HD stations should make HD a priority

[TheBigA]

Haha! You are so wrong that it's almost painful to watch you self-destruct like this. Almost.

So you're saying Billboard doesn't exist? You haven't responded at all to that, other than to say I'm wrong.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Yikes - this thread sure took off into controversy. Back to the original thread - we have a station here in Houston that shut the HD down. Not really a rim shot, but an antenna located North instead of South of town with the others in the antenna farm. So they WERE weak in the Southern part of the area. Were - as in not any more! Holy Eagle (their nickname) they are peeling paint without the HD vampire! I had forgotten just how robust FM could be, they don't picket fence, they don't drop out, they don't brown out, they don't even blend to mono anymore at locations 60, 70, 80 miles from the tower.

 

[Kelly A]

That's the only way to steal back satellite radio listeners is to give them niche stations: movie soundtracks, folk, classic country, easy listening instrumentals, garage bands - it's gotta be something new and different - same problem AM stations face - you gotta put a decent audio product out there that people want to hear, then they'll listen to it thru static. I put up with satellite drop-outs because where else can I get 'elevator music' on my car radio anymore except thru SiriusXM?

Satellite radio listening represents less than 2% of the total radio listening nationwide. I'm not sure most traditional radio groups see that small percentage worth "stealing", let alone paying attention about. Granted, satellite was seen as a threat when first launched years ago, but never actually became one.

 

[KB1OKL]

The premise back about three pages was that while radio plays the SOS all over the country there are still regional tastes. Of course there are regional tastes, just that radio ignores them which is one of the big reasons why radio in general is slipping. Turn on the radio and you already know what you're going to hear, boring, boring, boring. Go into the local clubs and listen to the local original bands, then you'll see the regional tastes, of course radio ignores this. I agree the record companies had a lot to do with radio becoming so bland when they drove out the little record companies. The Network drove the little guys out of business because they couldn't get airplay and the big companies paid the network to do it. What do we have now? Bland boring krap and the big companies (record and radio) wonder why they are losing so much money? It was self inflicted, by trying to monopolize the market they drove out innovation and competition. Radio is just a symptom of how lousy the American music scene is. Want to hear new styles that will wake you up? Listen to British pop music, it's alive and has an edge, American? Snore............ Big Music (records and radio) has just about ruined the pop market here.

 

[TheBigA]

Go into the local clubs and listen to the local original bands, then you'll see the regional tastes, of course radio ignores this.

I go to local clubs all the time all over the country, and what I hear are local cover bands and karaoke, where people are singing the hits they hear on the radio. The same exact stuff. Turn on American Idol and The Voice and America's Got Talent, and they're also doing cover songs and karaoke. I've spoken with those cover bands and ask them why they don't do original music, and they tell me: 1) Because the club owners tell them that's what they want, and 2) Because the customers in the clubs scream louder and are more engaged with songs they know that unknown songs by a band they don't know. So these bands know that if they want to get paid, they better play music people want to hear. Radio is in the same situation. Contrary to your belief, radio listeners aren't clamoring by unknown music by unknown bands. They want to hear the hits. That's what radio gives them, and why radio remains relevant even with all the competition.

 

[JoshTheRadioDude]

Of course there are regional tastes, just that radio ignores them which is one of the big reasons why radio in general is slipping.

Exactly.

 

[Wimmmex]

....lots of people saying it's the savior of radio

Who said that HD is "the savior of radio"?

 

[davideduardo]

The premise back about three pages was that while radio plays the SOS all over the country there are still regional tastes. Of course there are regional tastes, just that radio ignores them which is one of the big reasons why radio in general is slipping.

While the policies at different companies vary, most of the larger market broadcasters do local music testing for the local stations. And they implement those tests in accordance with local tastes.

The regional and local differences have more to do with the mix and blend of songs than with songs that are hits locally but not nationally. The big songs are quite uniform everywhere... the differences are in marginal songs and in the blend of the hits.

That's why stations that can't afford to test often will either share costs with several similar stations in nearby markets or do the same with similar stations in similar markets in the same company.

If you had access to BDS or MediaBase, you'd see that, except for perhaps one company that overly centralizes music policy, most broadcasters adapt their playlists to each individual local market.

 

[davideduardo]

The Network drove the little guys out of business because they couldn't get airplay and the big companies paid the network to do it.

WTF does that mean? And what is "The Network".

 

[KB1OKL]

WTF does that mean? And what is "The Network".

"The little guys" were the small record labels and "The Network" were the independent promoters the record companies paid to get airplay back especially in the 80's. This from Hit Men, Power brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business by Frederick Dannen. 1990. If you haven't read it it's a great book.

 

[davideduardo]

"The little guys" were the small record labels and "The Network" were the independent promoters the record companies paid to get airplay back especially in the 80's. This from Hit Men, Power brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business by Frederick Dannen. 1990. If you haven't read it it's a great book.

I read both books and found them to exaggerate the excesses and unethical practices.

Independent promoters have existed since sheet music was all the rage. It's where a small publisher or label went to get national promotion without hiring a full staff themselves.

Other than one of those books, I have never heard the term "The Network" used. Maybe I missed something, but the indies were also independent... and quite competitive with each other.

 

[KB1OKL]

I read both books and found them to exaggerate the excesses and unethical practices.

Independent promoters have existed since sheet music was all the rage. It's where a small publisher or label went to get national promotion without hiring a full staff themselves.

Other than one of those books, I have never heard the term "The Network" used. Maybe I missed something, but the indies were also independent... and quite competitive with each other.

What did you think of Walter Yetnikoff's book? "Howling at The Moon"

 

[davideduardo]

What did you think of Walter Yetnikoff's book? "Howling at The Moon"

I have not read that one. There is only so much about record ducks that I can take...

 

[stewie]

Those general things like formats are still made on a market-by-market basis. Obviously local demographics play a big part in format choices. But not as much with regards to the specific songs they play. Today the big hits are known nationally. Sixty years ago, you had regional hits.

Which is exactly the point I was trying to make.