Any Mea Culpas?

[TheBigA]

You'd be astounded at the number of people who don't twitter, and have never been to TMZ. Yet they listen to the radio. Many - perhaps the majority of people - don't spend their lives in front of a computer - as you apparently do - and don't have a smart phone.

That's great. Then radio has nothing to worry about. Your statement that radio needs to differentiate itself from new media is totally unwarranted. Let's all stick our heads in the ground and party like it's 1999.

Radio is adjusting to "new media" by going broke. Sounds like a poor solution to me.

You yourself said that radio is going broke because of too much debt. That's YOU! Spending more money isn't going to solve the debt problem. There was no amount of money or programming changes that Citadel could have made that changed the reality that they had a $2 billion debt. So quit making useless connections between debt and programming. There is no connection.

 

[SirRoxalot]

It's pretty obvious that you can't spend money on programming if all of your revenue is going to debt service. I can't tell you how many people have been let go with the words "It's not you. We just can't afford you."

Some owners are cutting SALES PEOPLE - the people who bring the money to the table. Some owners are cutting commissions for those who are left - creating less incentive to bring in new business. Production people, office staff, and support people have been cut mercilessly, weakening the on-air product at a time when radio faces ever greater challenges.

What's the answer? Citadel finally pulled the trigger - a year after they KNEW that there was no hope of recovery. What will that mean? Nobody knows yet. I have to say that I have little faith that Farid & Judy will advocate additional staffing now that they're out from under the debt load.

If people are leaving your product because it's substandard, doesn't it make sense to improve the product? Of course, we can argue endlessly about how to improve radio, but it's pretty clear that radio is less successful now that it has been in generations. Of course, it will be hard to prove that now that PPM is creating numbers that can't be compared to the diary system of the past.

 

[TheBigA]

If people are leaving your product because it's substandard, doesn't it make sense to improve the product?

The numbers show audiences are holding steady. So I disagree with your premise.

Of course, it will be hard to prove that now that PPM is creating numbers that can't be compared to the diary system of the past.

So you're telling me that your opinion is more correct than PPM?

 

[12 In a Row]

In some parts of the country, weather is a big deal. Having an accurate weather forecast with a reliable temperature makes radio more valuable than an iPod. Ditto with accurate traffic information. Not everybody has a smart phone, or access to a computer, especially when they're driving. Everybody has access to the radio, it's easy to access, and it's free.

Reliable temperature? I get that from my dashboard display.
Accurate weather? I get that from "local" weather on my home computer and I-phone.

As for compelling, interesting and informative I enjoy Car Talk and Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me. Both shows are recorded days ahead. Do I care? No
Just my opinion, but as a listener that's all that matters.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Glad you can afford a car that has the temperature displayed. Tough to get the weather from your home computer and/or iPhone while driving. At least I HOPE you're not trying to find the ap on your iPhone when your driving. And it's nice that you can afford both the iPhone and the on-line service.

Are there programs that are compelling and/or interesting that are not as time sensitive? Yes. That doesn't mean that timely information isn't important. Car Talk is on for ONE hour per week - and has breaks where local information can be inserted if something of note happens.

TheBigA and I agree on one thing - one size does not fit all. That also includes an overabundance of VT & syndication.

 

[davideduardo]

Glad you can afford a car that has the temperature displayed.

I was helping my daughter who decided to go back to college to get a car in the "economical" range. Every one we saw had a temperature indicator. Many had iPod/iPhone ports, and a couple could display stuff off smart phones on the screen, too. Her $149 GPS can get traffic updates in real time for what is a pretty low fee for anyone who pays for their own gas for comuting.

And it's nice that you can afford both the iPhone and the on-line service.

The iPhone service comes with the online capability as part of the deal.

The technology is moving very fast. My car gives me weather instantly on screen and via weather band, traffic in real time on maps with only the areas I am interested in displayed, shows the temperature, and can accept any MP3 player. It also bluetooths in my address book and phone directory which can be voice command dialed, and I can tell it what station to tune to, also. And it is several years old... so the newer ones do even more.

