I was in a supermarket parking lot yesterday. Sat in my car for 20 minutes. Counted how many radio stations I could hear. I counted 60 AM stations and 53 FM stations. Of course many wern't local. But the signal strengths were all acceptable. Out of all those stations I hardly found anything interesting to listen to. It just goes to show you that it's not about quantity, it's about QUALITY. So many commercials were heard. A ridiculous amount of commercials. It reminded me of how much I need to get satellite radio in the car. I don't even have cable TV. It's the same situation. A ton of channels that all suck. I'm not paying for that. I get so much more enjoyment out of having my laptop connected to my television. My TV viewing has never been more interesting than it is now since I dropped cable. Now I watch WPRO at home instead of just listening to it. I watched Obama on MSNBC today because I know of websites that stream cable channels. Then after I got done watching that, I found a Trucker who mounted a Live cam on his hood. I watched him drive all over Memphis today in full HD. I felt like I was in the truck with him. Pretty wild stuff. I miss what radio used to be. So do many others. Now I can totally understand why less people than ever are tuning in to terrestrial radio. It's bland and the other options out there are a lot more fun. So until somebody figures out a way to make radio fun again I think the whole business is in deep deep trouble.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
113 stations and nothing is on.
- Thread starter Skynet74
- Start date
I'm not denying we're living in a "do it yourself" society and audiences are less apt to just accept what the media is willing to offer them like the old days. If they don't like what they hear or see, they'll find other ways to get what they want. On the other hand, you prefer watching Buddy smoke and a truck ride through Memphis. Maybe the problem is what you expect from traditional media because you've been spoiled by the options avaiable to you. You haven't found a station with music and personalities you can live with on a daily basis to the point where they become part of your life. I don't totally disagree with you & believe some radio stations are part of the problem, but so are you.
Recently, I made an R-I comment on how local radio in Myrtle Beach has no direction, was not compelling, etc. Last week, I ran into a local market manager at a restaurant and he ripped me for my comments. My reply was a reference to the Bruce Springsteen song "57 Channels" and a question of him to specify one thing in his cluster that stands out. He started mumbling like a politician who strayed from his prepared text on a teleprompter.
I can identify with what you're saying, Sky. There is absolutely nothing that catches my attention in local radio. It's so bland and uninteresting that to call it painful would be an egregious understatement. I fear that RI radio has become the same way. It's evident that it is the case, based upon the near-screeching to a halt of topics on this forum. Ten years ago, we had so much to talk about and the Providence forum was one of the most active. Now, it barely moves.
Sad.
As much as we would like to think something can be done, it's over. (No John Belushi responses, please) The point of no return has passed and, unfortunately, radio had declined to notify us of a "do not resuscitate" order. It's become painful to listen to. The talent pool is so thin, mediocre jocks of 25 years ago would be stars in today's climate. I understand, more than most, that inventory is important for $$$. However, the stop-sets are so full of barter and other tedious spots (tax relief, credit card relief, male enhancement, etc.) that airtime has been wasted.
Perhaps folks like me, who walked away from the business in disgust, are more sensitive to the demise of commercial radio. I just don't get the rationale for the average radio consumer who continues to listen. Perhaps they don't know any better. There are plenty of people who do not know that Kidd Kraddick does not live in Myrtle Beach or (fill in the blank) lives nowhere near Providence.
I listen to an average of 15 minutes of radio per day, not including DXing time. Not coincidentally, it takes me 7 1/2 minutes to drive to work. The tuner stays on ESPN Radio, waiting for a Sportscenter update.
I'm sure many of you will take me to task for this, but it's how I feel.
I can identify with what you're saying, Sky. There is absolutely nothing that catches my attention in local radio. It's so bland and uninteresting that to call it painful would be an egregious understatement. I fear that RI radio has become the same way. It's evident that it is the case, based upon the near-screeching to a halt of topics on this forum. Ten years ago, we had so much to talk about and the Providence forum was one of the most active. Now, it barely moves.
Sad.
As much as we would like to think something can be done, it's over. (No John Belushi responses, please) The point of no return has passed and, unfortunately, radio had declined to notify us of a "do not resuscitate" order. It's become painful to listen to. The talent pool is so thin, mediocre jocks of 25 years ago would be stars in today's climate. I understand, more than most, that inventory is important for $$$. However, the stop-sets are so full of barter and other tedious spots (tax relief, credit card relief, male enhancement, etc.) that airtime has been wasted.
Perhaps folks like me, who walked away from the business in disgust, are more sensitive to the demise of commercial radio. I just don't get the rationale for the average radio consumer who continues to listen. Perhaps they don't know any better. There are plenty of people who do not know that Kidd Kraddick does not live in Myrtle Beach or (fill in the blank) lives nowhere near Providence.
I listen to an average of 15 minutes of radio per day, not including DXing time. Not coincidentally, it takes me 7 1/2 minutes to drive to work. The tuner stays on ESPN Radio, waiting for a Sportscenter update.
I'm sure many of you will take me to task for this, but it's how I feel.
Those of us who grew up on a different type of radio and worked doing that kind of radio think differently. It's the same mentality that has people complaining that today's sitcoms don't match the quality of the ones from the 60s & 70s. Most stations seem to be putting all their money on the morning shows to build up audience loyalty and hoping that loyalty will just carry through the rest of the day. I think all locally originated morning drive shows in Providence are doing great jobs. I really only listen to one but scan around to see what's going on elsewhere. To be honest with you, I don't see problems for the rest of the day for PRO-FM, Hot 106, Lite, HJY, or Cat Country. Some of the formats are not my cup of tea so I won't pretend to comment intelligently on them. The throwaway programming on B101 and Coast are another matter, but I just don't know what people want. I have XM manly because of format variety but I don't expect that kind of variety on terrestrial. I've programmed in the past but can honestly say if I put together a station with dynamic relatable personalities and a playlist that was deeper or a niche format, it doesn't matter how good it would sound, it would probably fail.
