Tom Wells said:
Dear Inspector, I have tried to answer this months ago. I know you asked Supercaster why so angry, but I think I can answer
for a good many detractors.
Many people see radio as a business. They are ususally IN the business.
It's hard to get a good view from such a close perspective, so that leads us to....
Many people see radio as an art. They are far more often NOT in the business.
There are those who see the art in programming and also those who see the art in the technology, circuitry and modes.
Then there are some people in radio broadcast engineering, who see RF engineering as an art, and have a hard time seeing ART debased.
I stayed out of radio because I cannot function in "business"; I deal in technical arts, and didn't want to be where radio is at present.
To those who care about radio in the classic sense, turning the broadcast bands into ibiquity's modem is sacrelige.
It's definitely not "It's only radio".
It's a classic property grab, and those opposed to usury and seizure by "duplicitous emminent domain" are rightfully alarmed.
I cannot say whether Supercaster is in the business. I believe he is, and makes his "inflammatory" statements from
a completely qualified position, accurately assessing the situation from the first post of his that I read.
Everything he says agrees with everything I ever learned in the ancient radio engineering school noted below.
I'm not so easily fooled, neither is he, or many others who have ever had to make analog RF behave properly.
Tom,
Your answer is so thoughtful, it's like I know you as a life long friend.
The JOKE is "It's only radio".
Not "I don't give a damn about it" it's only radio.
Not "I used to work in a nice restaurant, but now I work here and it's "Only Radio""
More like I hear the "Boss I'm so sorry. I counted down the return from break and when I said 'It's You' I accidentally pressed Pot 3 instead of pot 4 and we lost the first 6 seconds of the halftime show."
And in the elevator on the way home when my producer says.. "Man I hate going home with my tail between my legs..." I say
"All you can do is what you can do. You and I both know your are one of the best Producers in town. Don't feel bad. After all, no one died.
It's only radio."
(I only say that to the 3 GOOD producers I have. The other one is probably gone this next week)
I understand you and others may not like the way I portray myself and the station on this board. However, (No BS I Swear I'm not lying) we've resigned about $25K worth of sports contracts running til this March in the last week. We did this by bidding
higher that our local Clear Channel competing station did. But we won it anyway because we do things right. And over the last five years we've gotten a reputation for being the best and most innovative in town. THAT'S why we can (Apparently) get the $$$.
Tom, I "Think" I get where you are coming from. I say that because it's pretty dangerous and disrespectful to say "I know what you mean". But I "Think" I do.
Because my gang says "It's only radio", doesn't mean we don't care. It's kinda like driving down the road at 85 and then when you get a ticket saying "It's only money".
If you've worked in the trenches in radio, and gotten a radio paycheck, you know how funny that "It's only money" thing is...
I get your concern. And I know it's hard to imagine I believe how I do about HD, based on that statement. But I do.
Soup has posted he is not in the business. But it doesn't matter. He's a radio lover and the fact that "we in radio" are going to piss him off bothers me. Not "My Station(s) are pissing him off." More like "My industry is pissing him off". That concerns me. (And you're feelings ain't making me real happy either).
I would love to treat radio TOTALLY as an artform. But I have 7 of us earning a living off of the station and an owner that would like a reason to not sell out to a conglomorate. I can tell you about the pregnant wives, children, blah blah blah,,, It still is real though.
I Also need it to be a business. There's 2 other GROUPS in town who could absorb us and spend NOTHING to operate the station. It's a scary, slippery slope. Working without a net does make it fun, though. There is a defined financial component. (IS that some kind of speak for MONEY MATTERS?)
So I think I know where you are comng from. But don't think for a minute that EVERYONE in "The Business" doesn't care or doesn't live it. Many of us (Like Savage) do.
I know I will be babysitting another of our sports accounts this Saturday night. In the Office. On Workday #6. Apparently being at home on the weekend is overrated.
I understand how you take "It's only radio" as a cause of frustration.
While it has never happened to me, try going to payday and having your check being no good. THAT might equal some of your annoyance.
Like many in the industry, I live breathe and eat my station. And my cell is on now if anything goes wrong. (Forgive me if I don't post the number. Sleep is NOT overrated.)
Clouseau