So, what exactly do you want to broadcast over the Internet / Airwaves? A cooking show? Exposing waste in your city or county government? Maybe a show about training dogs, or what about the proper usage and management of land? The ideas are endless and what’s so cool, there is always some group wanting to hear it. Like my Dad used to say, “There’s no such thing as a stupid idea.” And you know what? He’s right! Just look around the Internet these days, countless pages upon pages of information on everything. Who would have thought just 20 years ago that it would be like this! Certainly not me that’s for sure.
Here are some examples of what you can do:
Talk Radio –
This format really got its start in the early 1960’s. With the advent of better phone systems after their upgrade in the 1950’s, radio stations began airing two-way conversations in an effort to boost their ratings. Let’s face it, people like to hear themselves on the radio. Pretty much anything goes on a Talk Radio station. If you’ve listened to Talk Radio over the airwaves, let alone the internet, you know what I mean. There’s a Talk Radio Show on just about everything from building your own computer to cooking. However, there are several formats that fall into the Talk Radio category. They include: All-News, News / Talk, All-Talk, and Sports-Talk. Whatever you decide to go with, try to design your Talk Show on and around interesting topics, current events, sports or politics.
If you’re building a LPFM station, then look into covering local sporting events, board meetings, in depth local news and invite loads of guests (remember, people love to hear themselves and love to be heard by others!). Also, the Talk Radio format is likely to be a real winner for LPFM. Most Talk Radio stations are on the AM band, so the audio quality is usually terrible. That’s not the case with an FM signal. Also keep in mind that one of the things the big guys in your area can’t do is have very specific programming. They’re always to busy trying to satisfy the masses to get a larger market share. You can beat them by doing the opposite.
If your thinking is towards the Internet, then the sky is the limit my friend! You’re not going to be bound to just local stuff, your talking to the world, not just to a town or city. If you’re part of some organization or group and want to get heard by the masses, this is the way to go. Being extremely different and controversial is the name of the game here. The more wilder the topic, the more listeners you’re going to gain. Topics about everyday things go over just as well also. Remember, you’re talking to the world and there are a lot of people out there ready to listen!
Music Radio –
Not that there isn’t a plethora of these out there already, but what they heck… what’s one more! Who knows, you might wind up as the next Casey Casum! Choosing the right format is no easy thing to do. If you already have a CHR, Top 40 or AC station in your area, then choose some other format to play. Chances are slim that you’ll overtake the big guys, but it has been done! You’ll also have to contact ASCAP and BMI to let them know you exist and in order for you to play music over the Airwaves or the Internet. These guys control the licensing and rights to most of the music out there that you’ll be playing. In order to play the music, you have to pay royalties to do so.
Some Music Formats are:
Top 40 – This format was born back in the early 1950’s believe it or not, by Robert Todd Storz. Top 40 died in the 70’s and was relegated to mostly AM radio stations as AOR stepped in and took over the FM airwaves. The Top 40 philosophy is basically taking the songs that are currently the fastest selling and most popular and play them to death. In other words, whatever’s current at the moment for ages 15 – 23. Top 40 is geared for constant hits, and for people with very short attention spans. The format revolves around playing these top songs over and over and over till played to death. Although this format is extremely over used, it still gathers listeners and lots of them. There’s at least one of these stations in every town and they pretty much all sound the same.
CHR – Contemporary Hits Radio was coined during the late 1970s / early 1980s when radio programmers perceived a backlash against the Top 40 style of programming. AOR had jumped onto the scene in a big way on FM stations and kicked Top 40’s ass. No matter how you dress it up though, it’s still Top 40.
Pop – Or Pop Music as it was known, got its start in the early 80’s. A lot of Pop Music came from what was then, the brand new MTV crowd. The Pop format however was just another version of the Top 40 format. Pop Music came from the Top 40 charts, although the songs didn’t normally stay there too long. Pop groups are sometimes referred to as “One hit wonders”, because they usually only produced one “hit song” then died, although not all pop groups suffered from this problem. Artists like Adam Ant, MI-Sex, Dead or Alive and The Buggles are lumped into this format.
