how long should a station call itself "all-new"?

[michael hagerty]

I said that from the very beginning (a station in Nashville, etc.). It was only after repeated questioning from you (but especially from David) that you figured that out.

This amfmxm character posted an anecdote on the second page (which was marginally on topic), then fell into the typical "I work in radio therefore I know more than you do" spiel. I tried to get him to move on, but he won't. He is too busy picking apart how many messages I have posted. Once it falls to that, it's done.

I got the answer that I was looking for on the first page (one year). He didn't show up until the second page.

Don't circle the wagons around him. Either let him sink or swim on his own. If we took the ability to post personal insults away from him, he would have gone mute after about the second page.

If I were to copy and paste the chain here, you'd see that he didn't take the first shot. And even in his responses, I don't see a personal insult. You, on the other hand have called him a troll.

Twice.

 

[firepoint525]

I said he was trolling. And he was. I also gave you credit for saying that Hippie was still using "all-new" because, I believe you said that they weren't "getting traction." No one else bothered to do their homework. I didn't post this on Nashville board because I know how they think. They generally agree with me.

 

[michael hagerty]

I said he was trolling. And he was. I also gave you credit for saying that Hippie was still using "all-new" because, I believe you said that they weren't "getting traction." No one else bothered to do their homework. I didn't post this on Nashville board because I know how they think. They generally agree with me.

Right. Not about me, not about the Nashville board. It's about the fact that amfmxm was on topic, didn't throw the first punch and didn't use a personal insult.

 

[PirateJohnny]

On a station (in Nashville) that has being saying "All New" since day 1 I heard a new catch phrase (I think). I heard one of the DJs (who VTs from his home in another state) say "All live and local, 94.5".

 

[firepoint525]

I said he was trolling. And he was. I also gave you credit for saying that Hippie was still using "all-new" because, I believe you said that they weren't "getting traction." No one else bothered to do their homework. I didn't post this on Nashville board because I know how they think. They generally agree with me. Right. Not about me, not about the Nashville board. It's about the fact that amfmxm was on topic, didn't throw the first punch and didn't use a personal insult.

Well, Michael, I was going to let this go, but since you insist on defending him (hey, it's obvious that he can't defend his own off-topic ramblings!), let's review:

Thanks, Michael. I think that I was on the verge of being insulted, but being a "typical radio person," I was too dense to know for certain.
BTW, I passed along the Z-93 story not as a recommendation, but as an explanation of why (some) radio stations do what they do.
As an art-form, radio programming uses words to position stations within listeners minds--words like "new," "classic," "now," "hot," "cool," "favorites," "today," "yesterday," "soft," "jammin'"...
We use most of these words very deliberately, but without the benefit of knowing their impact on listeners' perception.
Is "New" effective positioning for the "typical" listener after 6 months--roughly 180 days? Or is the limit 193 days? Or is it 765 days? Is there a definitive point after which the word bounces off the listener's skull?
Who knows? Who cares? It's only radio...

The preceding was completely off-topic. I asked the question "how long should a station call itself "all-new"?" His answer (and you have it right there) "Who knows? Who cares? It's only radio." He basically insulted me for even having the audacity to ASK such a question. "Why how dare you insult my intelligence and ask a question like that?" Since he failed to answer the question, he was off-topic, and I quite rightly called him on it.

The problem is that I have long since "left the plantation" and I now question the "conventional wisdom" of radio. I point out facts which David dismisses as "non-sequitirs" or "anecdotal evidence." Blah blah blah. AmFmXm once had the audacity to ask his friend why his station still called itself "new" or "all-new" or whatever, and the friend gave him the "typical radio answer" which instead of questioning the friend, he simply accepted. He stepped off "the plantation" to ask a valid question, and the friend put him back "in line." His above message is clear and convincing evidence of that. I called him on it (which is my right to do on this forum) and he tried to put me back on the "plantation" and he is frustrated because I am not having any of it. He has been slinging juvenile schoolyard insults at me ever since. I even gave this thread a chance to die, and HE (not me) revived it after it had been dead for at least a couple of days. I had even moved on and was posting to other threads. (Remember I had my answers before he ever showed up.) When he started complaining about "how many messages I had posted," that was evidence that he had lost it. (Never mind that David has posted twice as many per day for twice as long, but I suppose that that's okay when they are circling the wagons around you.)

It's obvious that radio doesn't want to hear from its own listeners except on their (radio's) terms. Hence the vaunted "testing." Hippie Radio even deleted the "contact us" link from their website. Post even constructive criticism on their Facebook page, and they will just delete it, and continue doing what they have been doing all along.

On a station (in Nashville) that has being saying "All New" since day 1 I heard a new catch phrase (I think). I heard one of the DJs (who VTs from his home in another state) say "All live and local, 94.5".

