By the time new wave rockers like Elvis Costello showed up in the late 70's, commercial radio stations were run by middle manger types beholden to distant suits at corporate headquarters. Disc jockeys were losing the power to play what they wanted so disco and "corporate rock" ruled the radio.
That meant the most exciting music getting made... wasn't getting played.
As Elvis C. sang in "Radio, Radio":
Radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools
Cos he can play crap on the radio
You can play crap on the radio
Be careful what you say
And you can play shite all day
You can play crap on the radio
-Stiff Little Fingers "You Can't Say Crap On the Radio"
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
-The Selecter "On My Radio"
Who listens to the radio?
Who listens to the radio?
That's what I'd like to know
Who listens to the radio?
-The Sports
And from the one guy who did have a big radio hit, a different perspective:
Don't you know you can't get near me
You can only hope to hear me
on your radio On your radio
You're gonna hear me on your radio.
-Joe Jackson