I have not watched more than 10% of my TV viewing in real time for more than a decade... I suspect radio will be used the same way in the future.

 

[12 In a Row]

Where have you been for the past 20 years?
David is correct, we're not talking about technology available only in high priced vehicles.
The days of having to wait around for the news, our favorite d.j. to play our song or to comment on the weather are over.

Take a look at what is being programmed this weekend on cable. Marathons of popular shows you missed or want to watch again. Radio can do the same.

Back in the early 50's, radio orchestra musicians were making the same argument if we're not live and local people we no longer listen. The industry will continue to thrive in one form or another, just needs to stop looking in the rear view mirror.

 

[firepoint525]

Almost every time I go in for a haircut, I ask the hair stylist a question or two about whatever radio programming that they happen to have on whenever I go in there. Almost invariably, they complain about repetition! Whatever happened to the old "no-repeat workday," in which they made a conscious effort to avoid playing the same song twice in the same day, much less playing it every couple of hours.

Several years ago, I went in for a haircut on Christmas week, and they had a Garth Brooks CD playing on a boombox because they were so sick and tired of hearing the same Christmas songs being played over and over and over and over.....

One haircutter once told me that they could pick up the patterns in a station's playlist. In other words, if they played a certain song, they would always follow it with a certain other song. And they've told me that a given song will play at the same time every day. Perception is reality with these folks. And they are not radio insiders. And they usually don't know about my radio background. Seems that these are the people that we should be listening to, not the radio insiders.

 

[12 In a Row]

Almost every time I go in for a haircut, I ask the hair stylist a question or two about whatever radio programming that they happen to have on whenever I go in there. Almost invariably, they complain about repetition! Whatever happened to the old "no-repeat workday," in which they made a conscious effort to avoid playing the same song twice in the same day, much less playing it every couple of hours.

Several years ago, I went in for a haircut on Christmas week, and they had a Garth Brooks CD playing on a boombox because they were so sick and tired of hearing the same Christmas songs being played over and over and over and over.....

One haircutter once told me that they could pick up the patterns in a station's playlist. In other words, if they played a certain song, they would always follow it with a certain other song. And they've told me that a given song will play at the same time every day. Perception is reality with these folks. And they are not radio insiders. And they usually don't know about my radio background. Seems that these are the people that we should be listening to, not the radio insiders.

Thousands of programmers, including me have been there/done that.
Listeners tell you they're sick and tired of the same ole songs. Increase the library with more selection from your core artists, only to watch your numbers nose dive.
They complain you're playing the same songs to then complain you're not playing their favorite songs.

On the talk side, you would think Rush's listeners would get sick and tired of him day after day after day after day hammering Obama. Imagine his numbers if he switched to segments on cooking or traveling? Watch the ratings tank.

 

[SirRoxalot]

New media makes access to almost unlimited amounts of information available to almost everyone. Penetration of smart phones and Internet access is hardly ubiquitous at this point, but is growing.

What some of you ignore is that much of the same information has always been available. It may not have been as instantaneous, or as easy, but let's look at an example. Weather radio has been around for 50 years. Why didn't radio stations stop doing weather forecasts? It's simple. Weather radio is NOT entertaining. And, you have to wade through a lot of extraneous information to get to what most people want - a simple, easy to understand forecast. If there's an entertaining and/or relatable element added to that forecast - BONUS!

Radio has always been an aggregator of information. With the proliferation of information, music, and sources, that role takes on even greater importance. The role of an air personality at its root hasn't changed. The idea has always been to present the best and/or most important information and entertainment elements to an audience in an authoritative, entertaining, and relatable way. With the overload of information that people face daily, there is undeniable appeal in a simple device that delivers great content reliably.

