Good article on what's wrong with radio

[DougD]

Posted elsewhere (not my opinion but one I agree with wholeheartedly).

After this post, I'm leaving. The radio people don't seem to care that its listeners want improvements. Therefore, they shall hang.
Unfortunately, the staff will sink with them.

Since you're too blind to see the error, you too shall die.

...
http://www.gatewaycityradio.com/messageboard/kcboard.asp

NYTimes, "Radio is dead! Okay, it's dying!"
http://www.gatewaycityradio.com/messageboard/kcboard.asp

Posted by unclealbert on 9/15/2006, 7:50 am

check out the link on Drudgereport. Huge article on how and why radio is taking a dump, losing listeners, losing talent, losing period.
It basically says every large corporate owner is losing it's ass right now, and that now Clear Channell is getting ready to start selling back to Mom and Pops. Hurray.

It may take a death bed conversion to save radio.

Satelitte radio, in terms of content and talent, is so much better right now than "old" radio. Splitting the signal into HD doesn't answer anything. The overworked, outsourced, and demeaned programmers, already "PDing" 3 stations each are now gonna program MORE stations and produce good content? Good luck with that. I mean listen to the ones they're concentrating on now. Case closed.

CBS is going to the "growth" sectors of terrestrial radio the NYTimes says, Spanish and Jack format with no jocks.

Yeah, that should do it.

Keep selling ladies, the bloodbath is here.

 

[fred flintstone]

Try posting a link to the exact post you mean - not a message board with a whole page of links.

Your descriptions of the posts don't make the posters sound like they know what they are talking about.
Drudge is hardly a credible source on the radio biz. He's a blogger who shows up once a week to do a talk show; hired for his name.

And don't expect Clear Channel to sell to "mom and pop."
Stations will be reorganized among various ownership groups, some of which specialize in properties within a region and in setting up clusters in small and medium markets.
Unless "mom and pop" are rich and are running a radio station as a hobby, don't expect anything different. The basic economics of the industry apply to all owners.

 

[radiofriend1]

these choices apply to almost anything in life we have to deal with that we may not like or agree with...u can:

**change it
**adapt to it
**leave it

my advice to posters like fred is: if radio sucks so bad why are u spending so much time BITCHING about it?????

get out and get over it

 

[Anyacat]

I already posted that article (with the correct link) under Did radio kill the golden goose (or something about a golden goose)

 

[majicjim]

The following links speak for themselves

http://www.realoldiesfans.com


http://www.clearchannelsucks.net

 

[radiofriend1]

The following links speak for themselves

http://www.realoldiesfans.com


http://www.clearchannelsucks.net

they speak for the embittered and the radio wannabes

don't put that garbage on all of radio, whether it be cbs, cumulus, cox, cbs, cc, entercom...........

ACCEPT IT
CHANGE IT
LEAVE IT
your choice...............

 

[Anyacat]

So you think that a monopoly on the airwaves is a good thing? Do you believe a managed media is in the public's interest? Do you believe that one or five large corporations should decide for you what information you will receive, what music you will hear, what artists will be promoted? Could it be that instead of radio wannabes, people who protest take seriously the fact that a few large corporations have hijacked the airwaves for their own benefit. Or is freedom of speech and expression just too old school hippie dippie for you? You offer three choices, but what you really seem to say, is accept the inevitable, as if the loss of freedom is inevitable.

 

[fred flintstone]

these choices apply to almost anything in life we have to deal with that we may not like or agree with...u can:

**change it
**adapt to it
**leave it

my advice to posters like fred is: if radio sucks so bad why are u spending so much time BITCHING about it?????

get out and get over it

Your writing suggests you are too young to have been around in the Viet Nam era, but if you had been you'd have probably been one of those telling anti-war protesters, "America: Love it or leave it."
You can continue to stick your head in the sand and pretend radio is wonderful and the future is rosy.
And then when radio is a memory, you can talk about how wonderful it was and how corporate greed (or whatever skapegoat you choose) destroyed it.
One of radio's problems is it is filled with people that are so grateful to be in radio that they will do anything and even believe anything to stay there.
I will be curious what you'll have to say should you decide to start thinking for yourself. Meanwhile, you are exactly what the suits of radio want working down on their factory floors (i.e., the station) for just over minimum wage. At least real factory workers have the cajones to unionize.

