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Hometown radio

R

ricksegers

Is hometown community radio still viable? I don't mean it has to be programmed locally. It could use a syndicated format but the hometown aspects would be in news, community involvement, local sports etc. It just seems that so many of the smaller markets have become unofficial suburbs of the bigger cities and have become too sophisticated for a swap shop, blood drive remotes and high school football. I know my friend Art Sutton is successful in his markets through a great deal of work doing hometown radio. By and large can you still make it in your city of license or do you have to move in or leach on to a bigger city?

Rick
 
As a veteran of about 16 years of doing small market radio, I have noticed the trend is away from this type of programming. Its just too easy and much more inexpensive to run the satellite all day. In the past most stations have run a live local morning show and then the satellite the rest of the day. But times are changing...and stations are more profit minded so the thinking is why pay a human a salary and health insurance to do a morning show when I am already paying for syndication. However, the tradeoff is...nobody in a community really attaches themselves to a network show the same way they do to an entertaining locally originated show. Satellite programming is boring..its like wallpaper. Its there but who really pays attention to it. But in small market radio ratings aren't important...no the bottom line is how many spots you can sell.Thats why my gut feeling is that this type of radio will eventually drive its audience away.
 
I know of a station in East Tenn that has been Hometown Radio for years and they continually are the highest rated local station in the county arbitron. They are on the AM dial with an AC/oldies format and heavily involved with news and sports in the community. Most dayparts are live with automation in the evenings and overnight. The competetion in town are 2 FM's and 1 AM and they don't even come close because they are mostly automated from a network.
 
> Is hometown community radio still viable? ... By and large can
> you still make it in your city of license or do you have to
> move in or leach on to a bigger city?

Are there isolated instances? Yes. On the whole? I don't believe it is, at least not unless "breaking even" is the definition of viable that you're looking for.

It's a mobile society, 1/4 to 1/2 of many communities have been in their current home less than five or less than ten years. In short,"hometown community radio" has ceased to be viable because there's not many "hometown communties" left.

edit to add: The other factor that has to be considered, IMO, is how savvy the local advertiser base is about listernship, cost efficiency, etc. If there's enough advertiser base that doesn't know what is/isn't a wise use of their money, the odds of the station being able to take advantage of it are much better.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by middlega on 06/15/05 08:36 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> Is hometown community radio still viable? I don't mean it
> has to be programmed locally. It could use a syndicated
> format but the hometown aspects would be in news, community
> involvement, local sports etc. It just seems that so many of
> the smaller markets have become unofficial suburbs of the
> bigger cities and have become too sophisticated for a swap
> shop, blood drive remotes and high school football. I know
> my friend Art Sutton is successful in his markets through a
> great deal of work doing hometown radio. By and large can
> you still make it in your city of license or do you have to
> move in or leach on to a bigger city?
>
> Rick
>
Here in Cullman, Alabama {pop. 14000}, we still have a local FM that does all the above. They're live 24/7, with country music, they have the Trading Post from 11:30 to 12 noon, they have the local obits twice a day, and Cullman High football. I understand that they do make money, so it can be done. They also do Auburn sports, Atlanta Braves, and sometimes Georgia football {when they're able}
 
> Here in Cullman, Alabama {pop. 14000}, we still have a local
> FM that does all the above. They're live 24/7, with country
> music, they have the Trading Post from 11:30 to 12 noon,
> they have the local obits twice a day, and Cullman High
> football. I understand that they do make money, so it can
> be done. They also do Auburn sports, Atlanta Braves, and
> sometimes Georgia football {when they're able}

There's a similar station in Jackson, Ga. (pop. 3,900), WJGA-92.1, which has one of the strongest FM signals between Atlanta and Macon. WJGA plays adult contemporary music during the day, R&B music at night, as well as urban gospel music and other similar programs aimed towards the African-American community on weekends. WJGA has also local news, sports, community calendar, etc.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by radionut987 on 06/15/05 11:41 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> As a veteran of about 16 years of doing small market radio,
> I have noticed the trend is away from this type of
> programming. Its just too easy and much more inexpensive to
> run the satellite all day. In the past most stations have
> run a live local morning show and then the satellite the
> rest of the day. But times are changing...and stations are
> more profit minded so the thinking is why pay a human a
> salary and health insurance to do a morning show when I am
> already paying for syndication. However, the tradeoff
> is...nobody in a community really attaches themselves to a
> network show the same way they do to an entertaining locally
> originated show. Satellite programming is boring..its like
> wallpaper. Its there but who really pays attention to it.
> But in small market radio ratings aren't important...no the
> bottom line is how many spots you can sell.Thats why my gut
> feeling is that this type of radio will eventually drive its
> audience away.

