"Centralizing programming is fine... if it's good."
I respectfully disagree. It's the consolidation (or centralization) of a few that have made it much more difficult for so many. It also replaces the "local-ity" of individual markets who are, now, largely without its own uniqueness as a market. Syndication of all types ...be it talk, music, Ryan Seacrest or the dearth of satellite format sydnication has created a, now, two decades old "sameness"' and homogenization to markets and stations large and small.
Add to this, the impacts of this economy and just how quickly the "recession proof" theory of advertising with the highest unemployment in 26 years in this country was disproved. Too much sameness in market after market, coupled with still "bad" radio in too many stations, lowering the value of the importance and relevance of the media more and more. In effect, there are way too many radio stations to survive ... and, hence, why the marketplace has shrunk so negatively, thanks, in large part, to consolidation and programming "centralization." Today, money stuck owners and manage don't care about "good" (or they wouldn't be releasing "good" talent,) they care about the loss of their bottom-line ... and in this day, that's what counts.
We've seen the Wal*Marting of blase' radio in the majority of markets. Now, it's a brief convenience, not a longterm need.
"If it's bad, all it does is roadblock people who might possibly be good from getting a chance."
That may sound good in theory, but in practice, it's not true. Radio has, with wary stockholders, horrific losses on Wall Street, poor facilities, lack of true community identity and "local" cohesion to the market -- no matter the format -- and huge losses by broadcasters who know of only old fashioned ways to keep radio the medium it once was ... forgot along the way to have a farm system of "local" talent. Instead, it has become easier to pick up the phone and call Dial-Global for the next "free" (though it's really not) satellite format, call ABC to join the same talk empire as stations 10 to 20 miles away for the same price of a local station part-timer or Westwood One for both free and "new" syndicated programming that is lacking in quality and station support.
Stations don't want to undergo the time and expense of doing their "own" building of hard drive libraries because they haven't trained to look to the future, so, again, they tend to look for the "Wal-Marting" of one stop shopping ... because it's cheaper.
Even in sales ... candidates aren't stupid. They know what's good and what's bad in a given market. They know their chance of making an actual living because they won't be trained, other than, "here's the phone book ... good luck." So, they tend not to be qualified, and if they apply at all (a very difficult problem in finding committed sales people these days,) they are gone within three months when the "guarantee" comes to an end. Or ... bad sales people keep being non-productive until "corporate" says "That's enough ... clear out the sales department, now!" They do so because the non-performers cost money, while the good performers don't make enough money to cover the other expenses of the station ... except for themselves and that costs everybody.
One thing you won't find today in any size market (or non-market) is Radio willing or able to "take a chance" on anything ... or anyone ... unless it is free, very cheap or without a great story to tell on why they should be hired in the first place. Today, it's not about chance ... it's about how much everyone can bring to the table. That's more than being a jock or a board op. That has to do with the dedicated, multi-talented individual who can do more than be a "jock" ... but who also realizes that he'd be better off being able to sell, as well. 99 percent of those who think they have great talent won't do that and will openly say, "I hate sales." Dumb thing to say when your station is looking for a way to pay you. You'd better love sales ... it's your salary.
Finally, the "convenience" of automation -- just as it was 20 and 30 years ago -- has sunk in so much and is reasonably cheap today that it's easier to "trust" what automation can do versus what often happens with us humanoids. Automation is a "machine" but outside of R-Info posters, most people want a good radio station. They don't care if you're a board op, button pusher, news reader, or whatever. If they can get what they most want, quickly, they're happy. We sometimes put more of a worth on what our individual "talent" is ... than we do on the benefit of what it will be for the station. Not just anybody can do this stuff. But ownership isn't much often in the "human" business. It's in the "business" business ... and could care less about the next Carson Daly or Ryan Seacrest.
"I would rather watch a schmuck on a local UHF station than, say Carson Daly."
Unfortunately, most people don't look at it that way. And most of all, if it doesn't make money, isn't easy to make money with and has an motivating and compelling reason for people to be "interactive" for that talent, it won't fly today. Remember ... no chances.
Again, it's not a matter of "good" ... it's a matter of having too few serving too many out of convenience and cost needs today.
