fill ins on WCBSFM

[bigtom101]

I don't know what world you are inhabiting but, I don't know too many djs who ever cared about the audience with rare exceptions.  What I would say in response to what you said above, if you can't deal with the crappy pay, find a way to augment your salary.  Dude...I never got burned in radio and I have done a variety of things in radio including owning stations
and being an air talent at a 50,000 watt A. M. rock station with a booming signal.  I even did something at one point for CBS-FM. 

Radio has two customers - the audience and the advertisers. Without one, you do not have another. So not caring about the audience is not a good thing.

And I do augment my pay - I work for 3 stations in two different markets, do contract work out in Pittsburgh, mobile DJ work, and somehow am managing not to flunk out of of college. That's the new reality of radio.

Just like music didn't die in 1959, radio didn't die when the 60's ended. To say so is a slap in the face to all of us who bust our ass, from engineering and promotions to programming, to try and keep radio competitive with every other attention grabbing device out there.

Here's one letter from a listener: "Hey Turnpike Tuner! Great chatting with you a few minutes ago. My name is Mike and as I'm streaming you in here in Bayside, Queens,N.Y. I liked those old WABC-AM jingles( packages). Awsome! I though I had 77 WABC on for a second here. I chose to  listen to you instead of WCBS-FM tonight and even chose you over; 50's on 5;or 60's on 6 ( Sirus as a paid subscriber). Great to hear all this music on a good old fashiioned AM radio station again like back in the 1950's and 60's here in 'The Big Apple' "

Yup. Radio blows alright. I suck so bad I should just go off myself.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

As for my processing, find me a station playing this format that sounds better................ didn't think so. There are five people in this country that know processing. (Jeff Kieth, Bob Orban, Frank Foti, Jim Wood and me).

I have forgotten more about audio processing than you will ever know plus I own most of the great audio processors ever made.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

So much you know... benefits are from the union. Guess again.

The benefits are from AFTRA but, by keeping some of the djs part time, they get no benefits.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

And that was all fine and dandy in 1963. It's now 2010...times have changed, as have listeners and their wants and needs. And I do agree with Tony - many radio stations all across the country are booing and just plain SUCK. But there are may radio shows that are pearls in the snow - Rhythm Review with Felix Hernandez on Kiss-FM/WBGO is one, All Request Sat. Night with Rockin Ron on WDRC-FM up in Hartford, Doo Wop Drive in North Jersey with Big Tom on WMTR, and even Joe Causi on CBS-FM with Saturday Night 70's has some audience interaction.

These shows you mentioned would be the equivalent of small market radio up against some of the great 60s djs and stations.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

Radio Truth I do not know why your so BITTER!! If something happened to you in radio I am sorry that happened. I have met many nice people not only at wcbsfm but other stations throughout the years at not only their appearances but at Charities that I like to do. Still I do not feel I am a groupie, Yes, I do call at times and if they did not want to talk to you, they don't have too. I DO NOT go to see them so they can give me stuff! Turnpike, Thanks for sticking up, yes we are Loyal fans and friends of the station. Radio Truth, we must move on and realize that the personalities today care and are trying. Sorry your so Bitter, Life is just too short. Dee, Radio will never be the same but this is what is happening and we have to accept it or not listen. I know in my heart I am not a Groupie!! I have family and I do alot for them and Charities!! You do not know me, or if you do, YOU really Don't!! End of discussion, I have no more to say!!

You are the very essence of being a groupie.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

Radio has two customers - the audience and the advertisers. Without one, you do not have another. So not caring about the audience is not a good thing.

And I do augment my pay - I work for 3 stations in two different markets, do contract work out in Pittsburgh, mobile DJ work, and somehow am managing not to flunk out of of college. That's the new reality of radio.

Just like music didn't die in 1959, radio didn't die when the 60's ended. To say so is a slap in the face to all of us who bust our ass, from engineering and promotions to programming, to try and keep radio competitive with every other attention grabbing device out there.

