Elvis Duran Says Radio Isn’t What It Used To Be...

[radiofan2023]

After the internet and texting on phones hit in the 90's and 00's, Radio had the capability to use those interactive services as well. Social media pages for stations and shows also have capabilities for listeners to interact, not only with the people on air, but also with each other. I don't know how often that is done, but the tech has been around for as long as there has been social media.

I listened to Ben Maller Monday night / Tuesday a.m. after the MNF game. I hadn't listened to his show in a while. He had callers, and I think he also had a few texts that he read. There was a certain amount of interaction. I know he has a decent social media presence. Sure, it's sports talk radio, but it's an example of how a show can have lively interaction with listeners.

In the early 2000s, when KCTE in Independence had local talk shows, they used AOL instant messenger to get comments from listeners and it was fantastic. I'm sure other talk stations may have done that too, but that was the first one I knew of.

Ben's show is great, but I wish there was a livestream of his show on Youtube or something like that. There are cameras in the Fox Sports Radio studios/Ben's home studio since FSR tapes different takes to post on their YouTube channel. Maybe the bandwidth to run them 24/7 would be too much for Iheart/FSR. How long have you been listening to Ben and have you ever called in? I've tweeted in a few times and got Fred Dryer to answer a question when he was a guest.

 

[davideduardo]

The future of American commercial radio isn't in serving people who make good decisions with money, it's in serving people who make bad decisions with money. And those people largely listen to country,

That is terribly offensive to country listeners. Having managed a country station in the past, you find everyone from businessmen and lawyers and accountants to assembly line workers and the unemployed in that format's listener base.

and to properly delineated classic rock (Guns n' Roses, not Dire Straits).

I have no idea what "properly delineated" means in the context of music or rock in particular. I suppose you mean the difference between what is now being called "Yacht Rock" and hard rock, but that is just a guess.

To me, hard rock is unlistenable, while I can take a Dire Straits song occasionally. But my taste is culturally based, not a measure of IQ or education or common sense.

 

[davideduardo]

In the early 2000s, when KCTE in Independence had local talk shows, they used AOL instant messenger to get comments from listeners and it was fantastic. I'm sure other talk stations may have done that too, but that was the first one I knew of.

Around 1997, I used the "chat" (message board) feature in Microsoft's first web creation software at KTNQ in LA. We used it throughout the day to get "one liner" feedback for the talk shows. It got the most reaction from our spots show which ran 5 PM to 8 PM each night.

 

[AMRadioGuy]

Around 1997, I used the "chat" (message board) feature in Microsoft's first web creation software at KTNQ in LA. We used it throughout the day to get "one liner" feedback for the talk shows. It got the most reaction from our spots show which ran 5 PM to 8 PM each night.

More stations should do this.

Back when I listened to talk radio, I often had something to say but didn't have a half hour to sit on the phone. I had things to do, places to be, etc. I would've texted something in or even called and left a voice message, but that wasn't an option so I was on my way...

 

[radiofan2023]

Around 1997, I used the "chat" (message board) feature in Microsoft's first web creation software at KTNQ in LA. We used it throughout the day to get "one liner" feedback for the talk shows. It got the most reaction from our spots show which ran 5 PM to 8 PM each night.

I've never heard of that, but it sounds cool.

 

[MassMusicMan]

That is terribly offensive to country listeners.

Sometimes, it's our job to be offensive. There's plenty of kind and talented folks who work for those stations. I respect them thoroughly for their ability to pitch to that particular batter, which I don't have.

I have no idea what "properly delineated" means in the context of music or rock in particular. I suppose you mean the difference between what is now being called "Yacht Rock" and hard rock, but that is just a guess.

Line-drawing is what I was going for. The establishment of lanes, as it were.

To me, hard rock is unlistenable, while I can take a Dire Straits song occasionally. But my taste is culturally based, not a measure of IQ or education or common sense.

 

[radiofan2023]

More stations should do this.

Back when I listened to talk radio, I often had something to say but didn't have a half hour to sit on the phone. I had things to do, places to be, etc. I would've texted something in or even called and left a voice message, but that wasn't an option so I was on my way...

Iheart has the “talk back” voice message feature on their app, but I don’t know how many of their shows use it.