Local content is not as widely available. Local taste skews programming. It's been demonstrated repeatedly that what works in NYC doesn't work in LA. Heck, what works in Philly doesn't even work in Pittsburgh. Radio is inherently local - from both a sales and programming perspective. That's why good local management and talent is invaluable. That's why corporate dictates have often gone askew and actually reduced local revenue at a time whey radio was facing its biggest challenges.

Cable programs old content over and over because we have hundreeds of channels that have no other option for content. Has any cable channel featuring recycled content approached the ratings of those channels providing new, or fresher content? Does any market have 300 channels of radio available? Arguably, satellite radio does. How has THAT worked out?

Radio will evolve, but let's remember what the strengths of the medium are. Perhaps the biggest strength is in the talented people that have built the industry and its audiences. Casting them aside also throws away the most valuable asset that radio has - a relationship with the audience.

 

[gr8oldies]

It's only repition if they don't like the song. In that case, once a week is too much. The "cure" is not throwing more titles on the air

 

[TheBigA]

Almost every time I go in for a haircut, I ask the hair stylist a question or two about whatever radio programming that they happen to have on whenever I go in there. Almost invariably, they complain about repetition!

The big topic at our New Year's party was the over-reporting of Tiger Woods. They were saying there were other important news stories that went uncovered because of all the Woods stuff. And yet, even though they hated the story, it was their favorite subject to discuss. And they all had an opinion about it. And it's not as though other subjects weren't covered, but Woods was the only one they remembered.

A store that keeps the radio on all day will go through a music cycle three times. And that's only for currents. The recurrents and gold have a much longer cycle. The cycle is structured that way for typical listeners, who only listen for a couple of hours. So they will hear more repetition than the typical listener. Imagine if you had a news station on, which cycles the same news every 20 minutes! Radio stations don't program to the shop owners, because they are not typical listeners. Instead of asking the stylists about radio, ask the customers. You'll get two different answers.

 

[TheBigA]

Perhaps the biggest strength is in the talented people that have built the industry and its audiences. Casting them aside also throws away the most valuable asset that radio has - a relationship with the audience.

Maybe...one of the biggest problems facing radio right now is the aging of the air staff. The best known on air people are boomers. That ignores two new generations who represent the future of the audience. The boomer air staff talk about subjects that interest them, their favorite TV shows, what their kids and grandkids are doing, and their view on the world. The under-40 audience simply doesn't relate to their view. So the valuable asset you're talking about, the relationship with the audience, is being compromised because the air staff is too old. Replacing them now isn't throwing away an important asset, but the circle of life. The number of boomers in radio exceeds its percentage of the population. Radio is old and sounds old. Younger audiences clearly seek different things from radio, and it's important to adapt to that new audience now.

 

[gr8oldies]

Rox, should radio be this service that serves only people who don't use computers? Maybe we can do radio in the 70s for people who live as though it still were the 70s? I understand it's all about sitting in a booth talking to the fans for you, and I guess I'm wondering if you're still going to be singing that tune in 2020.

 

[firepoint525]

Maybe...one of the biggest problems facing radio right now is the aging of the air staff. The best known on air people are boomers. That ignores two new generations who represent the future of the audience. The boomer air staff talk about subjects that interest them, their favorite TV shows, what their kids and grandkids are doing, and their view on the world. The under-40 audience simply doesn't relate to their view. So the valuable asset you're talking about, the relationship with the audience, is being compromised because the air staff is too old. Replacing them now isn't throwing away an important asset, but the circle of life. The number of boomers in radio exceeds its percentage of the population. Radio is old and sounds old. Younger audiences clearly seek different things from radio, and it's important to adapt to that new audience now.

Radio hasn't developed a "bullpen" of new, younger jocks to take over for the older ones who are retiring, dying, or whatever. I couldn't return to stations that I worked for in the early '90s, even if I wanted to, because they are now on satellite. Not a complaint, just an observation. So obviously, the young high school and college kids can't work at those stations either, even though they could do it for less money than I could, or would.

