Doesn't it seem strange...

[Radio_Realist]

... that people who cannot play a musical instrument, who can't carry a tune in a bushel basket, who've never performed music in front of a live audience or in a recording studio can decide which songs radio listeners get to hear and which ones they don't? And at the same time, those very same people claim that anyone who isn't currently getting a paycheck for saying "That was Matchbox 20" on a microphone from a radio studio can't possibly have a valid opinion on radio broadcasting.

And isn't it strange that people who have never played major leagure baseball see nothing wrong with expressing their opinions about the Pirates, and who have never played pro football see nothing wrong with expressing their opinions about the Steelers, yet when someone who isn't currently working in radio says anything about radio, those same people claim, "You're not working in radio, so your opinion isn't worth anything"?

And isn't it strange that in most other industries, bringing in talent and input from other industries helps keep businesses fresh and creative, and helps keep the businesses profitable, while in radio, they'd rather hire someone who failed in previous radio jobs than hire someone who succeeded at doing something different?

 

[Radio_Realist]

And another thing..

How is it that people who work in radio full-time, and therefore have to spend a certain amount of time actually doing their own jobs, manage to find enough time to listen to every other radio station on the air? Where do these people find the time to listen to every personality in their own market, as well as knowing who's who in every other market in the country? Are they able to determine who is good and who isn't across the entire country by hearing little 3 or 4 minute snippets of broadcasts, and from those tiny samples form opinions of which personalities or formats are good and which ones are bad?

 

[captainrexk]

Re: And another thing..

> How is it that people who work in radio full-time, and therefore have to spend a certain amount of time actually doing their own jobs, manage to find enough time to listen to every other radio station on the air?
A: I can't speak for every DJ when I say that after x/amount of hours spent playing 1 particular format of music, we get kind of sick of listening to it, especially if you work at a station where currents are played every 2-3 hours. Even listening to a direct competitor to compare elements (promotions, songs that your station is/isn't playing, etc.) is sometimes beneficial. I know that when I leave the building, the last thing I want to hear is what I just played for the last 4-5-6 hours.

> Where do these people find the time to listen to every personality in their
own market, as well as knowing who's who in every other market in the country?
A: Refer to above for the personality question. Again, not speaking for all DJs, I get my knowledge of other market's jocks by reading different sources. Also, when I go on vacation, I scan my radio quite a bit. I may not travel all over the country, but being in a different market can give you a different perspective.

> Are they able to determine who is good and who isn't across the entire country by hearing little 3 or 4 minute snippets of broadcasts, and from those
tiny samples form opinions of which personalities or formats are good and which ones are bad?
A: 3 or 4 minutes may not be sufficient, maybe 1/2 hour or so. I usually listen to how they run their board: music, commericals, talk, etc. What you may hear on web sites may just be a copy of their air checks, which are going to be their best stuff to begin with. Hearing them live gives you a better idea of how they run their show. They're in a more human element then.