I agree. Not only are many stations relying on a computer or satellite dish to keep the station on the air, it's also depriving many people who have dreams of breaking into commercial radio full-time of getting that first shot on the air, and prove to a GM or PD what they can do. Yes, it's cheaper to run a radio station on autopilot for the most part these days, no matter what size market you're in. But what all of that technology does is limit the opportunities for people to break into radio. Basically, you have to work 10 or 100 times harder to prove to someone in management you can do the job you applied for.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by radionut987 on 06/16/05 03:22 AM.</FONT></P>
 
> Is hometown community radio still viable? I don't mean it
> has to be programmed locally. It could use a syndicated
> format but the hometown aspects would be in news, community
> involvement, local sports etc. It just seems that so many of
> the smaller markets have become unofficial suburbs of the
> bigger cities and have become too sophisticated for a swap
> shop, blood drive remotes and high school football. I know
> my friend Art Sutton is successful in his markets through a
> great deal of work doing hometown radio. By and large can
> you still make it in your city of license or do you have to
> move in or leach on to a bigger city?
>
> Rick
>

I have high regards for Art who picking up the reins on where the true heart
of radio now lives...in small town radio which is truly serving the community. After the demise of radio (courtesy of Cheap Channel), that is about all there is left. It is unbelievable how profit oriented some of these owners have become so that now those small towns in need of a voice have been left with satellite stations...souless and void of those local personalities that speak for the community. The true radio pros have a heart for what radio is all about and thank the Lord there are still a few in those small towns fighting the good fight. As for these satellite station owners just out for a quick buck, how can they sleep at night???

TK
 
Yea..I would hate to be a newbie just out of college trying to break into radio with satellite and syndication ruling in the small markets. When I broke in Montgomery in 1982....everything was live and local and there were plenty of jobs. Then we got one of those old carousel automation machines..and that was the start of people losing jobs and the bird taking over.....Now 23 years later, I am unemployed with just a small chance of getting back on the air. In a small or medium market I have proven I can beat the satellite ratings wise..however you have to pay me that small mid 20,000 salary so I can live....and stations just can't justify it. So...while the John Boy and Billy's and the Rick and Bubba's get richer....us poor nobody's out in the hinterland are forced to go into another line of work.
 
> I have high regards for Art who picking up the reins on
> where the true heart
> of radio now lives...in small town radio which is truly
> serving the community. After the demise of radio (courtesy
> of Cheap Channel), that is about all there is left. It is
> unbelievable how profit oriented some of these owners have
> become so that now those small towns in need of a voice have
> been left with satellite stations...souless and void of
> those local personalities that speak for the community. The
> true radio pros have a heart for what radio is all about and
> thank the Lord there are still a few in those small towns
> fighting the good fight. As for these satellite station
> owners just out for a quick buck, how can they sleep at
> night???
>
> TK
>
I ususally don't reply to what I read here, but this one got to me. I get sick of hearing what are probably former CC employees take shots at Clear Channel. Of course I don't expect everyone to agree with everything CC does... but sometimes. like this, it's just bs.

One...the local manager gets to decide how he/she wants to program thier stations. I know you don't believe that but in almost every case it's true. In LaGrange/Newnan, an unrated market... smack between Atlanta and Columbus... CC has a three station cluster... One FM, Magic 98.1, and two AMs, WVCC AM (720 The Voice) and WCOH AM (Classic Country 1400).

On a Monday-Friday basis between ALL THREE STATIONS... there are only two syndicated air shifts. Ludlow Porch and Rush Limbaugh. Both on the AM's. The FM is live in AMD and PMD and is voice tracked BY ONE OF THE AM HOSTS in Mid-day. Nights are sports and music. Local News for all three stations is done by the local in-house news director.. traffic is done by CC Traffic out of Atlanta, BUT IS RESTRICTED TO HIGHWAYS AND STREET IN THE LOCAL AREA... NO ATLANTA TRAFFIC. Weather is customized to the "mid-west Ga. area". The FM carries local high school football as well as Braves, Falcons, and UGA sports. They do live local remotes weekly as well as taking part in LOCAL community events and projects. (Yes, including Blood Drives!)

WVCC AM is called 720 The Voice. It is a LIVE LOCAL Talk station featuring LOCAL personalities, officials, business people etc. It is LIVE and LOCAL in AMD and PMD now and will be adding another LIVE LOCAL talk show from 10a-12n as of July 5th. That means from 6a till 6p Mon-Fri the station will be LIVE and LOCAL all day except for Rush from noon-3. (I expect TK will take a shot at the station for carrying Rush... after all, they could be LIVE ALL DAY LONG!)

