There was a DJ in my area who was always annoying. For example she said last year during the Covid pandemic "A lot of soap operas are shooting their sex scenes with their husbands or wives as stunt doubles to get around restrictions. For example, if I was a soap star, my hubby and I gettin' it on. Teeheehee." That's not TMI or anything. The station in particular had low 6+ numbers. What do you guys think...do particular DJs repel listeners?
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Do annoying/self-absorbed DJs cause tune out?
- Thread starter tall_guy1
- Start date
Yes. The catch is that what you consider annoying I may like.
For example, Delilah. She has her show style. I don't particularly like it. But it has been tremendously successful for decades.
For example, Delilah. She has her show style. I don't particularly like it. But it has been tremendously successful for decades.
Lujack, Imus, Stern, even Wolfman Jack back in the day. One person's annoying is another's superstar.
Exactly. Every name you can think of, including major talk show hosts, have had their fans and haters.
You can find comparisons in music as well. Just about every line of work.
Casey Kasem, John Tesh......
I used to enjoy Deliliah in the late 90s and early 2000s when I first heard her, DXing what used to be KAST (independent) on 92.9 in Astoria on a POS mid-80s Sony stereo receiver. (When I could manage to null out the stupid Air 1 translator that nobody asked for hammering away on 92.7, anyways.....) That was kind of a really crappy period in my life so I found her voice and style somewhat comforting. Then a few years later KLTH (Entercom) picked it up and it got worn out, fast. At least I didn't have to listen through sideband crap from K224DL any more.
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Well yeah. It was an interesting point having the "stunt kissee" being the spouse on soaps. Kirk Cameron may have pioneered the technique for religious reasons as he felt that kissing an actress who was not his wife (Chelsea Noble) was adultery, so any kissing scenes are in shadow with Chelsea. So TV productions picked up the technique for health and safety reasons.
The jock? Couldn't tell you...she has to appeal to the stations' demographic, which tends to not be us.
Yes, Tesh... I can't stand his show, personally. All the little "life hacks" and tips he peppers his program with are annoying as hell to me. Much of the guidance and these "revelations" he's passing on are either basic and simple common sense in most cases, or they're the same stuff one has read in their Facebook feeds, or long before that, in chain e-mails, for years. Very rarely when I stumble upon his show do I hear something new or have a true "eureka! moment" when I hear his drivel and life advice. That said, a few of my friends are exactly the opposite and tell me all that "helpful guidance" he gives is exactly why they enjoy listening to his show so much.
Yes, this one as well. An AC station where I grew up ran a "all request and dedication show" each evening with a local host, then switched to Delilah in the early 90s. Originally I was OK with it. Now when I stumble upon her show, I actually switch it off after feeling depressed and down because of all the doom and gloom and personal atrocities one hears about constantly.
When considering TV, I personally dislike American Ninja Warrior for the same reason. I used to watch ANW for the sporting events and competition. However, they started this crap several seasons ago where everyone who competes must have a personal interest story, some adversity they've overcome, some immediate family member who's sick or just died, etc. While some might tune in for the personal interest stories, they took that concept way over the top (to the point where Saturday Night Live even parodied them) and I stopped watching because of it...and when I did still watch that show, I'd view it 'on demand' so I could fast forward through all the fluff and BS and just get to the competition.
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Then again, both she & Tesh aim mainly at female listeners, which I guess you're not.
A lot of times, the things that annoy some people are exactly the things that attract others.
The reality is no DJ gets 100% of the audience. You just need enough to beat everyone else.
With a name like Mikey, how'd you guess?? (Disclaimer: My comment was only intended as jovial, lighthearted humor. While I'd hope that would be apparent, at times I find that, when making a comment in jest on this site, it's sometimes taken overly seriously and commands a stern reply. This particular comment was only in fun, I promise.)
Agreed fully. Tesh and Delilah obviously aren't my cup of tea personally, though their longevity and wide-spread syndication speak to the fact that many others do enjoy them.
And the OP question is frankly, silly. If the talent was so obnoxious or bad that they caused people intentionally not to listen, would someone be so naive to think the company writing the checks would keep them on the air?
As Buzz Bennett used to say, the first step to success is to get noticed.
It's what lawyers would call a "leading question," in which the question prejudges the answer.
In the case of this dj (who left somewhere else), the 6+ numbers weren't good on the stations she was on. It could be a case that management liked her, but perhaps people would rather listen to someone else. She wasn't "objectively" a bad dj, but very self-absorbed and annoying (though I'm sure some forum members think the same about me.)
This statement amounts to so much hot air and speculation from a perspective that doesn't understand how business, let alone the radio business, works. Let's break it down:
"In the case of this dj (who left somewhere else), the 6+ numbers weren't good on the stations she was on."
As has been stated before; no radio station sets their performance matrices on 6+ numbers. Assuming this person was hosting a show on an Alt-formated station, then the target demographics would likely be 18-34MF. Unless you have access to those numbers, your assumption isn't worth the effort to type it.
"It could be a case that management liked her, but perhaps people would rather listen to someone else." Assuming she left on her own as you stated; what would management's feelings for her matter? Answer: It wouldn't would it? Oh, and management doesn't keep talent around because they "like" them. It's a business. If the talent performs and tests well within the timeslot and target demo, they typically are allowed to continue collecting a paycheck.
"She wasn't "objectively" a bad dj, but very self-absorbed and annoying (though I'm sure some forum members think the same about me.)"
Your personal anecdotal opinion, not based on actual performance of the station or individual.
I know in the past though she was let go by a few stations around the country due to low ratings. I've seen a few DJ "surveys" stations send out (and which I've taken part of) as part of a music survey, but haven't by this particular station. She's in a different market now, anyway.
Also Jim Rome. I personally like his show, but I know he's an acquired taste.
When Diane Rehm still had a show on NPR, I couldn't get past her voice. Same with Scott Ferrell, but he's now doing sports betting talk, which is a whole other world of boring.
Perhaps an overgeneralization, but nobody at NPR gets hired for their voice.
Plus, I've heard of TV execs saying certain networks just didn't "like" a certain show when it's status was up in the air, and other shows that lasted just because it was a network favorite. Fox and "Futurama" comes to mind for a show the network execs didn't like.
As one probably thought of at one time or another as annoying, radio personalities have to have thick skin. It kind of goes with the territory.
That said, my pet peeve is male personalities always talking about their wives. Nobody cares.
That said, my pet peeve is male personalities always talking about their wives. Nobody cares.
Pretty narrow thinking.
When Diane was at WAMU (syndicated nationwide by NPR), she pulled huge adult numbers with stations who carried her show. The show's success had nothing to do with her voice, that was a medically-related issue. It was her interview style, and the fact that very high profile guests were eager to be on the show because Diane always asked good questions and never took any political or editorial slant. Diane was successful in making the show about the guest and topic, not about her.
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