Disco – Disco came onto the scene back in the mid 70’s and hung around till the early 80’s. The format got its start from early Urban Contemporary and Rhythm 'n' Blues formatted stations. The music was widely popular because it provided the beat that made Americans dance. Disco was also quite diverse in its sound in the beginning. Light balls, silk shirts and platform shoes aside, the format had a lot of listeners and a lot of crossover into Top 40. As a matter of fact, the format is once again based on the Top 40 style of programming. The Spinners, The Bee Gees, Debra Harry, K.C. and The Sunshine Band, Wild Cherry and Funkadelic are some of the bands you can count on hearing in this format.
Urban Contemporary – This format best proves that music can cross boundaries. Born from the “black experience”, Urban Contemporary attracts a substantial number of African American, Hispanic and White listeners. Frankie Crocker coined the name Urban Contemporary back in the early 1970’s, and is considered to be its founder. Frankie combined his admiration for old black radio, his feel for jazz and R&B, and his college education into a programming philosophy. This format spawned several off chutes, one of which was Disco. Urban Contemporary has splintered into two main factions, Urban & Urban AC. The Urban format targets younger audiences, and it stays close to local CD stores and watches carefully as to what’s being listened to and sold. These stations are based on the Top 40 style of programming only using rap, hip-hop, some rhythm 'n' blues, and ballads. The Urban AC format on the other hand often does not contain rap or hip-hop. The format is based on the Adult Contemporary style of programming. Urban AC relies heavily on rhythm and blues oldies and recurrents.
Rhythm & Blues – This format derives its roots from Gospel and Blues music borrowing from many musical styles including Jazz, Swing, Big Band, Rock and Funk and is often called "Soul Music". The format started much the same as AOR did as an anti-format, but has been around for a very long time. Rhythm & Blues is a descriptive term and has never had a clear single meaning. In it's broadest sense, R&B denotes black pop music. However, as black pop music changes, the R&B term goes along for the ride. Most though consider the format to be the music coming out of Motown between the mid 1960’s all the way through the 1970’s. R&B unfortunately is plagued with the idea that running this format isn’t very profitable in some markets. However, nothing could be further from the truth if tried. Artist’s like: The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, The O’Jays, Barry White, The Spinners, Booker T. & The MG’s, The Four Tops, Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder filled this format with a deep imaging sound and rhythm that is unmatched in music today.
Jazz – One of the most diverse and colorful formats around, Jazz brings in listeners from every age group. For some unknown reason though, Jazz is yet another format plagued with the idea that running Jazz isn’t very profitable in some markets. However, if given a try it’s usually very successful. With artists like Nathan East, Grover Washington Jr., George Benson and the greats like Louis Hayes and Earl Klugh, it's no wonder this format is so hot! Another reason the format does so well is because it’s not as rigid and based on playing the same music to death as say Top 40 does. Jazz is usually setup to be very free form and very audience friendly. In some Jazz stations you won’t even find a format clock!
AOR (album oriented rock) – Started back in the late 60’s / early 70’s and was originally conceived as an anti-format to Top 40. The AOR format ruled the airwaves on what would become some of the largest stations in America. AOR for the most part, killed Top 40 radio stations in the 1970’s. This format is now known as Classic Rock and features “Special or Deep Cuts” when programming its clock. AOR places considerable emphasis on the mix of the music. Music is generally presented in "sets" or "sweeps" and is often thematic. The format also relies on having an extensive play list built more upon artist appeal than hits. Basically you played cuts from records that the Top 40 stations wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. Early groups like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk RailRoad and The Rolling Stones just to name a few, owe their very lives to this format. Although these groups were very popular back then, not much of their music was being played on Top 40 radio stations to any great degree. AOR today is mostly comprised of Alternative Music and just as in the past, based on an anti-format approach.
Heavy Metal – This format derives its roots from AOR and the anti-format idea against Disco at the time. Heavy Metal popped onto the scene back in the early 80’s and was based on screaming guitar solos, hard hitting vocals, leather and anything that didn’t sound like Disco. Heavy Metal gained popularity quickly with the 14 – 25 male crowd. Groups like Metallica, Judas Priest and AC/DC were among featured bands in this format.
Classic Rock – Based on music from the mid 60’s all the way through the 70’s, this format still rules the airwaves as it did back then. Although not as progressive or broad-based / free form as it was back in its AOR days, the format still kicks ass. Bands like Robin Trower, Deep Purple, The Doobie Brothers, The Allman Brothers Band and Eric Clapton are featured in a Classic Rock format.
