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Get Your Act Together...All of you.

OH I FORGOT. WHERE IS DOC'S DELORIAN??? I HOPE BINGHAMTON GOES BACK TO THE FUTURE
 
Voicetracking is not limited to Binghamton, stop trying to say this is our problem... its an industry problem, as they voice track in every market, now even NYC.
 
As far as the Scranton/WB market being some sort of refreshing talent oasis..you my friend are sensory challenged. They do as much, if not more VT'ing than Bingo does, and they haven't had a new idea since
J.F. Kennedy sailed in PT-109.
 
OK NOW MY 2 CENTS (OR 1 VT SESSION IN PAYROLL). UPON READING ALL POSTS, I CAN SAY THAT ALL HAVE GREAT POINT.
MUSIC IS VERY IMPORTANT, HOWEVER SOME TOP RATED STATIONS DON'T EVEN PLAY MUSIC, AND THEY ARE "AM". SO THINK. IMAGING IS EVERYTHING AND IS NOT "COMMERCIALS" (SPOTS PLEASE LET'S GET IT RIGHT), IT'S ABOUT HOW A STATION PRESENTS ITSELF TO A LISTENER. RADIO'S HERITAGE IS ABOUT TALENT, IMAGE, A "SHOW" (NOT SHIFT)....OTHERWISE WE'D ALL JUST HAVE IPODS.(DID YOU NOTICE SOME MP3 PLAYERS NOW INCORPORATE FM RADIOS?? GEE I WONDER WHY???)ANYWAYS, I FEEL A STATION WILL ATTRACT A LISTENER IF IT HAS AN ENTERTAINING ASPECT TO IT. JUKEBOX RADIO WILL NEVER WORK. LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. EVERYONE LIKES TO "FEEL" LIKE THEY HAVE HUMAN CONTACT. PERSONALITIES MAKE PEOPLE "FEEL" LIKE THEY EXIST. THERE IS A LOT OF EFFORT PUT INTO THE MORNING SHOWS ON WAAL (I GIVE CREDIT TO THE AFTERNOONS TOO, THUNDER SOUNDS GREAT), AND WHWK UPON A FEW WEEKS OF LISTENING. IT IS ENJOYABLE TO HERE INFORMATION, PERSONALITIES AND MUSIC COMBINED TOGETHER AND BE ENTERTAINING. THE PERSONALITIES BEHIND THIS ARE KNOWN WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT. IF YOU NOTICE A LOT OF BIGGER SOUNDING STATIONS "PITCH UP" THE MUSIC A BIT AND USE RAMPS/DONUTS WITH TIME/TEMP CHECKS WITH KILLER ENTHUSIASM(CHR EXAMPLE). "TIGHT AND BRIGHT"
LOCAL ----------------
A GREAT SOUNDING STATION GIVES A LISTENER OF THE IDEA THAT THE AREA THEY ARE EITHER DRIVING THROUGH, LIVE, WORK OR WHATEVER IS "GREAT". IT'S BASIC COMMON SENSE. AND THERE IS A MAJORITY OF STATIONS THAT LACK "IMAGING" AND "PERSONALITY", EVEN IF THEY THINK THAT THEY ARE THE BEST VOICE TRACKERS. YOU CAN'T DO THE SAME TYPE OF SHOW VOICE TRACKED. I DON'T CARE WHO YOU THINK CAN, IT DOESN'T WORK THE SAME WAY. A STATION WITH TOP OF THE LINE EQUIPMENT CAN SAME THE EXACT TO A LISTENER AS A STATION WITH 1985 EQUIPMENT IF THE END RESULT IS THE SAME (WHETHER GOOD OR BAD). WHAT COMES OUT OF THE AUDIO PROCESSOR TO THE TRANSMITTER AND INTO THE LISTENERS RADIO IS ALL UP TO WHOMEVER IS RUNNING THE STATION/DOING THEIR SHOW OR "SHIFT" (NOT YOUR CONSULTANT). "IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET " IS A GREAT REASON BINGHAMTON MARKET STATIONS ARE SOUNDING WORSE. THIS HAS GOT TO GO AWAY. THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS HIRING GREAT TALENT/PROVIDING THE MEANS TO ENTERTAIN AND KEEP RATINGS UP (TO SELL MORE AD TIME, TO UP THE GROSS PROFITS). IF MORE FOCUS ON WHAT LISTENERS WANT AS FAR AS MUSIC DIRECTION GOES, STOP RELYING ON CONSULTANTS THAT DEAL WITH EVERYONE AND GO OUT ON THE STREETS AND DO YOUR OWN MUSIC TESTING!! THEIR MAY BE SOME ANSWERS THERE!!! ENOUGH FOR NOW. GO AHEAD NOW.
 