WCOH AM has been the heritage station for Coweta County/Newnan for more than 50 years. It is still LIVE and LOCAL in AMD, Still has the LOCAL Noon News, The LIVE and LOCAL Trading Post show twice a day and PMD is voice tracked... not by some "out of town" jock... but by the station's Business Manager! It also carries "Old Tyme Radio" shows and Ludlow Porch. It is AIMED at the older audience in Coweta County because they grew up with it. And yes, it still sounds as old fashioned and small townish as it did when they were growing up. Trust me, CC could make more money with the station by automating it with satellite programming, but that would not serve the community like it does now.

Two... Spending money wisely does not make a company cheap. All a manager has to do is provide a rationale for why they need to spend money and if it is a good move business wise OR a stand out move community wise, the chances are good they will be able to find a way to get it done. I love it when someone that has probably never had to create and live within a business budget claims a company that does is "cheap".

Local radio DOES STILL EXIST! But like everything else in the world it has changed, evolved, and in most cases has gotten better. Yes, there are some small market owners/operators that have decided to take the "no local, no employees, no community" satellite way out... but it was a DECISION they made, not something that they were forced to do.

jp
 
> I usually don't reply to what I read here, but this one got
> to me. I get sick of hearing what are probably former CC
> employees take shots at Clear Channel. Of course I don't
> expect everyone to agree with everything CC does... but
> sometimes. like this, it's just bs.

If the Clear Channel's of the world had been doing their jobs, serving the public interest, convenience, and necessity being among them, instead of being so fixated on trying to be the world's biggest media empire, critics wouldn't even be taking their shots at this company. In fact, Clear Channel only recently has begun to take down its media empire, slowly, but surely, as it's considering selling its entertainment businesses. It has even sold some underperforming stations in select markets.

> One...the local manager gets to decide how he/she wants to
> program their stations. I know you don't believe that but
> in almost every case it's true. In LaGrange/Newnan, an
> unrated market... smack between Atlanta and Columbus... CC
> has a three station cluster... One FM, Magic 98.1, and two
> AMs, WVCC AM (720 The Voice) and WCOH AM (Classic Country
> 1400).

Yes, it's that manager's right to decide how each station should be programmed. But, for the most part, it's the crew from corporate that all but dictates how such decisions are made. In some corporate environments, the program director is basically nothing more than a figurehead. Same goes for the GM in most cases. Still, it's the listener's right to decide whether that station is worth listening to day in and day out.

> On a Monday-Friday basis between ALL THREE STATIONS... there
> are only two syndicated air shifts. Ludlow Porch and Rush
> Limbaugh. Both on the AM's. The FM is live in AMD and PMD
> and is voice tracked BY ONE OF THE AM HOSTS in Mid-day.
> Nights are sports and music. Local News for all three
> stations is done by the local in-house news director..
> traffic is done by CC Traffic out of Atlanta, BUT IS
> RESTRICTED TO HIGHWAYS AND STREET IN THE LOCAL AREA... NO
> ATLANTA TRAFFIC. Weather is customized to the "mid-west Ga.
> area". The FM carries local high school football as well as
> Braves, Falcons, and UGA sports. They do live local remotes
> weekly as well as taking part in LOCAL community events and
> projects. (Yes, including Blood Drives!)

Good for them (the LaGrange/Newnan cluster). But that's one of the rarest examples. In most other markets, you're lucky if even part of the broadcast day is live and local. Not many CC-owned stations even bother to carry high school basketball or baseball, much less football. And as far as the trafffic reports are concerned, the fact those reports are restricted to the area in question makes no difference.

> WVCC AM is called 720 The Voice. It is a LIVE LOCAL Talk
> station featuring LOCAL personalities, officials, business
> people etc. It is LIVE and LOCAL in AMD and PMD now and
> will be adding another LIVE LOCAL talk show from 10a-12n as
> of July 5th. That means from 6a till 6p Mon-Fri the station
> will be LIVE and LOCAL all day except for Rush from noon-3.
> (I expect TK will take a shot at the station for carrying
> Rush... after all, they could be LIVE ALL DAY LONG!)

Again, one of those rare examples of a Clear Channel station bucking the trend of its brethren nationwide.

> WCOH AM has been the heritage station for Coweta
> County/Newnan for more than 50 years. It is still LIVE and
> LOCAL in AMD, Still has the LOCAL Noon News, The LIVE and
> LOCAL Trading Post show twice a day and PMD is voice
> tracked... not by some "out of town" jock... but by the
> station's Business Manager! It also carries "Old Tyme
> Radio" shows and Ludlow Porch. It is AIMED at the older
> audience in Coweta County because they grew up with it. And
> yes, it still sounds as old fashioned and small townish as
> it did when they were growing up. Trust me, CC could make
> more money with the station by automating it with satellite
> programming, but that would not serve the community like it
> does now.

