Electra Laments Demise Of Q101, Rock Radio

[DToTheJ]

The longtime afternoon jock at Q101 (now FM News 101.1) pens a piece for Slate on the decline of rock radio.

We Won't Rock You

 

[BRNout]

Carmen Electra can write? Wow, that's news to me! ;D ;D

 

[GeneSavage]

These stations haven’t been disappearing because the format’s a money loser. It’s because a handful of executives have decided that rock radio doesn’t belong on the FM dial.

That seems... unlikely... Anyone else?

 

[Uncle Rob]

Longest Resume I ever read.

 

[Roger That]

These stations haven’t been disappearing because the format’s a money loser. It’s because a handful of executives have decided that rock radio doesn’t belong on the FM dial.

That seems... unlikely... Anyone else?

Not only unlikely. Untrue. She's pandering to her audience.

 

[scanman1]

I think it has a lot to do with the fact we can program better Rock stations on our iPods and don't have to tolerate irritating DJs like Electra (couldn't stand that shreeking, piercing voice!).

 

[DToTheJ]

@Uncle Rob: In a way, it could seem like an appealing plea for rock PD's to hire her... never saw it that way - and in this industry, I don't blame her for trying...

 

[babyfishmouth]

No pandering on Electra's part. The only reason Q101 lasted as long as it did with such poor numbers was because the revenue WAS there. They printed money because they had that demo to themselves. The flip was inevitable, but it consistently out-billed The Loop over at the Mart.

 

[uncamark]

The interesting thing about the article is that the indie-rock hipsters in the comments are just pumjmeling Christine, Q101 and the commerical modern rock format to death--and making comments as to how much they hate personality radio and just want "shut up and play the obscure music everyone finds annoying but us."

I actually admire Christine for wanting to work in one-liners as part of her show, but the response to that is a disheartening one--that the audience doesn't want the next Dan Ingram and only views "personality radio" as the wacky morning team talking past the stop set times about sex and "American Idol." The 45 years since programmers misinterpreted Bill Drake as "anti-personality" have definitely taken their toll on personality radio (and would have even if there wasn't consolidation and voice tracking).

 

[DToTheJ]

+1.

I shudder to think that the Dan Ingram of this generation is Ryan Seacrest!

 

[bigtom101]

The interesting thing about the article is that the indie-rock hipsters in the comments are just pumjmeling Christine, Q101 and the commerical modern rock format to death--and making comments as to how much they hate personality radio and just want "shut up and play the obscure music everyone finds annoying but us."

I actually admire Christine for wanting to work in one-liners as part of her show, but the response to that is a disheartening one--that the audience doesn't want the next Dan Ingram and only views "personality radio" as the wacky morning team talking past the stop set times about sex and "American Idol." The 45 years since programmers misinterpreted Bill Drake as "anti-personality" have definitely taken their toll on personality radio (and would have even if there wasn't consolidation and voice tracking).

I think her article had many good points, but I don't think that there is any ill will towards rock radio...just that Emmis got in over their heads and had to raise cash to try to right the ship. And PPM has helped rock - I don't think there would be a Radio 104.5 in Philly if that market was still diary.

It's sad that people would rather have an iPod than a companion like a DJ, but radio hasn't done such a good job of cultivating the next generation of Dan Ingrams and Cousin Brucies. Another board I frequent would rather the FM airwaves be turned over to cell companies for mobile broadband when Clear Channel did their latest round of layoffs.

On another note...I think we can all agree on one thing - hipsters are the last demo to target a radio station at.