-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
IBJ radio article
- Thread starter indeaugie
- Start date
sad but true statement on radio as we currently know it
Remember when Fairbanks tried things that made other radio groups 'freak'.... Maybe someone should go for broke.. They're there, already and have nothin' to lose.. "The Buzzard" was so locally hybrid, it worked for several years, unitl Fairbanks was gone and corporate consultants blanded it out... Hennes at 'NDE just scratched his head and thought they were so unique..... Moto, Griffen and Bodine were fun to listen too.. So local....
I don't know what musical genre' you'd do, but the formatics of 'expected-un-expectedness' would sure put some attention on the streets.. Do off the wall promotions and such... Humm? Everything circles back, good or bad, sooner or later.....
I don't know what musical genre' you'd do, but the formatics of 'expected-un-expectedness' would sure put some attention on the streets.. Do off the wall promotions and such... Humm? Everything circles back, good or bad, sooner or later.....
Dear Skippertthoma....you might check out 91.9 Zionsville/Indy....not sure
you can find a more "unexpectedness" format than that!!!
you can find a more "unexpectedness" format than that!!!
But contrary to the Skipper's concept, WITT has gotten almost zero attention and has ratings lower than the daytimer on 810...
From bluegrass to polka WITT is unique. They refuse to air anything that has Jesus in it. While some say they are great to listen to, these 12 people are not anyone with cash to support the station. They are not "local" in the sense that theya re interactive with the communioty they are licensed to, featuring an Indianapolis studio.
Radio Mom is very local for Lebanon and Boone County. It took years for listeners to find them then trust they would stay this way. All the local events are part of what makes them what they are. WCBK Martinsville also comes to mind.
Radio Mom is very local for Lebanon and Boone County. It took years for listeners to find them then trust they would stay this way. All the local events are part of what makes them what they are. WCBK Martinsville also comes to mind.
Remember that WNAP was designed to be a bubbling cauldron of creativity for the Fairbanks stations. What stuck to the wall was imported to their other stations or was ripped off by radio program syndicators. For several years, WNAP also protected WIBC’s ratings and rate card from attacks by the competition. Also remember that Mr. Fairbanks owned these stations outright; there was NO debt to service.
Most stations today have an HD channel or two that could serve as the creative cauldron again, but there aren’t enough creative people left in the building to do the heavy lifting. Consolidation has crippled radio’s farm system where upcoming talent learned how to make the mass medium of radio “personal”. But all it takes is for one station in an influential market to become successful thrilling radio listeners again instead of cowering to corporate shareholders and the rest of the radio industry will follow the cash cow to that pasture
Most stations today have an HD channel or two that could serve as the creative cauldron again, but there aren’t enough creative people left in the building to do the heavy lifting. Consolidation has crippled radio’s farm system where upcoming talent learned how to make the mass medium of radio “personal”. But all it takes is for one station in an influential market to become successful thrilling radio listeners again instead of cowering to corporate shareholders and the rest of the radio industry will follow the cash cow to that pasture
In response to Chief Engineer's comment that WITT refuses to play
any song with Jesus Christ's name in it, I would say that WITT has in
the mix a number of spiritual hymns by the likes of the Holmes Brothers,
The Golden Gate Quartet, and several other solo and group artists.
And thanks for bringing that up, CE, so that all will know more about
WITT and what it does. And congratulations on RadioMom and its
success. WITT devotes one complete hour per week for issues
and council meeting recordings concerning Zionsville and Boone County.
WITT has invited in many groups from that area. The studio temporarily
is in fact in Broad Ripple. WITT has not had any offers for free studio
space in Zionsville, but would welcome that. And I personally thank you
for a number of kind offers you have made to this project in the past.
Pax et Bonum,
Jim
any song with Jesus Christ's name in it, I would say that WITT has in
the mix a number of spiritual hymns by the likes of the Holmes Brothers,
The Golden Gate Quartet, and several other solo and group artists.
And thanks for bringing that up, CE, so that all will know more about
WITT and what it does. And congratulations on RadioMom and its
success. WITT devotes one complete hour per week for issues
and council meeting recordings concerning Zionsville and Boone County.
WITT has invited in many groups from that area. The studio temporarily
is in fact in Broad Ripple. WITT has not had any offers for free studio
space in Zionsville, but would welcome that. And I personally thank you
for a number of kind offers you have made to this project in the past.
Pax et Bonum,
Jim
And yet, contrary to all of the complaints here, the fact remains true - radio listenership is actually up.
