to go on and took it as just one guy’s opinion regarding some band from back home. When Born to Run hit the airwaves, I gave it a listen out of curiosity. Man was I turned off. I hated the vocals, I hated the cheesy sounding horns, and the whole thing sounded to me like a marching band with juiced up drums and a little guitar. The descending intro was boring and it just didn’t do a damn thing for me. So right then and there, I wrote Bruce off. Of course commercial radio did nothing to help his cause by playing anything else, and everything else that came out afterward all sounded the same to me, so that is that. On a side note, I don’t listen to terrestrial radio at all, save for the occasional foray into the non-commercial portion of the band. But the ads I see for the “New” River are so laughably bad, I can’t believe they exist at all. They are to me, a bad cliche for everything that is wrong with corporate, commerical music. “New” indeed. HA!
By time for the truth
April 25, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
Overall springsteen is a talentless narcissistic far left bore with typical yankee delusions of grandeur. Other than a handful of passable very similar formula OK singles a long long time ago his stuff is unbelievably turgid, mind numbingly tedious with all the depth of a Sopranos land based jackson browne - who is yet another smug vastly over rated (by self serving liberal fawners) far left bore.
The idea that some sullen America hating far left NJ moron’s Bush hating political world views which are continuously rammed down the publics’ throat have any resonance outside the Bush Derangement Syndrome crowd is too freaking funny.
The “new” River is a sick worthless joke … same old tedious songs - same old tedious jingles. Doubtless in a 100 years these sad twonks will still be the “new” River. LMAO!!
By Critic
April 25, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Apparently, nobody who listens to The River ever took or understood Music Appreciation 101.
By Eric
April 25, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
Bob makes a good point. An artist’s regional roots often play into his/her long-term popularity. I grew up in New Jersey, and Springsteen was everywhere on the radio back then. Of course, that was also during the height of his popularity (the mid-’80s), but I think his music still has an enormous presence in the northeastern U.S. even now, much like the Allman Bros. or Lynyrd Skynyrd does here. It doesn’t mean one is better than the other (that’s a pointless argument of opinion). They’re ALL great and have have amazing discographies. It’s just that where you’re from that often adds an extra bit of loyalty or familiarity into the mix.
And if there are really people out there who base their musical tastes strictly on their political beliefs and can’t ever separate the two, well, how sad that must be for them.
By someone who cares
April 25, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
All considerations of Springsteen’s music and politics are pretty irrelevant; the reason he doesn’t get played much on the radio here is because modern radio stinks. The music is just something to fill the space between the commercials, and programmers are openly disdainful of ‘music nerds’… you know, the ones who care what they listen to.
In case you missed it the first time, radio stinks.
By jungleland
April 25, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
It’s great that all of the DJ’s have their own favorites. One of the reasons that his concerts do so well compared to radio play is that there are SO MANY great songs, not a ton of BIG HITS, but a fantastic catalog. He is mostly an ALBUM artist anyway (and that’s a good thing) Go see most older bands and you get the same old greatest hits set every night. Bruce change 50% of his set every week or so. The set list from October barely resembles the set list from last tuesday. He does not play his radio hits live - No Glory Days, No Hungry Heart, no Born In The USA, no I’m On Fire He does Born To Run, but that’s about all.
96Rock used to play a fair amount of Sprinsteen in the 1980s. Also Sirius has an ALL SPRINGSTEEN station and XM 40,46 and 49 play pleny of Bruce as well.
And yes, REM, STEVE EARLE, TOM PETTY, JOHN MELENCAMP get very little radio play for their new songs because Altanta radio is (sadly)not about new ROCK music.
By Elizabeth Taminskaming
April 25, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
Bruce Springsteen is a poopy head swinger. He cannt sing much good at all. Why is he bein called the Boss anyhow. What is he the Boss of? He aint my boss for lovin sake!!
Buce Springstein is not a good man at all because he cannot sing good well!!
By Elizabeth Taminskaming
April 25, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
I love Neil Diamand alot. Sweat Caroline’s is such a pretty song. I am so excited that Neil will be on America’s Idal tonight. He is so hot and cute and singers so well!! Neil Diamond is the gretest singer ever and I love that he is jewish too!!
