3 ms·
in the 90s I remember 2-3 songs that had a couple seconds of dead-air, and the stations would modify them to play cheesy sound effects during that time. I alway
by gosub100 3y ago
in the 90s I remember 2-3 songs that had a couple seconds of dead-air, and the stations would modify them to play cheesy sound effects during that time. I always thought they were paranoid about someone changing the channel, but now I think it is more to be compliant.
- quesera 3y agoActually I think your first idea is more likely. I don't think the FCC would be concerned about a short gap in a song, or a pause in conversation, or a silent part of a live performance, etc. But commercial program directors are neurotic beasts. And listeners can definitely be fickle! One story I've heard is that PDs obsess over car listeners, who are punching "seek" (or a different preset) at the slightest provocation. They believed that a couple-second silent gap in a song would lose X listeners. They might have even had data to back it up. I've seen song gaps trimmed, or filled with a quick station ID. Philistines!
- gosub100 3y agoI used to change channels like that! with terrestrial radio at least, because you can skip commercials quickly and then skip songs you don't like! Now with XM taking slightly longer to tune, (and with age) I do it less.