I have to agree with Firepoint on both the above posts.
I have local stations that love to play the same songs over and over and over again. I have heard on many occasions the same song played as many as three times within a 12 hour period from one. That is ridiculous and serves no good purpose. They also do a segment called "Oh Wow" songs where they play something supposedly unheard regularly. The last one about an hour ago was Stevie Wonder "Superstition" I kid you not. Really. [shakes head]
I think the familiarity for the PD's keeps them comfortable and therefore less apt to have to work too hard. Of course they in turn blame the station management. Maybe the fear of one or two listeners changing the station is a factor too, but honestly, if someone runs from your dial spot simply because you play a song or two that isn't mainstream, then I doubt you'd have kept them anyway.
Thanks. Your situation reminds me of the Clear Channel classic rock station here in Nashville that played what they called a "deep cut" by the Beatles, and it turned out to be "Hey Jude"! The biggest hit by the biggest band of all time is a "deep cut"?