Yet another one of the few CC-owned stations that does things the right way. Maybe the Mays family can pay a visit to Newnan, Ga., and learn to run the rest of their radio stations with some common sense.


> Two... Spending money wisely does not make a company cheap.
> All a manager has to do is provide a rationale for why they
> need to spend money and if it is a good move business wise
> OR a stand out move community wise, the chances are good
> they will be able to find a way to get it done. I love it
> when someone that has probably never had to create and live
> within a business budget claims a company that does is
> "cheap".

Oh, yeah? If that's true, then why is CC hurting in the pocket book like a lot of big media conglomerates, huh?


> Local radio DOES STILL EXIST! But like everything else in
> the world it has changed, evolved, and in most cases has
> gotten better. Yes, there are some small market
> owners/operators that have decided to take the "no local, no
> employees, no community" satellite way out... but it was a
> DECISION they made, not something that they were forced to
> do.

I agree. The market for true hometown radio is still out there. But it's up to the managers of those stations to not only create the market, but more importantly, create jobs for aspiring radio personalities, especially those fresh out of college, and give them the opportunity to shine. Local radio isn't "local" when a station runs on a machine 24/7.

Sorry for being on the soapbox for so long. But that's just the way it is.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by radionut987 on 06/16/05 07:36 PM.</FONT></P>
 
I'm going to take and refute your post in sections...bare with me people.


> If the Clear Channel's of the world had been doing their
> jobs, serving the public interest, convenience, and
> necessity being among them, instead of being so fixated on
> trying to be the world's biggest media empire, critics
> wouldn't even be taking their shots at this company. In
> fact, Clear Channel only recently has begun to take down its
> media empire, slowly, but surely, as it's considering
> selling its entertainment businesses. It has even sold some
> underperforming stations in select markets.

As owners have been doing for years. If its not productive, cut it off. Its not a leg, its a way to make money.


>
> Yes, it's that manager's right to decide how each station
> should be programmed. But, for the most part, it's the crew
> from corporate that all but dictates how such decisions are
> made. In some corporate environments, the program director
> is basically nothing more than a figurehead. Same goes for
> the GM in most cases. Still, it's the listener's right to
> decide whether that station is worth listening to day in and
> day out.

Have you ever been a CC Manager? Doesn't sound like it, nor does it sound like you've ever worked for one. CC GMs OMs and PDs all have final decisions over whatever they should have final say on. There is no nation-wide play list. The reason why a station in LA sounds the same as a station in Michagan is because the same songs test well...and if it tests well...play it. If you did your reasearch, you'll notice that WHTZ and KIIS are different.
>


> Good for them (the LaGrange/Newnan cluster). But that's one
> of the rarest examples. In most other markets, you're lucky
> if even part of the broadcast day is live and local. Not
> many CC-owned stations even bother to carry high school
> basketball or baseball, much less football. And as far as
> the trafffic reports are concerned, the fact those reports
> are restricted to the area in question makes no difference.
>

Its not one of the rarest example, you don't know what you're talking about here. There are many VTed jocks true...but there are very very very few stations which are VTed 24/7. And you wonder why no one ever carries high school sports? Its because NO ONE CARES. Since ratings became widespread in the 60s, programmers realized that the thongs of people who care about a HS came are going to the HS game. Its not like the Braves or 49ers who have fans outside of driving distance to the stadium.
>

> Again, one of those rare examples of a Clear Channel station
> bucking the trend of its brethren nationwide.

Again, no.

> Yet another one of the few CC-owned stations that does
> things the right way. Maybe the Mays family can pay a visit
> to Newnan, Ga., and learn to run the rest of their radio
> stations with some common sense.
>

Yet another way you're speaking before you think. I'd like to see these phantom stations you speak of that are nothing but one computer.


>
> Oh, yeah? If that's true, then why is CC hurting in the
> pocket book like a lot of big media conglomerates, huh?
>

You answered your own question...but I'll answer it even deeper. Its because, its a big media conglomerate, it has alot of big media employees and big media rent to pay. Running a radio station isn't a way to make free money! Its takes a lot to pay alot. The only way they could make money would be...I don't know...fire everyone and VT every station 24/7 and run each station out of a closet. But since they aren't doing that, its costing them money.

Plus, its not like ma and pa stations are printing their own money. Show me who is now-a-days and I'll show you a software developer from Redmond, Washington.