 

[radiofriend1]

these choices apply to almost anything in life we have to deal with that we may not like or agree with...u can:

**change it
**adapt to it
**leave it

my advice to posters like fred is: if radio sucks so bad why are u spending so much time BITCHING about it?????

get out and get over it

Your writing suggests you are too young to have been around in the Viet Nam era, but if you had been you'd have probably been one of those telling anti-war protesters, "America: Love it or leave it."
You can continue to stick your head in the sand and pretend radio is wonderful and the future is rosy.
And then when radio is a memory, you can talk about how wonderful it was and how corporate greed (or whatever skapegoat you choose) destroyed it.
One of radio's problems is it is filled with people that are so grateful to be in radio that they will do anything and even believe anything to stay there.
I will be curious what you'll have to say should you decide to start thinking for yourself. Meanwhile, you are exactly what the suits of radio want working down on their factory floors (i.e., the station) for just over minimum wage. At least real factory workers have the cajones to unionize.

never said radio is all wonderful and rosy......never said i love monopolies

i think for myself plenty. but i am also a realist enough to know that carping and whining about how bad all radio is and i long for the good ole days WILL NOT FIX anything that is wrong about radio

lemme ask u guys this--- was radio perfect 10 yrs ago.....20 yrs ago....30, 40 yrs ago????? that would be a big, fat **no**

i have obviously piqued some touchy spots with folks. u wanna protest, then go ahead. u want to quit, fine. wanna unionize, fine. BUT JUST DO IT and stop the useless complaining. when all i hear is whining AND NO SOLUTIONS................i get real bored

honestly......some of u remind me of people who work for gm, ford, chrysler, like they are owed something 'cuz they've done it for 20 or 30 years.........
and look where the us auto makers are today....

 

[fred flintstone]

You make a good point - several actually.

The suggestions made on this site are mostly:
1. Play what I like.
2. Don't worry about sales (that's just greed), play what I like.
3. Take radio stations away from corporations (motivated by greed so they don't play what I like) and have more "mom and pop" stations because they won't care about money and will play what I like.
4. Don't bother with research; I am typical. Everybody is like me, so play what I like.

 

[DougD]

Well stated. I'm glad I'm not in the radio "business" anymore. No, I wasn't forced out. I left my $11,000 salary (in '85) as a radio news director for a small station to go into TV news reporting, which also paid beans.

So you think that a monopoly on the airwaves is a good thing? Do you believe a managed media is in the public's interest? Do you believe that one or five large corporations should decide for you what information you will receive, what music you will hear, what artists will be promoted? Could it be that instead of radio wannabes, people who protest take seriously the fact that a few large corporations have hijacked the airwaves for their own benefit. Or is freedom of speech and expression just too old school hippie dippie for you? You offer three choices, but what you really seem to say, is accept the inevitable, as if the loss of freedom is inevitable.

 

[DougD]

4. Don't bother with research; I am typical. Everybody is like me, so play what I like.

I don't recall anyone in these environs saying "only play what I like."

It's more "add more variety," play something such as SEVEN ROOMS OF GLOOM from the FOUR TOPS (a big hit) occaisionally, not always just the biggies. It gets tiring and boring as stale bread to hear only RESCUE ME, NA NA NA HEY HEY HEY and all the like over and over.

That's the opposite of playing only unknown "record geek" songs. It turns people off. Just playing only the big ones with very little variety, and sounding like every other oldies station anywhere in the world, doesn't cut it either. Add some variety in there.

I heard a great gem recently, one not played much on radio these days, the BEACH BOYS' WHEN I GROW UP TO BE A MAN. Was good to hear that.

A satellite (terrestrial satellite service) station once threw in HEROES AND VILLAINS by the same great group once. Was a blast.

Sure, they played all the big hits but the variety was great.