I know sticking this fact out there pisses many off, but here's a thought - it's not entirely a desire to trim payroll that causes stations to voice track and carry syndication, but an elavation of good talent to air in other markets where a company doesn't have compelling talent. Yes, it saves the company payroll money. But, is part of the problem that the talent pool is so thin, that there is such a lack of good on air talent, that the good ones have to be "shipped in?" Never would a station such as B105 back in the day EVER consider airing a syndicated morning drive show - PD would have considered it ratings suicide - yet Tesh is now driving ratings on that station [top ratings in the market in fact]. Is there any compelling talent in Indianapolis to hire as an alterative to Tesh? Apparently Emmis didn't think so. And apparently, they were right.
Now the argument will begin, but do us all a favor, and argue something new; don't just roll out the same old tired "corporate money grab" as the only reason you got that this is wrong.
I know sticking this fact out there pisses many off, but here's a thought - it's not entirely a desire to trim payroll that causes stations to voice track and carry syndication, but an elavation of good talent to air in other markets where a company doesn't have compelling talent. Yes, it saves the company payroll money. But, is part of the problem that the talent pool is so thin, that there is such a lack of good on air talent, that the good ones have to be "shipped in?" Never would a station such as B105 back in the day EVER consider airing a syndicated morning drive show - PD would have considered it ratings suicide - yet Tesh is now driving ratings on that station [top ratings in the market in fact]. Is there any compelling talent in Indianapolis to hire as an alterative to Tesh? Apparently Emmis didn't think so. And apparently, they were right.
Now the argument will begin, but do us all a favor, and argue something new; don't just roll out the same old tired "corporate money grab" as the only reason you got that this is wrong.
So what is the orgin of the problem and who is to blame for a thin talent pool? If you listen to college or high school radio stations, they for the most part sound like a big boom box with little or no structure rather than as a training facility for possible broadcasting careers. Case in point: my old college station at DePauw used to be a well formatted music/DJ driven operation. In fact, we would do student surveys to see how WGRE rated against a couple of Indy stations, plus WTTS and a station out of Brazil, IN. Now, the format is completely unpredictable and the students tell me they don't - or can't - listen. Listening to the old broadcasts that can be found on reelradio.com, I remember how much fun it was to tune in, not only the music, but for the air personality. It would seem that there is little risk in formating a station that isn't making any money into something from the "yesteryear" glory days of Indy radio just to see what would happen.
A consumer driven economy requiring immediate fulfillment is the cause of the decline of radio.
I did the last License renewal for WGRE as they forgot to renew the License. Was sad to see students no longer involved, as at Franklin.
When I tell people that there used to be contests at gas stations giving away free stuff and that they would check the oil, clean the windshield, AND the air in your tires they look at me like I am speakin crazy talk. But it changed. And now a gas station on every corner.
Radio is the gas station of today. Every town has many stations. Not nearly as endearing unique or independent. Except WSLM in Salem.
The WITT comment was from a program producer who claimed music with Jesus in it was fine but that any talk about Christ was taboo. This has been widely circulated and the lack of such programs, even those paid is of some note. Would like to know more. Not a slam but if this is practice some explanation might help if it is true or not. This isn't a my station airs more Jesus than your station contest or any detraction for same.
In the old days we had to be everything to everybody then that became a tunnel vision of one thought. Michaels changed that thought with block programming on WLW. Waiting to steal new ideas for stations when he enters radio again. I'd love to see a repeat of the Hitler message when WGN looses a host or two to whatever he comes on the air with and ultimately reams them a new Cat 6 connection. Waiting for WGN stock to go to the 7th caller.
Randy is the future of what radio could be. Never reverent to the past or history, or things radio people hold on a pedestal (with no clothes.)
He has the ability through his understanding to make things that are average become excellent by making decisive minor changes. The WKRC "Personality Plus" campaign (Expensive) was destroyed with 30 second announcements on WLW using "Personality" and Randy adding "Plus" and i don't think billboards were used. It was the equivalent of telling a child he is dumb all his life and seeing the change that makes the term low self esteem is creedo. Except it didn't take years, just a few days for the whole station to implode in a cascading crescendo of low self image and neuter advancement.
If I ran a news talk station I would send his memo on how to talk and what not to talk about to my staff. He used it in Cincy in 1983. He doesn't appear to be a professor but some of the basics in this memo bothered the staff at WGN because they were lazy and fat and had no direction.
His changes to radio bring listeners to the RELATIONSHIP they had with radio in the 1950's. He has too0 few places to program to effectively save radio. We will see his ideas stolen by many. Most won't understand what he is doing and do it wrong though.
I get paid by the word when I write about him. Can't wait for takeover day. Still willing to be Willie Cunningham on any newstalk in Chicago for a few weeks imitating Bill. I have developed a dialect between Cincinatti German and 'Da Bears" talk that really appeals to conservative Republicans and Non Conservative Demos who are also Polish.
