RADIO EMBRACES NEW POP BREAKTHROUGHS

In an encouraging sign to the biz, top radio programmers are immediately reacting to streaming hits. Belief in songs resonating at Spotify, TikTok and Netflix from PDs is demonstrated by the new crop of pinging acts—BENEE, Surfaces, Powfu and Ashe—gaining adds at Pop and Alternative formats.

Among the programmers spearheading the embrace are Entercom's Michael Martin, SiriusXM/Pandora's Alex Tear, Entercom SVP/Alt Captain Mike Kaplan and iHeart's John Ivey.

Just a year ago, bona fide streaming hits like Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" and Lil Tecca's "Ransom" struggled to gain traction at radio. Recently, we've seen hits from Doja Cat, BROCKHAMPTON and Public penetrate Top 40 following success at other platforms. 

With top programmers believing in the tell-tale signs from streaming and other new platforms, the radio landscape is shifting in the right direction and recognizing fans' immediate appetite for new hits.