Do annoying/self-absorbed DJs cause tune out?

[crainbebo]

Annoying and self-absorbed DJs? You have described 2/3rds of the morning zoo jocks. I commute to Quincy, WA (55 min driving distance) twice a week and cannot stand the morning teams on the Hot AC and pop-type stations. Yes, I'm talking to YOU, Jubal, Valentine in the Morning, etc. Dumb phone pranks, laughing and gossiping over whatever the Kardashians or Doja Cat did over the weekend, blah, blah, blah! Where's the music?
Bobby Bones is tolerable, Big D & Bubba isn't too bad (on 93.5 'Tri-Country' in Royal City), but I like those stations that focus on music in the morning over gossip talk. KARY 100.9 Grandview 'Cherry FM', classic hits, puts out a great signal from Vantage up past George, and the morning guy, Steve Rocha, lets the music do most of the talking, occasionally highlighting events happening in Yakima, and 'strange news' found on the Internet, but he doesn't have a bunch of co-hosts yapping and laughing away.

Mikey Radio - You mentioned American Ninja Warrior and their constant 'personal interest stories'. The Wall pulls the same crap!! Everyone on there has to be some type of hero saving their pets and kids from an inferno, or grieving because a family member died. I cannot imagine the day if or when Wheel, Price is Right, Jeopardy! start pulling the 'sappy tearjerker' contestants for casting. I hope, never!

 

[Tibbs4]

Hey Crainbebo. Would you mind telling us your approx age? There would also be a certain age / demo listener that would hate the Cherry FM approach. That’s why we have choices to try to win loyalty and revenue. Just this is a very interesting commentary of today’s listeners. And the NPR comments are interesting. It is not only the processing for sure. It’s the well thought out friend/neighbor/trusted family member that is sitting across the table approach/telling you a story sound that compels and keeps listeners for long segments vs. quick burnout flippers. One well-known author said NPR’s soothing repetitive appeal could lead to WW3 and no one would figure it out until they wondered what had happened to their house and tuned in to NPR for the answer. It would still be there.

 

[seatownmedia]

The Jubal types, and I say types because I think there have been atleast two or three Jubals, but I digress. Yes, it is formula radio and most of the time the phone setups are fake and set up in advance. Most listeners don’t get this, but it is mostly scripted ahead of time as an “entertainment piece”. But more power to them if they fool the listener. I actually find this entertaining, but for different reasons, as I understand it is fake and enjoy the technique.

 

[Mikey Radio]

And the NPR comments are interesting. It is not only the processing for sure. It’s the well thought out friend/neighbor/trusted family member that is sitting across the table approach/telling you a story sound that compels and keeps listeners for long segments vs. quick burnout flippers.

Not only that, but they delve into some news stories, biographical stuff, history, special interests and interviews that people really enjoy listening to and hearing more about, and they do them in such a way that you either stay in your car for a few minutes even after you've reached your destination just so you can hear the end (I'm not sure if it's a nationwide talking point, but the local NPR affiliate calls those "driveway moments"), or they compel you to go to their website and search for the story or interview to replay the parts you missed. Our NPR station reminds listeners of all those "driveway moments" at pledge time.

The other thing I appreciate - and again I don't know if this is nationwide or if it's our local NPR affiliate, but when they tease upcoming stories, they're almost never more than 3 or 4 minutes from airing. You never really hear a teaser followed by "tune in tonight at 8" or "that story coming up tomorrow". Rather, it's usually "stay tuned, that's coming up next" or "more on that story, following these news headlines". It's almost a tease, but then instant gratification.

 

[Mikey Radio]

Yes, it is formula radio and most of the time the phone setups are fake and set up in advance. Most listeners don’t get this, but it is mostly scripted ahead of time as an “entertainment piece”. But more power to them if they fool the listener. I actually find this entertaining, but for different reasons, as I understand it is fake and enjoy the technique.