Here's one letter from a listener: "Hey Turnpike Tuner! Great chatting with you a few minutes ago. My name is Mike and as I'm streaming you in here in Bayside, Queens,N.Y. I liked those old WABC-AM jingles( packages). Awsome! I though I had 77 WABC on for a second here. I chose to listen to you instead of WCBS-FM tonight and even chose you over; 50's on 5;or 60's on 6 ( Sirus as a paid subscriber). Great to hear all this music on a good old fashiioned AM radio station again like back in the 1950's and 60's here in 'The Big Apple' "

Yup. Radio blows alright. I suck so bad I should just go off myself.

It seems like you are a college kid. You are right about the new reality of radio. If you think radio was lousy paying years ago, you are growing into a dieing industry. I hope you are good at voice tracking. I cannot judge your ability or lack thereof, without hearing you.

 

[bigtom101]

And that was all fine and dandy in 1963. It's now 2010...times have changed, as have listeners and their wants and needs. And I do agree with Tony - many radio stations all across the country are booing and just plain SUCK. But there are may radio shows that are pearls in the snow - Rhythm Review with Felix Hernandez on Kiss-FM/WBGO is one, All Request Sat. Night with Rockin Ron on WDRC-FM up in Hartford, Doo Wop Drive in North Jersey with Big Tom on WMTR, and even Joe Causi on CBS-FM with Saturday Night 70's has some audience interaction.

These shows you mentioned would be the equivalent of small market radio up against some of the great 60s djs and stations.

Yet they are on major market stations in 2010.

As Chad & Jeremy sang oh so many years ago "But that was yesterday/And yesterday's gone." You can't go home again, as the saying goes - at least that's what I learned from that 1 Twilight Zone episode. Out of curiosity, are there ANY jocks you like on the air, or any stations?

I knew that I would never get rich going into radio - my dad worked for nearly 20 years in Houston radio as a FT jock, so I grew up around the business and have seen the ups and downs. I have been working in it myself for 5 years, for 5 separate stations in four different formats for two different groups - everything from Neil Sedaka's "Stairway to Heaven" to Zepplin's "Stairway to Heaven." So I think I've done alright so far for being 22.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

Yet they are on major market stations in 2010.

As Chad & Jeremy sang oh so many years ago "But that was yesterday/And yesterday's gone." You can't go home again, as the saying goes - at least that's what I learned from that 1 Twilight Zone episode. Out of curiosity, are there ANY jocks you like on the air, or any stations?

I knew that I would never get rich going into radio - my dad worked for nearly 20 years in Houston radio as a FT jock, so I grew up around the business and have seen the ups and downs. I have been working in it myself for 5 years, for 5 separate stations in four different formats for two different groups - everything from Neil Sedaka's "Stairway to Heaven" to Zepplin's "Stairway to Heaven." So I think I've done alright so far for being 22.

Hartford and Morristown, New Jersey, are not major markets plus WMTR's signal is directional and does not reach Manhattan. You seem like a well meaning kid. You are just at a point in history where you want greatness but, the radio industry is on an unfixable, permanent decline. I am going to send you a private email on here.

 

[disney fanatic]

Why not bring Joey Reynolds to CBS-FM to do some fill ins at the station. He was great when he was on WKBW in Buffalo back in the 60's, as well as he was on WTOP in Hartford, CT back in the 70's until he went over to WNBC in the 80's and then to WOR when he was doing talk for many years until he left WOR last Friday during his final all-night gig. I hope if it's a great idea that Joey Reynolds would be a good fit for CBS-FM as part of their fill-ins.

 

[Deeman1710]

Then ABC would go into 4 spots, jingle, record, Dan, spots. People seem to forget how many elements in each hour were not the jock or music. And Dan was forced to keep his comments to not much more than over the intros over the records. What made Ingram the master was his ability to get it across quickly.

As for my processing, find me a station playing this format that sounds better................ didn't think so. There are five people in this country that know processing. (Jeff Kieth, Bob Orban, Frank Foti, Jim Wood and me)

You just don't get it when spots are played in todays radio consultant fashion it's a complete turn off and you punch up another station and maybe don't come back. Who wants to here 4 -6 commercials in a row.
WABC may have played 4 spots but did it in away that kept you listening because the jock would talk in the recorded spot at times,especially Dan and Ron then there would be a jingle or DJ shout within the spot break, plus the spots were creative and sounded like songs played where you wanted to hear the spots, plus spots were read live and were read different each time. Lets face it if you grew up with WABC you never had to switch to another station even when spots were played. As far as audio processing you forgot Jim Huste (Adriane) Jim's a friend of mine and know's his stuff with this processor. I see CBS-FM is using this unit know,that's why they sound better then they ever did.