As Earl Pitts would say....
I did the last License renewal for WGRE as they forgot to renew the License. Was sad to see students no longer involved, as at Franklin.
When I tell people that there used to be contests at gas stations giving away free stuff and that they would check the oil, clean the windshield, AND the air in your tires they look at me like I am speakin crazy talk. But it changed. And now a gas station on every corner.
Radio is the gas station of today. Every town has many stations. Not nearly as endearing unique or independent. Except WSLM in Salem.
The WITT comment was from a program producer who claimed music with Jesus in it was fine but that any talk about Christ was taboo. This has been widely circulated and the lack of such programs, even those paid is of some note. Would like to know more. Not a slam but if this is practice some explanation might help if it is true or not. This isn't a my station airs more Jesus than your station contest or any detraction for same.
In the old days we had to be everything to everybody then that became a tunnel vision of one thought. Michaels changed that thought with block programming on WLW. Waiting to steal new ideas for stations when he enters radio again. I'd love to see a repeat of the Hitler message when WGN looses a host or two to whatever he comes on the air with and ultimately reams them a new Cat 6 connection. Waiting for WGN stock to go to the 7th caller.
Randy is the future of what radio could be. Never reverent to the past or history, or things radio people hold on a pedestal (with no clothes.)
He has the ability through his understanding to make things that are average become excellent by making decisive minor changes. The WKRC "Personality Plus" campaign (Expensive) was destroyed with 30 second announcements on WLW using "Personality" and Randy adding "Plus" and i don't think billboards were used. It was the equivalent of telling a child he is dumb all his life and seeing the change that makes the term low self esteem is creedo. Except it didn't take years, just a few days for the whole station to implode in a cascading crescendo of low self image and neuter advancement.
If I ran a news talk station I would send his memo on how to talk and what not to talk about to my staff. He used it in Cincy in 1983. He doesn't appear to be a professor but some of the basics in this memo bothered the staff at WGN because they were lazy and fat and had no direction.
His changes to radio bring listeners to the RELATIONSHIP they had with radio in the 1950's. He has too0 few places to program to effectively save radio. We will see his ideas stolen by many. Most won't understand what he is doing and do it wrong though.
I get paid by the word when I write about him. Can't wait for takeover day. Still willing to be Willie Cunningham on any newstalk in Chicago for a few weeks imitating Bill. I have developed a dialect between Cincinatti German and 'Da Bears" talk that really appeals to conservative Republicans and Non Conservative Demos who are also Polish.
As Earl Pitts would say....
In response to CE's comment from a third party program producer let me
set the record straight. I assume the producer being brought up is a very
nice man who for many years made programs with hymns and also
did a bit of preaching on various stations in the Indy market. WITT aired his show for about a month or so and
then never heard back from him.
WITT's policy is to not knowingly broadcast preaching for any faith, be it
christian, jewish, muslim, or even agnostic. Music from these faiths in
either an historic or contemporary genre is considered by WITT for
broadcast.
WITT feels that as a non-commercial community station preaching is
best left in the individual houses of worship.
set the record straight. I assume the producer being brought up is a very
nice man who for many years made programs with hymns and also
did a bit of preaching on various stations in the Indy market. WITT aired his show for about a month or so and
then never heard back from him.
WITT's policy is to not knowingly broadcast preaching for any faith, be it
christian, jewish, muslim, or even agnostic. Music from these faiths in
either an historic or contemporary genre is considered by WITT for
broadcast.
WITT feels that as a non-commercial community station preaching is
best left in the individual houses of worship.
Uhh, WGRE is staffed by students in all on-air and managerial roles. They do contract engineering help and have a faculty advisor. But students are not only "involved," they are "responsible."
With regards to indeaugie, the formatics tend to fall apart at a college station because of the makeup of the staff of such a station. There's no Russ Oasis listening all the time and micromanaging the staff. Doing so would require a superhuman effort to listen all 200 hosts you have and give them feedback. In the "good old days" when you were at DePauw, you might have airchecked yourself because you wanted to be the next John Landecker or whoever. How many students have that goal today?
As far as I'm concerned, WGRE is the top college radio station in the state. The competition isn't very stiff, admittedly...
RDO = Mouseman's point is still valid.
Kurt Wallace hasn't been on morning's at B all that long, and B105's cume has been consistently in the high 400,000 for months and months on end. I suspect Wallace's addition was not so much a disappointment in The Tesh show performance ratings-wise, as it was a desire to get more local AM DR inventory with a live local show [versus the limited inventory of a syndicated show]. With their ratings across the board, I would want as much local inventory as I could clear to drive revenue.
