05 Mar Ask Elon Musk to Review Your Playlist
Many radio stations have bloated music libraries that negatively impact their programming. While variety is important, too many songs — especially the wrong ones — can dilute a station’s identity, weaken its brand, and reduce listener engagement.
Does Your Music Library Need DOGE?
DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) is working to identify waste in the Government. How much of your playlist is “waste?”
We have an acronym for DOGE that hopefully does not apply to your music database: “Duplicates, Oldies, Garbage, and Extras.”
Duplicates – Multiple versions of the same song (album version, live versions, acoustic versions, radio edit, remixes) that create inconsistency in rotations.
Oldies – Songs past their prime that don’t align with the station’s core audience. A classic hit might still test well, but if too many old songs are not aligned with the station’s strategic direction, the station will sound outdated.
Garbage – Songs that never tested well, have low familiarity, or don’t fit the format but remain in rotation due to talent, personal preference, or poor programming habits.
Extras – Songs that are rarely played, sitting in the system with no clear purpose, taking up space and occasionally sneaking into rotations when they shouldn’t.
78% of Radio Stations Are Playing the Wrong Songs
Take a chainsaw to your list!
Research consistently shows that most stations are programming songs that don’t align with their audience’s preferences.
This can be due to:
> Relying on outdated research or gut feelings instead of current music testing.
> Keeping songs in rotation too long causing potential fatigue, or adding new ones too soon, with the risk of sounding unfamiliar.
> Playing songs that don’t match the station’s core identity, leading to brand confusion.
> A lack of regular music audits to remove underperforming tracks.
The Solution
Tighten the playlist – Focus on Power categories and proven hits that resonate with the target audience. Ensure the listener’s favorite songs are exposed in every quarter hour of the day.
Eliminate DOGE – Conduct regular music audits to remove unnecessary tracks.
Use audience data – Rely on auditorium or online music testing, callout research, and streaming insights to ensure the right songs are in rotation. Emphasize data derived from testing your audience or potential audience, not data from platforms used by people who would not be potential listeners.
Follow the “Rule of 300” – Many top-performing stations thrive on a lean, focused library of 300-600 core songs (depending on format).
By optimizing music selection, stations improve time spent listening, boost audience retention, and strengthen their brand. The key isn’t more music—it’s playing the right music.