Easy Listening Secondary Stations
So here’s a set of secondary stations, playing sub-genres within the main “brand”. You’ll see that about 500-600 songs seems the standard for the commercial pretty much totally automated stations, though Jack & Chill (what a great name!) is right out there with over 1100, and the newest offering, Radio 1 Relax also scores highly, being boosted by weekend apparently “handpick” shows.
Smooth Chill started mainly as a “something different” filler for DAB capacity and was used as and when required on various multiplexes that GWR/GCap/Global have had spare capacity on and/or needed to fill, though it now occupies a pretty Low-Fi slot on National D1 playing a fairly unique mix from the mainstream end of Ibiza style chilled house, ambient and lounge tracks. It has remained remarkably consistent since it started in 2005 as “Chill”, before being renamed more recently into the “Smooth” brand.
Jack 3, Mellow Magic and Magic Soul all play various combinations of the easy listening end of what you might call conventional oldies, while Magic at the Musicals does what it says on the tin. As you can see from the graph, all apart from Jack 3 very quickly run out of variety after just a couple of days, with only a very few new tracks after as little as 5 or 6 days, though even jack 3 isn’t playing anything different after 2 weeks.
Analysis: 24 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7194
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 587
Variety factor for this station is : 8.1%
50% OF PLAYS is 197 Songs (33.5% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 125 MOST played songs (21.2% of the total)
or 312 LEAST played songs (53.1% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 0h
10th most played song airs every: 1d 2h 10m
125th most played song airs every: 1d 8h
197th most played song airs every: 1d 12h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 128 (21.8%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
1 after 18 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 606
..in 3 months: 684, in 6 months: 833
..in 9 months: 867, in 12 months: 903
Top 12 Most Played:
1 [24 plays] Josh Groban – You Raise Me Up
2= [23 plays] each for…
+ Curtis Stigers – I Wonder Why
+ Gladys Knight and The Pips – Midnight Train To Georgia
4= [22 plays] each for…
+ Berlin – Take My Breath Away
+ Beverley Craven – Promise Me
+ Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band – We’ve Got Tonight
+ Bon Jovi – Always
+ Chris De Burgh – The Lady In Red
+ Tasmin Archer – Sleeping Satellite
+ Texas – Say What You Want
+ The Chi-Lites – Have You Seen Her
+ Tina Arena – Chains
Analysis: 27 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 9285
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 781
Variety factor for this station is : 8.4%
50% OF PLAYS is 226 Songs (28.9% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 131 MOST played songs (16.7% of the total)
or 435 LEAST played songs (55.6% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 17h 3m
10th most played song airs every: 20h 15m
131st most played song airs every: 1d 12h
226th most played song airs every: 1d 22h 17m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 131 (16.7%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 14 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 781
..in 3 months: 782, in 6 months: 1042
..in 9 months: 1088, in 12 months: 1134
Top 10 Most Played:
1= [38 plays] each for…
+ Lost Beaches – Open Arms
+ Luttrell – October Song
3 [37 plays] Martin Gauffin – Found
4 [35 plays] Fukase Junichiro – Yatta
5 [34 plays] Light of Sun – Dawning
6 [33 plays] Fila Brazillia – DNA
7= [32 plays] each for…
+ Freyr – Departure
+ Ganga – Gymnastics
+ Parra for Cuva feat. Beau Diako & Kyson – Ordel
+ Sheltered Solitude – Waiting
Analysis: 25 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8303
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1204
Variety factor for this station is : 14.5%
50% OF PLAYS is 261 Songs (21.6% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 148 MOST played songs (12.2% of the total)
or 797 LEAST played songs (66.1% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 15h 23m
10th most played song airs every: 20h 41m
148th most played song airs every: 1d 18h 51m
261st most played song airs every: 2d 6h 32m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 656 (54.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 8 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1303
..in 3 months: 2321, in 6 months: 3569
..in 9 months: 4607, in 12 months: 5884
Top 10 Most Played:
1 [39 plays] ryder, Skepta & Dre Six – All Alone
2 [33 plays] Cordelia – Little Life
3= [32 plays] each for…
+ Four Tet – LOVED
+ Rihanna – Stay (feat. Mikky Ekko)
+ SZA – Saturn
6= [31 plays] each for…
+ Barry Can’t Swim – Always Get Through To You
+ Rihanna – Diamonds
8 [30 plays] MGMT – Electric Feel
9= [29 plays] each for…
+ Jorja Smith – Blue Lights
+ Tourist – Valentine
Analysis: 27 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8787
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 801
Variety factor for this station is : 9.1%
50% OF PLAYS is 225 Songs (28% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 139 MOST played songs (17.3% of the total)
or 475 LEAST played songs (59.3% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 17h 30m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 1h 55m
