FM Talk: Stillborn?

[jimwalsh2001]

I'm increasingly convinced that non-political lifestyle talk (in all its possible variations) ain't gonna happen.

Not that there isn't a market for it - Gawd knows we could use some fresh programming on the airwaves now more than ever - but it seems to me that the industry has dropped the ball on developing any alternative to the same ol' same ol' (it's mostly a matter of very bad timing; the beginning of FM Talk came right about the time of Telecom '96 and subsequent consolidation).

Bottom line: the suits are less inclined than ever to take a risk. With a handful of notable exceptions, FM Talk (i.e. anything other than totally predictable "angry white conservative" talk) is stillborn.

I'd love nothing better than to be proven wrong on this. Bueller? Anyone...? 8)

 

[livingfruitvirus]

It would help if there were more talk hosts that were genuinely funny. Even if there were, edgier comedy talk radio tends to attract complaints from people and special interest groups, which the radio companies can't seem to cave into fast enough by firing the hosts. And people wonder why radio is becoming more and more irrelevant.

 

[jimwalsh2001]

It would help if there were more talk hosts that were genuinely funny. Even if there were, edgier comedy talk radio tends to attract complaints from people and special interest groups, which the radio companies can't seem to cave into fast enough by firing the hosts. And people wonder why radio is becoming more and more irrelevant.

Well, there are some seriously talented folks out there who are simply not getting the shot because they don't fit the conserva-clone paradigm. Meanwhile, a plethora of Rush wannabes pockmark the dial; they're not entertaining, they're not original, they're not remotely interesting to listen to - but by God they're CONSERVATIVE...

 

[justhearforfun]

"Well, there are some seriously talented folks out there who are simply not getting the shot because they don't fit the conserva-clone paradigm. Meanwhile, a plethora of Rush wannabes pockmark the dial; they're not entertaining, they're not original, they're not remotely interesting to listen to - but by God they're CONSERVATIVE..."

i could not have said it better my self jim..here here!

 

[WTUX]

Sometimes we ignore the fact that Rush is successful because he is funny and not just conservative. He can be dirty in the Dan Ingram mold, and he does that often. He just does not go over the line. Also, he will talk football (and have ex-players on the air with him) and other topics besides just conservative talk.

The angry conservative types get on the air, but they fail to have his success because they lack humor.

Lifestyle talk shows don't have much appeal to either the older or younger demos. The older leaning shows are just plain boring and the younger ones tend to be vulgar because they do not know how to be funny without vulgarity. If given time and maturity, they could develop talent to hold listeners without going over the line. But the suits do not want to give anyone the time it takes. You have six months to make it or you're out.

 

[jimwalsh2001]

The angry conservative types get on the air, but they fail to have his success because they lack humor.

Problem is, they keep failing, yet they keep getting hired... ???

 

[Ultimajock]

Sometimes we ignore the fact that Rush is successful because he is funny

...yeah, that chant for terrorism in the streets of Denver this summer is pretty frickin' funny, all right...

 

[JimmyJames]

I have a concept for a show that would be far more lifestyle, but the problem is I also envision it having a music component. Sort of a trendy night show, a bit ironic and sarcastic but not necessarily "shock" and not necessarily prepped in the same way most shows are. A kind of mix of The Office/30 Rock/Scrubs style humor with intelligent music, eclectic guests and a lot of local calls. The problem I envision doing the show is that it would take time to grow and most stations really aren't going to give that time for people to "get" a more cerebral and eclectic night show. Something that you could do in a city late at night and capture a vibe, have an edge without being intentionally crude or having to have strippers on.

But is this the kind of show a station would give a chance to and give time to gain a following?

 

[SportsRadioDoc]

It would help if there were more talk hosts that were genuinely funny. Even if there were, edgier comedy talk radio tends to attract complaints from people and special interest groups, which the radio companies can't seem to cave into fast enough by firing the hosts. And people wonder why radio is becoming more and more irrelevant.

Well, there are some seriously talented folks out there who are simply not getting the shot because they don't fit the conserva-clone paradigm. Meanwhile, a plethora of Rush wannabes pockmark the dial; they're not entertaining, they're not original, they're not remotely interesting to listen to - but by God they're CONSERVATIVE...

