A few weeks ago we brought you some Hot off the Net news of a new American format called QuickHitz, which shortened songs to fit more music into an hour of airtime.

We also discussed it on the Brains Trust.

One of the first stations to adopt the format has now dumped it.

CKMP Calgary dropped the format after artist protests and fear of legal action from record companies.

Canadian artist Jann Arden criticised the format, saying it was like going to a museum and seeing paintings that were half covered. Others argued that a song is recorded at a particular length because that’s the musical statement the artist wants to make.

Altering songs is not new for the radio industry. Record companies and radio stations have been issuing radio-edit versions for as long as there has been popular music on air. Well known examples include Bob Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone, which had its second half cut, Don McLean’s American Pie which was issued in a shortened version for radio and The Doors’ Light My Fire.

Some radio stations have also been known to slightly speed up songs so that when they are heard on other stations they sound slow and tired.

A handful of stations have adopted the format in the last month. It remains to be seen whether they will continue with the QuickHitz format.