Country – Starting as early as the 1920’s, Country or Country and Western as it was known, is one of the oldest formats. Sadly very few true Country stations still exist on the airwaves today. The format died off in the 1950’s due in part to the beginnings of Rock and Roll. However, the format came back in the late 60’s and 70’s exploding in popularity after programmers found out that what worked for programming the Top 40 radio stations, worked with Country. Featuring both little known and well-known country artists from across America, the format back then was rich in diversity and style. Playing both the songs of the day and from the 30’s and 40’s were very much a part of this formats success till the 1950’s. You could count on hearing songs from great artists like Tennessee Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams just to name a few under the Country and Western format.
Hot Hits Country – More like watered down country music for today’s adults, this format is popping up everywhere and isn’t very original at all. Most of the music sounds the same and if you took out the laser blasts and constant reminders telling you its Hot Country, you’d swear you were listening to an Adult Contemporary station only with an ever so slight twang. The format uses the Top 40 style of programming using the current country hits.
80’s Hot Hits – Based on the Top 40 charts of the 1980’s and programmed in the Top 40 style, this format features all of the groups of that day. 38 Special, Night Ranger, Autograph, Howard Jones and all the way to Ratt is sure to be heard. If they made it to the charts, you’ll hear it.
70’s Hot Hits – This format, just like the 80’s Hot Hits, is based on the Top 40 charts of the 1970’s. The format is designed to take you back to sunny lazy days when you had nothing better to do than hang at the beach and listen to the radio. This format also has a lot of crossover music from the Classic Rock format. Eddie Money, ELO, Styx, Sugarloaf, America and Carly Simon are sure to be heard.
MOR – Or Middle-Of-The-Road was at one time one of the most dominant formats and got its start back in the late 1960’s. It was an adult format that played non-rock mass appeal Pop & Big Band music as well as artists like: Frank Sinatra, The Andrew Sisters, Perry Como, The Lennon Sisters, and Andy Williams. MOR was the format that adults tuned to for popular music and information. But as radio changed and as the generation that listened to MOR aged, the format died and has been renamed to Nostalgia / Vintage.
Adult Contemporary – This format has been around since the 1960’s and has seen many a change. It was first called “Chicken Rock” by most programmers at the time because the format flirted with playing some of the softer rock music off the Top 40 charts with the older adult music. In the 1970’s the format changed again to Mellow Rock and Soft Rock formats. These new mellow formats played softer artists such as Neil Diamond, Smokey Robinson and Olivia Newton John, as well as some of the softer hits from the disco artists of the 70’s. The AC format positioned itself as an alternative to the AOR and Disco formats of the 1970’s. The AC format of today serves the same purpose as the MOR format of yesterday. However, the format has splintered into three main factions; Soft AC, AC, and Hot AC. Soft AC is designed for adults that don’t like, and don’t want to listen to current rock music. Artists include: The Eagles, America, Neil Diamond, The Little River Band, Seals & Crofts and James Taylor. The AC format is more upbeat and lively and will throw in more of the current softer rock songs. AC artists are about the same as Soft AC, but with the occasional Doobie Brothers, Boston or ELO hit thrown in. The Hot AC format is like listening to a CHR format. Much more current music is thrown into the mix with just a dash of Hot Hits Country and then the older music is sprinkled on top for good measure. Hot AC artists include: Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, The Back Street Boys, Phil Collins and LeAnn Rimes.
These are only but a few of the music formats available to choose from. There are many others; Adult Alternative, Adult Album Alternative, Adult Standards, Alternative Rock, Beautiful Music, Big Band, Black, Block/Variety, Classic Hits, Contemporary Christian, Churban CHR+Urban, Classical, Dance, Diversified, Ethnic, EZ Listening, New AC, Nostalgia, Oldies, '50s Oldies, '60s Oldies, '70s Oldies, '80s Oldies, Religion, Rhythmic, Smooth Jazz, Spanish, Variety Alternative and Vintage to name a few!
