Doodical said:
lovejamminoldies said:
Is it me or has Hot 1029 always sounded bland and plain? Ever since it launched... it's had a limited airstaff, half-ass imaging, and slow on music. The ratings speak for themselves, but based on what I hear, it's not like Hot is SLAMMIN and they left Z out to dry. Both stations sounded bland. I always preferred 945 because of the fun that came with the jocks, imaging, and music.
Wow, once again lovejammin you have shown your ignorance of radio and it's programming. But these are words of a mear child wishing to be in the business that he knows nothing about! If Hot is number one across the board, then how is it "Bland and Plain"? It sounds as good as Power in Columbus and The Wiz in Cincinnati.
I remember the Beat and it's so called DJ's "Mo Bounce, Frankie Pup, Ike B" to name a few, it's sounded like High School Radio gone wrong and CC came in and killed it because it was not working. The brough in Kiss FM which did ok going up against Z-93.
Perhaps you should go back to ICB and demand your money back, because clearly you know nothing of which you speak! But then again, I bet you've never been in real radio either? Nuff said!!!!
Foul! I cry foul!
Hey 'Dood...I teach at ICB. I'm also a graduate of what was the old ISB on Stroop Road. I've been in radio 40 years and still work in it fulltime.
I won't deny the school has had ups and downs...and for a while, fell behind the times in terms of equipment and to a smaller degree, curriculum. However...a few things you should know:
1.) Have you heard "Radio ICB" yet? It's a 24/7/365 internet radio station available via Live 365 (keyword: radioicbi).
A Top 40/leaned Hot A/C station playing Today's Hit Music. Now, you won't always hear "seasoned" DJ's...they're
students, remember? They're there to learn. Right now, students are doing voicetracked shifts (pretty much a
requirement of broadcasting today, huh?), and soon, we will have the station connected for live programming. The
station occupies one of our radio studios here on Smithville Road. We don't just broadcast to Dayton...we're
worldwide, having charted actual listening in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, France, Germany and several other
countries.
2.) We have gotten rid of all tape recorders, cart decks, cartridges and are completely teaching on a digital platform.
Our students learn Cool Edit Pro and Adobe Audition (de facto standards in most stations these days). And, if you
take the recording program, you can become certified at Pro Tools. (Oh...did I mention the multitrack digital
studio we have?) The old studio computers are being updated - a work in progress. I'm typing this on one of
several brand new Macs we have in our Media Resource Center (The Library)
3.) We now continually review and update our curriculum. In the radio program today, besides radio and the basics
of programming and sales, students also get training in radio programming tactics and strategies, as well as
learning about the various methods of programming and music research.
4.) We teach how the Arbitron book works. Students learn about cume and share, the Diary Method and the PPM,
and the different programming strategies it takes to get numbers with both. Students learn how to decipher
a ratings "bump" from a "trend" and learn about how to calculate ROI. (Return On Investment).
5.) You should be aware that the ICB Programs recently received re-accrediting from both the ACCSCT and the
Ohio Board Of Regents. It was the state's version of "turn your head and cough". We passed, and are fully
accredited through 2016.
6.) Our current crop of instructors are very knowledgeable in their respective fields. They've worked in the biz,
or are still working in it. And students from our school are getting jobs in the business. In fact, a number of
them work for us, or have worked for us at Cox Media Group. If you haven't seen ICB lately, you don't know
what's going on here.
As for Hot 102-9...normally, Jammin and I have had our differences. But frankly, a lot of what he says is right. (Jammin is probably very surprised to hear me say this!) The station is not as fresh as it could be...(you don't just change the music, you change and update the imaging often). I know...I've monitored the station at times for a number of years and the liners never change. And, I've worked for Urban stations in my career, so I have a pretty good idea of what I speak. I don't deny Hot has a good audience. But...it could be vulnerable to a hungry, better financed competitor. Sorry. It's just one programmer's opinion, and I'm entitled to it.
Oh yeah...who told you Hot is #1 "across the board"? That's not what I see in the ARB. I could tweak you on the ARB, but I won't. The station did a get a "kiss" a couple of months ago, but listening levels have settled to more normal patterns again. They are, however, the market leading Urban station and the staff should take pride in their hard work, regardless of the inner office politics, or the deep pockets, or lack thereof, of whatever ownership would exist.
