A music video making fun of the crappy playlists on Boston radio.

[Retro]

It talked about listening to Blake and then adding them to your Myspace page.

 

[beantownlistener]

THE BOSTON MUSIC SCENE ON YOUTUBE

However, he seems to think that the purpose of radio stations is to promote good bands.....

Correction! And DARKBUSTER aint just good, they are great.

 

[beantownlistener]

It worked for WBCN at one point and would today if done right. I'm not talking Indie 103 but throw in and actually break some local and unsigned acts, like go all hog wild on one unsigned act that has a ready for radio song for one year, times ten what any station is doing right now and consistently test run one new unsigned song a month for airplay to determine who gets the prize for the year..A contest even, based on caller response would make the most sense. Get your listeners in on it. This is why we are different. Run the promos, we let you decide who's it going to be. WWE it up! With the best unsigned acts out there. People are bored and want to be entertained and they like some say in it and to be a part of it. It has to be ready to go radio hits. There's plenty of awesome bands with songs that could be number 1. Lots of crap but you just look for the genre at the top from the local music directors, those songs are there. I hear them on sunday nights.

Robby is entertaining and makes people a part of it, whether they like it or not!

Seeing a station make a local band big especially one that is good and has been on the verge for awhile,,, that's branding and entertaining for listeners. Jeez "American Idol" "Guitar Hero" when is radio going to wake up? It's just as cheap to create a star is born and get a leg up with the branding. With the same old, you get the same old. Two years and there you go, your station is number 1. Easy.

People remember bands and stations. FNX and the Bosstones, then they jumped ship to BCN. The Police, Pearl Jam, and U2 with WBCN. Godsmack, Staind with AAF. I know they aren't all local but you get the idea. There is a branding thing that happens with bands and stations especially here in Boston, same with LA and NYC. And it translates to who broke them, supported them first. Made them #1. You do that with a totally unsigned act and you got something.

Boston is a big enough market to break new acts. Even unsigned ones. I don't understand how that isn't so damn obvious.

Robby Roadsteamer has videos with 100's of thousands of views, world wide, before he had call letters. He created more excitement and made an impact before call letters even as a guest on the local shows that he did spots on. He made more of an impact at night in a much shorter amount of time than others that had better shifts and longer tenures. Think about that. Robby is an entertainer and excellent wherever he decides to do it. Just like OZone. I hate most of his views still to this day, well not all that many, I'm socially liberal and morally/fiscally conservative.. But I'm listening him in NO, he's back on the air. He wants the homeless out but doesn't want to pay for locking them up!! haha. Ozone.

Howie Carr, same deal. It's entertainment and some have it and some don't and never will.

Robby has it. Trust me I've seen it in so many venues and I'm the impartial eye just like the rest of you half fools. Haha.

 

[TravisWMLN]

Robby Roadsteamer has videos with 100's of thousands of views, world wide, before he had call letters. He created more excitement and made an impact before call letters even as a guest on the local shows that he did spots on. He made more of an impact at night in a much shorter amount of time than others that had better shifts and longer tenures. Think about that. Robby is an entertainer and excellent wherever he decides to do it. Just like OZone. I hate most of his views still to this day, well not all that many, I'm socially liberal and morally/fiscally conservative.. But I'm listening him in NO, he's back on the air. He wants the homeless out but doesn't want to pay for locking them up!! haha. Ozone.

haha oh slappy...i remember when he had an idea for how to get rid of the people in the trailer park next to the then foxboro stadium because they wouldn't leave....and if I remember correctly..attach their trailers to your truck, drive 60 miles an hour down route 2, then release...wherever they end up, that's their new home....I as well listen to his new show from time to time...same old ozone

 

[mistermicrophone]

Seeing a station make a local band big especially one that is good and has been on the verge for awhile,,, that's branding and entertaining for listeners. Jeez "American Idol" "Guitar Hero" when is radio going to wake up? It's just as cheap to create a star is born and get a leg up with the branding. With the same old, you get the same old. Two years and there you go, your station is number 1. Easy.

You mock American Idol (27 million viewers 2x per week) and Guitar Hero (I don't know how many units the game has sold, but it's one of the biggest video games of the last 10 years), but these things have mass appeal and cross multiple demos. There are too many options available and if, as a station, you're trying to cram a bunch of unfamiliar music down the listeners throat, they are going to leave, especially when you hear "local" or "unsigned" band. Those who intrigued by hearing music by artists with said labels are in the extreme minority.

He made more of an impact at night in a much shorter amount of time than others that had better shifts and longer tenures. Think about that.

Yeah...thought about it...and I don't know what you mean by that! I don't recall him having off the charts ratings or reading stories about his "views", as you put it, being responsible for increased revenue. Maybe he made you and thousands of others laugh, but what can you put into black and white to justify your claim?? What "impact" did he have on the station or the industry in general??

