Airplay hits that missed the Hot 100

Upon further examination, it looks like those songs simply don't have a catalog number listed (label only). So, I guess there's no point in printing a unique symbol.

Here's hoping that the airplay book does materialize!

My vote is for Gavin!

Brian W. wrote: My vote is for Gavin!

EdisonLite wrote: Radio & Records would be a great book!

I think it depends on era. By the 70s Gavin had become
kind of an "also-ran" tipsheet. The criteria for
becoming a reporter there was pretty lax, and they became
kind of "top heavy" with stations in relatively
insignificant markets.

Of course, R&R didn't exist before '74 or so, but by the
late 70s seemed to be the "go-to" source second only to
Billboard, at least at stations I worked at.

For those interested, Bill Gavin basically invented the concept of
gathering, monitoring and distributing current Top 40 radio airplay info,
back in the late 50s. And while Billboard, Cashbox and Record World all
published in standard magazine form, trying to appeal to the broadest
possible music industry audience, be it retailers, jukebox operators,
record distributors, label executives, radio stations and consumers/casual
music fans for their subscription base, the Gavin Report was a totally
different animal - it was prepared for those folks working in and
programming for Top 40 radio - period.   
    
In its 1960s and early-to-mid 70s prime, The Gavin Report was known as
a "tip sheet" for a good reason: it literally was. Arriving as just one
typewritten, 11 1/2 X 14 page each week, it was quickly prepared and
sent out, via regular US mail. No frills-just the latest, "hot off the press"
info, gathered from selected Top 40 stations across the country. Doing it
this way got the latest, time-sensitive airplay info into radio's hands days
quicker than any of the "glossier" mags ever could. Gavin usually included
one song each as its "Smash Of The Week", "Sleeper Of The Week", "Hot
Shot", "Top Tip", and "Record To Watch", followed by a "Recommended
Playlist" of a ranked Top 20, followed by "Gaining In Several Markets",
"Top Prospects", "Regional Sales and/or Requests" and "Picks & Plays". FYI,
during these years, its annual radio industry convention, "The Gavin
Seminar", was a virtual "Who's Who" of radio power brokers each year. For
years, it was practically radio's version of the Academy Awards. This event
was an essential opportunity for those currently in radio to network, catch
up with old radio friends, and make new radio friends. This was very key,
as gigs in radio were rarely long-term propositions. It was a brotherhood,
and friends would usually do their best to help their best radio buddies
out. Because the chances were very strong that YOU could be the one
needing the same favor sometime soon.

Bill Gavin was already over 50 when he started his tip sheet in '58. And
although he remained quite involved with his business, even into the early
80's, he died of cancer in 1985, at 77. And while The Gavin Report
soldiered on for years afterwards, eventually changing its own look over
to the standard magazine form, it ceased operations in 2002. My only
concern with Gavin getting the "RR Treatment" would be how few songs
were given actual numbers, on the sheet. Most of the tip sheet info were
simply "song mentions", without a number. So how would that setup be
reflected in a useful form for us now?

In my 30 years involved in the world of Top 40/CHR radio (1977-2007),
Radio & Records was considered "The Bible". The entire time. By a
mile!!!!!!!!!!!!! And while we reported to five or six other trade magazines
each week in the 80s and 90s, for example (Billboard, FMQB, Hits,
Hitmakers and Gavin, to mention a few, and probably in that order of
internal use.) I believe R&R began around 1973, and by the end of the
decade had basically become the industry standard. I also recall that
R&R's weekly charts were far more numbers-oriented, and for that reason
R&R would be my own clear choice for RR to tackle next.....