ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACKING (WHO'S THE BIGGER FOOL? )

[Wildstyle K]

I present this new topic because I've seen basically two main things across the boards here:

1. Many radio stations and / or owners doing questionable things that sometimes seemingly make absolutely little to no sense.

2. People complaining about and making suggestions in regard to what these stations and / or owners should do to "fix" the situations.

Now, I must ask:

WHO exactly is right here? And WHY are certain seemingly harmful things permitted to happen in radio while other things aren't? How important are ratings, and why do some stations "act" like ratings are more important to them than others?

What I don't understand is why some stations seem to perform with low ratings for an extended period of time before anything is ever done about it while others seem to take immediate action towards making improvements or tweaks. Another thing I don't understand is why certain stations would flip or tweak to a format style that actually performs worse than the previous format as if they couldn't see that it was a bad idea (while many board posters seem to sense the imminent failure to come). Then, on top of all this, any suggestions contributed to the boards in regard to why stations are failing and what should be done to improve them are said to "be foolish" and have no merit, regardless of how factual, neutral, or dumb the ideas presented may be.

This makes me wonder; Does anybody other than the top performers really even know what they're doing at all? Or is there much more to radio than meets the eye?

I think this will explain what I'm trying to say better:

I believe there are many stations that know they could never be number one, but are still kept up - as long as the overall profit is enough to make it worth it. If you keep a consistent 1.9 without falling, does this mean a solid, loyal audience, even if the rating is low? Would it hurt or help to move 105.3 to a smaller and cheaper signal, where you'd be saving on expenses, but at the same time, risking losing some audience?

I'm beginning to believe that there must be a lot more to the radio 'game' than we know, regardless of whether or not we work in the radio programming side of things. There seems to be a lot of talk about Armchair Quarterbacking going on across these boards and many thoughts regarding the fact that forum posts have no merit. So, I wonder if there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Is everything really as counter intuitive as it seems? Is there a reason why what we believe are failures or what we see as low ratings are tolerated for long periods of time sometimes while other times they're not? Is there a reason why a lot of suggested ideas that turn out to be a good idea in the end aren't always thought of / considered and tried at an earlier time? And exactly at what point after discovering that something's not working does a station decide to make a change and why? Can you still be very successful and thriving even if the overall rating number seems low?

I think the more I know or see, the more confused I get when it comes to trying to get how things are decided behind the scenes.

And here's a brief summary of some examples of "Armchair Quarterbacking" and radio stations / owners doing "very questionable things" to provoke the Armchair Quarterbacking.

Cumulus Cluster to Air 49'ers on SIX stations in one city
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=205270.0

ClearChannel Refuses to Flip Mexican Format El Patron, which maintains consistent 1.9
(While they keep higher performing lone Rhythmic CHR WWVA-FM on a weak signal)
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=204320.0

Psychopaths Running Houston Radio
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=205273.0

Board Posters post with ABSOLUTELY no intelligent thought before posting:
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=204241.0

Are any of the higher up radio company decisions or board poster opinions within any of those posts good? Or all they all foolish? And who's the bigger fool in each of those scenarios?

And what would you say in regard to the talk you've seen within the Phoenix section alone? Are the ideas presented here good? Or is all of Phoenix radio doing something right that we outsiders (outsiders - meaning anybody who isn't making the overall format decisions for each station...etc.) cannot see?

 

[DJ_Perry]

KDM is the only person I know who quotes himself just to continue a debate 8)

 

[DrAkbar]

And who's the bigger fool in each of those scenarios?

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=113344.0



;D 'n ;D

 

[The_X_Man_Cometh]

To quote KDM 7000's quote on January 25, 2012, at 02:50:57 PM of KDM 7000's quote on January 25, 2012, at 04:02:39 AM:

There seems to be a lot of talk about Armchair Quarterbacking going on across these boards and many thoughts regarding the fact that forum posts have no merit.

 

[DJ_Perry]

I'm wondering if there is actually anybody here that goes through the long postings and clicks on all the random links to another yet long post of rambling!

