With Dani Hoy and I doing not one, but two podcasts that are
aired on so many Trop Rock stations, we take the opportunity to listen to them
as well. One of the things that has always blown me away is the fact that
virtually all of these stations play different music from different artists! In
addition to that, many radio personalities tell me that they are inundated with
artists who are sending them material, to the point that they can’t keep up
with it! That’s a healthy genre!
Granted, while some of it is stellar, that’s the pinnacle.
There’s likewise the above average, average, and below average, like anything
else in life. I don’t envy the one who makes decisions. It’s really tough when
someone calls to follow up on their submission and they have to be told that
their music “Wasn’t what we were looking for”. On the same token, these radio guys
aren’t drill sergeants, they’re radio personalities. They are expected to be
nice guys. So it’s got to be tough for them to put on the rejection hat and
tell someone they are not going to play their recording and actually make them
feel good about it!
As a songwriter/musician/recording artist, there have been
times when a song comes on and I say to myself, as I change the station “How
did that song end up on the radio? My goodness!” My guess is that the artist
was a really, really nice guy and the radio folks didn’t have the heart to tell
them their song wasn’t up to par.
I think one of the best advices I’ve heard told to artists from
a radio personality, was from the late DJ Jeff Allen. Jeff suggested many
times, over and over, for the artists is to get a great producer. That not only
was a great way of telling someone that he wasn’t going to use their recording,
but in the end when the artist did seek out a good producer, they had a work
that was vastly superior to what they had before and it was air quality.
Producers have very unique personalities by nature. A good
producer has the ability to tell an artist that a particular song is crap and
it shouldn’t be included on a recording, having the artist agreeing with them
and feeling good about it. The great producer will also help cherry pick the
best songs, which in the end, make the artist look their best.
As I say, we listen to a lot of radio, specifically Trop.
One thing that one particular Trop station is doing that is quite unique, Radio
A1A in Islamorada, Conch Republic Florida Keys has started its weekly top 40
vote. Again, as I stated earlier, every station has its unique artists, as well
as common ones tossed in the mix.
What I found, by far, is that the artists who have been
winning, are a bit out of the norm. Also consider that these people voting are
listeners. They don’t have to pay to be in a private club. These are fans who
listen to the station.
For the week of March 13, the top ten votes of the forty were
for Todd Trusty, Conch Republic Band, Bill Cockrell, Beach Bum Pirate, Flip
Flop Boys, Roger Jokela, Ron Bell, Donny Brewer, Max Soelzer, and B Man and the
Missbeehavins.
For the week of March 20th - Cory Young, Todd
Trusty, Joe B, Todd Donnelly, Sean Gassaway, Barefoot Reggie Starrett, Ray
West, B Man and the Miss Beehavins, Jimmy Buffett, and Bill Cockrell.
What this does is inspire food for thought. Here’s what the
people of one radio station are voting for. The group that coined the name “Trop
Rock Music Association” hold their Trop Rock Music Awards every year, none of
these names have ever appeared on their list of nominees. Additionally, none of
the Trop Rock Music Association’s nominees, or winners are on either of these
lists this top ten. On the 3/20 list, Don Middlebrook was #20, Brittney Kingery
was #25 and Southern Drawl Band was #40. On the 3/13 vote Howard Livingston was
#22, Don Middlebrook #28, and Brittney Kingery #35.
It certainly raises an eyebrow and leaves one to ponder.
Thanks for reading the blog!
All The Best From Key West!
My book
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Thank you everyone!!
