So, I read a news story by the Associated Press recently that said child singers and performers made famous on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon — you know them as Hannah Montana, whose real name is Miley Cyrus; Hilary Duff, who really isn’t a child anymore; and Percy Romeo Miller, Jr., a.k.a rapper Li’l Romeo — don’t get much air time on radio stations. While Duff has managed a bit of success, most radio stations aren’t willing to play the songs that are being bought by millions of kids across the country.
With the success of the Miley Cyrus concert tour sell-outs recently, it’s clear that the music and entertainment industry are targeting younger and younger audiences, and getting amazing results. Kids love music they can relate to, and they’re showing their appreciation through millions of dollars in music and concert ticket sales.
So why don’t the radio stations catch on and start playing those tunes? Don’t they have a whole new market they can tap into?
Part of me thinks, “Why should they have to?” After all, advertising on radios is geared toward adults who tune in, hear the advertisements and spend money. Most listeners are probably adults, anyway.
But another part of me thinks that music played by some of these young musicians is relatively benign, catchy and in some ways, refreshing — definitely takes me back to a less complicated time in my life. It’s mostly about first crushes, growing up and friendships — not bad stuff for the general listening public. And I think that radio stations are losing out when they discount the potential market force of the preteen and young teen audiences.