Runrigger said:
Something changed from the point when I was a teenager to now. It's not all me. Back then radio had variety. I miss the days when something different was on every station. You were almost certain to find something that you liked. But nowadays 10 stations are airing Limbaugh. Then you change the channel and 10 different stations are all airing O'Reilly.. etc....
I don't see me as part of the problem just because I want variety. I have unlimited choices and that is great for everybody. But these days a station has to do something to set itself apart if they don't want to sound like every other station on the dial. If they wish to keep people motivated to tune in they are going to have to start being innovative. As it stands there is a very good reason people like me are going to other forms of media. Radio just isn't cutting it like it used to.
It's not my job to make radio good. I'm just a listener. It's their job to make radio good. If they can't manage to do that then they can only blame themselves when ratings come out.
Name one innovative talent on the dial. Just one. Somebody you tune in and makes you say WOW! I did that in the 80's and they all shot to stardom. In 1984 Howard Stern was on one station. I knew instantly he was going to be big. Same goes for Tom Bergeron. I met him in 1985 while visiting WBZ. I knew he was going to be big too. There is just certain talent out there that makes you say WOW. You know they are going to turn into something special. Of course I'm not right 100 percent of the time. I still don't know where David Simpson went. But in any case..... there aren't many people making me say WOW these days. Matt Allen is the only one. In 10 or 20 years we'll see if I picked another future star when I chose Matt.
Bottom line. Let's see more variety on the radio. Then maybe it can be fun again.
Skynet74 said:
SERIOUSLY?????? Your act on this board is just like your opinion of current radio...TIRED, BORING, REDUNDANT & UNINTERESTING. The incessant bashing is growing old. If you hate radio that much, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. If you have such revolutionary ideas about moving the industry forward, contact as many consultants, programmers, VP's, morning show hosts, etc, as you can. Maybe someone will bite...and IF your ideas are that good, someone will. For your sake I hope so. Until then, we get it YOU HATE LOCAL RADIO...yet, ironically, you're on a local radio message board ad nauseam.
I, too, am often Mr. Negative. But Providence does have three bright spots:
1. WPRO - I have often decried the lack of political variety on the station. However, WPRO has a top-notch news team, great weekend programming, and is about as live and local as one can get in this day.
2. WHJY - The one station in the market about which Clear Channel obviously cares. After all these years, 'HJY still gets the music right. It is clearly programmed by daypart; for example, middays is Classic Rock-heavy, while nights feature more Alternative. The fact that 'HJY still has local jocks on all dayparts speaks volumes about the quality of this Clear Channel station. While the jocks do not seem to be allowed to talk about much more than music and concerts (outside of Charles and Paul and Al, of course), when compared to other stations - especially other AOR stations - WHJY is still one of the very best in the nation.
3. WCTK - Again, the station is a winner because of the live-and-local factor. Good personalities, good promos, and more.
Now for my dose of negativity. I cannot believe that Citadel has the Ralphie Radio Show voicetracked on Q-105. PRO-FM and Q-105 have a large area of overlap, especially in the Westerly area. How stupid do they think listeners are? I realize that the average listener is not the same as the average R-I poster, but still...
1. WPRO - I have often decried the lack of political variety on the station. However, WPRO has a top-notch news team, great weekend programming, and is about as live and local as one can get in this day.
2. WHJY - The one station in the market about which Clear Channel obviously cares. After all these years, 'HJY still gets the music right. It is clearly programmed by daypart; for example, middays is Classic Rock-heavy, while nights feature more Alternative. The fact that 'HJY still has local jocks on all dayparts speaks volumes about the quality of this Clear Channel station. While the jocks do not seem to be allowed to talk about much more than music and concerts (outside of Charles and Paul and Al, of course), when compared to other stations - especially other AOR stations - WHJY is still one of the very best in the nation.
3. WCTK - Again, the station is a winner because of the live-and-local factor. Good personalities, good promos, and more.
Now for my dose of negativity. I cannot believe that Citadel has the Ralphie Radio Show voicetracked on Q-105. PRO-FM and Q-105 have a large area of overlap, especially in the Westerly area. How stupid do they think listeners are? I realize that the average listener is not the same as the average R-I poster, but still...
John, when I say you're part of the problem I don't mean you created it. You found 113 stations in 20 minutes & didn't like anything you heard on any of them. This tells me you have a short attention span & are probably prone to boredom quickly. You're the nightmare that stations find impossible to please. Exactly what time period in Providence radio are you talking about when there was something different on every station? There's something different on every station now. What personalities & stations are you talking about that made it fun for you?
Runrigger said:
WNBC was fun, Their whole lineup was personality driven. Imus, Stern, Soupy Sales, Wolfman Jack, Joey Reynolds. That whole station morning till night was fun. Even overnights was awesome with EJ Crummy and then later with the Time Machine. No talk of politics. Just jocks having a great time, Listeners having a great time. EVERYBODY having a great time.
WBZ was fun. Dave Maynard, Norm Nathan, Larry Glick. Once again. No political BS.
WHJJ was fun. Steve White, Paul Perry, Talk Net overnights.
Something changed around 1990. It's called consolidation. You don't get that type of variety anymore. Once again I will say that I don't hate radio at all. If I hated radio I would not be posting here all the time. That would not even make sense. If I hated radio I would not pay money to Sirius/XM each month to hear it! The simple fact that I pay for radio proves that I don't hate it at all. Some of you are mistaking my disatisfaction with local radio as meaning that I hate radio. That's not the case at all. I just hate what local radio has become.
- Status