By mystery poster
April 25, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Wow, is Taminskamin another word for trolling?
By The Truth
April 25, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
It’s because he sucks and he’s old.
By Elizabeth Taminskaming
April 25, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
I also think That Olivia Newton jon is better than Bruce Springstine is nowat the BOSS. I would nverv pay $10,000 dollar to go and see The Boss of Bruc that would be a completely waste of my gooda dn hard n worked money i get form my job that i work for at Taco Bell.
By Ron
April 25, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
I have been to a Lake called Taminskaming. Elizabeth Spell checker please.
By RealityKing
April 25, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
I would much rather listen to good music without the uneducated political view points behind it..
By robo
April 25, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
Steve & Eric,
Yes, there is no comparison in styles regarding ABB & BS. However, one, Bruce Springsteen, is, in my opinion, boring and whiny…puts me fast asleep. The other, The Allman Brothers Band, is definately not. Also Brother Duane was one of the best guitar players EVER, and the faithful miss him still. Derek is trying, but Duane walked higher plateaus. My original rebuttal post to Bob, also pointed out that BS has a hard time selling tickets here. The ABB has no problem recording a masterpiece live album and continuing to sell out multiple night gigs there right up to today.
By Roscoe
April 25, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
I would much rather take a long poop than listen to Bruce Springsteen!!
By Hello Atlanta
April 25, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
I just moved here from Warsaw Poland and THE BOSS is huge over there. We love him!!!
By Bob
April 25, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
Springsteen is a great singer just to political. I love Born in the USA!! USA ROCKS DUDES!!
By Fulton
April 25, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
It seems lame politics are only allowed if they reflect a conservative point of view. How typicial of you people.
By Mike
April 25, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
Radio playlists go out to the highest bidder. Record companies pay stations to play songs from their artists. Why else would you hear Britney Spears on the radio? I can’t see anybody requesting to hear her. Springsteen is irrelevant now. All 70’s and 80’s artists are passe. Which is too bad because some good stuff came out then, at least in the 70’s. I agree radio stinks, all the commercials, same 25 song rotation, dj chatter, at least the last time I listened to radio in the 80’s. Now, it’s my IPOD and home cd/turntable.
By Mike
April 25, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
Radio playlists go out to the highest bidder. Record companies pay stations to play songs from their artists. Why else would you hear Britney Spears on the radio? I can’t see anybody requesting to hear her. Springsteen is irrelevant now. All 70’s and 80’s artists are passe. Which is too bad because some good stuff came out then, at least in the 70’s. I agree radio stinks, all the commercials, same 25 song rotation, dj chatter, at least the last time I listened to radio in the 80’s. Now, it’s my IPOD and home cd/turntable.
By Tamika
April 25, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Don Ho is much better than Spingsteen! Don ho’s boob’s that is.
By Renee
April 25, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
And if there are really people out there who base their musical tastes strictly on their political beliefs and can’t ever separate the two, well, how sad that must be for them.
Individuals have every RIGHT to reject an artist and/or actors based on their political views/rants - liberal or conservative.
Unfortunately, it is usually the left that overwhelmingly tries to cram their agenda down our throats. The political party that claims to be the most tolerant often is the most unforgiving…
By Listener
April 25, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
I get so tired of hearing the same songs on FM radio - especially on “The River (by the way, after 2 years shouldn’t they stop calling themselves “new”). I’ve been listening to Deep Tracks on XM - what a great selection of music. I’d listen to any FM station that would guarantee that they wouldn’t play any song twice in a week. What a great marketing ploy that would be!
By Guitarzan
April 25, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
To Listener When I got XM, I listened to Deep Tracks a lot. But then I noticed that they would overplay an artist. First it was Moody Blues, then Donovan, then the same Bob Weir tune. And Earle Bailey works my last nerve, even though he does play some kick-butt obscure tunes now and again. George Taylor Morris is a better jock for my personal tastes. But now I mostly listen to XM70.
