Atlanta radio is like the old Twilight Zone

[BIGSTICK]

Radio in this market is abysmal to say the least, it reminds me of a corny episode of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone. Thoughts?????

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_12_Looks_Just_Like_You

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Radio in this market is abysmal to say the least, it reminds me of a corny episode of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone. Thoughts?????

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_12_Looks_Just_Like_You

Radio today may be in a phase where nobody knows what to do to make it "loved by the audience" as we used to think it was.

The bigger problem is that radio is not the exotic mystery in our minds that it once was. Everybody with an iPod or other mp3 device is now an expert on what is good programming.... and how to achieve it.

Now. Tell me what market today has GOOD RADIO? (as compared to Atlanta.) As a person who no longer get goose-bumps from listening to radio like we used to, maybe I could go to that market, or stream at market and feel 20 years younger just by listening to good radio.

 

[fortt3]

"GOOD RADIO" -- that's a subjective, "eyes of beholder" description.
Not that that I really think anyone cares, but just for fun my "good radio market" would have (in no specific order):
- Scott Shannon's TOC or an equivalent with a similar personality and music mix of 60's and 70's
- rhythmic oldies
- 40's big band and 50's pop - Adult Standards & Traditional Pop
- "3rd through 5th Generation" classic country, 5% mix of "western".
- new country (6th & 7th gen)
- Contemp Christian
- traditional worship music/inspirational ("Sounds of Faith")
- country/southern gospel
- beautiful music
- 2 news/talk
- 2 all news
I would switch between all of these. Whatever I've left out, I would never listen to.

 

[bnaivar]

"GOOD RADIO" -- that's a subjective, "eyes of beholder" description.
Not that that I really think anyone cares, but just for fun my "good radio market" would have (in no specific order):
- Scott Shannon's TOC or an equivalent with a similar personality and music mix of 60's and 70's
- rhythmic oldies
- 40's big band and 50's pop - Adult Standards & Traditional Pop
- "3rd through 5th Generation" classic country, 5% mix of "western".
- new country (6th & 7th gen)
- Contemp Christian
- traditional worship music/inspirational ("Sounds of Faith")
- country/southern gospel
- beautiful music
- 2 news/talk
- 2 all news
I would switch between all of these. Whatever I've left out, I would never listen to.

*APPLAUSE*

 

[chrocket87]

Columbus, OH has pretty good radio. They have TWO alternative stations, one for the safe crowd and one for the hip crowd. They have an active rocker that is not crammed with 70s/80s titles. They have Rhythmic CHR, an adult-leaning CHR, which has not been demolished by Clear Channel yet. They also have a great sounding Hot AC in the market. They have one sports talker on FM with the needed PBPs (Ohio State, Columbus BlueJackets). They have all-news, Jack FM, and all of the formats that you see in every other market. Well, except Classic Hits. Other than the lack of Classic Hits, Columbus is a great radio market and outside of the one alternative station, doesn't seem like they have been wrecked by the typical corporate playlists.

My home market (Detroit) is also pretty good.

 

[BIGSTICK]

"GOOD RADIO" -- that's a subjective, "eyes of beholder" description.
Not that that I really think anyone cares, but just for fun my "good radio market" would have (in no specific order):
- Scott Shannon's TOC or an equivalent with a similar personality and music mix of 60's and 70's
- rhythmic oldies
- 40's big band and 50's pop - Adult Standards & Traditional Pop
- "3rd through 5th Generation" classic country, 5% mix of "western".
- new country (6th & 7th gen)
- Contemp Christian
- traditional worship music/inspirational ("Sounds of Faith")
- country/southern gospel
- beautiful music
- 2 news/talk
- 2 all news
I would switch between all of these. Whatever I've left out, I would never listen to.

*APPLAUSE*

I agree, but not country/southern gospel, enough of that already on the AM side.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I agree, but not country/southern gospel, enough of that already on the AM side.

In Atlanta? Who?