If you’re planning on building a LPFM Radio Station, your best bet is to listen to the other radio stations in your area very carefully and note what they play. Granted, it will be a hodge podge of crap from different eras, but whatever they’re doing, you do the exact opposite. The thing that will get you noticed here is being really different than the rest of the crowd. Remember, the bigger guys can’t screw around with “their sound” too much. They are too afraid they’ll lose advertisers.
Here are some examples of what you can do:
Talk Radio –
This format really got its start in the early 1960’s. With the advent of better phone systems after their upgrade in the 1950’s, radio stations began airing two-way conversations in an effort to boost their ratings. Let’s face it, people like to hear themselves on the radio. Pretty much anything goes on a Talk Radio station. If you’ve listened to Talk Radio over the airwaves, let alone the internet, you know what I mean. There’s a Talk Radio Show on just about everything from building your own computer to cooking. However, there are several formats that fall into the Talk Radio category. They include: All-News, News / Talk, All-Talk, and Sports-Talk. Whatever you decide to go with, try to design your Talk Show on and around interesting topics, current events, sports or politics.
If you’re building a LPFM station, then look into covering local sporting events, board meetings, in depth local news and invite loads of guests (remember, people love to hear themselves and love to be heard by others!). Also, the Talk Radio format is likely to be a real winner for LPFM. Most Talk Radio stations are on the AM band, so the audio quality is usually terrible. That’s not the case with an FM signal. Also keep in mind that one of the things the big guys in your area can’t do is have very specific programming. They’re always to busy trying to satisfy the masses to get a larger market share. You can beat them by doing the opposite.
If your thinking is towards the Internet, then the sky is the limit my friend! You’re not going to be bound to just local stuff, your talking to the world, not just to a town or city. If you’re part of some organization or group and want to get heard by the masses, this is the way to go. Being extremely different and controversial is the name of the game here. The more wilder the topic, the more listeners you’re going to gain. Topics about everyday things go over just as well also. Remember, you’re talking to the world and there are a lot of people out there ready to listen!
Music Radio –
Not that there isn’t a plethora of these out there already, but what they heck… what’s one more! Who knows, you might wind up as the next Casey Casum! Choosing the right format is no easy thing to do. If you already have a CHR, Top 40 or AC station in your area, then choose some other format to play. Chances are slim that you’ll overtake the big guys, but it has been done! You’ll also have to contact ASCAP and BMI to let them know you exist and in order for you to play music over the Airwaves or the Internet. These guys control the licensing and rights to most of the music out there that you’ll be playing. In order to play the music, you have to pay royalties to do so.
Some Music Formats are:
Top 40 – This format was born back in the early 1950’s believe it or not, by Robert Todd Storz. Top 40 died in the 70’s and was relegated to mostly AM radio stations as AOR stepped in and took over the FM airwaves. The Top 40 philosophy is basically taking the songs that are currently the fastest selling and most popular and play them to death. In other words, whatever’s current at the moment for ages 15 – 23. Top 40 is geared for constant hits, and for people with very short attention spans. The format revolves around playing these top songs over and over and over till played to death. Although this format is extremely over used, it still gathers listeners and lots of them. There’s at least one of these stations in every town and they pretty much all sound the same.
CHR – Contemporary Hits Radio was coined during the late 1970s / early 1980s when radio programmers perceived a backlash against the Top 40 style of programming. AOR had jumped onto the scene in a big way on FM stations and kicked Top 40’s ass. No matter how you dress it up though, it’s still Top 40.
Pop – Or Pop Music as it was known, got its start in the early 80’s. A lot of Pop Music came from what was then, the brand new MTV crowd. The Pop format however was just another version of the Top 40 format. Pop Music came from the Top 40 charts, although the songs didn’t normally stay there too long. Pop groups are sometimes referred to as “One hit wonders”, because they usually only produced one “hit song” then died, although not all pop groups suffered from this problem. Artists like Adam Ant, MI-Sex, Dead or Alive and The Buggles are lumped into this format.
Disco – Disco came onto the scene back in the mid 70’s and hung around till the early 80’s. The format got its start from early Urban Contemporary and Rhythm 'n' Blues formatted stations. The music was widely popular because it provided the beat that made Americans dance. Disco was also quite diverse in its sound in the beginning. Light balls, silk shirts and platform shoes aside, the format had a lot of listeners and a lot of crossover into Top 40. As a matter of fact, the format is once again based on the Top 40 style of programming. The Spinners, The Bee Gees, Debra Harry, K.C. and The Sunshine Band, Wild Cherry and Funkadelic are some of the bands you can count on hearing in this format.
