On Radio: More stations breaking out the summer mood music

On KMTT-FM/103.7, Duffy's beat-driven, hook-laden "Mercy" bursts from the speaker, leading a host to wonder aloud: "Is that the song of the summer?" Over at KPLZ-FM/101.5, program director and radio consultant Kent Phillips doesn't think so; the song has been around for a while and may have already peaked. But there are plenty of other songs that, in his view, fit the bill: Kid Rock's "All Summer Long," Coldplay's "Livin' La Vida" or "Summertime" from New Kids on the Block. Just as the coats and sweaters of the winter wardrobe are replaced by shorts and T-shirts in summer, so, too, is there a seasonal shift in the music. That happens almost regardless of musical genre. A few weeks ago in this space, Bryan Lowe at KING-FM/98.1 noted that even in classical music, there are pieces that fit the summer mood better. "We always have... [read full story]