Four reps from four record labels pitch songs to four reps from four radio stations.

The Players:

Radio:

• CFMI (Vancouver classic rock)
• CFOX (Vancouver mainstream/alternative rock)
• CFNY - The Edge (Toronto alternative)
• Z95 (Vancouver Hit/Dance).

Label:

• Sony Music
• Mercury/Polydor
• Cargo
• Universal Music

The Results

Three of the four songs played are unlikely to ever see any airplay. All four stations turned down new stuff from Jon Bon Jovi (Mercury/Polydor), Manson (Sony Music), and Cirrus (Cargo).

The general consensus was that all the songs lacked the hook necessary for airplay. They all were described as non-ground breaking, just kind of there songs.

The one success - The Seahorses (Universal Music) out of England. An offshoot of Stone Roses, this band won enthusiastic approval from The Edge and CFOX with Z95 seeing it as a possibility for limited airplay.

Synopsis

It’s brutally hard to get a song on radio even if you are a major label.

Advice

All radio stations agree that they are swamped with releases and if a band doesn’t have a great standout tune or if they have that song but aren’t prepared to promote it won’t make the cut and no one will ever get the chance to tune into it.

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