Again this phenom is limited to just Binghamton? No... It's a corporate radio problem... COAST TO COAST... So stop coming down on us, as if it's our problem. I don't know anyone in the local programming that wouldn't like to do more, but corporate doesn't allow that... whether the corporate is regional or national... the programming departments are limited by Management, a management that usually isn't in touch with local market or listeners at all.
 
Keep your feet on the ground…and your head in the sand Justin.

Binghamton is an overly complacent radio market. It’s because of all the incestuous hiring. Everyone has worked at every station, and everyone knows every other jock. No new ideas, no fresh new blood in the halls, no SECRETS. If you work in Binghamton, you know you can pick up the phone and call a “friend” at every other radio group and know exactly what is going on in that building at any time. (and I don’t want to hear that BS that “you can do that in any market” because you can’t)

I’m not picking on you Justin, because I think you are one of the most interesting, and talented people I have meet (yes- we used to work in the same building at one time). However, I think is absurd to compare the sound of Binghamton radio to larger markets and say “the same stuff goes on there”. Syracuse, Scranton, and even Elmira sound FAR better than Binghamton (even the trackers, because the PD’s care). It’s not because people in Bingo can’t do it…They won’t do it. COMPLACENCY: A radio stations Cancer (In Binghamton’s case, the markets cancer).
 
I work in several markets on and off the air, and within Equinox and out and I listen to the stories from other people, the same as here, the cast of characters may be bigger, but the script is written much the same, with the same complaints and feelings everywhere I hear!

Complacency has been created by corporate radio where people are more worried about their jobs in a dwindling field than in producing great radio... Binghamton and Elmira very in that Binghamton is dealing with some of the largest radio broadcasters in the country, where Elmira is smaller regional owners. Binghamton stations mean less to a big company than Elmira would to a small market company and it shows!
 
Very interesting observation Justin, but, most of the same people are working for Clear Channel and Citadel as were working for Majak and Wicks (and the local owners before that). Most (not all) were complacent then and are even more lazy now with their 6 weeks per year of vacation time. My point in starting this whole post in the first place, was to draw attention to the fact that this is a sick (not dieing) media. If we are not careful it will be a dieing media like newspaper. We need to get back to making emotional connections with our citizens before new technologies take us out. I hear Binghamton and it needs help. Some great talent has come through that city, please start grooming some more. Or don’t…but do have a nice day :)

One (long) side note to Justin: when you were on star and it was owned by clear channel it sounded as good as any major market station I can think of(so, I think your argument about corporate not caring is BS. Corporate didn’t care then either, your PD and GM did). You could have put that station in the metro of any market and it would have been a player. The Imaging, the jocks, and everything. Except for those horrible jingles that Al Brock traded. I used to feel the same way about the Hawk in the late nineties too. The whale was a fantastic Classic rock station back when Oz, Don, thunder, the Wild Man, and Derrick cared. Mix also sounded as good as any AC. And KGB was a Kick ass Rock station even though they had little man syndrome to the Whale. Even Oldies 104 sounded like a big market oldies station…then later wild sounded just like a Syracuse station. (101.7 has never sounded good though…we can just face that fact.) Ahhhh, trips down memory lane.
 
At the beginning of Clear Channel in Binghamton, a lot of the initial success was a structure started under Majac and don't forget, there was only a temp GM here in Bob Dunphy, and plenty of what we did, was reproted directly to Rochester, as they initially oversaw management. Remember Clear Channel had just paid a pretty steep penny to get into market 178, I think intentions were good at the beginning, continue with successes!

Obviously the course wasn't stayed, budgets were tightened and the things that made us succesful at Star... owning and branding the music and appearing to be everywhere was scrapped... followed by Wild bursting onto the scene with ads of Star as an evil empire... and no direct response, but safe tweaks... all but finished the deal. Star was much like Michael Douglas' characher in the movie "The American President" his popularity as President waned when his challenger did all the talking... people listen to the bs, in the absense of true leadership... Star was the local leader and when it stopped leading the crowd; it was just passed over.
 