And yes, I worked for small market and large market Clear Channel since 2000.
 
> > I have high regards for Art who picking up the reins on
> > where the true heart
> > of radio now lives...in small town radio which is truly
> > serving the community. After the demise of radio (courtesy
>
> > of Cheap Channel), that is about all there is left. It is
> > unbelievable how profit oriented some of these owners have
>
> > become so that now those small towns in need of a voice
> have
> > been left with satellite stations...souless and void of
> > those local personalities that speak for the community.
> The
> > true radio pros have a heart for what radio is all about
> and
> > thank the Lord there are still a few in those small towns
> > fighting the good fight. As for these satellite station
> > owners just out for a quick buck, how can they sleep at
> > night???
> >
> > TK
> >
> I ususally don't reply to what I read here, but this one got
> to me. I get sick of hearing what are probably former CC
> employees take shots at Clear Channel. Of course I don't
> expect everyone to agree with everything CC does... but
> sometimes. like this, it's just bs.
>
> One...the local manager gets to decide how he/she wants to
> program thier stations. I know you don't believe that but
> in almost every case it's true. In LaGrange/Newnan, an
> unrated market... smack between Atlanta and Columbus... CC
> has a three station cluster... One FM, Magic 98.1, and two
> AMs, WVCC AM (720 The Voice) and WCOH AM (Classic Country
> 1400).
>
> On a Monday-Friday basis between ALL THREE STATIONS... there
> are only two syndicated air shifts. Ludlow Porch and Rush
> Limbaugh. Both on the AM's. The FM is live in AMD and PMD
> and is voice tracked BY ONE OF THE AM HOSTS in Mid-day.
> Nights are sports and music. Local News for all three
> stations is done by the local in-house news director..
> traffic is done by CC Traffic out of Atlanta, BUT IS
> RESTRICTED TO HIGHWAYS AND STREET IN THE LOCAL AREA... NO
> ATLANTA TRAFFIC. Weather is customized to the "mid-west Ga.
> area". The FM carries local high school football as well as
> Braves, Falcons, and UGA sports. They do live local remotes
> weekly as well as taking part in LOCAL community events and
> projects. (Yes, including Blood Drives!)
>
> WVCC AM is called 720 The Voice. It is a LIVE LOCAL Talk
> station featuring LOCAL personalities, officials, business
> people etc. It is LIVE and LOCAL in AMD and PMD now and
> will be adding another LIVE LOCAL talk show from 10a-12n as
> of July 5th. That means from 6a till 6p Mon-Fri the station
> will be LIVE and LOCAL all day except for Rush from noon-3.
> (I expect TK will take a shot at the station for carrying
> Rush... after all, they could be LIVE ALL DAY LONG!)
>
> WCOH AM has been the heritage station for Coweta
> County/Newnan for more than 50 years. It is still LIVE and
> LOCAL in AMD, Still has the LOCAL Noon News, The LIVE and
> LOCAL Trading Post show twice a day and PMD is voice
> tracked... not by some "out of town" jock... but by the
> station's Business Manager! It also carries "Old Tyme
> Radio" shows and Ludlow Porch. It is AIMED at the older
> audience in Coweta County because they grew up with it. And
> yes, it still sounds as old fashioned and small townish as
> it did when they were growing up. Trust me, CC could make
> more money with the station by automating it with satellite
> programming, but that would not serve the community like it
> does now.
>
> Two... Spending money wisely does not make a company cheap.
> All a manager has to do is provide a rationale for why they
> need to spend money and if it is a good move business wise
> OR a stand out move community wise, the chances are good
> they will be able to find a way to get it done. I love it
> when someone that has probably never had to create and live
> within a business budget claims a company that does is
> "cheap".
>
> Local radio DOES STILL EXIST! But like everything else in
> the world it has changed, evolved, and in most cases has
> gotten better. Yes, there are some small market
> owners/operators that have decided to take the "no local, no
> employees, no community" satellite way out... but it was a
> DECISION they made, not something that they were forced to
> do.
>
> jp
>

Good...glad to hear your opinion. But this one is from someone who is smart enough not to ever have worked for a company that has helped if not led the charge to ruin the broadcast industry as we knew it. So if you want to defend them...fine...but you're fighting a losing cause considering you're in the minority!!!

