What do you think of AT40 with Ryan Seacrest?

[Hervard]

donmccullen said:

Man you are getting into conspercys. Look with Mediabase you playing survey legos. You can spin the survey the way you want it.

Don, I'm not talking about any conspiracies. I'm just wondering why Avril Lavigne's latest song isn't on the chart yet. When I said "Something must be up", I was talking about a possible computer error or something. When Casey's shows were based on a different chart back in late 2000 thru about-this-time 2001, there were several instances on AT20 where a song riding high on the chart would fall out for a week and then re-enter around the spot from where it fell out (this happened to "Shape Of My Heart", "I Hope You Dance" and "One More Day") That had to be a technical error, such is the case with songs that did well on the chart that did not place anywhere on the year-end survey, like "He Wasn't Man Enough" by Toni Braxton on the AT40 Top 100 and "The Way You Love Me" by Faith Hill on the AT20 AC Top 60. And there were probably a few songs that got cheated out of a spot on the Hot AC year-ender, but I don't know because I didn't even hear that one. But I'm sure these songs weren't deliberately left off the chart as any kind of conspiracy - it was just a technical error. Yes, I realize I said on another message board that they're probably leaving "My Happy Ending" off the survey on purpose, but it was in jest (as on that message board, we tend to joke around a little).
And I know very well about creating your own survey. I happen to do a chart project at the end of every year in which I'm doing just like you said; working with Legos. I arrange the Year End Top 40 (the one that appears on the Mediabase website) in order of my preference, but basing it on how well it did on the charts, then for those songs, I construct chart runs so that, using a reverse point system, the songs earn enough points to be ranked on the year end chart I created. Then, the part that takes the longest is piecing together all 52 weekly charts so that the songs run their course that I made up and the remaining positions go to the other songs on the charts - the ones that didn't make the year end top 40.
I know you're totally confused, but, in a nutshell, I make my own charts much like AT40 creates their own chart and both of them look very similar to R&R's chart.
(And my chart doesn't have a recurrent rule, but songs I don't like fall down the chart faster and ones I do like stick around for awhile like they do on the AT40 chart).
Anyway, Don, I assure you, I know that AT40 isn't deliberately keeping "My Happy Ending" off the chart. It's probably going to debut rather high on the next AT40 since, on the corresponding R&R chart, it's at #17 and heading up fast.

[donmccullen]

ulij20 said:

Don, I'm not talking about any conspiracies. I'm just wondering why Avril Lavigne's latest song isn't on the chart yet. When I said "Something must be up", I was talking about a possible computer error or something. When Casey's shows were based on a different chart back in late 2000 thru about-this-time 2001, there were several instances on AT20 where a song riding high on the chart would fall out for a week and then re-enter around the spot from where it fell out (this happened to "Shape Of My Heart", "I Hope You Dance" and "One More Day") That had to be a technical error, such is the case with songs that did well on the chart that did not place anywhere on the year-end survey, like "He Wasn't Man Enough" by Toni Braxton on the AT40 Top 100 and "The Way You Love Me" by Faith Hill on the AT20 AC Top 60. And there were probably a few songs that got cheated out of a spot on the Hot AC year-ender, but I don't know because I didn't even hear that one. But I'm sure these songs weren't deliberately left off the chart as any kind of conspiracy - it was just a technical error. Yes, I realize I said on another message board that they're probably leaving "My Happy Ending" off the survey on purpose, but it was in jest (as on that message board, we tend to joke around a little).
And I know very well about creating your own survey. I happen to do a chart project at the end of every year in which I'm doing just like you said; working with Legos. I arrange the Year End Top 40 (the one that appears on the Mediabase website) in order of my preference, but basing it on how well it did on the charts, then for those songs, I construct chart runs so that, using a reverse point system, the songs earn enough points to be ranked on the year end chart I created. Then, the part that takes the longest is piecing together all 52 weekly charts so that the songs run their course that I made up and the remaining positions go to the other songs on the charts - the ones that didn't make the year end top 40.
I know you're totally confused, but, in a nutshell, I make my own charts much like AT40 creates their own chart and both of them look very similar to R&R's chart.
(And my chart doesn't have a recurrent rule, but songs I don't like fall down the chart faster and ones I do like stick around for awhile like they do on the AT40 chart).
Anyway, Don, I assure you, I know that AT40 isn't deliberately keeping "My Happy Ending" off the chart. It's probably going to debut rather high on the next AT40 since, on the corresponding R&R chart, it's at #17 and heading up fast.