 

[wgliradio]

I have forgotten more about audio processing than you will ever know plus I own most of the great audio processors ever made.

Sure. It's obvious you've also forgotten what good radio sounds like!

 

[wgliradio]

So much you know... benefits are from the union. Guess again.

The benefits are from AFTRA but, by keeping some of the djs part time, they get no benefits.

Wrong again. Thanks for playing...

 

[wgliradio]

You just don't get it when spots are played in todays radio consultant fashion it's a complete turn off and you punch up another station and maybe don't come back. Who wants to here 4 -6 commercials in a row.
WABC may have played 4 spots but did it in away that kept you listening because the jock would talk in the recorded spot at times,especially Dan and Ron then there would be a jingle or DJ shout within the spot break, plus the spots were creative and sounded like songs played where you wanted to hear the spots, plus spots were read live and were read different each time. Lets face it if you grew up with WABC you never had to switch to another station even when spots were played. As far as audio processing you forgot Jim Huste (Adriane) Jim's a friend of mine and know's his stuff with this processor. I see CBS-FM is using this unit know,that's why they sound better then they ever did.

You are correct about WABC. BUT there is this huge misconception as time has passed that WABC was this machine that was cranking out records. Not so. Radio had more creative ways to push ads across then guys recording PI's in a bathroom stall.

And yes, Jim Huste. In fact, come see me in the TransLanTech booth at NAB in Vegas this week, where I will be working with Jim showing off everything Radio Truth forgot!

 

[Radio411]

Yet they are on major market stations in 2010.

As Chad & Jeremy sang oh so many years ago "But that was yesterday/And yesterday's gone." You can't go home again, as the saying goes - at least that's what I learned from that 1 Twilight Zone episode. Out of curiosity, are there ANY jocks you like on the air, or any stations?

I knew that I would never get rich going into radio - my dad worked for nearly 20 years in Houston radio as a FT jock, so I grew up around the business and have seen the ups and downs. I have been working in it myself for 5 years, for 5 separate stations in four different formats for two different groups - everything from Neil Sedaka's "Stairway to Heaven" to Zepplin's "Stairway to Heaven." So I think I've done alright so far for being 22.

"Turnpike Tuner" it seems as though you are quite opinionated in what has transformed from a Capital Defense for "BIG Jay" into a "Radio Today: Turnpike Tuner Broadcast Radio Expert" forum. I think we ALL can agree that the business has gone through more *changes* than we can count but that in the words of Petula Clark is "a sign of the times." At the end of the day radio IS a business but as "Deeman" and someone else mentioned, at some point you MUST realize that without a customer base or in this case "listeners/clients" you have NO business.

The industry has arguably lost many of the characteristics that made it the great medium that it once was. OVER-researched and OVER-scrutinized and OVER-managed are just a few of the nails in today's "radio coffin." While there is a bit of talent that does still remain, those are the people that run the risk more times than not of be excommunicated from the business for being “insubordinate” and not following the PD’s orders or commands. Let’s face it, having talent in radio makes you a target from the get-go. CBS-FM is certainly a unique radio station especially here in 2010. They still have a broad appeal to many demos as they too continue to evolve and progress forward but still their “personality element” is restricted when compared to the earlier pioneer stations in the business such as WABC or even WFIL in Philly. To CBS’ credit they did come to the realization that abandoning CBS-FM for the “jockless juke” format was a bad call and so they corrected it! Having jocks like Randy Davis, S.O.B., Famous or even Jay available and on the bench for weekend/swing/fill work is a fantastic asset to the station. That said, you DON’T see Randy, Steve or Famous coming to a message board to draw up listenership for themselves. You brought up an issue of “insecurity” among broadcasters to which I can understand, but Jay has made it clear based solely on his actions here on THIS board over the years that he places HIMSELF in the HIGHEST REGARD so I think it’s safe to say that “confidence or ego” is NOT a problem in his case which is all the more reason to NOT make a public display of your irregular or cameo appearance on a radio station. Sure Jay has some talent and a resume to back it up but seriously come down a few steps off of your pedestal. You seem to be making more enemies on here than “friends or groupies.” Do YOU “TT” post on here everytime YOU do a shift on one of the many stations you claim to work at?? Perhaps I haven’t seen them in my infrequent perusals of this board…

