WNY Public Broadcasting is looking for a radio PD

[SirRoxalot]

The gig is for WBFO - The Bridge, their Adult Alternative HD/streaming channel. They're asking for 5 years experience and offering $65-$80K plus a nice benefits package. Get full details here:

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www.linkedin.com

 

[Mikey Radio]

Curious, how does $65k align with the cost of housing and living in Buffalo, especially when this comes with the demand of having 5 years previous experience? Also, I wasn't able to read the ad - is this person expected to voice track or fill a daily airshift as well?

 

[SirRoxalot]

Try this link:

Asure | Advanced HR

completepayroll.evolutionadvancedhr.com

 

[RadioGuy1864]

65K looks low for all they are looking for. Starting at 80K in Buffalo, with their benefits package, which is generous, would not be bad.

 

[SirRoxalot]

65K looks low for all they are looking for. Starting at 80K in Buffalo, with their benefits package, which is generous, would not be bad.

Remember, this is an HD only station with online streaming in a format that's 2nd or 3rd tier at best. It hasn't even shown up in the ratings so far.

 

[RadioGuy1864]

HD only or not, you still gotta eat and pay rent. And they are looking for experience, not someone right out of Syracuse University.

From today's Buffalo Business First: https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2022/04/26/metros-with-the-most-pay-inflation.html

"Wages are steadily rising across the nation in a candidate-friendly market, and Buffalo is no exception.

That's according to a review of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by The Playbook, which found average weekly earnings rose 5.7% in U.S. metro areas between February 2021 and February 2022. The average employee in a metro area is taking home about $48 more than they were in February 2021 ($920.30 compared to $872.59).


In Buffalo, weekly earnings rose 3.1% during the same period, from $951.26 to $980.53 or $29.27."

 

[Rusty Bridges]

There's a truckload of people working in Buffalo radio for far less than 65k. Nationwide, there are so many people on the beach that the terms of this offer appear quite acceptable, especially considering the benefits package. And there's free parking. Don't laugh. Monthly parking rates have skyrocketed.

 

[flybynight]

There's a truckload of people working in Buffalo radio for far less than 65k. Nationwide, there are so many people on the beach that the terms of this offer appear quite acceptable, especially considering the benefits package. And there's free parking. Don't laugh. Monthly parking rates have skyrocketed.

Do people still want to be in radio?

The "fun" of radio should be part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian by now.

 

[TheBigA]

Do people still want to be in radio?

The "fun" of radio should be part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian by now.

How long have you been on the outside? For me, it's as much fun as it ever was.

And yes lots of people want to be in radio. Their idea of it is a lot different from yours. That's probably why.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

How long have you been on the outside? For me, it's as much fun as it ever was.

And yes lots of people want to be in radio. Their idea of it is a lot different from yours. That's probably why.

Me too, i only work where i get to do some fun stuff and do way the way i think it should be done.

 

[TheBigA]

Me too, i only work where i get to do some fun stuff and do way the way i think it should be done.

I take it you've worked in a lot of different markets, rather than stay in one place. That also helps keep the job fun and interesting.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I take it you've worked in a lot of different markets, rather than stay in one place. That also helps keep the job fun and interesting.

yeah but thats slowed way down in the last while.. i love where i am now

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Remember, this is an HD only station with online streaming in a format that's 2nd or 3rd tier at best. It hasn't even shown up in the ratings so far.

This. Has any HD2 station in the country attracted a significant audience without an FM translator? The closest comparison I can think of is WFUV's HD2, "The Alternate Side", which was a really adventurous attempt to do college & local alternative on a public radio HD side channel in market #1. It sounded awesome but ultimately shut down, presumably due to low donations and lack of sponsorships (a.k.a. advertising in public radio speak).

That said, I wish WBFO well, and hope they can break through. The PD job sounds like a nice stepping stone for someone already living in the area who understands it may be a short-lived gig. The Alternate Side's PD, Rich McLaughlin, went on to bigger things as a programming SVP at iHeart and then to Amazon Music before returning to WFUV as the PD of the full station just last year.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Considering that Audiacy gassed their local OTA alternative station 9 months ago, I suspect there are several local people with the requisite experience who would find $65K+bennies quite attractive. Remember, this is the brain child of Tom Calderone, current CEO of WNYPB, who's experience with alternative music programming on all platforms is wide and deep. I expect that he'll have significant input on both programming and funding.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Has any HD2 station in the country attracted a significant audience without an FM translator? The closest comparison I can think of is WFUV's HD2, "The Alternate Side", which was a really adventurous attempt to do college & local alternative on a public radio HD side channel in market #1. It sounded awesome but ultimately shut down, presumably due to low donations and lack of sponsorships (a.k.a. advertising in public radio speak).*

That said, I wish WBFO well, and hope they can break through. The PD job sounds like a nice stepping stone for someone already living in the area who understands it may be a short-lived gig. The Alternate Side's PD, Rich McLaughlin, went on to bigger things as a programming SVP at iHeart and then to Amazon Music before returning to WFUV as the PD of the full station just last year.