I read with interest all the comments about how Binghamton has become the cesspool of the radio world.

I find some things interesting here.

Somebody realllllly likes Orban equipment. I am very impressed with the auditory skills. The people in this area that can tell the difference between that and Omnia and how it sounds is about .02% of the listening population. The average listener doesn't give a rats pattooti which processor anyone uses.

Someone is completely living in the past. I liked Majac when Jacko was there. It was as great time in radio here in Bingo. I liked the Waal when it dominated. It's a different time here.. a time of transition for everyone here. We all have to deal with it. All in our own ways.

Someone doesn't like voice tracking. I know here we can't afford the salaries that full time stations used to enjoy. Radio just isn't like the old times anymore that way. We here have so many irons in the fire to improve things we can't afford it to hire 6 fulltime on air people. I know that CC is trying but it's having budget issues as well.

As for the statement of making Bingo market 255. IF radio completely sucked as bad as one thinks it does it wouldn't affect what number market we are...population does. Let me guess, cuz my morning show sucks Arbitron will put us at 255?... come on.

This is my first post. If you feel the need to flame go ahead. I will have fun with the counterpoints but will not spear anyone. I keep in mind we all have opinions.

I will not take away from the people who are working the butts off in this market at what salaries they make. We all do what we can. I respect everyone positions' in this town... even Justin's.

oh yeah...Q is a rimshot. It's get's where the fcc will allow it. If we could change the law we would. But you already knew that.
 
SHimes100 said:
I will not take away from the people who are working the butts off in this market at what salaries they make. We all do what we can. I respect everyone positions' in this town... even Justin's.

LOL... is that your best attempt of trying to kiss up so I won't leave? j/k
 
Oh brother, looky here. The two of you (Justin and Shimes)(who work for the "TIGHTEST" and i don't mean radio jargon, i mean money tight) are defending the fact that times are changing, budgets are a "corporate" problem (hence shouldn't be a problem at your group then and your owner(s) spend the least, HMM, I'm sure you think about that when you look down at your equipment). A clarification Shimes about processing, first you are right about nobody knows the difference between omnia and orban (for the record, i like aphex) (you guys should admire used ORBAN processors) BUT, (you again missed the point) you can clearly tell a good sound from a bad sound!! This is the WHOLE POINT!! ASK AROUND!! IT'S ABOUT QUALITY SERVICE!! FRESH is better than STALE!! I hate hearing about the money thing considering how much spots are billed at these days. It should be priority to have the money for image and quality. If you can't see spending money to do that, then I guess your "owner" is in the wrong business. STOP TRYING TO JUSTIFY THE TIGHT WADS THAT SAVE MONEY BY NOT SPENDING ANY!!
 
Thanks for joining the conversation a month later... better late than never! Steve may not comment on our budgets, but I don't think I was excluding our cluster... When I say the jocks do the best under the restraints and budgets from management... oh I assure you my a$$ is included in that statement!

When we move to our new digs on Main Street, I won't lie, I'm hoping the equipment gets upgraded... However, all I can do is work with what is provided to me and continue to create more visibility and awareness for our stations as their promotions director.

We have billboards and bus signs, tv ads and newspaper... static clings, bumper stickers, t-shirts and station tote bags... For remotes and events there is tables, skirts, signs, banners, pop-up tents... I can only hope that the high visibility approach I've preached since my arrival in the building in 2003 has had some part to do with increasing the stations numbers from a 1 share. That means I'm doing my job and what greater radio men than myself taught me was right.

Most of all though, and the main reason I'm still here is I like the environment here, we are coworkers, but also friends and we have a goodtime in the office and studio despite the equipment and I think out amongst our listeners and at our events people can tell that too, and to me thats important.
 
