General talk for under 55

[TomásEstefan]

I took no Latin, but it helps to at least know the rules of the various languages that fed English if you're going to work with the written language for a living. A similar situation to mediums/media occurs with the plural of antenna. If you're talking about radio, it's antennas, but it's antennae for moths.

That's correct. "antennae" is actually both plural and singular for what's on the heads of many insects. In electronics, plural of antenna is antennas.

All this is pretty basic. So many folks in our industry majored in "Journalism", but seemingly didn't pass "English". I've heard folks on television news say "phenomenons" instead of phenomena. I don't get it...this is basic High School stuff...

 

[TomásEstefan]

But elsewhere, I learned that anything ending in -um may require the plural form to end with -a.

Since Radio Discussions is a "forum" I'm reminded that several such websites would be "fora" but it is now acceptable to say "forums" as well.

Pardon me while I go to find another nit to pick.

Sometimes instead of "um" its "us". Por ejemplo: plural of "opus" is "opera". But what the h-ll let's get back to radio...

 

[Mikey Radio]

Getting back to the original subject - while I'm not in the LA market, I do fit in that "under 55" demo, and I would appreciate a talk station which isn't hard slanted politics, but which discusses community news, events and happenings with maybe some touches on politics here and there, but without the hard slant or vitriol. I've heard it done in other cities and heard it done well. That said, 1) That was 20+ years ago and 2) Admittedly, I'm likely an outlier. That said, when I spin through the AM and some stations on the FM band here, the only talk I hear is hard conservative (much of it exaggerations and misinformation), sports or ethnic. No general talk hosted locally that I'd be interested in.

 

[PTBoardOp93]

The “general” talk format I wish was still viable is what I think was referred to as “service” talk, with call in advice talk shows focusing on relationships, personal finance, real estate, food/dining, etc.

Some of these things are probably viable, but getting five hosts who are knowledgeable and loquacious on five "service" topics, a producer/boardop and call screener is a lot more work than just running best of programs on Saturday.

Most such programs probably aren't viable M-F, because the content won't stretch to 15 hrs a week. There is Dave Ramsey but it seems like a lot of stations bury his show late at night, or second tier stations run it against a more popular show like Hannity.

 

[Nathan Obral]

There are also enough young right-wingers entering geezerhood to keep the format going on AM for the foreseeable future, especially if President Biden should win in November.

Why AM? They're more likely to tune into podcasts like Joe Rogan or any number of people on YouTube. Ben Shapiro's Westwood One show is and has been a podcast reskinned for radio airplay.

 

[TheBigA]

Why AM? They're more likely to tune into podcasts like Joe Rogan or any number of people on YouTube. Ben Shapiro's Westwood One show is and has been a podcast reskinned for radio airplay.

If you're saying over-55s are as likely to listen to podcasts, I agree. The data I'm saying is that podcasts aren't strictly a young audience thing. It's like Facebook. Older audiences may listen to AM because certain hosts are there. But they're not adverse to going to other places to hear who they want. That gets back to what I said earlier in the thread: Talk radio is all about the host.

You mention Ben Shapiro, and I hear a lot of complaints about Ben's style from older demos. So he may skew younger than Rogan.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Talk radio is all about the host.

Bingo!

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

In the core 25-54 and 18-49 demos, LA is much less than 25% non-Hispanic American born white people. How is English language talk going to appeal to the bulk of the market's population?

David, you were saying awhile back that first generation immigrants to the U.S, speak their native language a lot and therefore listen to stations in their native language a lot. But the second generation of immigrants who have learned English at school, they listen to English-speaking radio and tv far more often.
What percent of the L.A. market’s population are second and third generation immigrants? It must be a considerable amount.
Thank you to Fan 48140 for introducing a timely and thought-provoking topic.

 

[MassMusicMan]

It did well because of Howard Stern. ANY talk format, regardless of the style, is a function of the talent.

Give me a line-up of marketable talent for a young-talk station in LA in 2024.

First person with nothing better to do right now who came to mind was James Corden. He'd be insufferable on the radio.

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

First person with nothing better to do right now who came to mind was James Corden. He'd be insufferable on the radio.

I don't think the talent has to be someone who is already nationally known, although I think that Trevor Noah from The Daily Show is a host who's an excellent interviewer and who is knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics. The talent can be people from smaller markets who could audition for the L.A. market. In California, there's probably younger talent in smaller towns like : Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Monterey, San Jose, Redding, Eureka, etc.

For an example of audience participation non-political talk, Melinda Lee on KNX 1070 does an excellent cooking show. People call in about dishes they tried to make which did not turn out well, and she troubleshoots the problem. That's actually entertaining to listen to. Same thing with audience participation travel shows, advice to the love-lorn, restaurant review shows, auto repair (remember "Car Talk"on NPR?) etc. Audience call-in shows are more spontaneous than podcasts; and a good host can really make the subject come alive. JMO.

 

[chriscervantez]

There is Dave Ramsey but it seems like a lot of stations bury his show late at night, or second tier stations run it against a more popular show like Hannity.

I feel that even Ramsey’s show is political nowadays. I don’t think it used to be that way and I liked the financial advice without making it political.