Salient post and observation* ... especially combined with that of Post #14 ... it will be most interesting to see "if this dog will hunt" in a market like Buffalo. That noted, if 'College Radio For Adults' is streamed, it reaches a world-wide market. Will this new format also be on an HD channel of the more powerful WNED 94.5?

Maybe they'll kick off the format with this CanCon group's
rock parody

Push those memberships from listeners in Canada!

 

[Mark1981]

Will this new format also be on an HD channel of the more powerful WNED 94.5?

It is, Rusty! For about a month now, The Bridge has been airing on WNED-FM HD2 as well as 88.7 HD2. BTPM quietly dropped its Jazzworks HD channel, which had been on 88.7 HD2 and then 94.5 HD2 since the acquisition of WBFO 10 years ago. Given his background at Spotify, it looks like Tom Calderone is trying to create Buffalo’s first digital music station that’s not tied to an AM/FM transmitter. HD radio is becoming standard in some car models, so that could help. But there are few in home HD radios. What I really think is that Tom is investing in a PD for a music format that will appeal to those who do their music listening through apps on their mobile devices. Will it work? It will be a challenge in the short-term. But longer term? Technology will continue to evolve, and dare I ask the question will radio continue to be delivered through radio transmitters and antennas 30 to 50 years from now? Someday, Tom may be seen as a pioneer who was one of the first to invest time and talent in a new delivery platform.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

30 to 50 years from now? Someday, Tom may be seen as a pioneer who was one of the first to invest time and talent in a new delivery platform.

A new delivery platform, you mean like the iHeartRadio app or TuneIn for streaming radio? They've been around for years now, you know.

I don't doubt streaming may be the future, but once someone decides to leave the walled garden of a handful of local radio frequencies in order to stream instead, they have an almost unlimited universe of choices. And the truth is, they're not streaming radio as much as they're streaming music services that use AI to serve up customized playlists tailored to the individual's taste, with the ability to skip unwanted songs.

If you want to gauge the viability of streaming a professionally-run online radio station with a AAA format meant to compete against FM stations in a local market, you could look at how oWow fared in Cleveland.

 

[SirRoxalot]

One of the first problems with oWow was that it was targeted at 45+. Those listeners are already pretty well served in the Cleveland market. Calderone is targeting an audience that already lives on their cell phones and think that OTA radio died with the dinosaurs. The app is available as long as you remember to specify WBFO - The Bridge. Otherwise, you get a kid-centered radio station beloved by mommies. So far, the Android version has five reviews and 100+ downloads.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

This discussion has taken an interesting turn with well-presented opinions. There is the question of local viability, and yes, what happens "outside the wall" if and when listeners are presented with and seek other options. Locally, it's reasonable to presume that competing broadcasters will take note of this format's performance (and success) on an HD channel. IF the format puts up significant numbers, it would not surprise this poster if an FM main channel adopts the same format. The format bombed on weak signal 107.7 ... but what of say, local B's like 96.1 or 92.9? Purely speculative at this point, and arguably a long shot. Then again, there's always the option, if this format is successful on an HD channel, of putting it on BTPM's 94.5 or 88.7 ... slim chance, admittedly, given the loyalty of listeners to Classical 94.5 and NPR 88.7 ... but it's radio ... the inexplicable often becomes typical.

 

[Mark1981]

A new delivery platform, you mean like the iHeartRadio app or TuneIn for streaming radio? They've been around for years now, you know.

I don't doubt streaming may be the future, but once someone decides to leave the walled garden of a handful of local radio frequencies in order to stream instead, they have an almost unlimited universe of choices. And the truth is, they're not streaming radio as much as they're streaming music services that use AI to serve up customized playlists tailored to the individual's taste, with the ability to skip unwanted songs.

If you want to gauge the viability of streaming a professionally-run online radio station with a AAA format meant to compete against FM stations in a local market, you could look at how oWow fared in Cleveland.

You know, I’m not an idiot. I know Audacy and TuneIn have been streaming for years. But the vast majority of those apps’ offerings are existing radio stations with transmitters and antennas that now have the opportunity to reach audiences worldwide. What Tom Calderone is trying to do is use a digital platform to deliver music as a Buffalo-based station, competing against existing FM stations. That’s something that, as you point out, has been tried in other markets. But it has not been done in Buffalo. So, the jury is out. Indeed, the competition is tremendous, especially when listeners can create their own playlists on Spotify or Apple Music. If Tom succeeds with the Bridge, I just believe it would be truly groundbreaking.