Music Based Programming

 

Music based programming is the organisation of songs in order to create a playlist, usually for a certain audience. Radio stations tend to play similar music throughout each show. Such as; on Xfm, the morning show with the DJ, Jon Holmes, plays the same music as, Ian Camfeild, a DJ in the afternoon. Both Xfm stations in Manchester and London play the same genre because that is what their Music Based Programming is. For example, their slogan is "Music that Rocks" implying that it is Rock music that is played. 

 

Music based programming is used for more than just one type of radio, it is also used for in store radio stations such as Asda FM which will play similar music in all Asda stores over the UK as they want to play a certain type of music, music that is not offensive or contains swearing and music that will appeal to most of their customers. The audience of Asda FM is literally everyone as so many different types of people walk through the doors of Asda stores so the music played must appeal to everyone which is why they play such a variety of music to appeal to all customers. Most people won’t be very interested in listening to music whilst they do their shopping but Asda do a good job of pleasing their target audience for those who do listen to the in store radio as the music played can go from One Direction, stereotypically liked by teenage girls to Tom Jones, commonly thought of as music for ‘old people’.

 

Lots of radio stations also tend to have programmes within them such as Radio 1’s breakfast show with Nick Grimshaw.  Radio 1 describes the breakfast show as ‘unique humour’ and ‘great music’ the breakfast show uses a playlist of recent popular music. The audience for Radio 1s breakfast show is targeted at teenagers to middle aged people of both genders, usually listened to by people before school, college or work or whilst driving to work or whilst sat in the office. I think the show is relevant to its target audience which is why the show is so popular with a wide range of listeners.