 

[beantownlistener]

Seeing a station make a local band big especially one that is good and has been on the verge for awhile,,, that's branding and entertaining for listeners. Jeez "American Idol" "Guitar Hero" when is radio going to wake up? It's just as cheap to create a star is born and get a leg up with the branding. With the same old, you get the same old. Two years and there you go, your station is number 1. Easy.

You mock American Idol (27 million viewers 2x per week) and Guitar Hero (I don't know how many units the game has sold, but it's one of the biggest video games of the last 10 years), but these things have mass appeal and cross multiple demos. There are too many options available and if, as a station, you're trying to cram a bunch of unfamiliar music down the listeners throat, they are going to leave, especially when you hear "local" or "unsigned" band. Those who intrigued by hearing music by artists with said labels are in the extreme minority.

He made more of an impact at night in a much shorter amount of time than others that had better shifts and longer tenures. Think about that.

Yeah...thought about it...and I don't know what you mean by that! I don't recall him having off the charts ratings or reading stories about his "views", as you put it, being responsible for increased revenue. Maybe he made you and thousands of others laugh, but what can you put into black and white to justify your claim?? What "impact" did he have on the station or the industry in general??

You missed that entire point. Not mocking AI or Guitar Hero, personally I could give a crap about them. But I am not mocking but telling radio to take note!

I see the potential and it should be clear to all because of them!

AI, it's about the individual who has a chance to be America's next star and the viewers voting on it. The drama, the story line. With Guitar Hero it's the individual gets to be the rock star. That's what I was telling radio to take note of. Create the same on radio. The idea that you take the best local (indie and unsigned songs) and put them in some local competition and crown one and push them for that next year...The programmers find and pick the best 10-15 songs a year and the listeners decide the one that becomes a hit! It's easy and the songs are there.

I know the BCN rumble sort of does this but then it is about a live performance and a panel of judges. Make it about the radio, the songs, the listeners but let them decide who gets the most airplay. Each week the excitement would build. The Rumble is a huge branding awesome thing for BCN, it could be 10 times better if they also did something with only the acts that had ready for radio songs. And let the listeners in on it, deciding from their milk route on their cell phone...

Impact in terms of ratings and money for the station? I have no clue but would not doubt he did help in that way. But that's kind of out there to think that any sidekick working nights for I think about a year is going to make their station tons of money? I was noting the impact he made with listeners. I am one of them. Best thing on BCN is T & R. Before that it was T & R and Roadsteamer. I like that Adam 12 plays some songs at lunch and Juanita and their weekend crew but that's what I liked the best on BCN. And many others I know are the same. I saw another on here come up in another thread about Roadsteamer who was a boston dj and talk about how Robby's comedy somehow doesn't work on radio. Robby had more of a presence and more fans than that guy in a shorter time with a less desirable time slot. Compare the name recognition. Ask 10 friends and I guarentee you that Robby's name is recognized more often among Boston people. Compare their myspaces. Compare anything. Robby made an impact. People were mad at his departure. Not so much for the other....That's the true test, not some blip in a short term one quarter book that could just be a hiccup.

 

[beantownlistener]

Show me one other night time DJ in Boston that has anything on the internet with 20,000+ views. How about 50,000+ views?

Please.

http://youtube.com/results?search_query=Roadsteamer&search_sort=video_view_count

And those are just some of his videos. He's also got several popular myspace pages. His fans are loyal and will follow him with whatever he does.

 

[beantownlistener]

You mock American Idol (27 million viewers 2x per week) and Guitar Hero (I don't know how many units the game has sold, but it's one of the biggest video games of the last 10 years), but these things have mass appeal and cross multiple demos. There are too many options available and if, as a station, you're trying to cram a bunch of unfamiliar music down the listeners throat, they are going to leave, especially when you hear "local" or "unsigned" band. Those who intrigued by hearing music by artists with said labels are in the extreme minority.
[/quote]

Wait AMERICAN IDOL is mostly unsigned artists? Right? I know Paula Abdul and some of their guest performers have contracts but the majority are unsigned? Yes. And people don't get scared away? Nope.

They don't call them unsigned artists though now do they? They call them the potential next "AMERICAN IDOL". You call it "We are looking for you our (insert station tags) listeners to pick the next big act out of Boston", "Boston Rock Star" or something and you have what people want to hear. They don't mind that the PD's will pick the best 10-15-20 local songs but make it a radio event, exciting, the last day culminating with the two final unsigned acts in the studio with say special guests from Aerosmith who they will play with that night type of thing. But letting the listeners decide is what makes it work. And it would be exciting radio.

Put up Waltham's "Come and Take a Ride" Vs. Darkbuster's "Skinhead" and Street Dogs vs. Mr. Lif.

You have to have the best acts and their best songs. Most of them will be on smaller or independents, some truly basically unsigned but they have to have the song just like regular radio does it. But you don't play garbage, it has to have hooks and appeal to the listeners. Trust me, plenty of these acts have those type of recordings.

