Posted by Spencer Morasch on September 08, 2008 at 13:04:10:
In Reply to: Re: A thought about yearly Top 100 surveys posted by Bob Radil on September 08, 2008 at 12:35:42:
WABC's Top 100 of the Year survey was accurate (except for a few errors) for the most part, as it was based on the weekly surveys, which were based on local record store sales. So therefore, they are pretty much etched in stone, and in order not to re-write history - it's best they remain as is. The only valid arguement to be made is that they did not factor in December data (because they were compiled during that month),
so hence are not an accurate representation of the calandar year per se.
What you are asking for is a current survey of what today's listener thinks. Therefore, Bob Radil's suggestion to use the annual surveys compiled by Tom Natoli & Mike Riccio is a valid one. Perhaps they can run a report where it is sorted in order by year. While there may not be enough samples in the survey to create a complete Top 100 of any year, there may be enough to come up with a Top 20 of the year, for example.
Looking back at say the Top 100 of 1970 - songs like "I'll Be There" which made it to #4 then, would probably never even be considered today. Ditto with #61 - "Somebody's Been Sleeping".
But current oldies format radio staples like "My Baby Loves Lovin" at #96 would do much better today.