Ok, enough. Enough about how good of a job you do Justin. This thread is about the fact that no one in Binghamton spends more than 5 minuets on their imaging or websites. Louie G, John and Chris, and Glenn Pitcher are the highest paid personalities in the market and they are doing the least to help their situations. I didn’t want to call people out by name, but you won’t get it. When you come to work at 5:30 and leave by 10:30, and it’s like pulling teeth to get you to help out, then it’s time to retire. Sure you have good ratings, bla bla bla. Let’s wake up Binghamton; nobody buys ratings in your market. Locals buy the reps they like and the station they like. You are such a small market that even the top station 25-54 persons, is probably only counting 5% of their sales to national business. Stop wasting all that money on lazy morning shows. I say syndicate ‘em all, then spend some money on some live jocks for the rest of the day parts. Jocks who care, jock who will help out with imaging and websites. Hell jocks who will do public appearances that don’t “pay $50 per hour” (which I’m surprised your [EDIT] ‘talent’ still gets, some bigger markets are getting $25/h.)

[EDIT]


[EDIT-offensive and inflammatory content]
 
Sooo... we are now [EDIT] talent?... and [EDIT]. wow ... How long did that take those think up? Quite good.... Ground Breaking stuff... It sure is a lot better than the production in this town. Let me see if we can throw that into our lack of production... Using our Omnia.
I don't see you buying a station and developing it. I don't see you spending hours on imaging and websites. I don't see you anywhere. In fact you know who I am... who are you?
and quite frankly ... just because you may or may not like the sound of the Omnia...(I do hope that before I die... I get to at least feast my eyes on a piece of Orban processing... I am sure it will rival seeing the birth of my kids) I really don't care. And whether my owner is tight or not ... Get a life. He's got the properties and you don't... it's that simple. He is where he is because he's worked his ass off to get there... and oh yeah. I enjoy every day at work... whether the job I do satisfies StaticFMDJ or Hunan Man or not. Oh yeah... and I spent 5 and a half minutes on an imaging liner. so see someone spends more than 5 minutes on imaging.


[EDIT-quotes removed from original post]
 
First off Shimes please read my comments. I have not once mentioned audio processing. Not Omnia, not Orban, because like you I think there is more important things than how fast your attack and release is set. I have also not attacked any owner, corporate or local. I am suggesting that people (maybe yourself, I don’t know you) who care and go the extra mile should be making more than the “4 and door” morning shows. Or at least the people who care should be in the management positions. The market would sound a lot better if that was the case.

Also, if you think those websites you have are good, please call Promo Suite or MJI Interactive and see what you can barter. I know you available inventory. Chase Cuts is available in Binghamton too, that would go a long way.

Have fun at Ty Cobb Stadium Shimes! ;D Why are you people at Equinox so sensitive anyway? This thread has never been about you guys. Personally, I don’t think anyone in Binghamton even cares about Equinox. You guys are non-players, so stop getting so offended. Shimes please do us a favor, go adjust your Mackie board and say hi to the kids at Ty Cobb Stadium. Let the big boys and girls talk about radio.

Note to anyone not employed at Equinox: Please call Jusin and Shimes and tell them how great they are, so we can move on and address the real stations that are under performing.
 
I'm not looking for any credit, I've been merely defending the market... many people in this market work their a$$es off for pennies and don't deserve to be disrespected by what had been very general comments.
 
Oh your good. Too good for my blood. HAHA...kidding...

FWIW.. I like good dialogue. It doesn't have to be demeaning.

As for the kids. Off-topic one second. They are absolutely incredible. It is a great relief to have something outside of the station to enjoy.

hey.. thanks for all the calls .... I gotta go adjust a Mackie... Have a nice day!!!
 
So HunanMan i am very pleased that you set a better mood with Shimes and Justin, you are right, nobodys pointing direct fingers at owners, or audio processing, or lack of effort to make something "more that it can be", --and-- i can rethink and say George/Kevin "Equinox" are two men that need more credit, after all they don't trade there stations on the stock market and they are operating their employees in a non corporate fashion, so two thumbs up there. Only a couple of radio owners in this area still hold on to the "mom and pop" perspective, and i do beleive one MAY BE SELLING OUT SOON. We'll see. If you hate rumours, just disregard for now and you'll know soon enough. So anyways, back to the thread from Shimes, no matter what audio equipment or audio processing you have, if it isn't set right, who cares what it is, it still sounds like s@#@!! (WILD 104 Omnia=bad.)(By the way, i have given compliments about how nice 100.5 and 106.7 sound so keep it in mind) (96.1 is as good as it gets using the old unit from cdw.)So have a cup of tea and relax, it's all good, as good as it gets for little pay...
 
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