Stirton’s Take On Playlists

Stirton’s Take On Playlists

In response to a number of posts on this site throughout the summer in regard to radio playlist quotas for domestically produced music we recieved this handy alternate checklist from Lindsay Stirton. He says:

“I thoroughly support the idea of quotas for music, though perhaps nationality is only one basis for selection. Here are some suggestions for what radio stations should be allowed to do:

1. No more than 1 hour’s airtime for pre-pubescent white girls per decade.

2. “Canadian” music to be banned. Exemption scheme for Neil Young, Rush and PJ Harvey

3. European (i.e. non-British or Irish) music to be banned for a period 10 years, in reparation for the crimes against the peace that was Scorpions’ “Winds of Change”.

4. Airtime devoted to Robbie Williams to be no more than 50% of the time devoted to new acts on the same day.

5. There is more to West Indian music than Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Playlists should reflect this.

6. Any artist who, or in the case of a band, any one member of which, has died appropriate rock and roll fashion, through drug/alcohol overdose, choking on their/someone else’s vomit, or dying in a plane crash, should get at least one prime time airing per week. Except Buddy Holly.

7. Pink Floyd split up after The Final Cut LP. Any band going by that name post 1983 is a fake. Roger Waters’ solo material should come with a (mental) health warning

8. ‘Novelty’ songs may only be broadcast during Advent.

9. ‘Christian’ rock groups may only be played on Sundays, as part of religious programming requirements. And that includes U2.

10. ‘Dance’ music is for dancing to. Not for listening to.

OK, not the most liberal. But don’t tell me that this wouldn’t improve the quality of music broadcasting.”