 

[radiofriend1]

You make a good point - several actually.

The suggestions made on this site are mostly:
1. Play what I like.
2. Don't worry about sales (that's just greed), play what I like.
3. Take radio stations away from corporations (motivated by greed so they don't play what I like) and have more "mom and pop" stations because they won't care about money and will play what I like.
4. Don't bother with research; I am typical. Everybody is like me, so play what I like.

problem w/#3---too late baby. u can't just "take radio stations away from corporations".........the whole "if it's corporate they're greedy" could also be applied to the many "mom & pop" stations of the 60s and 70s, stations owned by people as a hobby or investment and didn't put anything INTO the stations, micromanaged playlists, jox content......

besides...........great, winning, successful radio has always, ALWAYS been about the listener. stations who get this and do it well get high ratings and make money. those who don't.......well, don't

once again-----most of the objection by radio hacks is borne out of selfishness.............i wanna play the format i like, i don't like research......blah blah blah

and most of THOSE people are NOT in important, influential or money-making postions in the radio of 2006, so u do have to consider the source, as they say

 

[Anyacat]

these choices apply to almost anything in life we have to deal with that we may not like or agree with...u can:

**change it
**adapt to it
**leave it

my advice to posters like fred is: if radio sucks so bad why are u spending so much time BITCHING about it?????

get out and get over it

Your writing suggests you are too young to have been around in the Viet Nam era, but if you had been you'd have probably been one of those telling anti-war protesters, "America: Love it or leave it."
You can continue to stick your head in the sand and pretend radio is wonderful and the future is rosy.
And then when radio is a memory, you can talk about how wonderful it was and how corporate greed (or whatever skapegoat you choose) destroyed it.
One of radio's problems is it is filled with people that are so grateful to be in radio that they will do anything and even believe anything to stay there.
I will be curious what you'll have to say should you decide to start thinking for yourself. Meanwhile, you are exactly what the suits of radio want working down on their factory floors (i.e., the station) for just over minimum wage. At least real factory workers have the cajones to unionize.

never said radio is all wonderful and rosy......never said i love monopolies

i think for myself plenty. but i am also a realist enough to know that carping and whining about how bad all radio is and i long for the good ole days WILL NOT FIX anything that is wrong about radio

lemme ask u guys this--- was radio perfect 10 yrs ago.....20 yrs ago....30, 40 yrs ago????? that would be a big, fat **no**

i have obviously piqued some touchy spots with folks. u wanna protest, then go ahead. u want to quit, fine. wanna unionize, fine. BUT JUST DO IT and stop the useless complaining. when all i hear is whining AND NO SOLUTIONS................i get real bored

honestly......some of u remind me of people who work for gm, ford, chrysler, like they are owed something 'cuz they've done it for 20 or 30 years.........
and look where the us auto makers are today....

I see, you are in fact, very young and do not understand the power of the protest--even the unsuccessful protest. Those people who do not like the idea of granting one corporation a virtual monopoly on the airwaves can write in opposition of the FCC allowing Clear Channel to own even more public outlets.That is not complaining that is action and talking about it is not whining, it is actively spreading the word. You are not a friend of radio if you can so easily accept the lack of competition, the loss of localism and the exclusion of new artists in the "mainstream" media. Only a child would think that corporations do not owe the same loyalty to their long-time workers that they expect from their workers. US automakers are in the toilet because management insisted on producing cars as if they were disposable tissues. Had management been as dedicated to creating a reliable product as it was to its bottom line, the business would be better, and healthier, than it is today. So, you can blame it on the workers or you can take a look at the industry and wonder what management was thinking when it delayed the development of an American-made hybrid car (and that's only one example).

 

[radiofriend1]

fine. to all the *VICTIMS* who are posting here......

*all corporations/big companies suck
*if U protest (which none of u has the guts to actually DO) radio and the fcc, everything will reverse to like it was "back in the day"
*u have all been abused and mistreated by your employers

there.........feel better now? what is it like to live in a vacuum?

 

[Anyacat]

fine. to all the *VICTIMS* who are posting here......