 

[mas]

I spent 20 years in radio and there has always been the feeling that those currently in charge don't know what they are doing, and those who came before had it right. People were making that argument when I entered the industry in 1985. I'm optimistic. The best ideas will always win out

 

[MC]

I keep an open mind. The "best and the brightest" do not always come up with the best ideas. Nor do the people in the peanut gallery. It never hurts to take a step back and look a situation from someone else's perspective.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I knew eventually people would begin to comprehend what I was talking about.

Now, these folks --> http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=205852.0 are complaining about a decision Cumulus has made. They are talking about how it was a bad idea for Cumulus to "force" an already "bad" morning show to add music to their line up and it seems that the majority of the posts consist of people saying negative things about that station.

So, who are the fools there? Cumulus, for their decision? Or the people typing in a forum forming an opinionated discussion about the station?

Now, lets say the whole Cumulus decision ends up being a failure.
Are the people who criticized the decision and predicted the demise still fools? And does it just become a "coincidence" that they were right while Cumulus's failed decision is considered an "intelligent mistake"?

One thing I notice about that section of the board I previously linked to above is that half of the time, a lot of the suggestions and opinions they deliver end up being right in the end, often raising the question; "how come it took these stations / owners so long to see this?"

....Yet the belief amongst the higher ups remains that no one except station owners and pd's know what they are doing or talking about.

I hope I clarified the point I was trying to make a little more.

Do PD's, station owners, and people who go strictly by hard data and numbers ALWAYS know everything? Or is it possible that "outsider ideas" may actually hold some value? (And I'm talking about the serious discussions and suggestions here. Not the "I think all stations should stop playing the same songs over and over or there should be a dance station...etc. type postings.)

 

[2Son]

I knew eventually people would begin to comprehend what I was talking about.

Now, these folks --> http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=205852.0 are complaining about a decision Cumulus has made. They are talking about how it was a bad idea for Cumulus to "force" an already "bad" morning show to add music to their line up and it seems that the majority of the posts consist of people saying negative things about that station.

So, who are the fools there? Cumulus, for their decision? Or the people typing in a forum forming an opinionated discussion about the station?

Now, lets say the whole Cumulus decision ends up being a failure.
Are the people who criticized the decision and predicted the demise still fools? And does it just become a "coincidence" that they were right while Cumulus's failed decision is considered an "intelligent mistake"?

One thing I notice about that section of the board I previously linked to above is that half of the time, a lot of the suggestions and opinions they deliver end up being right in the end, often raising the question; "how come it took these stations / owners so long to see this?"

....Yet the belief amongst the higher ups remains that no one except station owners and pd's know what they are doing or talking about.

I hope I clarified the point I was trying to make a little more.

Do PD's, station owners, and people who go strictly by hard data and numbers ALWAYS know everything? Or is it possible that "outsider ideas" may actually hold some value? (And I'm talking about the serious discussions and suggestions here. Not the "I think all stations should stop playing the same songs over and over or there should be a dance station...etc. type postings.)

I want you to invest this much time in helping me find some good new house and trance tracks (with work and school, my time is limited).

Thx!

 

[DJ_Perry]

I want you to invest this much time in helping me find some good new house and trance tracks (with work and school, my time is limited).
Thx!

I got ya covered 2son...check the link below, I don't have time to write endless novels!

 

[Saladressing]

It's happened many, many times: Posters on boards will go on for months or years about how there is a glaring format hole in a particular market. Others will state, "if they thought they could be profitable with that format they'd be doing it. There is in fact no room in Market X for this format and there never will be." Then, oftentimes someone in fact does flip to that format, validating the posters' position. But the opposite of the above happens as well, when posters want a "personal preference" format that makes no sense for the market.

 

[in3media_be1]

Some posts from this thread have been moved to Take It Outside


http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=206119.msg1840998#msg1840998

 

[Wildstyle K]

It's happened many, many times:  Posters on boards will go on for months or years about how there is a glaring format hole in a particular market. ..... Then, oftentimes someone in fact does flip to that format, validating the posters' position.  .....