 

[boombox4]

In the early 2000s, when KCTE in Independence had local talk shows, they used AOL instant messenger to get comments from listeners and it was fantastic. I'm sure other talk stations may have done that too, but that was the first one I knew of.

Ben's show is great, but I wish there was a livestream of his show on Youtube or something like that. There are cameras in the Fox Sports Radio studios/Ben's home studio since FSR tapes different takes to post on their YouTube channel. Maybe the bandwidth to run them 24/7 would be too much for Iheart/FSR. How long have you been listening to Ben and have you ever called in? I've tweeted in a few times and got Fred Dryer to answer a question when he was a guest.

I've listened off and on since the late 2010's, especially after Seattle won the Super Bowl and I was following NFL football a lot more than I have recently. Maller always had that combination of wry humor and the typical sports-talk barbs about players. His show is indeed pretty entertaining. Not as serious as the daytime sports talk shows, but Ben still has a lot of insights into the sports he talks about.

I like his show the best. Second best was Scott Ferrell before he got heavy into the sports-bet thing and then, of course, he left CBS Sports Radio. There are a couple CBS/Infinity Sports Radio guys I like to listen to. And Dan Patrick's OK. Only heard Jim Rome once, really. I don't even think he's on locally in Seattle anymore.

 

[dr.luke]

More stations should do this.

Back when I listened to talk radio, I often had something to say but didn't have a half hour to sit on the phone. I had things to do, places to be, etc. I would've texted something in or even called and left a voice message, but that wasn't an option so I was on my way...

In italy there are a few personality radio stations (more talks and less music all through the day) and the speakers interact with listeners through a whatsapp chat (text and voice messages)

 

[radiofan2023]

I've listened off and on since the late 2010's, especially after Seattle won the Super Bowl and I was following NFL football a lot more than I have recently. Maller always had that combination of wry humor and the typical sports-talk barbs about players. His show is indeed pretty entertaining. Not as serious as the daytime sports talk shows, but Ben still has a lot of insights into the sports he talks about.

I like his show the best. Second best was Scott Ferrell before he got heavy into the sports-bet thing and then, of course, he left CBS Sports Radio. There are a couple CBS/Infinity Sports Radio guys I like to listen to. And Dan Patrick's OK. Only heard Jim Rome once, really. I don't even think he's on locally in Seattle anymore.

I can't stand Dan Patrick, he seems super full of himself and his cohosts are nothing special. Scott Ferrall was on Ben's Fifth Hour podcast a few years ago and was talking a mile a minute, he sounded really weird. I like CBS/Infinity Sports Radio too, who do you listen to on there? I like Bart Winkler, JR Sportsbrief, Ryan Hickey and Dave Smith (he fills in when needed).

In italy there are a few personality radio stations (more talks and less music all through the day) and the speakers interact with listeners through a whatsapp chat (text and voice messages)

The BBC uses Whatsapp too.

 

[Identnut]

In italy there are a few personality radio stations (more talks and less music all through the day) and the speakers interact with listeners through a whatsapp chat (text and voice messages)

This is actually many stations in Puerto Rico - particularly WPRM, which David pioneered, that do this. Other stations like WMEG and WXYX have take cues from the once near 30-share station.

 

[boombox4]

I can't stand Dan Patrick, he seems super full of himself and his cohosts are nothing special. Scott Ferrall was on Ben's Fifth Hour podcast a few years ago and was talking a mile a minute, he sounded really weird. I like CBS/Infinity Sports Radio too, who do you listen to on there? I like Bart Winkler, JR Sportsbrief, Ryan Hickey and Dave Smith (he fills in when needed).

The BBC uses Whatsapp too.

I primarily listen at night, so the 6 p.m. to midnight guys on the Infinity Network are good. JR is great during the evenings, and Jody Mac during the evening on weekends. I also like DA, who used to be on during the evening but now is 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. in Seattle (not sure what the schedule is nationally). I'll tune in Ben Maller on Fox if he's on. ESPN Sportscenter's OK but they just mainly have sports news. I like the analysis and talk a lot better.

I always have preferred the national shows to the local sports shows because I tire of hearing nothing but Seahawks. I want to hear about the other teams, and the other sports also.

 

[luperm]

The future of American commercial radio isn't in serving people who make good decisions with money, it's in serving people who make bad decisions with money.