As for YOU “Turnpike Tuner” I have read several posts of yours over the months and you have identified stations that you work at more than once with one up in north jersey more specifically on more than one occasion. My question to YOU is since THAT station is clearly a competing station with CBS-FM, is it the smartest move on your part to have such a heartfelt passion for CBS-FM? I would think that these Radio Companies/Corporations have some kind of rules/restrictions/policies in place to deter employees from posting items on a public forum that relate in any way to the station or it’s parent company. It’s one thing to come on a board and state an opinion or an example but I think it’s in bad taste to be such a full-fledged supporter of CBS-FM when you work for WMTR and its quest for roughly the same demos as CBS-FM. You may have accomplished much in your “5 years in the biz at the age of 22” but you still have much to learn…common-sense being one of them. For starters perhaps you shouldn’t associate yourself with your employers in your posts. While any publicity is better than none, it’s certainly a risk that isn’t wise to take on in such an unstable business! You seem to have all of the answers so this shouldn't be anything that you didn't already know...

 

[bigtom101]

As for YOU “Turnpike Tuner” I have read several posts of yours over the months and you have identified stations that you work at more than once with one up in north jersey more specifically on more than one occasion. My question to YOU is since THAT station is clearly a competing station with CBS-FM, is it the smartest move on your part to have such a heartfelt passion for CBS-FM? I would think that these Radio Companies/Corporations have some kind of rules/restrictions/policies in place to deter employees from posting items on a public forum that relate in any way to the station or it’s parent company. It’s one thing to come on a board and state an opinion or an example but I think it’s in bad taste to be such a full-fledged supporter of CBS-FM when you work for and its quest for roughly the same demos as CBS-FM. You may have accomplished much in your “5 years in the biz at the age of 22” but you still have much to learn…common-sense being one of them. For starters perhaps you shouldn’t associate yourself with your employers in your posts. While any publicity is better than none, it’s certainly a risk that isn’t wise to take on in such an unstable business! You seem to have all of the answers so this shouldn't be anything that you didn't already know...

Thank you for the advice - at this point, I'll take what I can get! As far as my kid words & love for CBS-FM, it's the station that I loved listening to as a kid, and still love listening to now. It, and sister station WOGL, were what got me hooked on oldies music, and got me into the voices between the records. I have a passion for good radio, no matter who does it.

For everything else....you are right. I should keep my mouth shut. The fact that Jay is a friend may have clouded my judgement when it came to posting in this thread - when I read his words, I may "hear" them differently than others.

So, I'll just sign off for now. Thanks again for the advice and clarity.

 

[Silkie]

As for YOU “Turnpike Tuner” I have read several posts of yours over the months and you have identified stations that you work at more than once with one up in north jersey more specifically on more than one occasion. My question to YOU is since THAT station is clearly a competing station with CBS-FM, is it the smartest move on your part to have such a heartfelt passion for CBS-FM? I would think that these Radio Companies/Corporations have some kind of rules/restrictions/policies in place to deter employees from posting items on a public forum that relate in any way to the station or it’s parent company. It’s one thing to come on a board and state an opinion or an example but I think it’s in bad taste to be such a full-fledged supporter of CBS-FM when you work for WMTR and its quest for roughly the same demos as CBS-FM.

What a good little do-bee.

 

[Silkie]

Sounds like they all do a pretty good job. It is after all a top US radio market. Some smaller places just play musical chairs...because they can.

 

[TheBigA]

The industry has arguably lost many of the characteristics that made it the great medium that it once was. OVER-researched and OVER-scrutinized and OVER-managed are just a few of the nails in today's "radio coffin."

But it was research, scrutiny, and management that made it the great medium it was. Where would we be without Boss Radio? That wasn't invented by the jocks, but by research and management. And if you want a lesson in over-scrutiny, read one of Bill Drake's memos. Radio's been dying for 40 years. At least that's what I hear. Hey! Video killed the radio stars, and that was 30 years ago! I don't buy any of the "radio is dying" crap. Radio is changing. For those who are having trouble with the changes, radio is dying. But to everyone else, it's not.