Airplay (song)
Encyclopedia
Airplay is a term used in the radio
broadcasting
industry to state how frequently a song
is being played on over-the-air
radio station
s. For example, a song which is being played several times every day (spins
) would be classed as receiving a large amount of airplay. The explosion of music played on jukebox
es, in nightclub
s and at discotheques between the 1940s and 1960s fell into this category.
For commercial broadcasting, airplay is usually the result of being placed into rotation, also called adding it to the station's playlist
by the music director
, possibly as the result of a Pay for Play sponsored by the record label
. For student radio and other community radio
or indie radio stations, it is often the selection by each disc jockey
, usually at the suggestion of a music director.
Most countries have at least one radio airplay chart in existence, although larger countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom
, Germany
, Australia
, Japan
, and Brazil
have several, to cover different genres and areas of the country.
A song which was very successful in the airplay charts but not so strong in sales was commonly known as "turntable hit" when radio stations played only vinyl single
s.
Airplay can be a crucial element in securing a singer's 'hit', and alongside social networking websites it is an effective method that artists uses to make their name known.
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
industry to state how frequently a song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
is being played on over-the-air
Over-the-air
Over-the-air has several meanings, depending on context. *Generally, over-the-air is synonymous for wireless.*Specifically, over-the-air can have the following meanings or is used in the following contexts:...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s. For example, a song which is being played several times every day (spins
Spin (radio)
In radio broadcasting, a spin is a single play of a song. The term is also used as a unit to measure popularity, typically in spins per week...
) would be classed as receiving a large amount of airplay. The explosion of music played on jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
es, in nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s and at discotheques between the 1940s and 1960s fell into this category.
For commercial broadcasting, airplay is usually the result of being placed into rotation, also called adding it to the station's playlist
Playlist
In its most general form, a playlist is simply a list of songs. They can be played in sequential or shuffled order. The term has several specialized meanings in the realms of radio broadcasting and personal computers.-In radio:...
by the music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
, possibly as the result of a Pay for Play sponsored by the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. For student radio and other community radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
or indie radio stations, it is often the selection by each disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, usually at the suggestion of a music director.
Most countries have at least one radio airplay chart in existence, although larger countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
have several, to cover different genres and areas of the country.
A song which was very successful in the airplay charts but not so strong in sales was commonly known as "turntable hit" when radio stations played only vinyl single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s.
Airplay can be a crucial element in securing a singer's 'hit', and alongside social networking websites it is an effective method that artists uses to make their name known.
External links
- Available for Airplay from FMQBFMQBFriday Morning Quarterback is a trade magazine which covers the Radio and Music industries in the United States. Its coverage includes programming, management, promotion, marketing, and airplay for music formatted radio. The magazine was founded in 1968 by Kal Rudman and is read by over 10,000...
- UK Radio and TV Airplay Charts