I just heard Prince's song Dreamer from the Lotusflow3r cd on the radio. It's actually one of my favorite songs from the disc set. Has anyone else heard this or any other song on the air? I was really shocked. I got so excited I called dh and told him and he was like, uh... yeah, it's a song, why are you so shocked? I wonder is he releasing this as a single or was it just random play?

That's so cool!!

I e-mailed my local radio station that plays some of Prince's more popular songs and asked them why Lotusflow3r wasn't being played. They said it just wasn't catching on with the listeners as much. They said, "If anything from the album becomes as popular as 1999 or any of Prince's other hits, you'll surely hear it on B 98.5!" I just thought... of course it's not catching on... you're not giving them the chance to listen! Anyway, you're lucky that your local stations have some sense.

Always warms my heart when Prince is on the air.

shelbey said:

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That's the problem. They want to wait until something becomes a hit before they play it instead of trying something different. I hear the same songs over and over. Anyway, I'll be surprised if I hear it again but it certainly made my day.

The MN station the Current played alot of Dreamer, Chocolate Box and Crimson and Clover! love my 89.3

shelbey said:

And people say that it's Prince's fault that he's no longer "relevant". Radio doesn't support music or musicians. It's there to be bought by those willing to pay for play.

This one station here played Chocolate Box, but the DJ said "I hope I dont get in trouble for this"..I'm still confused on why he said that.But there was another thread about this earlier that helped explain the problem.Prince just doesnt have the payola like major labels do and he just cant get his stuff on regular rotation based on his name alone.The oldhead stations will play a block of Prince,but it wont be anything new.I would love to give a radio director programming some truth serum and find out.

SavonOsco said:

Back in the day DJ's were able to play whatever they wanted. I remember Z-100 here in New York used to play Erotic City, Hello, Head & 17 Days. These wern't singles and they weren't paid for. The DJ was feeling these tracks and played them for his audience. Radio today is dead from the neck up and the waist down. Nobody has a brain to make a decision on quality music to play and they lack the balls to do anything about it.

HonestMan13 said:

YES!!!!..I remember Z-100..But you're right,he said he was feeling the track so he was going to play it,but their slots are so filled these days.They're scared of their PD busting through the door yelling "Don't play that Prince song,the slot is for T-Pain!..you know how much money they paid us?!!"

SavonOsco said:

It's a sad state for new artists coming out now with radio selling to the highest bidder and MTV is crap. The few videos they do push are the most negative crap a black person can come up with or the new alternative whiteboy band that is the next big thing! No middle ground or real integrity there. Prince has always had a good run with the radio until it started selling spins. a new artist can't afford to compete in that market if they want to make the rent. It'd only take one radio staion to stand up and get a pair and play music for the sake of playing music. We need a pirate radio station in NYC.

oh yeah, Trevor Nelson played "Feel Better..." on BBC Radio 2 a couple or three months back. He may have used the words 'self indulgent' in the intro. Or possibly accentuated the 'mentalist' part of 'multi-instru~'

mrsquirrel said:

I think the staions overseas have a more open approach and integrity to playing music. In the states it's all $$$.

HonestMan13 said:

Over here it's not like i haven't heard the new Regina Spektor single almost every time the stereo button goes from 'off' to 'on'.... kinda nullifies the old 'don't touch that dial' adage. Computer made out of macaroni pieces? Honestly, it's cute when you hear it once. Every other once just gets cloying...

Cx

mrsquirrel said:

At least it's not "Blame it on the al-al-alcohol" or "Do the stanky leg!".

HonestMan13 said:

ha ha. Nice 1. Awake at 4am in the UK? gotta blame something i guess....

I don't listen to the radio, ever.

SavonOsco said:

Labels pay the radio stations for their artist's to get play time. Prince doesn't want to pay for his play. He shouldn't have to. I want to hear it and so do others. I've been a NPG member and now Lotusflow3r, I have all of Princes' stuff that I bump in my Tahoe. I almost don't care what's on the radio, because I don't listen to it. "I already do in my car!"

merce29 said:

Nice "dont play me" line...lol..I agree, I dont listen to the radio like that either, I was lucky to hear that moment when i did,just responding to the thread thats all..

mrsquirrel said:

Yeah, I remember Trevor playing 'Feel Better...'. That was on his late night soul show on BBC Radio 2. I love that song, so it really got on my nerves when Trevor talked about it being indulgent, especially when you consider the amount of RnB & hip Hop/ pop crap that he then plays on BBC Radio 1. Hypocrite!

HonestMan13 said:

Z-100 played those songs?! Wow, I'm stunned at this. They used to play new Prince music all the time up until TMBGITW, I think. I hate Z-100 today. The same bullshit day in and day out. I miss when radio was worth listening to.

purplecam said:

They played a big part in Prince's popularity in New York. I remember kids in my high school asking me about "Erotic City" because they heard it on the radio and they wanted to get the single. Exactly what radio was intended to do in the first place, promote music and musicians!

HonestMan13 said:

Yep, and that's not happening anymore. Not when you are force fed every T-Pain or wanna-be rock but isn't song or fly-by-night rapper on the dial. Its sad that I enjoy listening to oldies stations more than stations with current music like Z-100 or KTU.

HonestMan13 said:

What's that song about "Fucking the Police"

Radio today is a joke!

MantuaPharoah said:

are you referring to N.W.A.'s "Fuck the Police"?

HonestMan13 said:

Or maybe you are referring to Lil Wayne's Mrs. Officer?

Prince is from Minnesota and Minnesota never plays and latest releases of Prince...Why?

bobbyc17 said:

Payola. Only place I've been in the U.S. that supports their local artists on the radio is Hawaii.

HonestMan13 said:

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Co-sign. Unless P coughs up some cash he will not get airplay in U.S. I hope some of the confused people on this board understand that it is money that gets songs and artist on the radio.

It seems as if payola has become the accepted norm in radio without it being official. That's some bullshit.
[Edited 7/28/09 10:22am]

HonestMan13 said:

lol