8 Charts, Airplay and Promotion

Paul Allen

The connection between recorded music and radio is essential to the success of large record labels that compete in the national and international mass markets. This chapter will show this key connection by providing an understanding of how the charts of trade magazines are developed, followed by a view of how those who are responsible for radio promotion at a label can influence those charts.

The trade magazines

The two major trade magazines for the music industry are Billboard and Radio & Records. Both provide comprehensive weekly views of the recording industry, the music business, and commercial radio.

Billboard Magazine was first introduced in 1894 as a publication providing information about the ...

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