 

[mistermicrophone]

Well, I apologize about thinking you were mocking AI and GH...the way it was phrased, it seemed that way. I agree that the contestants on American Idol are "unsigned", the show gives you a chance to get to know them as individuals in 60 (or 120) minute increments over the course of a few weeks, all well having the contestants sing covers. By the time they get to the finals you have gotten to know the contestants, it's all about being familiar.

The same philosophy doesn't apply to radio as listening habits are much diffferent than TV. You can turn a station while a song you don't like is on and come back in 4 minutes. On TV, it's different...in 4 minutes you could miss a major plot line. Add to that DVR and TiVO usage and you have the ability to watch these shows on your own terms.

As for this comment: "Impact in terms of ratings and money for the station? I have no clue but would not doubt he did help in that way. But that's kind of out there to think that any sidekick working nights for I think about a year is going to make their station tons of money? I was noting the impact he made with listeners. I am one of them."

So because he had an impact on you, he had an impact on ALL the listeners, even though the ratings don't seem to support this claim? You can quote all the You Tube hits and MySpace friends you want, but what evidence do you have that being an internet sensation makes for being a radio superstar? If someone in Ottumwa, IA becomes one of Robby's friends on MySpace, how does that impact a radio station in Boston?

 

[Keith321]

THE BOSTON MUSIC SCENE ON YOUTUBE

However, he seems to think that the purpose of radio stations is to promote bands.....

When you're a listener under 30, that IS the fuction of radio, to bring new music.

The function of music radio is to play people favorite songs....

Then the function of radio, stinks.

A station that plays peoples favorite songs stinks?

 

[Tom Wells]

This would be nice:

1/3 of the time playing "favorites"

1/3 of not so favorites/someone elses favorites/interesting dreck/difficult music/B-sides/one-hit wonders/etc/ephemera

1/3 new music we don't know whether will be a favorite or not.

Sounds like college radio.....Or WFMU or WEVL.

 

[Keith321]

This would be nice:

1/3 of the time playing "favorites"
1/3 of not so favorites/someone elses favorites/interesting dreck/difficult music/B-sides/one-hit wonders/etc/ephemera
1/3 new music we don't know whether will be a favorite or not.
Sounds like college radio.....

Sounds like a loser station in a competitive environment.

 

[Tom Wells]

That would depend on what we're competing for, and what we have our sights set on.

Competetion is a very nebulous thing in art.
Oh that's right, most people here aren't thinking "radio, the art", they're thinking "radio, the business".

 

[Keith321]

That would depend on what we're competing for, and what we have our sights set on.

Listeners and ad dollars.

Without those two....the art can't pay it's bills.

 

[inthewolf]

Tom,

I would direct you to take a listen to CD101 in Columbus Ohio or Indie 103 in LA. Both stations seem to be doing what you are looking for. To some extent KBZT (san diego) and WEQX (albany/vermont) are doing it as well. You might want to take a listen.

Back to Robby for a second..is he still interested in radio or did the BCN experience burn him out? Couldn't someone like him find a gig on satellite or maybe even in other markets? Or is he not interested in making a move?

 

[spilot113]

Oh that's right, most people here aren't thinking "radio, the art", they're thinking "radio, the business".

No, most people here know they're inter-related and can't be separated.

 

[Tom Wells]

Oh that's right, most people here aren't thinking "radio, the art", they're thinking "radio, the business".

No, most people here know they're inter-related and can't be separated.

OK, as most people here are in the business, they do realize this, but even
from outside, I can easily hear that the concerns of botttom line are foremost.

Art/Business is tough line to walk.

I'm a field engineer for a high-end printing press manufacturer,
The technology must leave no trace upon the art, or it is a failure.
It's not good either to let the business have too much rein on "art".
That does not mean there is ever perfect printing or radio.
But business seems to pinch back the art of radio like a bonsai tree.

 

[SonicOverload]

That would depend on what we're competing for, and what we have our sights set on.

Competetion is a very nebulous thing in art.
Oh that's right, most people here aren't thinking "radio, the art", they're thinking "radio, the business".

you got that right... and I like your take on things. I'm also more interested in the art than the commerce, the aesthetics of the shows/programming, etc. This ain't the place for it, unfortunately.

 

[Tom Wells]

And I am confident that every time i download your podcast, I can go straight to air with it and enjoy your show.
Anyone of the hundreds/thousands in my dense neighborhood who already might listen to the surrounding (louder/faster) programming
will certainly enjoy rock that drags you along for a good time.

The latest show does not sound rushed.
I just wish there were 1 big file, or a good way for my Zara automation to capture it anew each podcast

Sounds fantastic on AM with big-but-controlled reverb and 20-30db of active tube compression.

 

[mistermicrophone]

The true masterpiece is a harmonious marriage of the two...art and commerce.