TK
 
Joe, my posted comments were based on my 22+ years in the business..none with the Clear Channels or the Cumuluses of the world. To be honest those people won't hire a guy like me. But I do honestly feel that this Mega Group concept of radio is going to drive its audience away. Not all but some. As a listener..and I do like to listen to radio...I will not listen to anything voice tracked. I like personality radio aimed at a specific audience..I like audience interaction..I like to be entertained. Most radio now does not do that....especially in small markets...This is the kind of radio I have tried to do...and most of the time I have not had full support from management even though the audience has liked the show....That is one thing I have never understood. > I have high regards for Art who picking up the reins on> > where the true heart > > of radio now lives...in small town radio which is truly> > serving the community. After the demise of radio (courtesy> > > of Cheap Channel), that is about all there is left. It is> > unbelievable how profit oriented some of these owners have> > > become so that now those small towns in need of a voice> have> > been left with satellite stations...souless and void of> > those local personalities that speak for the community.> The> > true radio pros have a heart for what radio is all about> and> > thank the Lord there are still a few in those small towns> > fighting the good fight. As for these satellite station> > owners just out for a quick buck, how can they sleep at> > night???> > > > TK> > > I ususally don't reply to what I read here, but this one got> to me. I get sick of hearing what are probably former CC> employees take shots at Clear Channel. Of course I don't> expect everyone to agree with everything CC does... but> sometimes. like this, it's just bs.> > One...the local manager gets to decide how he/she wants to> program thier stations. I know you don't believe that but> in almost every case it's true. In LaGrange/Newnan, an> unrated market... smack between Atlanta and Columbus... CC> has a three station cluster... One FM, Magic 98.1, and two> AMs, WVCC AM (720 The Voice) and WCOH AM (Classic Country> 1400). > > On a Monday-Friday basis between ALL THREE STATIONS... there> are only two syndicated air shifts. Ludlow Porch and Rush> Limbaugh. Both on the AM's. The FM is live in AMD and PMD> and is voice tracked BY ONE OF THE AM HOSTS in Mid-day. > Nights are sports and music. Local News for all three> stations is done by the local in-house news director..> traffic is done by CC Traffic out of Atlanta, BUT IS> RESTRICTED TO HIGHWAYS AND STREET IN THE LOCAL AREA... NO> ATLANTA TRAFFIC. Weather is customized to the "mid-west Ga.> area". The FM carries local high school football as well as> Braves, Falcons, and UGA sports. They do live local remotes> weekly as well as taking part in LOCAL community events and> projects. (Yes, including Blood Drives!)> > WVCC AM is called 720 The Voice. It is a LIVE LOCAL Talk> station featuring LOCAL personalities, officials, business> people etc. It is LIVE and LOCAL in AMD and PMD now and> will be adding another LIVE LOCAL talk show from 10a-12n as> of July 5th. That means from 6a till 6p Mon-Fri the station> will be LIVE and LOCAL all day except for Rush from noon-3.> (I expect TK will take a shot at the station for carrying> Rush... after all, they could be LIVE ALL DAY LONG!)> > WCOH AM has been the heritage station for Coweta> County/Newnan for more than 50 years. It is still LIVE and> LOCAL in AMD, Still has the LOCAL Noon News, The LIVE and> LOCAL Trading Post show twice a day and PMD is voice> tracked... not by some "out of town" jock... but by the> station's Business Manager! It also carries "Old Tyme> Radio" shows and Ludlow Porch. It is AIMED at the older> audience in Coweta County because they grew up with it. And> yes, it still sounds as old fashioned and small townish as> it did when they were growing up. Trust me, CC could make> more money with the station by automating it with satellite> programming, but that would not serve the community like it> does now.> > Two... Spending money wisely does not make a company cheap. > All a manager has to do is provide a rationale for why they> need to spend money and if it is a good move business wise> OR a stand out move community wise, the chances are good> they will be able to find a way to get it done. I love it> when someone that has probably never had to create and live> within a business budget claims a company that does is> "cheap".> > Local radio DOES STILL EXIST! But like everything else in> the world it has changed, evolved, and in most cases has> gotten better. Yes, there are some small market> owners/operators that have decided to take the "no local, no> employees, no community" satellite way out... but it was a> DECISION they made, not something that they were forced to> do. > > jp
 
> Joe, my posted comments were based on my 22+ years in the
> business..none with the Clear Channels or the Cumuluses of
> the world. To be honest those people won't hire a guy like
> me. But I do honestly feel that this Mega Group concept of
> radio is going to drive its audience away. Not all but some.
> As a listener..and I do like to listen to radio...I will
> not listen to anything voice tracked. I like personality
> radio aimed at a specific audience..I like audience
> interaction..I like to be entertained. Most radio now does
> not do that....especially in small markets...This is the
> kind of radio I have tried to do...and most of the time I
> have not had full support from management even though the
> audience has liked the show....That is one thing I have
> never understood.

That makes two of us.
 