By Jeff
April 25, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
It’s no slight to say an artist has a regional base - Bruce can sell out 10 nights at Giants Stadium - that’s 800,000+ tickets - in a few hours. Likewise, in Philly, he can easily sell out six nights at the Wachovia Center (120,000+ tickets) in a similar timeframe.
Whereas when the Allman Bros. - who many folks here have referenced - come to Philly, nowadays they play the likes of the Tower Theatre, which only seats about 3,000.
By Critic
April 25, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
There’s no accounting for taste.
By Jason
April 25, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
Springsteen might get some more radio play in Atlanta if he changed his name to “Yung Broos” and sang about being “up in the club” like all the other pop music hacks.
By jackdawg
April 25, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
I for one don’t tolerate political rantings mixed with my rock n roll, bur a Bruce concert is much more than that and I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to see a few shows since his band reformed. The songs may talk about people from outside the south but I believe he connects with ‘everyday folks’. also no one puts more of themselves into their songs or live shows. His politics are a lot less blatant than REM and I can enjoy their work too.
By LeftWingLoon
April 25, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
That because the Boss is a leftwing loon and an America Hater. Listen to his political rants, especially during a concert, and you’ll understand what a fool the man really is.
By Bitter losers
April 25, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
I don’t care what gets played on commercial radio because it is unlistenable. If you judge music’s value by what is on the radio, you are nuts. You are free to dislike Bruce’s music and/or his politics, but you guys take it too far…all of you who whine about Springsteen are a bunch of soulless losers. No wonder you are so bitter. It must be such a drag being you! Tonight while you are drowning in your lousy hate-filled lives, I’ll be enjoying the concert. See ya, and I wouldn’t wanna be ya.
By abc
April 25, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
Springsteen sucks. His relative popularity is testimony to American tastelessness. That he gets less airplay in Atlanta is complimentary to the area. Hey, at least it’s one positive thing to say about the abysmal radio scene ‘round here!
By Tricia
April 25, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
“Greetings from Asbury Park” was the first and best Springsteen album, but I’m a Jersey Girl by birth. Memories of “down the shore” and “The Stone Pony” come back to life. Atlanta radio has never truly appreciated Bruce. I remember calling Craig Ashwood at 94Q in 1983 and requesting “Blinded by the Light” only to be told that it was a Manfred Man hit! That explains it all.
By Not 50 Years Old
April 25, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
Allman Brothers? Brilliant guitar work, amazing blues/jazz fusion, but it all ended the moment Duane did. Okay, they had one more good record, but that was in 1972. 36 years ago.
Bruce? Brilliant songwriting, amazing stage show, but his last great album was in 1978. 30 years ago. Even if you allow ‘Born In The USA’, that was in 1984. 24 years ago.
There are great bands playing around today, but they’re not on the radio and certainly not playing arenas. Get over the past already.
(Note I didn’t mention Styx. Always sucked.)
By Bob
April 25, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this
Eric - You hit it on the head. Its geographic roots.
Everyone else: Try to lighten up. It was just analogy to illustrate a point. I could have said 38 Special, Marshall Tucker, Charlie Daniels or Wet Willie… All good or great acts. All Southern. And the fact of the matter is, they are more popular in the Southern than in other parts of the country.
Why is it a surprise to anyone that Bruce is more popular in the NE than in the SE? It shouldn’t be. In terms of who you like better, that’s fine.
(Vern: Do you think mighty Mouse could beat up Superman? Teddy: What are you, cracked? Vern: Why not? I saw the other day, he was carrying five elephants in one hand! Teddy: Boy, you don’t know nothing! Mighty Mouse is a cartoon. Superman’s a real guy. There’s no way a cartoon could beat up a real guy. Vern: Yeah, maybe you’re right. It’d be a good fight, though.) -Stand by Me. 1986.
Politics be damned. I like Tom Petty’s music. I think his politics are nonsense. Same goes for Bonjovi and one of my personal favorites, The Eagles. Politically Don Henley is a Left Wing A-Hole, but I love his music and I’m paying large dollar$ to see him & the rest of the bots in a couple of weeks.