It's laughable to say "live and local" when those VTs are screwing up. Even someone who was not already paying attention would notice when the same VT played twice in a row, back-to-back!

 

[amfmxm]

"Radio Pros." That's the category.

I'm happy to hear/read the thoughts and observations of those not in radio.

I wish nothing but the best to Hippie Radio--"all new" or not--and to you, firepoint525.

As for my flippant comment "Who knows? Who cares? It's only radio..."--there's a grain of truthiness in there. We're not seeking the cure for cancer. We're not running into burning buildings. We're in the advertising business. Relax.

But those of us making our living in radio shouldn't be reluctant to be here--nor should we feel any need to apologize for being here. Of all the categories on this board, this one--"Radio Pros"--is where "typical radio" people should feel most welcome. This one is for us.

 

[firepoint525]

You just aren't going to give up, are you, amfmxm? (By the way, got to ask you about your username since those last two letters represent a threat to your livelihood, unless you work for satellite radio).

I welcome your comments as long as they are meaningful, well-thought-out, and you can defend them.

Yeah, I have worked in a hospital (okay, it was only a food-service kitchen), so I know we aren't looking to cure cancer. Actually, due to working weekends and holidays, it actually prepared me for a career in radio. But then, lo and behold, I ended up working overnights at my last station. Never did that at the hospital!

I am working on another topic to post here, but before I do that, I have got to do my own homework!

Just as an aside, I am not affiliated in any way with Hippie Radio. They are doing things there that I cannot defend. Overuse of "all-new" (a year and a half after coming on the air!) is just one of them! And I live just far enough away from their studio that I could not afford to make the drive, based on how little they would be likely to be able to pay me. Their (somewhat) centralized location exists mainly for the convenience of their sales staff, from what I understand. They could probably relocate out here to suburbia for a fraction of what they are paying in rent there in midtown.

 

[michael hagerty]

You just aren't going to give up, are you, amfmxm? (By the way, got to ask you about your username since those last two letters represent a threat to your livelihood, unless you work for satellite radio).

I welcome your comments as long as they are meaningful, well-thought-out, and you can defend them.

Yeah, I have worked in a hospital (okay, it was only a food-service kitchen), so I know we aren't looking to cure cancer. Actually, due to working weekends and holidays, it actually prepared me for a career in radio. But then, lo and behold, I ended up working overnights at my last station. Never did that at the hospital!

I am working on another topic to post here, but before I do that, I have got to do my own homework!

Just as an aside, I am not affiliated in any way with Hippie Radio. They are doing things there that I cannot defend. Overuse of "all-new" (a year and a half after coming on the air!) is just one of them! And I live just far enough away from their studio that I could not afford to make the drive, based on how little they would be likely to be able to pay me. Their (somewhat) centralized location exists mainly for the convenience of their sales staff, from what I understand. They could probably relocate out here to suburbia for a fraction of what they are paying in rent there in midtown.

I don't think he's the one not giving up. His post was, I thought, a graceful note that restored a tone of civility, and gave us a place from which to move on.

And "Who knows? Who Cares? It's Just Radio!" is a fairly common phrase in the industry when we start to over-think things that are best done case-by-case.

You take stuff way too personally that isn't even peripherally about you.

 

[firepoint525]

And "Who knows? Who Cares? It's Just Radio!" is a fairly common phrase in the industry when we start to over-think things that are best done case-by-case.
You take stuff way too personally that isn't even peripherally about you.

I could say the same about you, Michael!

 

[michael hagerty]

And "Who knows? Who Cares? It's Just Radio!" is a fairly common phrase in the industry when we start to over-think things that are best done case-by-case.
You take stuff way too personally that isn't even peripherally about you.

I could say the same about you, Michael!

You could say the same about all of us at one point or another, Firepoint.

 

[firepoint525]

Gonna rescue this thread and bring it BACK on topic.

http://www.hippieradio945.com/

Hit the above link and listen live, especially during the morning drive, 6:00-10:00 a.m. central time. This guy not only still says "all-new" after a year and a half (and he should know better because he has been there for that entire time), but he also laughs at his own lame jokes, overtalks the intro to nearly every song that he plays, overuses the "audience applause," and puts nearly every lame caller on the air and laughs at their "jokes," too. Needless to say, it is often difficult to understand what the caller is saying.

Also listen for the afternoon drive announcer, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. He is voicetracked, but also overdoes it on the "all-new" bit (even occasionally uses "brand-new"), but still not as bad as the morning guy.

The morning guy also has a Saturday afternoon shift from 3:00 to 7:00, and while it is voicetracked, he not only says "all-new," he even emphasizes it (still!)

Don't take my word for it; listen for yourself!