I would be very interested to hear who some of these talented folks are who aren't getting a shot are. Local dudes? I'd love to hear some names, air-checks, let hear some of this talent.

 

[jimwalsh2001]

I would be very interested to hear who some of these talented folks are who aren't getting a shot are. Local dudes? I'd love to hear some names, air-checks, let hear some of this talent.

Actually, that's a good idea; we should talk about some of the genuinely talented people out there whose broadcast careers have been strangled and aborted by the mechanics of the biz today. Modesty (ha ha) forbids me from touting myself, and I'll won't mention deceased talents like, say, Bob Lassiter,* who would have fit this category in his sad, final years...

...so I'll start with a couple of my living, breathing favorites...

ED TYLL: My all-time favorite host. After several fruitful years in Orlando and Los Angeles, his radio career seemed to lose focus. Which is sad because every talk station in America should be banging on his door, offering him a truckload of dough to get him back behind a mike. (Last I heard, Ed was alive and well and doing voiceover and standup in the New York area. He doesn't need radio; the point is that radio needs him).

PHIL DEFRANCO: Phil is a guy who likes to post his “opinions” on YouTube. He’s funny, original and always interesting. He obviously knows how to communicate with folks of his generation.

So why isn’t the radio industry beating a path to Phil’s door to hire him?

Answer that question and you’ll know all you need to know about why spoken-word radio is on the skids…


*When Lassiter died a few months ago, TALKERS magazine didn't even give him a mention. Guess they were short on room that month, and god forbid we miss our monthly doses of wisdom from Lars Larson and Lynn Wooley...

 

[SportsRadioDoc]

I worked with Ed Tyll at The Loop in Chicago in the '90's. He needs to be back behind a mic.

 

[jimwalsh2001]

I would be very interested to hear who some of these talented folks are who aren't getting a shot are...let's hear some of this talent.

Another would be Paul Harris, late of KMOX. The fact that a genuine talent like Harris is not working, while an incompetent boob like Kevin James is high on the hog should tell you all you need to know about the state of our once-halfway decent industry...

 

[TVC1500]

I think the idea that Rush Limbaugh is some laugh machine is a bit dated. Let's face it he was the first
with the most. He did bits & didn't take himself as seriously then. His P-1's have aged with him, but he
isn't as entertaining today as he was in 1991 and that's a fact. Still he is the authentic deal, not
a clone.

In terms of creating entertaining talk. I have been involved with a few stations that were able to do it.
Here's the problem: you can't do it with syndication. Besides Stern, Bob & Tom, & a few select others
there have been few hits. You must have the ability to build local shows for the long-term. Identify, hire & start the process needed is expensive, & then what if it doesn't click?

Syndicated talk networks are concerned with market clearance, period. There is no plan, too often there is little to no direction for hosts who are ill-equipped and so removed from the life-group which utilizes talk, that unless the President or CEO speaks to them directly, they get little to no feedback on their performance.

I've heard national hosts do 4 segments on some regional topic that is of interest in their home market only. Others are so ill-equipped to host, the pauses and "ahhs" could fill a break.

I recently reviewed some air-checks of some old middle of the road and Adult-Pop (late 70's chicken rock) personalities. I realize that the best of them were really doing talk shows, with a few songs every half hour.
Yet they were not talking about politics. It was more of an interaction with listeners and the movers and shakers of the market. To draw an analogy, these performers were adult relief from the hip and hype of rock and hit radio. What is needed today is not more edgy FM Talk, but performers who can talk to an audience
as an adult. Not a shock boy or girl. An adult. How novel.

 

[bossbill]

True. He used to be more entertaining. Go back before the TV show, before he slimmed down and started looking like a corporate vice president, and well before his hearing loss. Great "schtick" back then. Now, okay but not like the old Rush.

 

[kaysguy]

I worked with Ed Tyll at The Loop in Chicago in the '90's. He needs to be back behind a mic.

I used to listen to Ed on WTAE in Pittsburgh and WLUP, and thought he was the weak link on both stations.

 

[klutch00]

I would be very interested to hear who some of these talented folks are who aren't getting a shot are. Local dudes? I'd love to hear some names, air-checks, let hear some of this talent.