139th most played song airs every: 1d 12h
225th most played song airs every: 1d 16h 30m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 232 (28.9%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
1 after 18 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 815
..in 3 months: 884, in 6 months: 1036
..in 9 months: 1103, in 12 months: 1146
Top 14 Most Played:
1 [37 plays] The S.O.S. Band – Just Be Good To Me
2 [29 plays] The Contours – Do You Love Me
3 [27 plays] Marlena Shaw – California Soul
4= [26 plays] each for…
+ Bill Withers – Lovely Day
+ Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free
+ Donna Summer – Bad Girls
+ Patrice Rushen – Forget Me Nots
8= [25 plays] each for…
+ Chic – Le Freak
+ Edwin Starr – Twenty Five Miles
+ Isley Brothers – Harvest For The World
+ Johnny Bristol – Hang On In There Baby
+ Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares For Me
+ The Blackbyrds – Walking In Rhythm
+ The Staple Singers – Respect Yourself
Analysis: 27 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8740
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 559
Variety factor for this station is : 6.3%
50% OF PLAYS is 167 Songs (29.8% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 107 MOST played songs (19.1% of the total)
or 326 LEAST played songs (58.3% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 14h 5m
10th most played song airs every: 21h 36m
107th most played song airs every: 1d 1h 55m
167th most played song airs every: 1d 4h 10m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 168 (30%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
1 after 14 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 567
..in 3 months: 802, in 6 months: 1070
..in 9 months: 1289, in 12 months: 1534
Top 13 Most Played:
1 [46 plays] Guys and Dolls – Sit Down You’re Rockin The Boat
2= [31 plays] each for…
+ Avenue Q – There’s A Fine Fine Line
+ La Cage Aux Folles – I Am What I Am
4= [30 plays] each for…
+ 9 To 5 – Nine To Five
+ A Little Night Music – Send In The Clowns
+ Back To The Future – The Power of Love
+ Billy Elliot – Electricity
+ Hairspray – You Can’t Stop The Beat
+ Heathers – Seventeen
+ Hello Dolly – Hello Dolly
+ Motown The Musical – Get Ready / Dancing In The Street
+ Tell Me On A Sunday – Tell Me On A Sunday
+ The Hair – Aquarius
Analysis: 26 days, up to 20-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7083
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 270
Variety factor for this station is : 3.8%
50% OF PLAYS is 68 Songs (25.1% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 43 MOST played songs (15.9% of the total)
or 173 LEAST played songs (64% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 9h 45m
10th most played song airs every: 10h 34m
43rd most played song airs every: 12h 44m
68th most played song airs every: 13h 33m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 55 (20.3%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 9 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 270
..in 3 months: 284, in 6 months: 291
..in 9 months: 301, in 12 months: 307
Top 10 Most Played:
1 [64 plays] Billy Ocean – Get Outta My Dreams Get Into My Car: Striptease
2 [63 plays] Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For a Hero: Footloose, The Super Mario Bros. Movie
3= [60 plays] each for…
+ David Bowie – Absolute Beginners: Absolute Beginners
+ Dolly Parton – 9 To 5: 9 to 5
+ Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze Of Glory: Young Guns 2
+ Laura Branigan – Gloria: Flashdance
+ Starship – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now: Mannequin
+ Stevie Wonder – I Just Called To Say I Love You: The Woman in Red
9= [59 plays] each for…
+ Paul McCartney and Wings – Silly Love Songs: Give My Regards To Broad Street
+ Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters: Ghostbusters
Jack 3 Chill ceased in Oct 2023 along with the other Jack Stations when Hits and Greatest Hits took over. Here is a Historic Analysis from the final month.
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7613
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1035
Variety factor for this station is : 13.5%
50% OF PLAYS is 273 Songs (26.3% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 154 MOST played songs (14.8% of the total)
or 606 LEAST played songs (58.5% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 22h 9m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 1h 2m
154th most played song airs every: 2d 0h
273rd most played song airs every: 2d 16h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 422 (40.7%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 13 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1049
..in 3 months: 1091, in 6 months: 1102
..in 9 months: 1214, in 12 months: 1339
Top 12 Most Played:
1= [26 plays] each for…
+ Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
+ Save The Best For Last – Vanessa Williams
3= [25 plays] each for…
+ Always – Bon Jovi
+ To Be With You – Mr Big
5= [24 plays] each for…
+ Hazard – Richard Marx
+ Hold On – Wilson Phillips
+ Ocean Drive – Lighthouse Family
+ Sleeping Satellite – Tasmin Archer
+ You’re Still The One – Shania Twain
10= [23 plays] each for…
+ I Got You Babe – Sonny / Cher
+ My Girl – Temptations
+ Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
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