To be fair I've only listened a small amount to Kiss. It's not bad. No they don't have heritage jocks, but I agree that to a large degree the 'heritage' way of announcing songs is definitely out with regard to CHR stations. The kids today don't have JUST the radio but with VH1 and some other video outlets like Yahoo! Music, video on MySpace.com, in addition to mp3 players and home burnt/traded CDs. That's what the kids are into today... trust me I have a 15 and a 17 year old here. They *DON'T* want a dj on the radio who doesn't speak like they do... and, at the risk of sounding old, the kids today fall into one of two categories: Either they are into this Gothic Alternative/Modern Rock & New Metal or they are into Hip Hop & Rap.
I guess with that statement I'm lending credence to the chorus of posters this last year that said there's not enough hip hop in Boston, huh?.
Most under age 22 aren't listening to AC (and you AC stations better take notice of that because they'll be your demo in 5 years). True, HotAC is getting with it but it's tough these days to find the right niche, because the one truth in all this is that unless you're the only CHR in town, you gotta realize that the Gothic Alt/Modern Rock segment of today's youth doesn't necessarilly care for the Rap & Hip Hop segment and vice versa.
It is mighty tough these days to find the right mix of voices and music to make a CHR station a success so while I pined away at modern PD's, that's not necessarilly justified. It's a harder job in many ways because of format fragmentation than it was ten years ago when you could just play the hits.
So getting back to jocks, you guys know I'm a big classic radio nut (thus my alias), and I still think that was the very best era for listening with jocks who could talkup a record and hit the post every time, sometimes being a bit nonsensical at times. But most younger folks just can't relate and it means nothing to them as the CHR audience today is much more lifestyle & gossip oriented due to cable & video. I think it's sad, the mystique of radio is gone, but it's a sad reality for those of us who remember the 'good ole days'.
> I have to say that I agree with you in disagreeing with the
> original poster. Although I do agree with everything Steve
> said, it seems as though he hasn't really given Kiss a
> listen lately, so he's making more general statements, not
> statements that directly apply to Kiss.
>
> The jocks on Kiss today aren't heritage jocks from great top
> 40 stations of the past, necessarily. But those
> heritage/legendary jocks are no longer relatable really to
> Kiss' target demo in today's world anymore.
>
> That said, I think Deirdra and Romeo! are outstanding and
> relate quite well to the target demo. I'm not as much a fan
> of Jackson Blue, but nonetheless, he's solid and his show is
> very upbeat with plenty of audience interaction. None of
> these jocks are liner card readers.
>
> Further, the original poster made a comment about Cadillac
> and Kiss being the laughing stock of the industry. I don't
> think that could be further from the truth. Cadillac knows
> exactly what he's doing and the proof is in the pudding.
> Kiss and Jam'n stay right on top consistently in every
> single ratings book. Furthermore, Kiss stays on top
> consistently at a time when many CHRs nationwide are
> experiencing significant ratings drops.
>
> > I agree that Boston has been FILLED with great
> > jocks/communicators of the past. Who could argue against
> > that? I'm asking for examples of who we're complaining
> > about today and why, because A) we've been generalizing
> > every jock that works at a certain station and B) I just
> > don't hear it.
> > No arguing - just disagreeing - and trying to understand.
> >
> >
> > > Well, look. Lets not anyone get into an arguement here.
>
> > I
> > > think the statement made in the second post of this
> thread
> >
> > > is the answer here. This isn't 1985. I can't single
> out
> > > one example of a 'poor' jock. What I will say is that
> > since
> > > Telcom 96, the bar has been substantially lowered across
>
> > the
> > > board, in every top 50 market. There are some stations
> > with
> > > 'heritage' jocks (WODS being notable in Boston) who
> still
> > > sound like they did back in the day, but overall, the
> > state
> > > of CHR (especially) is not what it was even 10 years
> ago.
> >
> > > That I must agree with.
> > >
> > > Jocks today are representative of the diminishing pay
> > scale
> > > for those left doing a live airshift these days. How
> many
> >
> > > of these CHR stations are voice tracked after dark?
> Maybe
> >
> > > not in Boston (I don't know but I could guess), but in
> > > *most* markets, AC and CHR stations are VT'd at LEAST
> > > midnight to 5am. Many AC stations are VT'd starting at
> > 6pm.
> > > You absolutely can NOT get the same sound out of voice
> > > tracks that you can with a live jock. Some people are
> > very
> > > good at VT'ing and can get close but even with the best
> VT
> >
> > > modules available in Scott Studios, there are still
> > > limitations.
> > >
> > > And, even where the stations are mostly live, stations
> > these
> > > days don't want a 'jock'... they want someone who lives
> to
> >
> > > watch TRL, Survivor island and who wants to talk about
> the
> >
> > > latest gossip in Hollywood... They don't get that with
> > most
> > > jocks they hire so they hire someone who will work
> cheap,
> > > attend every small station event & basically live at the
>
> > > station. Working cheap being the prime concern, since
> > with
> > > corporate radio, investor relations dictate an
> > ever-dropping
> > > bottom line.
> > >
> > > Gang, it's not fair to blame the talent on the air...
> they
> >
> > > are only as good as their coach - the PD. If he doesn't
>
> > > want someone sounding better than HE/SHE does, there's
> > part
> > > of your answer. If he/she doesn't bother doing aircheck
>
> > > sessions, that's also part of the answer.
> > >
> > > When I go on the air, part of my showprep consists of
> > > listening to old 80s CHR airchecks to refresh my memory
> of
> >
> > > how it used to be... Part of it consists of at least
> > > glancing at the lastest news just in case I get asked by
> a
> >
> > > listener, or it comes up in the course of a show and I
> > don't
> > > have a DUUH moment. And yes it helps to know what
> artist
> > is
> > > up for an award or what actress is getting divorced...
> but
> >
> > > thats not the ONLY thing that matters.
> > >
> > > There's a ton of reasons for it, but you are right.
> Radio
> >
> > > ain't what it used to be, and for me, Boston is a major
> > > league disappointment. The Boston market used to be the
>
> > > best sounding radio market in the country. Now, trust
> me,
> >
> > > Memphis, the market I just left, sounds as good as
> Boston.
> >
> > > Memphis. Market #49
> > >
> > > Again, I don't think anyone in Boston is *bad*... just a
>
> > > product of the industry as a whole in 2005. And that's
> > one
> > > reason satellite radio & ipods and the like are chewing
> > such
> > > a large portion of the audience. Programmers in general
>
> > > just don't get it and management, people who come from a
>
> > > sales background instead of programming REALLY don't get
>
> > it.
> > > Some exceptions are out there, of course, but generally
>
> > > speaking the bottom line for investors is running the
> > whole
> > > damn industry. And it is sad.
> > >
> > > OH, exaples... how about examples of those who DID get
> it
> > > right back in the day... JoJo Kincaid, Mighty Mike
> > Osborne,
> > > Frank Kingston Smith... and some recent & current folks
> > > still around like J.J. Wright & Dale Dorman. Or Dave
> > > Maynard. Actually there's too many people to even
> mention
> >
> > > let alone remember. Those examples were and are
> > > communicators. How many communicators do we have in
> > Boston
> > > today?
> > >
> > > > Give some examples. I'm having a hard time following.
>
> > > When
> > > > did you listen? What did you hear? I listened
> tonight
> > > with
> > > > your comments in mind and couldn't disagree with you
> > more.
> > >
> > > > No liner card breaks. Tons of entertaining phone
> calls.
> >
> > > > Lots of energy. Get a little more specific please.
> > >
> >
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