Frog in Damage Control

[MusicDoctorRadio]

I'll just say this on the subject of "Merle".

On a personal level, I do not mean any disrespect towards the folks who own or who are associated with "Merle". I have mentioned on another thread that I do not like country music for the record. However, at the same time if "Merle" is offering local community oriented programming, then I have to give the folks credit on that one.

When I think about the type of format that I would have on 96.7-FM, I'll just say this. If you're looking for ratings and advertising appeal, I guess my format would not make it. My format of choice would be more suitable for internet radio.

However (not meaning to sound arrogant) I am confident that my format would appeal to a lot of the radio listeners who are sick and tired of the mainstream commercial stations that have some type of oldies/AC/Hot AC/Rock format who play the same repetitive songs over and over again. The type of format that I would play would be an 80's oriented format (With some 70's and 90's) that would consist of at least 1,000 to 2,000 songs in rotation. My total music library would consist of at least 10,000 songs, and I would rotate my music so nobody would hear the same old songs over and over again all year around.

I would play songs that have not received any airplay in the Knoxville area in 20 years or more. I would not allow chart success (The Billboard Hot 100) to determine if the song should be played or not, nor would I allow Arbitron to influence my format of choice. If it were practical, and just as long as I could stay afloat and have the money to keep the station going, I would just focus on having fun with the station without all of the pressure of ratings and big bucks that most commercial stations chase after.

There is so much music out there that never receives any airplay. It seems that most commercial stations are restricted to the same old 400 songs. There is also a lot of obscured R&B music from the 80's that has not been played around here in years since AM 1430 WBMK (WJBE) was in existence. Take someone like Alexander O'Neal for example. I cannot remember the last time I have heard Alexander O'Neal or Cherrelle played on a Knoxville radio station. I know that R&B here in Knoxville has mainly been limited to AM radio in the past.

When it comes to 80's music or an "80's oriented format", I have never been impressed with "93-1 The Point", no matter how much tinkering that have done with their format. I really wish that it were possible for me to obtain an FCC License, however I do not have the financial backing nor the resources to do so.

Like I mentioned, my main purpose would be to have a radio station that is fun.

 

[SuperQ]

You are absolutely correct.

Your format would not have any ratings or advertising success.

In my 30+ years in radio I have never met a listener who didn't want more variety on their radio station. Variety being defined as more of the songs they like. Unfortunately each listener has a different list of songs they would add. And they don't want to hear your idea of variety, just theirs.

It has been tried many many times over the years. It has never ever worked.

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

You are absolutely correct.

Your format would not have any ratings or advertising success.

In my 30+ years in radio I have never met a listener who didn't want more variety on their radio station. Variety being defined as more of the songs they like. Unfortunately each listener has a different list of songs they would add. And they don't want to hear your idea of variety, just theirs.

It has been tried many many times over the years. It has never ever worked.

SuperQ,

I may not have the ratings and financial success like you mentioned. However when you said that "they don't want to hear your idea of variety, just theirs."........ That's your opinion SuperQ. Like I mentioned I really do not care about ratings and huge profits. That is what is wrong with radio today, and that is why Satellite radio is taking radio listeners away from regular FM Radio. I would say that it is only a matter of time before there are no jobs left in radio besides sitting there behind a computer clicking on a mouse and doing voice tracking.

You can brag all you want about your 30+ years that you have worked in radio, it's really nothing to brag about, and I'm really not impressed. I don't care how long you have worked in radio, the fact is your comment is only an "opinion" based on what little bit I have shared on here about what format I would do.

You act like you already know 100 percent what my format would be like. You are basing your opinion on what little you have read on this board in a couple of posts of mine. Your opinion of my format is based on 10 percent of what I have shared on here.

I don't think you or anyone else who currently works in the business even comprehends what I would do, because it has never been done in Knoxville or the Knoxville area before, because no station in this area has the guts to do what I would do. So don't compare my format to some other commercialized format that these corporate big wigs around here play. Their format wouldn't even come close to touching mine.

I have broadcasted my format on the internet in the past, and every single person (Who likes music from the 80's of course), loved my format. They said my format was better than any other radio station's format here in the Ktown area and just about any other market. Imagine that? A creative thinker who has never worked in the business seems to be able to give a lot of listeners what they like.

I have also had other radio veterans (here in Ktown and in other markets) who have been in the business as long as you have been, who have also heard my format, and they have applauded me for my idea. These same folks have heard my demo tapes in the past, and they loved it also.

I'm afraid SuperQ that you have worked in commercial radio for too long, and it has clouded your judgment about what good radio is. You probably don't even like music from the 80's in the first place, and if that's so well, that explains that.

I'm just glad that I never got into the dirty business of radio along with the crappy pay. I am done with this subject.

Good day mate! ;D

 

[SuperQ]

I am not claiming to know it all. I too have broadcast on the Internet. I once had as many as 80 concurrent listeners, which is more than most streamers ever get.

But 80 streamers won't command revenue. And 1500 Average listeners on a Knoxville FM station won't make any money. The license for any FM in the market is at least 2 million dollars plus. If you have 2 million dollars to invest, and a few thousand a month more to operate with, and don't need revenue or listeners, then I say Godspeed...have fun and show the way.

But the likelihood of someone with several million dollars and peoples livelihoods at stake experimenting with your ideas is unlikely.

Satellite radio's growth (which has stalled) is because there are 130-150 channels available, providing a niche for everyone. Commercial radio offers 15-30 signals around here, if you count AM's. A niche that's sustainable on a subscription basis as one of 130 channels won't fly one on one of 15-30 signals that needs advertising support, particularly one of the five FM's that actually covers this market.

Now when Wi-Fi is everywhere, there will be thousands of channels to choose from, confusion will reign and the mass appeal broadcast stations will probably survive like the over the air TV's have survived a 300 channel cable world.

Bottom line, you really didn't argue with my primary point. Your station would generate small ratings and small revenue. You say you don't care. So we really have no argument. Round up a couple of million and prove your point. But don't expect people who have to make a living at this to do it.