Climbing the Charts: What Radio Airplay Tells Us about the Diffusion of Innovation

Book Details

• Publisher: Princeton University Press

• Author: Gabriel Rossman

• Language: English

• ISBN: 9780691148731

• Pages: 200

• Cover: Hardcover, Import

About The Book

Climbing the Charts by Gabriel Rossman provides an insightful look into the mechanics of radio airplay and its critical role in determining the success of songs in the music industry. Published by Princeton University Press in 2012, this book explores how songs rise, or fail to rise, on the radio airplay charts, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the relationships between record labels, tastemakers, and the public.

Rossman dives into the gatekeeping mechanisms of the commercial music industry, uncovering its vast inequalities and dispelling many common myths. Contrary to popular belief, radio stations, especially corporate chains like Clear Channel, do not micromanage every decision regarding new singles or blacklist artists like the Dixie Chicks for political reasons. Instead, hits spread quickly across the airwaves because they conform to identifiable styles or genres that resonate with listeners, prompting stations to respond accordingly.

The book also highlights the extensive marketing efforts and practices, including the controversial industry practice of payola, that major labels use to promote songs. Rossman’s work offers a fresh perspective on the music industry, challenging traditional views and presenting a new model for understanding how innovation spreads in the commercial music world.

Climbing the Charts is a must-read for anyone interested in the inner workings of the music industry, radio airplay, and the diffusion of cultural trends.