Yes, at the fringes of the Metro you can pick up Country/Southern gospel from little county seat stations of North Georgia don't really reach into Atlanta.

In Atlanta? Who?

 

[OgOgglby]

But who controls the vertical?

 

[fussbudget]

@OgOgglby: The Outer Limits. With Atlanta radio, you're entering another dimension.

 

[OgOgglby]

With Clear Channel Atlanta, for the past 30 years it's been more like Lost In Space. Danger Will Robinson...a new cluster PD is approaching...all successful formats in danger!!!!

 

[jefflaurence]

I go to several colleges speaking on audio production and "reading to sell" for audio media. Most of the college age people are oblivious to radio..and prefer downloads, Pandora, and "Indy" on-line listening. Quite simply the medium for conveying music has changed, and doesn't look like its coming back..no matter how many "new technology" ideas are mandated by the archaic FCC. As new cells of music "listeners" arrive on the planet..that's that many more who will ignore radio.

One student put it quite clearly.."listening to a radio station is like borrowing someone else's iPod and hearing THIER tastes in music..adding commercials and useless talking..why would I want that?"

Hmmmm...

In their minds..The only use for radio is spoken word. If it is current, and live..it is the ONE thing an iPod can't really do...save for podcasts..that are plentiful, and themselves offer reasonable current content..but for breaking news and weather..and in some cases sportscasts..that it...as far as they are concerned. Even satellite radio is frowned on with the tight playlists, and now reduced audio quality.

Sad huh?

 

[trusty]

So, you're saying that the only ones that prefer to listen to music on terrestrial radio are ones that want to listen to --- oldies?

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I would love to read the report if some professors and their students did a scholarly study on that issue: what do the people who actually listen to radio expect from the radio.

Would make interesting reading.

 

[TheBigA]

One student put it quite clearly.."listening to a radio station is like borrowing someone else's iPod and hearing THIER tastes in music..adding commercials and useless talking..why would I want that?"

There will come a time when they will have a lot less free time on their hands. When that time comes, they will appreciate the luxury of having someone else create playlists for them. And it's likely that people of their generation will be in radio, creating those playlists. But for now, while they're in college, they have lots of time to create playlists, download songs, and enjoy music that's too cool for school. I also have noticed that most of the music a lot of the college age men listen to contains lyrics that would be unacceptable on the radio, or in mixed company.

True story: I've been in radio since I was 15. One of my first jobs was as an evening Oldies DJ. It was music I never listened to, because it was aimed at my parents. They listened to my show, but no one my age did. In fact, most of the radio at the time was filled with music I didn't like or listen to. Even the rock stations at the time was too pedestrian, and the DJs were, on average, 10-20 years older than me. My personal collection at age 15 was a lot less commercial than what I was playing on the radio. And it stayed that way until I turned about 26. Around the time, I developed an appreciation for someone else's record collection, and really didn't care about the commercials.

 

[MRFLASHPORT]

I go to several colleges speaking on audio production and "reading to sell" for audio media. Most of the college age people are oblivious to radio..and prefer downloads, Pandora, and "Indy" on-line listening. Quite simply the medium for conveying music has changed, and doesn't look like its coming back..no matter how many "new technology" ideas are mandated by the archaic FCC. As new cells of music "listeners" arrive on the planet..that's that many more who will ignore radio.

One student put it quite clearly.."listening to a radio station is like borrowing someone else's iPod and hearing THIER tastes in music..adding commercials and useless talking..why would I want that?"

Hmmmm...

In their minds..The only use for radio is spoken word. If it is current, and live..it is the ONE thing an iPod can't really do...save for podcasts..that are plentiful, and themselves offer reasonable current content..but for breaking news and weather..and in some cases sportscasts..that it...as far as they are concerned. Even satellite radio is frowned on with the tight playlists, and now reduced audio quality.

Sad huh?

