CHR programmers know that the strength of current music is critical to success, but the pop music cycle affects the ratings of every station. Contemporary stations thrive at the expense of other formats when current pop music is on the rise. On the other hand, gold-based stations do well when the pop music cycle is weak.
Understanding the cycle and identifying where pop music is at any given time can help programmers maintain perspective and avoid at least some of the ratings freak out.