Urban Contemporary – This format best proves that music can cross boundaries. Born from the “black experience”, Urban Contemporary attracts a substantial number of African American, Hispanic and White listeners. Frankie Crocker coined the name Urban Contemporary back in the early 1970’s, and is considered to be its founder. Frankie combined his admiration for old black radio, his feel for jazz and R&B, and his college education into a programming philosophy. This format spawned several off chutes, one of which was Disco. Urban Contemporary has splintered into two main factions, Urban & Urban AC. The Urban format targets younger audiences, and it stays close to local CD stores and watches carefully as to what’s being listened to and sold. These stations are based on the Top 40 style of programming only using rap, hip-hop, some rhythm 'n' blues, and ballads. The Urban AC format on the other hand often does not contain rap or hip-hop. The format is based on the Adult Contemporary style of programming. Urban AC relies heavily on rhythm and blues oldies and recurrents.
Rhythm & Blues – This format derives its roots from Gospel and Blues music borrowing from many musical styles including Jazz, Swing, Big Band, Rock and Funk and is often called "Soul Music". The format started much the same as AOR did as an anti-format, but has been around for a very long time. Rhythm & Blues is a descriptive term and has never had a clear single meaning. In it's broadest sense, R&B denotes black pop music. However, as black pop music changes, the R&B term goes along for the ride. Most though consider the format to be the music coming out of Motown between the mid 1960’s all the way through the 1970’s. R&B unfortunately is plagued with the idea that running this format isn’t very profitable in some markets. However, nothing could be further from the truth if tried. Artist’s like: The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, The O’Jays, Barry White, The Spinners, Booker T. & The MG’s, The Four Tops, Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder filled this format with a deep imaging sound and rhythm that is unmatched in music today.
Jazz – One of the most diverse and colorful formats around, Jazz brings in listeners from every age group. For some unknown reason though, Jazz is yet another format plagued with the idea that running Jazz isn’t very profitable in some markets. However, if given a try it’s usually very successful. With artists like Nathan East, Grover Washington Jr., George Benson and the greats like Louis Hayes and Earl Klugh, it's no wonder this format is so hot! Another reason the format does so well is because it’s not as rigid and based on playing the same music to death as say Top 40 does. Jazz is usually setup to be very free form and very audience friendly. In some Jazz stations you won’t even find a format clock!
AOR (album oriented rock) – Started back in the late 60’s / early 70’s and was originally conceived as an anti-format to Top 40. The AOR format ruled the airwaves on what would become some of the largest stations in America. AOR for the most part, killed Top 40 radio stations in the 1970’s. This format is now known as Classic Rock and features “Special or Deep Cuts” when programming its clock. AOR places considerable emphasis on the mix of the music. Music is generally presented in "sets" or "sweeps" and is often thematic. The format also relies on having an extensive play list built more upon artist appeal than hits. Basically you played cuts from records that the Top 40 stations wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. Early groups like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk RailRoad and The Rolling Stones just to name a few, owe their very lives to this format. Although these groups were very popular back then, not much of their music was being played on Top 40 radio stations to any great degree. AOR today is mostly comprised of Alternative Music and just as in the past, based on an anti-format approach.
Heavy Metal – This format derives its roots from AOR and the anti-format idea against Disco at the time. Heavy Metal popped onto the scene back in the early 80’s and was based on screaming guitar solos, hard hitting vocals, leather and anything that didn’t sound like Disco. Heavy Metal gained popularity quickly with the 14 – 25 male crowd. Groups like Metallica, Judas Priest and AC/DC were among featured bands in this format.
Classic Rock – Based on music from the mid 60’s all the way through the 70’s, this format still rules the airwaves as it did back then. Although not as progressive or broad-based / free form as it was back in its AOR days, the format still kicks ass. Bands like Robin Trower, Deep Purple, The Doobie Brothers, The Allman Brothers Band and Eric Clapton are featured in a Classic Rock format.