*all corporations/big companies suck
*if U protest (which none of u has the guts to actually DO) radio and the fcc, everything will reverse to like it was "back in the day"
*u have all been abused and mistreated by your employers

there.........feel better now? what is it like to live in a vacuum?

You've missed the point and the mark with your pathetic jab--Love Long and Prosper, as the man said--now that's a reference you will no doubt understand...

 

[radiofriend1]

fine. to all the *VICTIMS* who are posting here......

*all corporations/big companies suck
*if U protest (which none of u has the guts to actually DO) radio and the fcc, everything will reverse to like it was "back in the day"
*u have all been abused and mistreated by your employers

there.........feel better now? what is it like to live in a vacuum?

You've missed the point and the mark with your pathetic jab--Love Long and Prosper, as the man said--now that's a reference you will no doubt understand...

well what IS the point, indeed? a lotta hot air and whining is all we're seeing

 

[fred flintstone]

Attention: Young people considering a career in radio.
You will end up working with a lot of people like "Radiofriend1."
He is all too typical.

 

[radiofriend1]

Attention: Young people considering a career in radio.
You will end up working with a lot of people like "Radiofriend1."
He is all too typical.

they'll do better radio, have more fun and make more money working for me than working with u, that's for sure..........

bitter, frustrated, feeling left out-it's understandable

 

[DougD]

To you goons' surprise, there are MANY listeners fed up with FM and radio in general. We "bitchers" who post to this board are far from alone, despite how much some of you want to put rose colored glasses on.

Burying your head in the sand and going after the messenger won't help your sorry industry.



Get this thread found elsewhere... (not my words)
----

FM commercial radio is pathetic nowadays...a shameful, commerce-oriented business operation that exists soley for its own profitability...with total contempt for its listening audience. Several years ago, the general manager of the local FM "classic rock" station gave a speech at some radio convention, where he was quoted bragging about the fact that his station played the same songs over and over and over...like he was proud of the scam.

I no longer listen to commercial radio...and never will again

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=87729&page=4


The first part of the long post...
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=87729

QUOTE: What more is there to say, other than it was a lot better than radio today. Another one of those things where us old farts think it was better then, than it is today.
__________________
Scott


I remember one evening, early in the morning, around 2am, when DJs could pretty much do what they wanted, back in 1978, even on corporate AOR stations, like Q102-FM in Dallas.....

The DJ was playing a cut from a very popular comedy album at that time. The bit was about this disgruntled neighbor of TV's Mr. Rogers. The parent tells Mr. Rogers to "Stay away from my Kid" and then punches Mr. Rogers in the stomach --- with his response of "Ohhh, That Hurt's"-------------
Then immeadiately following that, the DJ cuts right into the middle section of "Dazed And Confused" from The Song Remains The Same.

Now that was a trip ! !


And that....was the kind of creativity that used to be found anytime, day or night, on cool, progressive rock stations. It has never gone out of style. But just try explaining that to the cold corporate bottom-liners (feeders)....of this world


----------


MY REPLY...

Oh come on listener. You jest gotta b n the rite demo, u know?
You'll come to love the same ol sonz plaid over and over. The jocks love them and u can tell they sound forced to sound excited over the boring station air they exhale at...

If you remember a song we woodn't dare play, u are such a record or geek 'cause we bird brains and boobs who run the stupid outfit think we knowz better 'cause we're jerks who know everything. Period.

How dare u go after us and r charmed lies. WHy would u complain about our suck-o music selection? Our real masters, the ad men, love it.
You didn't buy the airwaves and put your hard=earned money into it to rule over the pubic air-head waves?

To tell u how much we value your music tastes, and preferences, we don't take requests anymore, as if we ever did. We even took out our studio lines since we won't play anything outside of the 100-300 songs.

Besides, that obsolete AM station u listen 2 is gonna shut down 'cause some lard ass 'round here thinks its lizners r 2 old. Get et?

We will even run u off of that last resort of AM radio - boob head here sez no one listens to that band anyway.

Gotta love how we a-holes run this crappy business and detest our list-ners.