It's now number 12 and still not on the AT40 survey. Maybe its because its not popular on the AT40 affliate stations. That why Nelly and his pal have entered the survey

[Hervard]

Actually, it's #17 on the corresponding CHR chart, which would be the July 30 chart. But, yeah, it's #12 on the August 6 CHR chart. If it doesn't debut on AT40 next week, I'm gonna e-mail them and ask what the heck is going on.

[donmccullen]

ulij20 said:

Actually, it's #17 on the corresponding CHR chart, which would be the July 30 chart. But, yeah, it's #12 on the August 6 CHR chart. If it doesn't debut on AT40 next week, I'm gonna e-mail them and ask what the heck is going on.

You might want to check the playlists of the specfic Mediabase stations that air AT40. Some of them in the big markets are not on it yet. These stations lean heavely Rhythmimc but are not Getto.

[Kry658]

I think the reason Ryan doesn't use any chart is to get people to listen to the show. If he used published charts, everyone would know the outcome. IMO, he does a good job with it, but the show itself is far more cluttered than Casey's version. And because of the long blocks of music, the lengthy commercial breaks tend to turn off the listener. The show seems a little too "in your face", reminiscent of the Shadow Stevens days.

[GQ]

I've read the posts under this topic and I haven't seen any mention of going back to the 'old days' of using the Billboard HOT 100. Glancing at this week's Top 40 for 2/OCT/04 I see that we could be listening to Tim McGraw at #40!!!! and Gretchen Wilson at #39...is she country music?...I have NO idea because I am not exposed to that type of music unless it is on AT 40.

On another plus, there are tons of HOT new tunes at the bottom of Billboard's Top 40, although most of them are urban jams. But it just goes to show that this chart is a true reflection of what is popular out there amongst the general public.

AT 40's glory days were based upon Billboard's weekly HOT 100 chart and I think it would be a GREAT idea to start using it again. I think that AT 40 lost it's magic touch in late 1991 when they deviated from the HOT 100 to the airplay monitor in an attempt to curb the style of music that has become overtly popular today. The show was still fresh during 1992 and then when they went to the mainstream chart...well, you know the rest of the story.

If this type of music is the popular norm today then I think it is all the better to return to the Billboard HOT 100 and revive the show. It would sure make it a whole bunch fresher and a joy to listen to again!!

But the ? is how do we get this idea past the show's producers and then the big radio network conglomerates?

And that is my (50/25) cents worth

[Hervard]

Dude, going back to the Hot 100 would be a lousy idea. That would be instant death for AT40. No Top 40 station on the face of the earth would want to be playing Tim McGraw. And the songs that are fueled almost exclusively on sales points - Pop stations won't play that crap - they want to play a lot of stuff that's familiar to everyone - the very reason that AT40 does not have a recurrent rule. That way, songs don't enter the AT40 chart until everyone's heard them.
The Hot 100 for AT40? Ixnay!

[JBXMRN]

I think it would be a great idea if American Top 40 would start using the Hot 100 again. I still read the Hot 100 cahrt every week, and I still enjoy reading the charts. However, I don't like the fact that there are many songs by country artists on that chart. As I may have mentioned in the past, is that I am not a country music fan. I know that there are CHR stations that don't play country music. I don't know about every CHR station in the country, but the ones here in Detroit, WDRQ-93.1 FM, and WKQI-95.5 FM don't play country music, and I don't think that Premiere wouldn't have any interest in hearing country music on AT40. I know that back in the day, country music was very popular on the Hot 100, but I am sure that even back then, country music didn't get much or any airplay on CHR stations. Also, when AT40 dropped the Hot 100 back in November 1991, I was very dissapointed that they did that, like many of you were, and then they show started to suck. It wasn't until when Rob's book came out that we all finally knew the reason that AT40 dropped the Hot 100. Since AT40 hasn't used the Hot 100 in almost 13 years, I feel more comfortable that the show doesn't use the Hot 100, although I would be great if there were to use the Hot 100 again.

