Coast 93.1 really IS automated!

[argytunes]

I thought I'd give the "ALL-NEW COAST 93-1" another try...so Monday morning I listened between 10 and 11:30AM. Much to my surprise, I heard a song that I didn't recognize, but REALLY LIKED! It was a duet between a man and a woman....and the catch line of the chorus was: "I was always on your side?"

Since there's no announcing staff around to identify the songs or artists on the ALL-NEW COAST 93-1, I phoned the old WMGX listener line and was told it had been disconnected. However, the voice on the answering machine told me to call a 2nd number for any questions regarding the format change. I called the number and got a recording of Randi K going into the history of WMGX along with the format change. Then I called the COAST 93-1 business office, got a live operator, but was put 'on hold' until she could track down Ethan Minton to answer my music question. After 4 minutes of waiting and listening to an "unfunny automated announcer" making poor jokes about being 'put on hold'...I GAVE UP!

While I'm sure I could spend some additional time paying a visit to the "New Coast 93-1" website and possibly get an answer to my music question...I decided to make the song title and artist request here? Maybe somebody can help me out? Because (at least for THIS WEEK)...Coast 93.1 really IS automated!

argytunes

 

[Radiothis]

In this history of online posting, this was possibly the most pointless post of all time.

Coast 93.1, WJBQ, WCSH and all other broadcast outlets are not your insurance company. They are not your doctor. They do not serve you.

I'm more than certain the jocks at 93.1 would really like to be on the air too. I also don't disagree that not having jocks on a Hot AC station is sort of weird. It worked for Frank, I believe, because Frank had no advertising and because no one needs introduction to most music they play on Frank. But Hot AC stations are driven by personalities, so yes, it is a bit weird. BUT PRG/Saga has done something unique by not firing all air staff after a format change--and likely they're just trying to give some distance to the old MGX before they change over.

Now, you're allowed to have your opinions. But com'on, what point are you trying to prove? That radio is automated these days? Is anyone surprised by this? Are listeners even surprised by this? Get off your older is better train my friend or at least pull it out of the train yard. No one disagrees that older was, in some ways, better but try spouting off to the community that doesn't read this board. Try activating the mass populus about the fakery in radio. But stop berating those of us who work hard and/or work second jobs (like me, although to be fair, I love my second job) to stay in radio. To paraphase a JBQ liner, alright already.

P.S.
-------
As a side note-if you were to log on the radio station website you'd see the song scrolling across the screen. If you have either RDS or HD radio, you'd see it too.

 

[Stick_Davis]

> I thought I'd give the "ALL-NEW COAST 93-1" another try...so
> Monday morning I listened between 10 and 11:30AM. Much to
> my surprise, I heard a song that I didn't recognize, but
> REALLY LIKED! It was a duet between a man and a
> woman....and the catch line of the chorus was: "I was always
> on your side?"

Sheryl Crow and Sting
"Always On Your Side"

 

[producershemp]

Argy,

Find me a commercial radio station in Portland that is NOT automated at least part of the broadcast day.

It is part of the business these days... unlike YOU.


Good night and good luck.

 

[argytunes]

> In this history of online posting, this was possibly the
> most pointless post of all time.

And I'm so glad you wrote the above because you're a perfect example of how the business has deteriorated!
>
> Coast 93.1, WJBQ, WCSH and all other broadcast outlets are
> not your insurance company. They are not your doctor. They
> do not serve you.

Hmmmm? I thought that was the reason most radio and television stations were in business was...."to serve the public?" Have those FCC guidelines been thrown out too?
>
> I'm more than certain the jocks at 93.1 would really like to
> be on the air too. I also don't disagree that not having
> jocks on a Hot AC station is sort of weird. It worked for
> Frank, I believe, because Frank had no advertising and
> because no one needs introduction to most music they play on
> Frank. But Hot AC stations are driven by personalities, so
> yes, it is a bit weird. BUT PRG/Saga has done something
> unique by not firing all air staff after a format
> change--and likely they're just trying to give some distance
> to the old MGX before they change over.

All I was looking for was the title to a song? I didn't think it would take 3 long distance calls and a lot of waiting to obtain it?

Now, you're allowed to have your opinions. But com'on, what
> point are you trying to prove? That radio is automated these
> days? Is anyone surprised by this? Are listeners even
> surprised by this? Get off your older is better train my
> friend or at least pull it out of the train yard. No one
> disagrees that older was, in some ways, better but try
> spouting off to the community that doesn't read this board.
> Try activating the mass populus about the fakery in radio.
> But stop berating those of us who work hard and/or work
> second jobs (like me, although to be fair, I love my second
> job) to stay in radio. To paraphase a JBQ liner, alright
> already.