Actually, that's a good idea; we should talk about some of the genuinely talented people out there whose broadcast careers have been strangled and aborted by the mechanics of the biz today. Modesty (ha ha) forbids me from touting myself, and I'll won't mention deceased talents like, say, Bob Lassiter,* who would have fit this category in his sad, final years...

...so I'll start with a couple of my living, breathing favorites...

ED TYLL: My all-time favorite host. After several fruitful years in Orlando and Los Angeles, his radio career seemed to lose focus. Which is sad because every talk station in America should be banging on his door, offering him a truckload of dough to get him back behind a mike. (Last I heard, Ed was alive and well and doing voiceover and standup in the New York area. He doesn't need radio; the point is that radio needs him).

PHIL DEFRANCO: Phil is a guy who likes to post his “opinions” on YouTube. He’s funny, original and always interesting. He obviously knows how to communicate with folks of his generation.

So why isn’t the radio industry beating a path to Phil’s door to hire him?

Answer that question and you’ll know all you need to know about why spoken-word radio is on the skids…


*When Lassiter died a few months ago, TALKERS magazine didn't even give him a mention. Guess they were short on room that month, and god forbid we miss our monthly doses of wisdom from Lars Larson and Lynn Wooley...

When The Loop 1000 first signed on in 1987, I enjoyed listening to them. It was a great station to DX. Kevin Matthews was entertaining and even after he was moved to mid-days I'd still listen to the couple (Bev and Tim were they?). Once they added Larry King and started mucking with the lineup, I lost interest. I did appreciate when they briefly brought on Danny Bonaduce to do an evening show, but for all intents and purposes it was over by then. Ed Tyll did nothing for me.

I would really like to see a 'personality/talk' or 'hot talk' format prevail once again on an AM powerhouse like the old WLUP. Maybe I'm just too old school when it comes to that but why put a news or talk format on an FM signal that could be better used for music programming? If nothing else, put such programming on at night.

One host I really miss is Jaz McKay when he was on Cleveland's 3WE back in 1995.

 

[jimwalsh2001]

I remember Jaz McKay from that period and he was good. Unfortunately, in recent years he has moved to the dark side; he's now a Rush clone, working in central California.

Why did he change? My guess is that it was the only way he could get work. Nobody has the nads to hire a talker who isn't a conservaclone... ???

 

[Leebo65]

I'm increasingly convinced that non-political lifestyle talk (in all its possible variations) ain't gonna happen.

Not that there isn't a market for it

I'd love nothing better than to be proven wrong on this. Bueller? Anyone...? 8) I think someone with the cohanas could do a Hate based radio show where people call in and spew hate. It would be hilarious. Crazy people are very entertaining.

 

[Parttimer]

I worked with Ed Tyll at The Loop in Chicago in the '90's. He needs to be back behind a mic.

I used to listen to Ed on WTAE in Pittsburgh and WLUP, and thought he was the weak link on both stations.

When Ed reached syndication there were days when it was obvious he wasn't even listening to what the callers were saying because he was too busy doing another show with the people behind the glass. His tenure was also short at WTKS in Orlando.

Non-political talk on FM has never really succeeded without Howard Stern as the morning show. Until someone comes up with a solution to that, the format will have problems.

 

[radiotower40]

I really think that it boils down to is that it cost's a LOT of money to put on a station like this. Something the corporate
world will not spend.

We lost are FM talker in Chicago last year to "Fresh 105.9" The station was previously WCKG, one of the "Free FM"
stations that practically fell off the map when Stern left. The station had started to rebound towards the end, and
IMHO would have done well given more time. They were making money, but, also paying big money to their PM
drive host Steve Dahl, and had just brought back Garry Meier(Steve Dahl's former co-host) and finally seemed to
be gelling with audience and starting to move up in the ratings. CBS however found it more cost effective to throw
on Fresh on auto pilot and make money without having to pay any out. To this day they only have two full time card
readers on the station. They also are not getting the ratings they expected. They have now hired a new PD who is
changing the music a bit and targeting a different station than they were up until now.

I also loved the old AM 1000 WLUP, they had a solid lineup and great ratings. As much as a station like this could
work, I doubt it will happen, just like I don't see any new all news stations starting up. They cost to much to start.
staff and maintain. They won't do it when they can put on a Jack or Bob or Fresh format, or a syndicated talk format.

Let's face it, they don't care about radio, they care about the bottom line!