Study Shows an Increase in Overlap of Radio Playlists

Ever since the Clinton administration loosened restrictions on how many radio stations a broadcaster could own, record label executives have complained that media consolidation would lead to bland playlists and homogenous programming.

Now a coalition of musicians and independent record label executives say they have statistical proof that the relaxation of ownership rules has stifled recording artists and “damaged radio as a public resource.” The study was done by the Future of Music Coalition, a Washington-based nonprofit organization that advocates artists’ rights.

The study, to be released Monday, found that although radio station chains have increased the number of music formats available on the air, they are increasingly playing similar lists of songs. For example, the study found that 76% of the 50 most-played songs on stations labeling themselves as “contemporary hit radio/rhythmic” also are among the 50 most-played songs on stations considering themselves “urban.” According to the study, the amount of overlap between these two formats in the last four years has increased 18%.

Moreover, the study says, radio companies that have grown the most under deregulation are limiting the choice of music by operating two or more stations in the same market with the same music format. The report said that Clear Channel Communications Inc., the nation’s biggest radio conglomerate, has 143 stations with similar music formats in the same market.

The study contradicts the conclusions of a September report by the Federal Communications Commission. That report found that song diversity had remained about the same since 1996. But that study looked at only the top 10 songs played at each station.

In the Future of Music Coalition report, the authors say that radio broadcasters may be developing similar playlists in response to shifting consumer tastes. But the report also includes a public opinion poll in which respondents said they were dissatisfied with the state of radio programming.

The report also echoed complaints from record labels and small broadcasters, who say deregulation has handed too much control to a handful of giant media companies, including Clear Channel and Viacom Inc.’s Infinity Broadcasting, which operates more than 180 stations.

Radio industry officials dismissed the study’s conclusions.

“The big gap in the logic is that the authors don’t believe radio stations care about what consumers do,” said Jodie Renk, general manager of Core Callout Research, a firm that tests new songs with radio listeners. “Stations spend hundreds of thousands of dollars a year finding out what their listeners care about. The concept of these oligopolies agreeing that they’re all going to not serve listeners is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

Diane Warren, a spokeswoman for Clear Channel, agreed. “We spent a lot of time and money finding out what our listeners want. If we don’t give it to them, they will go elsewhere.”