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I program music across three formats and chart nationally for SG and AC. I find that SG music can me the easiest or the most difficult music to program.

The easy route is to take about 6 -7 of the comp discs that come in each month and throw them in the trash immediately, without even listening to them.

(Hey, make it really easy and stick with the Big Five Comps and chuck the rest. NO ONE WILL MISS IT, become better by omission. I'm all in favor of "Southern Gospel Hit Radio" for the musically challenged DJ/MD.)

You and your listeners will never miss the music. You will be able to establish "brand identity" in your market and with your listeners. You will have less of a chance to play a dud. Remember, it's not radio's primary goal to give exposure to unknown groups.

The more difficult path, which requires an ear for entertainment (not necessarily an ear for music - there is a difference, you can sing with perfect pitch and bore the socks off of people), is to give these lesser known groups 15 seconds of your time. That's all it takes to determine if a song has a chance - that's all the dial scanner listens to before deciding to stay or go. You might find something interesting. However, remember the words of Shrek, "better out than in, I always say".

The average listener doesn't need a huge playlist of 1000's of artists. They would rather listen to groups that they know - friends along the way. Too many "strangers" makes people uncomfortable. People like familiar faces.