Country – Starting as early as the 1920’s, Country or Country and Western as it was known, is one of the oldest formats. Sadly very few true Country stations still exist on the airwaves today. The format died off in the 1950’s due in part to the beginnings of Rock and Roll. However, the format came back in the late 60’s and 70’s exploding in popularity after programmers found out that what worked for programming the Top 40 radio stations, worked with Country. Featuring both little known and well-known country artists from across America, the format back then was rich in diversity and style. Playing both the songs of the day and from the 30’s and 40’s were very much a part of this formats success till the 1950’s. You could count on hearing songs from great artists like Tennessee Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams just to name a few under the Country and Western format.
Hot Hits Country – More like watered down country music for today’s adults, this format is popping up everywhere and isn’t very original at all. Most of the music sounds the same and if you took out the laser blasts and constant reminders telling you its Hot Country, you’d swear you were listening to an Adult Contemporary station only with an ever so slight twang. The format uses the Top 40 style of programming using the current country hits.
80’s Hot Hits – Based on the Top 40 charts of the 1980’s and programmed in the Top 40 style, this format features all of the groups of that day. 38 Special, Night Ranger, Autograph, Howard Jones and all the way to Ratt is sure to be heard. If they made it to the charts, you’ll hear it.
70’s Hot Hits – This format, just like the 80’s Hot Hits, is based on the Top 40 charts of the 1970’s. The format is designed to take you back to sunny lazy days when you had nothing better to do than hang at the beach and listen to the radio. This format also has a lot of crossover music from the Classic Rock format. Eddie Money, ELO, Styx, Sugarloaf, America and Carly Simon are sure to be heard.
MOR – Or Middle-Of-The-Road was at one time one of the most dominant formats and got its start back in the late 1960’s. It was an adult format that played non-rock mass appeal Pop & Big Band music as well as artists like: Frank Sinatra, The Andrew Sisters, Perry Como, The Lennon Sisters, and Andy Williams. MOR was the format that adults tuned to for popular music and information. But as radio changed and as the generation that listened to MOR aged, the format died and has been renamed to Nostalgia / Vintage.
Adult Contemporary – This format has been around since the 1960’s and has seen many a change. It was first called “Chicken Rock” by most programmers at the time because the format flirted with playing some of the softer rock music off the Top 40 charts with the older adult music. In the 1970’s the format changed again to Mellow Rock and Soft Rock formats. These new mellow formats played softer artists such as Neil Diamond, Smokey Robinson and Olivia Newton John, as well as some of the softer hits from the disco artists of the 70’s. The AC format positioned itself as an alternative to the AOR and Disco formats of the 1970’s. The AC format of today serves the same purpose as the MOR format of yesterday. However, the format has splintered into three main factions; Soft AC, AC, and Hot AC. Soft AC is designed for adults that don’t like, and don’t want to listen to current rock music. Artists include: The Eagles, America, Neil Diamond, The Little River Band, Seals & Crofts and James Taylor. The AC format is more upbeat and lively and will throw in more of the current softer rock songs. AC artists are about the same as Soft AC, but with the occasional Doobie Brothers, Boston or ELO hit thrown in. The Hot AC format is like listening to a CHR format. Much more current music is thrown into the mix with just a dash of Hot Hits Country and then the older music is sprinkled on top for good measure. Hot AC artists include: Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, The Back Street Boys, Phil Collins and LeAnn Rimes.
These are only but a few of the music formats available to choose from. There are many others; Adult Alternative, Adult Album Alternative, Adult Standards, Alternative Rock, Beautiful Music, Big Band, Black, Block/Variety, Classic Hits, Contemporary Christian, Churban CHR+Urban, Classical, Dance, Diversified, Ethnic, EZ Listening, New AC, Nostalgia, Oldies, '50s Oldies, '60s Oldies, '70s Oldies, '80s Oldies, Religion, Rhythmic, Smooth Jazz, Spanish, Variety Alternative and Vintage to name a few!
If you’re planning on building a LPFM Radio Station, your best bet is to listen to the other radio stations in your area very carefully and note what they play. Granted, it will be a hodge podge of crap from different eras, but whatever they’re doing, you do the exact opposite. The thing that will get you noticed here is being really different than the rest of the crowd. Remember, the bigger guys can’t screw around with “their sound” too much. They are too afraid they’ll lose advertisers.