Welcome to the second edition of Mason’s Observations, a weekly review of the songs generating real requests and positive response amongst the 500+ phone calls, texts and DMs we get weekly. Plus, we point out songs with no passion from listeners which got hyped to high chart positions which clutter the format with high tuneout potential.
Songs Worth Consideration This Week
Gigi Perez – Sailor Song: Top 10 on US Spotify for the past 4 weeks, this fall-sounding love song has become a Gen Z anthem, thanks to TikTok and it’s nostalgic vibe that sounds so similar to a song we wrote about last week, “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood. Only 24 spins on Top 40 this week (10x on Sirius XM Hits 1 and 14x on KBFF/Portland), about a dozen requests have come in to us this week even though we aren’t yet playing it. Picking up steam on Alternative (#35 this week).
Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club: #8 in requests this week, last week #9. Still not in the top 40 on CHR (currently #52) though major market airplay has picked up with KHKS/Dallas, WFLZ/Tampa and WPXY/Rochester. It’s an easy choice for her third “big single”, though first released as one 4 years ago. See last week’s observations for our full analysis on this incredible song and artist.
Is Unproven New Music Worth Playing?
As mentioned by many PDs and by Sean Ross in his column last week, the steady stream of Summer’s great Pop songs has slowed down dramatically, leaving us with a stale Top 20 on Spotify and CHR, and forcing us to play either 7-month old Powers like “Espresso”, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, and “Too Sweet”, or stuff that the labels are pushing as “hot new songs” but won’t be remembered in 6 months. Which begs the question, “What should Top 40 radio be playing in times like these?” More golds? The same songs in Power? Keeping the categories moving, no matter what the Mediabase charts show? What would YOU be playing if Mediabase (which isn’t a popularity or passion chart) didn’t exist? I would love to get YOUR insight via email, or in the comments below and will be featuring some responses next week.
Upon reading our observations last week, WPIA Peoria’s Scott Hecathorn commented, “It’s interesting to see what you’re getting calls for vs. what the record labels are shoving down our throats. We’re putting in Chappell Roan (“Pink Pony Club”) and switching Weeknd tracks (the failing “Dancing In The Flames” for “Timeless”) and will hopefully figure out how to play “Bed Chem” too but right now it’s already ALL Sabrina Carpenter, all the time and I don’t know where to put another one”.
Buried Treasures of the Week
One Direction – Night Changes: Last Wednesday, the passing of Liam Payne became the most talked about celebrity death of the year so far. That same night, we did a whole show featuring dozens of live callers talking about their love for Liam and 1D, while playing requests for all their biggest hits. You can hear some of them on my TikTok. This will be a relevant story to Pop audience for the next few weeks as the toxicology report is issued and his funeral passes.
Though “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Story of My Life” were their biggest radio hits, very few stations were going beyond those two songs. We’ve always gotten requests for many of their others, but 2014’s “Night Changes” seems to be the one resonating most with mourning fans. The day after Liam’s passing, it rocketed to #6 on Spotify in America (the highest of all their songs) and #2 in the world. “Story of My Life” made it to #15 (which lyrically is the most fitting song for this occasion) and “What Makes You Beautiful” didn’t even crack the Top 50. As of now and even BEFORE Liam’s passing, “Night Changes” is One Direction’s most-streamed song on Spotify. It peaked at #14 on Top 40.
Eminem – Mockingbird: Originally released in 2004, this song has become a top-requested Liveline classic with requests nightly; all ages, men and women. Peaked at #6 on Top 40 and #11 on Billboard. The stories people requesting it tell about their lives are beautiful, as the song is all about Em’s daughter Hailee and her struggle of having a famous father and absent mother. It has a deep connection with people and is more popular today than it ever was. Female-friendly beat and chorus. Eminem’s fifth most-streamed song on Spotify (1.8 billion) and the second most-requested of all his music on Liveline. (“Lose Yourself” is #1).
TLC – No Scrubs: So many discussions in recent years have been about Top 40 playing songs older than a certain year, but a quarter-century is definitely pushing the limits. Released in 1999, this is one of the best performing songs in the history of the format. #1 on Billboard, Top 40 and Rhythmic where it spent 15 weeks at the top, the longest of any song ever. #2 on Billboard for the whole year. Today, it still receives significant major market airplay on Top 40 and Hot AC. As a former wedding/event DJ and Liveline host for 4 1/2 years, there isn’t a more powerful female anthem. This song has been passed down generations and Gen Z still identifies with it… We get a request and warm listener story for this song EVERY night, making it our fifth most-requested Gold ever. Last week, we crowned Justin Bieber’s “Baby” with the “all-time #1 Gold request” achievement.