 

[firepoint525]

The big topic at our New Year's party was the over-reporting of Tiger Woods. They were saying there were other important news stories that went uncovered because of all the Woods stuff. And yet, even though they hated the story, it was their favorite subject to discuss. And they all had an opinion about it. And it's not as though other subjects weren't covered, but Woods was the only one they remembered.

I've long said that the news media go from one "feeding frenzy" to another. That seems to be the only way they know how to report "news."

A store that keeps the radio on all day will go through a music cycle three times. And that's only for currents. The recurrents and gold have a much longer cycle. The cycle is structured that way for typical listeners, who only listen for a couple of hours. So they will hear more repetition than the typical listener. Imagine if you had a news station on, which cycles the same news every 20 minutes! Radio stations don't program to the shop owners, because they are not typical listeners. Instead of asking the stylists about radio, ask the customers. You'll get two different answers.

Then why do they bill themselves as the favorite for the office, or the workday listener, etc.? I didn't say NO repetition at all, just none during a certain timeframe. Bring back the no-repeat workday. Cater to those who ARE listening, not to those who are not.

 

[TheBigA]

Radio hasn't developed a "bullpen" of new, younger jocks to take over for the older ones who are retiring, dying, or whatever. I couldn't return to stations that I worked for in the early '90s, even if I wanted to, because they are now on satellite. Not a complaint, just an observation. So obviously, the young high school and college kids can't work at those stations either, even though they could do it for less money than I could, or would.

There are 14,000 radio stations in this country. Last time I checked, fewer than 3,000 program from satellite. That leaves 11,000 other stations, so there are ample places to find work. But most of those stations stick with their tried and true airstaff. The same people who were there 20 years ago. Except they're all 20 years older. If you bring up that they're getting older, they threaten you with an age discrimination lawsuit. But the kids aren't going to tune in to grandpop playing rap music on the radio.

I visit colleges, and the students tell me there are lots of stations where they can intern and learn radio. But there aren't many jobs on the air because there isn't much turnover. However, most find work in off-air occupations. My point is that being on-air isn't a lifetime occupation. At some point, it's time for the older airstaff to leave and start their own business, leaving room for younger people to get a shot.

 

[gr8oldies]

I thought most A/C's and library based formats still had "no repeat 9 to 5's" even if they don't call them that. If the hair salon is listening to the CHR station, of course there are going to be repeats, because CHR is about playing the hits often. If they pad with gold or mid-charters, they are no longer CHRs and don't fit their listeners' expectations.

 

[TheBigA]

I've long said that the news media go from one "feeding frenzy" to another. That seems to be the only way they know how to report "news."

I've worked at two types of news operations: One that dealt with the gossip stories, and the other that dealt with lesser-known stories like hunger in Kenya and Peruvian agriculture. I can tell you the public prefers the gossip stories to serious reporting.

Then why do they bill themselves as the favorite for the office, or the workday listener, etc.? I didn't say NO repetition at all, just none during a certain timeframe. Bring back the no-repeat workday. Cater to those who ARE listening, not to those who are not.

As gr8oldies says, the ones that program to office workers have fewer currents than the shorter cycle stations. They know their audience. They pay a lot of money to find out what "those who are listening" want to hear. It's not the same as the hair stylists, who listen for ten hours a day. They program to the majority, not to individuals, and the majority doesn't mind the repetition, as long as it's a song they like.

 

[firepoint525]

I thought most A/C's and library based formats still had "no repeat 9 to 5's" even if they don't call them that. If the hair salon is listening to the CHR station, of course there are going to be repeats, because CHR is about playing the hits often. If they pad with gold or mid-charters, they are no longer CHRs and don't fit their listeners' expectations.

The station that I was referring to at the hair salon in question is indeed an AC. I don't specifically recall a complaint about repetition as much as about hearing the same song(s) at the same time every day. (However, there is a lot of repetition among Christmas songs, because there are relatively few "non-groaners" to play.) One place where I used to get my hair cut back when I lived across town had the right idea: they'd let a different employee each day pick the station that they would listen to for that day. I was told this by one of the employees there.