[Hervard]

The Hot 100 has become pretty much an all-purpose chart since AT40 dropped it in late 1991, so it would be pretty much impossible to use it anymore. Maybe for an anniversary show, they could use it, for old time's sake, but to use it on a weekly basis would be a bad idea.

[JBXMRN]

Now that Ryan has hosted AT10 for about 10 months now, I feel now confortable with him at the helm at the AT40 hosting reins. It now seems that AT40 is now Ryan's show, and it fits his style. The new incarnation now has own identity. Although he continues the AT40 tradition of counting down the 40 biggest records in the US, and tell human interest stories about the artist, he had done some un-AT40 things, for example:

1. Unlike Casey when he let us know in advance that an extra is coming up, Ryan just plays an extra without letting know in advance.

2. He does that "Out Of The Box" segment, which is similar to when Shadoe Stevens used to do his "Sneak Peek" feature. But I like the OOTB segment better, although it is the same thing as the Sneak Peek segment.

3. He also does the "Double Play" segement, where he plays 2 hits from the same artist back to back. Their current hit, and one of their hits from the past.

After several months, I feel more comfortable with this incarnation of American Top 40.

[nenad]

JBXMRN said:

Now that Ryan has hosted AT10 for about 10 months now, I feel now confortable with him at the helm at the AT40 hosting reins. It now seems that AT40 is now Ryan's show, and it fits his style. The new incarnation now has own identity. Although he continues the AT40 tradition of counting down the 40 biggest records in the US, and tell human interest stories about the artist, he had done some un-AT40 things, for example:

1. Unlike Casey when he let us know in advance that an extra is coming up, Ryan just plays an extra without letting know in advance.

2. He does that "Out Of The Box" segment, which is similar to when Shadoe Stevens used to do his "Sneak Peek" feature. But I like the OOTB segment better, although it is the same thing as the Sneak Peek segment.

3. He also does the "Double Play" segement, where he plays 2 hits from the same artist back to back. Their current hit, and one of their hits from the past.

After several months, I feel more comfortable with this incarnation of American Top 40.

I tune in once a month and I have to say that I agree - Ryan has definitly matured as AT40 host, and has brought back the popularity to the show. I think it is/was the (right) way for AT40 to grow in this direction and the format that Ryan has put into it... AT40 is _back_ and popular not only in USA, but even all around the world and it's growing... I don't think it will reach the same popularity as in early through mid 80's, but it's doing good!

I still don't like the chart that it's used, but, hey, nothing in this world is perfect...

I like Last weeks Top 3 intro when #1 song is played, just like in the old days (maybe sometimes he could play #3 or #2 song instead).

And IMHO new AT40 combinies Ryans fresh new feel with Caseys and Shadoe era.

[Jeffster]

ulij20 said:

Dude, going back to the Hot 100 would be a lousy idea. That would be instant death for AT40. No Top 40 station on the face of the earth would want to be playing Tim McGraw.

Just thought this quote was funny now that Tim McGraw has just had a huge #1 hit on the Pop chart. ;D

[Deleted]

and not only that, I think I mentioned I would probably keel over if I ever heard Bob Kingsey say thats Tim McGraw featuring Nelly on a hit.....could it be??

[at40fan1]

I don't think AT 40 is the same without Casey hosting the show. I havent' listened to AT 40 since Ryan took over. To me Casey Kasem is BIGGER than the show itself. If Casey came back I'd listen in a heartbeat! Anybody feel the same way or do you think Ryan Seacrest is what AT 40 needed?

[Deleted]

I, along with most of the posters I believe feel like Ryan is what the show needed for the masses. The show has experienced a resurgance in popularity and listeners. I believe also, most of us prefer Casey because we are "old school" but as I stated, Ryan is more for the modern day crowd.