> Good...glad to hear your opinion. But this one is from
> someone who is smart enough not to ever have worked for a
> company that has helped if not led the charge to ruin the
> broadcast industry as we knew it. So if you want to defend
> them...fine...but you're fighting a losing cause considering
> you're in the minority!!!
>
> TK

Agreed. As easy as it is to put the blame on Clear Channel for radio's current woes, it's the Telecommunications Act of of 1996 that has helped the company get to where it is now. In other words, CC definitely had some help in running most commercial radio into the ground. No wonder why satellite radio, i pod's, and the like have become so popular these days.
 
> Have you ever been a CC Manager? Doesn't sound like it, nor
> does it sound like you've ever worked for one. CC GMs OMs
> and PDs all have final decisions over whatever they should
> have final say on. There is no nation-wide play list. The
> reason why a station in LA sounds the same as a station in
> Michigan is because the same songs test well...and if it
> tests well...play it. If you did your reasearch, you'll
> notice that WHTZ and KIIS are different.

You're right on that question. I have never been a CC manager, and never will. That's because I'll never work for Clear Channel. As for stations sounding the same, that's part of the reason why terrestrial radio is in such sad shape these days. Plus, radio has become too dependent upon consultants, focus groups, etc.

> Yet another way you're speaking before you think. I'd like
> to see these phantom stations you speak of that are nothing
> but one computer.

I know a lot more about radio than you think. I've listened to enough stations to know when they're broadcasting live, and which stations are running on autopilot. I've also read enough articles about radio on the internet to know that satellite radio, MP3's, and internet radio are cutting into the potential audience for broadcast radio.


> And yes, I worked for small market and large market Clear
> Channel since 2000.

Yeah, go ahead, defend Clear Channel all you want. But the bottom line is that corporate America's way of doing radio is turning a lot of people off.
 
> Joe, my posted comments were based on my 22+ years in the
> business..none with the Clear Channels or the Cumuluses of
> the world. To be honest those people won't hire a guy like
> me. But I do honestly feel that this Mega Group concept of
> radio is going to drive its audience away. Not all but some.
> As a listener..and I do like to listen to radio...I will
> not listen to anything voice tracked. I like personality
> radio aimed at a specific audience..I like audience
> interaction..I like to be entertained. Most radio now does
> not do that....especially in small markets...This is the
> kind of radio I have tried to do...and most of the time I
> have not had full support from management even though the
> audience has liked the show....That is one thing I have
> never understood.

Barneyb3....
It wasn't anything you said that got me... it was the "Cheap Channel" crack.
BTW... think about this... if it was the fact that CC was big and doing things to hurt radio listenership, wouldn't it be just their numbers that would be down? Wouldn't all the small groups and independents be gaining because they were doing it right while CC was messing up? It's all radio listenership that is down... not just because Radio needs tweaking as a whole, but because technology has introduced a slew of new ways for the individual to listen to music... none of which existed five years ago. It's not that Radio has gottem so bad... it's that you have twenty new competitors and Radio is having to adjust. Did Network TV ratings go down with the advent of 200+ cable channels because Network TV was so bad, or was it that there was just so many new choices for the TV viewer.

I agree that an awful lot of small market radio has gone bad. But it you look around you would be suprised at how many of them are NOT Clear Channel. In Ga. if you look at medium markets like Columbus, Macon, Augusta and Savannah you will find some really great local radio... then take a look at the two small markets (Dalton and LaGrange/Newnan) and you will see what I consider to be really great, old time small market radio. Then take a look at a lot of the remaining small markets in Ga. and there's where you will see owners trying to do it as cheap and automated as they can. NOT ALL OF THEM! But it seems to me that since CC is the biggest it takes the hit for a lot of what it does not do. CC Mgrs are told that Number One is "protect the liscense", Number Two is "Serve the Community"... then they get into making money.

>As a listener..and I do like to listen to radio...I will
> not listen to anything voice tracked. I like personality
> radio aimed at a specific audience..I like audience
> interaction..I like to be entertained.
There is nothing wrong with Voice Tracking IF IT IS DONE RIGHT! WMGP FM voice tracks mid-day... BUT, it's done by one of my WVCC AM AMD hosts and he is in the building if something happens and he needs to go live. But by having him voice track it gives me three hours a day for him to do production, help with music, and do many other things that we need done. BTW... I would defy you to know he was voice tracked if I had not told you. I know the listeners don't. I do the same thing in PMD on WCOH AM. My female Business Manager voice tracks a three hour shift of classic country using the name Dusty Rose. The older listeners to the station love her. And they don't complain that she is not live.
Voice Tracking fails when a pd or mgr brings a voice in from out of town with out truly educating them about the local market, without working with them daily on what is going on in the market and on the stations, and without listening to make sure they are fitting in. Instead of saying voice tracking doesn't work, I perfer to say that bad, ill prepared voice tracking doesn't work. Isn't if funny how many things in life are that way!