Back to the point: The Fan still clears ESPN's "Mike and Mike," even though their live and local all the rest of the day, because that's the best talent available. I'm sure the "Dan Patrick Show" is stronger than most local talent available, as is "Jim Rome." Ryan Seacreast is doing as well as anything else ZPL has put in PM DR for quite awhile. CC ships Bob and Tom, and Zack and Jack to many other markets, as the best talent available to those other stations. And look at the hundreds of networks being cleared across the country on thousands of stations. This isn't some recent development - it's gone on for decades now.
Yes, it can be cheaper, corporate radio. But if the local on air talent pool is very shallow, it can and is better programming.
Mike and Mike are definitely national in scope, BUT they stay on subject - sports. Listen any length of time to the most-notable local sports talk guys [MPOS, JMV, Dan Dakich] and while they can carry portions of their show, they also veer off topic a lot. Dakich was droning on today about his singing, and how women love men who can sing. JMV was droning on and on in discussion with Mark Boyle about the Steely Dan concert tonight. Mark Patrick and Ace Cosby? Geeze where do I begin? Point is, while the best of locals can be entertaining for stretches, they aren't as strong as some syndicated sports talk is that's available. And there's simply not enough of it [local talent] to be better than Mike and Mike, Dan Patrick or Jim Rome.
So, people have lost their on air jobs, and there are fewer local on air jobs. Is some of it profit driven? yes. Is some of it just a lack of available local talent good enough to compete? Again, yes.
Oh, and Kurt Wallace? He's originally from the St. Louis area. So B105 had to go out of market to find something talent-wise at least as capable as Tesh to maintain those AMDR ratings, and likely so they could get the added local inventory they wanted that they couldn't wrangle away from the syndicator.
Kurt Wallace hasn't been on morning's at B all that long, and B105's cume has been consistently in the high 400,000 for months and months on end. I suspect Wallace's addition was not so much a disappointment in The Tesh show performance ratings-wise, as it was a desire to get more local AM DR inventory with a live local show [versus the limited inventory of a syndicated show]. With their ratings across the board, I would want as much local inventory as I could clear to drive revenue.
Back to the point: The Fan still clears ESPN's "Mike and Mike," even though their live and local all the rest of the day, because that's the best talent available. I'm sure the "Dan Patrick Show" is stronger than most local talent available, as is "Jim Rome." Ryan Seacreast is doing as well as anything else ZPL has put in PM DR for quite awhile. CC ships Bob and Tom, and Zack and Jack to many other markets, as the best talent available to those other stations. And look at the hundreds of networks being cleared across the country on thousands of stations. This isn't some recent development - it's gone on for decades now.
Yes, it can be cheaper, corporate radio. But if the local on air talent pool is very shallow, it can and is better programming.
Mike and Mike are definitely national in scope, BUT they stay on subject - sports. Listen any length of time to the most-notable local sports talk guys [MPOS, JMV, Dan Dakich] and while they can carry portions of their show, they also veer off topic a lot. Dakich was droning on today about his singing, and how women love men who can sing. JMV was droning on and on in discussion with Mark Boyle about the Steely Dan concert tonight. Mark Patrick and Ace Cosby? Geeze where do I begin? Point is, while the best of locals can be entertaining for stretches, they aren't as strong as some syndicated sports talk is that's available. And there's simply not enough of it [local talent] to be better than Mike and Mike, Dan Patrick or Jim Rome.
So, people have lost their on air jobs, and there are fewer local on air jobs. Is some of it profit driven? yes. Is some of it just a lack of available local talent good enough to compete? Again, yes.
Oh, and Kurt Wallace? He's originally from the St. Louis area. So B105 had to go out of market to find something talent-wise at least as capable as Tesh to maintain those AMDR ratings, and likely so they could get the added local inventory they wanted that they couldn't wrangle away from the syndicator.
PTBoardOp94 said:
Are they not rebroadcasting WFYI full time? Last I listened that was the case.
Their License renewal last time followed an FCC inspection as the transmitter had been sending a dead carrier for months during summer break. After the visit it was less loose. No Rule violations noted however. As most college stations it was loosely run. The students then did have the ability to broadcast when they wanted without limit.
The station sounded good when it was on.
Maybe you're thinking of WNDY 91.3 at Wabash College, which does repeat WFYI-FM, and not WGRE 91.5?
Kurt Wallace was on 93.9 the Song before it went away. unless this is a different Kurt Wallace on B105.7.undertheradar said:
PTBoardOp94 said:
Correct. WGRE and WNDY had a lot of similarities. I can't tell Crawfordsville and Greencastle apart.
- Status