Well, speaking of talking about something Armchair Quarterbacking and looking crazy - then having it happen exactly as you predicted or hypothesized... See The Following:






1. (JANUARY 2, 2012)

I believe that Tucson may actually have room and audience for a good chr battle! I wonder how a good CBS or even a Cumulus or other owned chr would do in Tucson? I'd say if one were to ever be tried, now is the time, .....

.....could probably shake KRQ up a little or force them to get more creative with certain features.  It would probably trouble KOHT a bit as well.

FULL TOPIC HERE: http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=204210.0

___________________________________________________________________



2. (FEBRUARY 3, 2012)

The Cumulus outlet said "Bye Bye Bye" to "Bob FM" and hello to "i97.5" at 12 Noon today (February 3, 2012)...

http://allthehitsi975.com/

PS: can't wait for the reaction from the folks at KRQQ and KOHT...

FULL TOPIC HERE: http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.phptopic=205923.msg1840588#msg1840588

___________________________________________________________________












i97.5 http://allthehitsi975.com/ Tucson, Az.

8)

 

[Wildstyle K]

OK, Just ONE more thing to add to this post, then I'll take a break from quarterbacking and let this rest in peace.



1.

Scratch and Sniff is being done on 96.1 which fits. I don't think the 99x listeners would like the rap/rock style of mixes. In my opinion it actually sucks!

But yes, industrial/electronic stuff... I know NIN has some remixes and so does Korn. 99x should hit that hard on Saturday nights just like they hit the more indie stuff on Sunday mornings.

Years ago, 99x did have a Saturday night mix programs hosted by Yvonne Monet called The beat Factory and X-Cellerator. Pretty much dance remixed alternative rock and industrial rock. You'd hear NIN, KMFDM, Lords of Acid, T99, etc. It worked for a while and it was exactly like what BBC Radio1 does in their dance music shows...beat mixed...sometimes live at a club...a little recap (over the currently played track) of what was played in the past 20 minutes...the only difference was 99x had to break for commercials. Not sure it would work...then again, 99x has been promoting more electronic music shows lately....I don't know if DeadMau5 or that recent electro-music fest at Lakewood was promoted on any other stations., though.

Whoohoo! KWSS 106.7 FM BABY! Alternative Electronica, House Music Mixes, BBC News, Great shows and personalities ALL day AND night, and the best national, local, and international Alternative music! EXACTLY how Independent Alternative Radio should be done!

Not to mention, also the addition of Ghetto House Radio on KZZP as of Jan. 1 (Which is ClearChannel owned chr just like WWVA, by the way........)

Lots of wild things happening in my radio world right now! Man, things just seem to be getting better and better in 2012 (for me)!

*I post this with hopes that someone in the ATL market may consider stealing at least some of these ideas and implement them in the ATL market.... School Stations? Rock Stations? ...Anyone?

2!

99X Atlanta has added another show called "99X Voltage". It will start this Saturday at 11pm and it will feature electronic, dance, remixes, and dubstep. Sounds good to me. Xcellorator beat factory anyone?

3!

THE NEW WWVA-FM WiLD 105.7 / 96.7 ATLANTA PRESENTS:
Prototype Radio - "is EDM open format with music selection consists of everything from Electro, House, Techno, Dubstep, Drum & Bass, etc.. The show is hosted and produced weekly by Bree and Andre Perry." More details, Here: http://www.prototyperadio.com/about/

By the way, folks, the show has JUST NOW STARTED. If you're up now, you can listen live
http://www.wildatlanta.com

LMFAO says: "Sorry for Party Rocking!" ..but

KDM7000 says "Sorry for Quarterbacking!"
_________________________________________________

To avoid any confusion:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorry_for_Party_Rocking

 

[David Owens]

I'm so baffled by so much of what I see that I've come to the conclusion that I must not have a clue anymore. I've been out of the business too long. Even when I was in the biz, there was always tons of madness, and I even found myself consulting radio stations (without pay). Ah, see, so somebody knew that I had a real feel for what was going on. Now, if I could only have gotten paid for half of what I did in all those years in radio.