consultants and the suits aren't the problem...
Here's another consultant discriptor- " a consultant is one who borrows your watch to tell you what time it is.."
However..as to the quality local air talent available now online, in my opinion that is an excellent outlet for all types of music, talent and presentations.
As to why we don't hear this type of music on the commercial broadcast stations anymore is not the fault of "the suits" (some suits are impassioned life-ers in the radio business, working workaholic hours trying to do great radio, please their audiences, deliver the profit margins the shareholders expect, and still serve the public's interest ,convenience, and neccessity ). The real reason that so many formats , niches ,and genres of music or content have disappeared is the ad community's obsession with the 25-54 demographic. Over 80% of the ad buys are targeted to this group.The broadcasters have been charged to follow the money trail.Wall street, Main street or Madison avenue, the issue is the same. In the free market, if those who spend want only one thing( or close to it), the marketplace providers will adjust their offerings to follow the money.
In a lot of ways it's a form of discrimination, both to older and younger consumers.The younger end squeeze is why some markets no longer have an Active rocker or Alternative rocker, etc.
Discrimination towards the older end is worse though, in that the youngest baby-boomer is now 42.These 50/60 somethings have more disposable income and liquidity than any age group at any time in history. Yet the ad community doesn't want them and penalizes those stations that want to serve them . The population bubble says that the older consumer, the ones that may like the types of music formerly offered on commercial radio and now more and more , only found on places like these internet sites, which are a great service to listeners, may find a place to hear the local favorites they seek. Standards, 50's, Doo-Wop, even Classical. WFLN had a great run. Can Philly not support such a station on the commercial band? Surely, at this moment the old WPEN playing Frank and Tony billed more than it does today as a low rated sports talk station.
Maybe if the money trail follows these consumers to these new media platforms this will work itself back
to commercial radio.Until then, expect more 25-54 formats and more migration to other platforms for radio that targets the older or younger consumer.