I've never heard Jubal, but I've heard several of the "phone tap" segments from the Elvis Duran show and have heard other morning shows that have called "unsuspecting listeners" who were set up by their friends or spouses or kids - the host or one of their team pretend to be a service provider who's screwing them over or a school teacher that touches a nerve they know upsets the person who's the target (after being tipped off by the family member). Some are funnier than others, and some are so over the top that you get the strong feeling the person being targeted must be in on it. It's also amazing that somehow when they're let in on the joke at the end, every single target is fully familiar with the show and whatever they happen to call their prank segment, yet they never once suspect they're being pranked.

I remember as a kid I thought the morning jock at our local Top 40 station was so funny when he'd call his mom every several days and they had this somewhat adversarial relationship. He also had a few regular callers to his show and they actually generated a fair amount of buzz to the point where I remember talking to my friends at lunch about who these people were and why the station lets those certain people on the air. We even came up with the idea of inventing our own characters and calling the station to try and get on. About 5 years later I got a gig with that same station. Imagine my surprise and a mixture of slight disappointment but also the feeling that I now had insider information that few others knew, when I discovered all those segments with "mom" and all the callers. They were actually on reel-to-reel tape with written scripts, and had been purchased from a company called ACN - American Comedy Network, which was a show prep service back in the day.

 

[seatownmedia]

In this sense, radio is like reality tv. The shows are meant to be real life, but are scripted 98 percent of the time. Radio is following this model to create a better entertainment product, however fake it may be.

I understand this, but can’t help remember 30 years ago where we ran a live morning show with live reactions and live callers. It was unpredictable but it worked. I kind of miss that kind of media.

 

[crainbebo]

In my mid-20s, actually! Advertisers want me listening to Doja Cat and Lil Nas X. I digress. If I want a morning show, I want to hear good music and an occasional weather forecast, maybe a fun fact, maybe "the strange news" like what Cherry does. Forget the stupid prank call segments.
I prefer Big D and Bubba over Bobby Bones for that reason. They have a lot more music, less stupidity, and when they are doing a long-form segment, it's often an interview with a country star. It does help that the 'Tri-Country' station runs the Nash Icon satellite feed the rest of the time, so they mix country music from the mid-1980s through 2010s.

 

[Mikey Radio]

In my mid-20s, actually! Advertisers want me listening to Doja Cat and Lil Nas X. I digress. If I want a morning show, I want to hear good music and an occasional weather forecast, maybe a fun fact, maybe "the strange news" like what Cherry does. Forget the stupid prank call segments.
I prefer Big D and Bubba over Bobby Bones for that reason. They have a lot more music, less stupidity, and when they are doing a long-form segment, it's often an interview with a country star. It does help that the 'Tri-Country' station runs the Nash Icon satellite feed the rest of the time, so they mix country music from the mid-1980s through 2010s.

Wait! You're only in your mid-20s and you have such severe hatred for that poor Limu Emu (and Doug)?

 

[crainbebo]

Oh you brought that argument back didn't you? I changed my mind. Save the emu, put him in a zoo. Fire Doug regardless. Bring back the Liberty Mutual commercials with 'Human' by The Human League. Problem totally solved ;-)

 

[davideduardo]

In my mid-20s, actually! Advertisers want me listening to Doja Cat and Lil Nas X.

Advertisers don't care at all what you listen to. Advertisers target broad groups, usually based on what they know about the users of their goods or services. That means and advertiser finds a "sweet spot" where they can reach the most people in their target at the lowest cost. That target may be determined by age, gender or ethnicity. It may be by lifestyle. So an advertiser may find country fans in their 30's and 40's buy the most, and their first choice will be a country station. Then they may find that deep suburbans or Hispanics or some other group is the next best set of prospects, and they buy an ad medium that reaches them, too.

I digress. If I want a morning show, I want to hear good music and an occasional weather forecast, maybe a fun fact, maybe "the strange news" like what Cherry does. Forget the stupid prank call segments.