If that was the case, the dial would likely be crowded with EDM and alternative stations,

 

[TheBigA]

The future of American commercial radio isn't in serving people who make good decisions with money, it's in serving people who make bad decisions with money. And those people largely listen to country, and to properly delineated classic rock (Guns n' Roses, not Dire Straits).

When you talk about music on the radio, it often has nothing to do with the radio, and more to do with the music. The entire music business changed 30 years ago. It became less restricted by format and genre. That allowed musicians to follow their own creativity. Great for music, but bad for radio, because the music was less organized around consensus songs that would appeal to a mass audience. That's why classic formats are so popular. They're based on the last era of music that was made to get radio airplay. For the most part, that doesn't happen anymore.

 

[radiofan2023]

I primarily listen at night, so the 6 p.m. to midnight guys on the Infinity Network are good. JR is great during the evenings, and Jody Mac during the evening on weekends. I also like DA, who used to be on during the evening but now is 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. in Seattle (not sure what the schedule is nationally). I'll tune in Ben Maller on Fox if he's on. ESPN Sportscenter's OK but they just mainly have sports news. I like the analysis and talk a lot better.

I always have preferred the national shows to the local sports shows because I tire of hearing nothing but Seahawks. I want to hear about the other teams, and the other sports also.

Oh yeah DA used to have his own show in KC but I think he either got fired or moved up to CBS/Infinity. I also like Jody Mac but I like JR better. I get tired of hearing all Chiefs talk here too, even though I like the Chiefs.

If that was the case, the dial would likely be crowded with EDM and alternative stations,

 

[vchimpanzee]

I have no idea what "properly delineated" means in the context of music or rock in particular. I suppose you mean the difference between what is now being called "Yacht Rock" and hard rock, but that is just a guess.

I like a lot of Yacht Rock.

To me, hard rock is unlistenable, while I can take a Dire Straits song occasionally. But my taste is culturally based, not a measure of IQ or education or common sense.

Dire Straits is okay. I'm surprised by how much I actually like some hard rock at a low volume.

 

[SCMcKinney]

But if the question is: where are the under-40s, they're creating their own playlists and content and interacting with their friends.

This is why I think radio HAS to at least start trying new programming. Maybe take the lowest rated station in a cluster and start working on the next big things. Musicradio on the other stations will keep bringing in the dollars with the static audience radio has now. The new station and program ideas will be going after the audience they don't have, but very much will need.

 

[TheBigA]

This is why I think radio HAS to at least start trying new programming.

It’s being done. Unless people can pick their own songs with no commercials, the programming won’t matter.

 

[davideduardo]

This is why I think radio HAS to at least start trying new programming. Maybe take the lowest rated station in a cluster and start working on the next big things. Musicradio on the other stations will keep bringing in the dollars with the static audience radio has now. The new station and program ideas will be going after the audience they don't have, but very much will need.

New formats don't just "appear"... they evolve.

The creation of Top 40 did not happen because no station was playing that music; it was just the consolidation of one kind of music on a single station all day long. The music had been heard, but never all day one one station.

Disco as a stand-alone format evolved from the growth of that kind of music around the mid-70's on Top 40 stations. Somebody decided that eliminating Barry Manilow and the rock songs would stand on its own, and it did (for a while).

Hip Hop and rap formats evolved from R&B formats when there was enough music to go 24/7 with no other kinds.

Radio formats are evolutionary, not revolutionary. And some die, too: disco, Beautiful Music, Smooth Jazz, "oldies" and "standards" to name the obvious ones. And any new formats that evolve have to attract listeners in the age ranges that advertisers want to buy.

If you owned a decent FM station today, what do you see as a possible evolutionary step that nobody is doing today? Oh, and keep in mind that whatever you do has to compete with streaming and subscriptions services that have no ads... and some of which allow listeners to create their own playlists or collections of music.

And keep in mind that nearly 90% of all adults 18+ in the US use radio each week. They just listen a lot less than they used to because they have so many alternatives.

 

[Signal Geek]

With the proviso that they need to be relevant to today, and the demographic radio needs, WOULD a soap or a quiz show be an idea?

Former KFRC AM 610/San Francisco, with one of the best signals in the Bay Area, tried a quiz show format many decades ago. Didn't last long.