JP
 
> I ususally don't reply to what I read here, but this one got
> to me. I get sick of hearing what are probably former CC
> employees take shots at Clear Channel. Of course I don't
> expect everyone to agree with everything CC does... but
> sometimes. like this, it's just bs.
>
> One...the local manager gets to decide how he/she wants to
> program thier stations. I know you don't believe that but
> in almost every case it's true. In LaGrange/Newnan, an
> unrated market... smack between Atlanta and Columbus... CC
> has a three station cluster... One FM, Magic 98.1, and two
> AMs, WVCC AM (720 The Voice) and WCOH AM (Classic Country
> 1400).
>
> On a Monday-Friday basis between ALL THREE STATIONS... there
> are only two syndicated air shifts. Ludlow Porch and Rush
> Limbaugh. Both on the AM's. The FM is live in AMD and PMD
> and is voice tracked BY ONE OF THE AM HOSTS in Mid-day.
> Nights are sports and music. Local News for all three
> stations is done by the local in-house news director..
> traffic is done by CC Traffic out of Atlanta, BUT IS
> RESTRICTED TO HIGHWAYS AND STREET IN THE LOCAL AREA... NO
> ATLANTA TRAFFIC. Weather is customized to the "mid-west Ga.
> area". The FM carries local high school football as well as
> Braves, Falcons, and UGA sports. They do live local remotes
> weekly as well as taking part in LOCAL community events and
> projects. (Yes, including Blood Drives!)
>
> WVCC AM is called 720 The Voice. It is a LIVE LOCAL Talk
> station featuring LOCAL personalities, officials, business
> people etc. It is LIVE and LOCAL in AMD and PMD now and
> will be adding another LIVE LOCAL talk show from 10a-12n as
> of July 5th. That means from 6a till 6p Mon-Fri the station
> will be LIVE and LOCAL all day except for Rush from noon-3.
> (I expect TK will take a shot at the station for carrying
> Rush... after all, they could be LIVE ALL DAY LONG!)
>
> WCOH AM has been the heritage station for Coweta
> County/Newnan for more than 50 years. It is still LIVE and
> LOCAL in AMD, Still has the LOCAL Noon News, The LIVE and
> LOCAL Trading Post show twice a day and PMD is voice
> tracked... not by some "out of town" jock... but by the
> station's Business Manager! It also carries "Old Tyme
> Radio" shows and Ludlow Porch. It is AIMED at the older
> audience in Coweta County because they grew up with it. And
> yes, it still sounds as old fashioned and small townish as
> it did when they were growing up. Trust me, CC could make
> more money with the station by automating it with satellite
> programming, but that would not serve the community like it
> does now.
>
> Two... Spending money wisely does not make a company cheap.
> All a manager has to do is provide a rationale for why they
> need to spend money and if it is a good move business wise
> OR a stand out move community wise, the chances are good
> they will be able to find a way to get it done. I love it
> when someone that has probably never had to create and live
> within a business budget claims a company that does is
> "cheap".
>
> Local radio DOES STILL EXIST! But like everything else in
> the world it has changed, evolved, and in most cases has
> gotten better. Yes, there are some small market
> owners/operators that have decided to take the "no local, no
> employees, no community" satellite way out... but it was a
> DECISION they made, not something that they were forced to
> do.
>
> jp
>

Part of the reason for Magic 98.1's success is because they are a part of Clear Channel, IMO. They may be "cheap" in the eyes of many, but they have a large enough staff to get it done. I recently left a station where there were two, count them, two full time employees dedicated to the station in LaGrange, and another full time employee that split time between that one and the sister station in West Point. Live AMD, booking guests, news, sports, billing, traffic, production, high school football and baseball PBP and oh-by-the-way-we-need-you-to-sell also (I was informed that after I was hired). 2 1/2 people are not enough to do hometown radio the right way. CC Newnan has enough staff to do it and do it right.
 
> I recently left a station where there were two,
> count them, two full time employees dedicated to the station
> in LaGrange, and another full time employee that split time
> between that one and the sister station in West Point. Live
> AMD, booking guests, news, sports, billing, traffic,
> production, high school football and baseball PBP and
> oh-by-the-way-we-need-you-to-sell also (I was informed that
> after I was hired). 2 1/2 people are not enough to do
> hometown radio the right way. CC Newnan has enough staff to
> do it and do it right.
>

Thanks.... you said you just left that station... what are you doing now? If you are still in the area and looking... give me a call.

jp
 
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