Once again...YOU (along with several others) have misinterpreted my thoughts and have substituted the "he's just longing for the good old days of radio" crap. GET PAST THIS---WOULD YOU PLEASE???

For the FINAL TIME...I'M NOT!

All I'M LISTENING FOR is some DECENT radio product that doesn't sound canned and cluttered! Maybe YOU think this is the way radio should sound....but I don't!

> P.S.
> -------
> As a side note-if you were to log on the radio station
> website you'd see the song scrolling across the screen. If
> you have either RDS or HD radio, you'd see it too.

Well guess what "Mr. Dodo Bird?" I was driving south on Route 1 when the song was being played! And like the majority of radio listeners in Northern New England, I have a very good, but basic AM/FM installed in my car. No bells and whistles...just excellent sound coming from the speakers.

argytunes

 

[argytunes]

> Argy,
>
> Find me a commercial radio station in Portland that is NOT
> automated at least part of the broadcast day.
>
> It is part of the business these days... unlike YOU.
>
>
> Good night and good luck.

Sorry you're so defensive about "canned radio"...all I wanted was a song title!

argytunes
>

 

[argytunes]

> > I thought I'd give the "ALL-NEW COAST 93-1" another
> try...so
> > Monday morning I listened between 10 and 11:30AM. Much to
>
> > my surprise, I heard a song that I didn't recognize, but
> > REALLY LIKED! It was a duet between a man and a
> > woman....and the catch line of the chorus was: "I was
> always
> > on your side?"
>
> Sheryl Crow and Sting
> "Always On Your Side"

THANKS SO MUCH, STICK!

argytunes

 

[Oldbones]

>
> Sorry you're so defensive about "canned radio"...all I
> wanted was a song title!
>

Let's not be so defensive yourself...after all it was you that had a hissy because you couldn't find out the name of a song, and were too impatient to wait on hold.

Even back in the "good old days" (not that you long for them or anything) it was not uncommon for the jocks to ignore (or busy out) the hitline when they didn't want to be bothered with it.

As far as your comment further up this thread about "serving the public"...what does that mean anyway? When Frank debuted they went from oblivion to double-digit shares in one book just being a jukebox. Seems to me that they served what a good chunk of the public was looking for. The days of mandatory "public affairs" programming that no one listened to are (thankfully) gone for good.

 

[Radiothis]

Some fun facts about RadioThis:

1. My thesis was on broadcasting in the public interest.

2. I work in a non-profit.

3. Once a week, I get my jollies being on the air for four hours at a commercial station in Portland.

4. The rest of the time, I teach kids how to use radio equipment to share their ideas and stories. Some of these kids barely speak English. Some saw their families murdered. Some are just run-of-the-mill college students.

5. I left full-time radio when I realized half the people who were in it did it just for the glory of being on the radio (aka, they can't do anything else). But I still miss the other half, who are in radio for the passion they have of reaching out to everyday people and maybe even making a difference.

Don't pass judgement Argy. I won't make a blanket statement about your generation or about you. I would never say, the problem with you is... But I work in university setting where we encourage and participate in public discourse on a daily basis. I would advise you to try it out sometime. I would also suggest you to start volunteering at one of the three college stations in the greater Portland area that could use your experience and knowledge.

If what this is really about is broadcasting in the public interest (and I doubt it is) then start writing to Collins and Snowe encouraging them to pass laws allowing more LPFMs.

If you ever want to discuss radio and the public interest, feel free to drop me a line. But your constant picking on local stations is starting to really grate on me. I work everyday to help my students and others get their voices heard. You just keep squeaking in the back.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Radiothis]

> Well guess what "Mr. Dodo Bird?" I was driving south on
> Route 1 when the song was being played! And like the
> majority of radio listeners in Northern New England, I have
> a very good, but basic AM/FM installed in my car. No bells
> and whistles...just excellent sound coming from the
> speakers.

P.S.
Well, a lot of New England drives GM products made after 2000, most of which have RDS installed. Being a Dodo Bird, I don't know much about technology, but I do know that RDS has absolutely nothing to do with quality of sound. It's actually a small data chain that can be used for a number of fascinating tricks--it's especially popular in Europe, where it can be used to "track" a station like BBC1 by switching from weakening signals to stronger relay signals.