I would believe this is the case, however, when I plug in my phone and listen to K-EARTH 101, why is it that the idea that spoken word is all that is left for FM as we know it simply isn't true in OTHER major markets? I mean, this is a CBS owned corporate station, but it sounds as good as it ever did (in fact they are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, so I heard this weekend).

I listened all weekend for hours, never heard the same song twice. Keep in mind, I could easily have brought up Pandora and gotten the same music, but the imaging, the jocks, and even some of the local ads KEPT ME LISTENING FOR HOURS. (Sprint isn't going to like me)

I still say if someone put the SAME EFFORT into an Atlanta big stick with this format, it would be successful, oh never mind. I'll just keep dreaming and streaming...

 

[BIGSTICK]

I go to several colleges speaking on audio production and "reading to sell" for audio media. Most of the college age people are oblivious to radio..and prefer downloads, Pandora, and "Indy" on-line listening. Quite simply the medium for conveying music has changed, and doesn't look like its coming back..no matter how many "new technology" ideas are mandated by the archaic FCC. As new cells of music "listeners" arrive on the planet..that's that many more who will ignore radio.

One student put it quite clearly.."listening to a radio station is like borrowing someone else's iPod and hearing THIER tastes in music..adding commercials and useless talking..why would I want that?"

Hmmmm...

In their minds..The only use for radio is spoken word. If it is current, and live..it is the ONE thing an iPod can't really do...save for podcasts..that are plentiful, and themselves offer reasonable current content..but for breaking news and weather..and in some cases sportscasts..that it...as far as they are concerned. Even satellite radio is frowned on with the tight playlists, and now reduced audio quality.

Sad huh?

I would believe this is the case, however, when I plug in my phone and listen to K-EARTH 101, why is it that the idea that spoken word is all that is left for FM as we know it simply isn't true in OTHER major markets? I mean, this is a CBS owned corporate station, but it sounds as good as it ever did (in fact they are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, so I heard this weekend).

I listened all weekend for hours, never heard the same song twice. Keep in mind, I could easily have brought up Pandora and gotten the same music, but the imaging, the jocks, and even some of the local ads KEPT ME LISTENING FOR HOURS. (Sprint isn't going to like me)

I still say if someone put the SAME EFFORT into an Atlanta big stick with this format, it would be successful, oh never mind. I'll just keep dreaming and streaming...

Believe me, you know I feel the same way.

 

[jefflaurence]

And MISTERFLASHPORT is right..K-Earth does sound great. KOOL-FM in Phoenix is also a good listen although with a slightly different delivery..

CBS has the chops to deliver compelling, listenable radio..especially with Classic Hits.

And I still think Fox97 could come back, and jump in with all fours!

 

[DiamondDave]

Scott Shannon's TOC or an equivalent with a similar personality and music mix of 60's and 70's
- rhythmic oldies
- 40's big band and 50's pop - Adult Standards & Traditional Pop
- "3rd through 5th Generation" classic country, 5% mix of "western".
- new country (6th & 7th gen)
- Contemp Christian
- traditional worship music/inspirational ("Sounds of Faith")
- country/southern gospel
- beautiful music
- 2 news/talk
- 2 all news

YES this is a great mix. However, you guys are living in a dream-world. Atlanta radio
will never NEVER return to the days of this kind of music and news on the Atlanta dial.

Gone are the days of FOX 97, WQXI, WPLO and yes, even the "old" WSB 750 which
dominated the ratings in the 1960's. However if you want a mix like this list above,
it does exist on XM-Sirius Satellite. All of the above. And More. So why keep complaining
and "wishing and hoping" for a better Atlanta Radio dial. Get an XM radio and enjoy the
music !! With the likes of Cumulus and Clear Channel, Atlanta Radio is DOOMED....

 

[fortt3]

Like I said, it was for fun. But XM costs money. Pandora satisfies my itch for now.

 

[cjwest]

YEP, the AM dial is like outer hispanic outer space. I do listen to 1690 WMLB for CBS news at the top of the hour. Music can be good at times but their signal is very weak.