Considering that many radio stations post their playlists online, I'm sure this doesn't happen as often as it once did. Still, countdown shows must be the bane of a DJ's existence. When you're trying to cue up music and commercials, fill out program logs, and obtain newscasts, weather forecasts, and calendar items to use on the air, it's mildly irritating to have one listener after another call in and ask, "Where's that song ranked?" Admittedly, it's a compliment to the station. It's gratifying to know that listeners care enough to want to know where a song placed in a listener survey or end-of-year countdown. Still, I can't blame the KYKY DJ who, during a countdown of listeners' favorite songs in the '80s, handled my call this way:
DJ: Y98 FM.
Me: Hi. What number are you on?
DJ: 98.1.
Me: In the countdown, I mean...
DJ (sighing:) Oh. Let's see...We're on song number 23.
Looking back, if our roles had been reversed, I might have reacted similarly.