And then of course, there's HD radio, a fascinating new technology that allows broadcasters to send out more than one stream of audio, which you would think would be exciting to someone concerned about radio in the public interest, since many broadcasters are using the second channel to broadcast low-ad revenue programming that the public seems, well, interested in.

But again, being a Dodo, I really don't know much about technology. In fact, I believe the sound in my old crystal set is just fine.

 

[argytunes]

> Don't pass judgement Argy. I won't make a blanket statement
> about your generation or about you. I would never say, the
> problem with you is... But I work in university setting
> where we encourage and participate in public discourse on a
> daily basis. I would advise you to try it out sometime. I
> would also suggest you to start volunteering at one of the
> three college stations in the greater Portland area that
> could use your experience and knowledge.

Actually...I DID teach a course in basic radio to a group of Junior Achievement students several years ago. A few of 'em must've gotten something out of it as they're now working for stations considerably bigger than what we have in Maine.
>
> If what this is really about is broadcasting in the public
> interest (and I doubt it is) then start writing to Collins
> and Snowe encouraging them to pass laws allowing more LPFMs.

Since you teach the subject, perhaps you can answer this for me? Are radio stations no longer a "public trust?" Are all the rules regarding certain amounts of public service programming no longer applicable? Does just paying an annual fee to the commission eliminate everything else including responsibility when it comes to programming?
>
>
> If you ever want to discuss radio and the public interest,
> feel free to drop me a line.

This goes both ways....!

But your constant picking on
> local stations is starting to really grate on me. I work
> everyday to help my students and others get their voices
> heard. You just keep squeaking in the back.

If you don't care for my comments on this or any other board, then skip the argytunes responses! Isn't that easy???? However, don't put me down because I'm not TOTALLY IN LOVE with the way many radio stations are currently sounding these days? [I'm sure there are other listeners who have similar feelings?]

Since you're a teacher, why not tell your students that whatever they hear coming out of their speakers---CAN ALWAYS BE IMPROVED! Start by having them write better commercial copy! I'll bet some of your students could do a better job than "what's going out over the airwaves" today?

Thanks for your time.

You're welcome.

argydix

 

[argytunes]

> >
> > Sorry you're so defensive about "canned radio"...all I
> > wanted was a song title!
> >
>
> Let's not be so defensive yourself...after all it was you
> that had a hissy because you couldn't find out the name of a
> song, and were too impatient to wait on hold.

I think 4 minutes is plenty of time to wait for a response...particularly when the operator for COAST 93-1 told me that Ethan Minton would be happy to take my call....and that she'd connect me to him immediately!
>
> Even back in the "good old days" (not that you long for them
> or anything) it was not uncommon for the jocks to ignore (or
> busy out) the hitline when they didn't want to be bothered
> with it.

A great tradition for any NEW radio station to follow....isn't it? Especially when it hopes to acquire some new listeners...and perhaps a few new advertisers?

argytunes

 

[infinitysux05]

> > >NOOOO REALLY????? Who among you discovered that? WMGX has been canning most of its programming for yrs now!!! Hell the last time i was in that market (3yrs ago) 'BLM and 'MPG were the ONLY radio stations there were live after 10pm! Hard to believe, not really In some ways I wish that whole market would me canned!....wait were half way there now! Please can someone just can the Joe and "Rock'N Jon.....morning show of POR?.....WOW!!! Rock'n Jon...Theres a blast from the past, too bad he didnt stay in the past! An don't get me started on Portland mornings shows....you won't like the outcome!
> > > Sorry you're so defensive about "canned radio"...all I
> > > wanted was a song title!
> > >
> >
> > Let's not be so defensive yourself...after all it was you
> > that had a hissy because you couldn't find out the name of
> a
> > song, and were too impatient to wait on hold.
>
> I think 4 minutes is plenty of time to wait for a
> response...particularly when the operator for COAST 93-1
> told me that Ethan Minton would be happy to take my
> call....and that she'd connect me to him immediately!
> >
> > Even back in the "good old days" (not that you long for
> them
> > or anything) it was not uncommon for the jocks to ignore
> (or
> > busy out) the hitline when they didn't want to be bothered
>
> > with it.
>
> A great tradition for any NEW radio station to
> follow....isn't it? Especially when it hopes to acquire
> some new listeners...and perhaps a few new advertisers?
>
> argytunes
>