But in your age group, it's been found over an over from Portland, ME to Portland, OR, that younger adults truly prefer a significant amount of entertainment with the music. You are, by your preferences, an outlier.

I prefer Big D and Bubba over Bobby Bones for that reason. They have a lot more music, less stupidity, and when they are doing a long-form segment, it's often an interview with a country star. It does help that the 'Tri-Country' station runs the Nash Icon satellite feed the rest of the time, so they mix country music from the mid-1980s through 2010s.

And you are in your mid-20's with the behaviour that is more typical of mid to late 40's or above. Nothing wrong with that, but it means you are not going to find the blend of music and personality that you like with total satisfaction. Advertisers like a school of salmon, not a single shark!

 

[Deus Ex Machiato]

Back when I was a baby DJ, doing my first morning show in an okay market, I went to one of those "Morning Show Boot Camp" like things. I thought that - as a young up and comer - I should stick with people at my level. Small and medium market shows. About halfway into the first day of the conference, I was hanging with some of my "equals" when they pointed over to a group of the major market guys.

"oh...look at them in their clique. They think they're so talented. So important. They won't talk to us little guys."

I was unpleasantly surprised by the envy and bitterness, so I took a deep breath, walked over to the big stars and introduced myself to Kidd Kraddick, Jeff and Jer, and a few others that the small market guys were convinced were "self-absorbed." Every single one went out of their way to welcome me into their club. It wasn't "get outta here, kid." It was "we're going out to dinner later, you coming?" I got business cards, phone numbers, and offers for help. I wound up hanging out with my "betters" all weekend, and at the next gathering after that one.

I'm out of the business now, and haven't heard Jubal or Bobby Bones (though I did used to work with Bubba), but generally speaking the biggest "names" in the morning show line of work were some of the nicest, most gracious people I ever met in radio. I think that translates somehow into ratings.

 

[crainbebo]

I know the PPM ratings only cover a month, but I wonder how the Jack and Bob FM stations in major markets are during morning rush hour? Are there a lot of listeners 40-55 that commute to work and listen to jockless Jack FM to avoid all the morning zoo gossip?

 

[TheBigA]

I know the PPM ratings only cover a month, but I wonder how the Jack and Bob FM stations in major markets are during morning rush hour? Are there a lot of listeners 40-55 that commute to work and listen to jockless Jack FM to avoid all the morning zoo gossip?

It depends. Some Jack stations have DJs in morning drive. And some Jack stations are very popular with 18-34. Sort of hard to generalize.

 

[Kelly A]

You mentioned American Ninja Warrior and their constant 'personal interest stories'. The Wall pulls the same crap!! Everyone on there has to be some type of hero saving their pets and kids from an inferno, or grieving because a family member died. I cannot imagine the day if or when Wheel, Price is Right, Jeopardy! start pulling the 'sappy tearjerker' contestants for casting. I hope, never!

During the early days of ANW, research showed that viewers stuck around longer if there were more contestant personal interest stories around the competitors. During the production of the show, there can be many long time gaps to reset the course after a contestant falls or completes the course, or technicians to fix something that breaks. That means a single episode could take several days to shoot. Given the delays, there may not be enough competitors competing in a three shoot day to fill a 45 minute single show without including some competitor-focused segments.

 

[davideduardo]

I know the PPM ratings only cover a month, but I wonder how the Jack and Bob FM stations in major markets are during morning rush hour? Are there a lot of listeners 40-55 that commute to work and listen to jockless Jack FM to avoid all the morning zoo gossip?

During a three month average over the summer months, KCBS FM in LA was 6th in 25-54 in mornings, 4th in midday, 7th in PM Drive and 11th in evenings. This shows the effect of not having a "big" personality morning show.

BTW, 40-55 is not a standard Nielsen demographic, although one can "create" any demo they want in the software if needed. Closest is 35-44, there they are 7th overall, vs. 6th in 25-54 and 4th in 35-64.

