We All Love Romance!

A radio broadcast owner recently asked me a question that was a bit puzzling and yet helped clarify where Adult Contemporary music is today and where it will be tomorrow. He asked, "Why do some soft songs fail to become hits on AC radio stations, while uptempo, harder-sounding songs become huge hits?" He continued: "Yet, the softer songs may sell significantly more CDs."

I paused before answering because it's been some time since I thought about what songs are actually receiving the most airplay. Then it hit me: Many of the big-selling songs have great lyrics. Women love lyrics. They enjoy "energy" ... but they love lyrics.

Those songs that do the best are the ones that strike an emotional romantic chord with the audience. The fact a song is soft or has a repetitive chorus doesn't make it romantic. The romance comes from the story. The more relatable and more fantasy-like the story, the more successful the song will be.

The Lady Antebellum song, "Need You Now," is hugely successful, not because it was a Country song that crossed over, but rather it crossed over from Country to Adult Contemporary because it is a GREAT song. The lyrics are full of romance and fantasy. The lyrics make this song relatable. The song is receiving airplay on Top 40 and Hot AC radio stations as well as AC and Country. That song crossing from Country to Pop/AC means it will sell a million more singles then what it would have if it was a Country-only record.

The next time you make a judgment as to whether a song is an AC hit or not, stop and listen closely to the lyrics. Pay attention to what comes out of the speakers more than you pay attention to the record label charts. Do you see women singing the song? If the answer is YES...

... you have a hit!