Of course, in-car listening is still somewhat lower than normal due to continued alterations of work schedules and at-home work by lots of white collar folks.

 

[TheBigA]

During a three month average over the summer months, KCBS FM in LA was 6th in 25-54 in mornings, 4th in midday, 7th in PM Drive and 11th in evenings. This shows the effect of not having a "big" personality morning show.

KJKK Dallas is #3 18-34

 

[vchimpanzee]

I remember as a kid I thought the morning jock at our local Top 40 station was so funny when he'd call his mom every several days and they had this somewhat adversarial relationship. He also had a few regular callers to his show and they actually generated a fair amount of buzz to the point where I remember talking to my friends at lunch about who these people were and why the station lets those certain people on the air. We even came up with the idea of inventing our own characters and calling the station to try and get on. About 5 years later I got a gig with that same station. Imagine my surprise and a mixture of slight disappointment but also the feeling that I now had insider information that few others knew, when I discovered all those segments with "mom" and all the callers. They were actually on reel-to-reel tape with written scripts, and had been purchased from a company called ACN - American Comedy Network, which was a show prep service back in the day.

Some years ago I discovered a talk show hosted by Phil Hendrie which had the most bizarre callers, like ted Bell who thought he was better than everyone else. I think it was this site where I was told those are all Phil.

 

[davideduardo]

Some years ago I discovered a talk show hosted by Phil Hendrie which had the most bizarre callers, like ted Bell who thought he was better than everyone else. I think it was this site where I was told those are all Phil.

Most of Phil's "callers" were Phil himself. It was mostly invented characters.

 

[crainbebo]

Hey Crainbebo. Would you mind telling us your approx age? There would also be a certain age / demo listener that would hate the Cherry FM approach. That’s why we have choices to try to win loyalty and revenue. Just this is a very interesting commentary of today’s listeners. And the NPR comments are interesting. It is not only the processing for sure. It’s the well thought out friend/neighbor/trusted family member that is sitting across the table approach/telling you a story sound that compels and keeps listeners for long segments vs. quick burnout flippers. One well-known author said NPR’s soothing repetitive appeal could lead to WW3 and no one would figure it out until they wondered what had happened to their house and tuned in to NPR for the answer. It would still be there.

KJKK Dallas is #3 18-34

There you go. A good chunk of the radio listening audience can't stand Kardashian gossip and stupid jokes in the morning. They want *music*. But hey, everyone has their interests. Some like the segments of Jubal and Kidd Kraddick.

Oh, another element I can't stand about radio. Not a big CCM listener, just occasional. But when K-LOVE has their beg-a-thons every few months, they significantly decrease the amount of music and spend at least 5-10 minutes just cheering and begging for money. It's like the radio equivalent of PBS interrupting a concert for a pledge break. Maybe worse.
Sorry, K-LOVE, if I want to donate to a Christian station, it's to a local or regional station's ministry. Not EMF.

 

[Kelly A]

There you go. A good chunk of the radio listening audience can't stand Kardashian gossip and stupid jokes in the morning.

Your definition of a "good chunk" yet again proves to be a small minority. Sort of like DXer's; A teeny-tiny category of actual radio listeners

Oh, another element I can't stand about radio. Not a big CCM listener, just occasional. But when K-LOVE has their beg-a-thons every few months, they significantly decrease the amount of music and spend at least 5-10 minutes just cheering and begging for money.

Uh, that's how they pay the bills and add more stations. Maybe if you would donate more during the fund-raiser, they would need less of them? Buy one less Sangean each year and send that money to EMF.

It's like the radio equivalent of PBS interrupting a concert for a pledge break. Maybe worse.
Sorry, K-LOVE, if I want to donate to a Christian station, it's to a local or regional station's ministry. Not EMF.

Really? How much do you typically donate? My bet?= Freeloader.