iHeart worries were overblown?

[TheBigA]

Listen Big *******, you're part of the reason that commercial radio sucks

You have no idea what you're talking about. Or who you're talking to.

 

[davideduardo]

Listen Big *******, you're part of the reason that commercial radio sucks

You are about a "silly millimeter" short of having posts like this deleted.

It's a masked profanity and an ad hominem.

There are over 200 million Americans who use radio weekly and we have to assume that they find something good or at least listenable there. Saying to those on this board who work in radio that what we, collectively, do "sucks" is unfair, untrue and offensive.

If you have specific complaints, you are free to make them. If you have suggestions, likewise. But blanket indictments are not going to be allowed.

 

[davideduardo]

I don't think that's too expensive.
I think that owners should spare no expense to maintain and grow quality stations like WBZ AM, to keep the valuable heritage alive, however Iheart doesn't think that way
My comments are based on observations about Iheart

You need to make more observations. iHeart invests strongly in stations that they see will produce a return on the investment. Where it can be seen that the needed investment can't produce the revenue needed to make the investment worthwhile, stations are modified or changed to a business model that is profitable.

The entire industry is questioning how long the all news format can last, since the average age of listeners gets older and older every year. Traditional events-based talk is in the same situation, with an aging listener base that is harder and harder to sell to advertisers who don't seek older listeners.

 

[MarcB]

I live in Connecticut, so I'm not a regular listener to WBZ, but sometimes I will listen to them for a few minutes while doing a band scan, if I'm in the car waiting for my Mom. To me WBZ sounds the same now as it did last year when CBS still owned it. News stories. Weather, traffic and Sports updates? Still there. Talk shows at night? Still there. What's the problem? Is it because your favorite personality isn't there any more? If that's the only problem with your life, then you seriously need to get a life.

 

[spt87]

As someone who doesn't really know much - just an average listener with an interest in the industry - my prediction is that news/talk will outlast the music on AM/FM radio. Reason being is that music is the same nationwide - there isn't anything much unique to each local area that is on the air music wise especially when we are in the "most music" type of format. Sirius/XM, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, whatever can all provide music. Local content in the form of local news or local issues talk can not be done more efficiently by those streaming platforms - someone local still has to do it. Maybe AM stations streaming on the iHeart Radio app. will take the place of a "radio" but same idea with a new delivery mechanism.

 

[TheBigA]

As someone who doesn't really know much - just an average listener with an interest in the industry - my prediction is that news/talk will outlast the music on AM/FM radio.

Maybe...the question is how to monetize. Would you be willing to pay a monthly subscription for local news? The ad-supported model has its limitations.

BTW AM stations currently stream on the iHeart app.

 

[spt87]

Yes, at least all those owned by iHeart are on the app and I do use it to listen to BZ at times since I'm on the Cape which is on the null side of their signal - even worse at night than during the day. My alarm clock is a Logitech Squeezebox Boom which in a roundabout way streams via the iHeart app as well and is running for a good 2 hours every morning.

Would I pay - I sort of do already as I have a paid subscription to the iHeart app. I only added that since they took over WBZ and I started using the app more. I pay for Sirius/XM too but for amount I use it I'm overpaying.

 

[johnster]

All Beasley and Cumulus stations are also on the iHeart App.

 

[ksradiogeek]

Listen Big *******, you're part of the reason that commercial radio sucks

It must be fun being a curmudgeon.

 

[Retro]

Radio may not be what it used to be, but It's still a good package, but especially when It's done right!

 

[Delete My Account]

"my prediction is that news/talk will outlast the music on AM/FM radio."

I could see that if broadcasters were developing news/talk talent that appealed to a younger audience. To some degree, that exists with the popular morning shows on music formats. But no one has made it a cohesive FM talk product. In part, because developing talent takes time and expense. Most new talkers that sign on are of the translator variety repeating syndicated product to clear it in more markets. One thing I appreciate about Entercom is in markets such as New Orleans and Kansas City, they were proactive in getting on full power FM signals and investing in local talent instead of clearing third tier exclusively right-wing hosts. But most companies aren't investing in local talk, or taking what they've learned from personality shows on their music stations and transitioning to more entertaining forms of talk. Not necessarily "hot talk" - I think that ship has sailed. But local, FM paced engaging talk. A lot of people are tired of being yelled at.

 

[gr8oldies]

There's been very little progress toward a younger talk format. With a couple of exceptions (Real Radio in Florida), the Hot Talk stations (mostly anchored by Stern) went by the wayside. It may be a little too late with younger people turning to podcasts for spoken word programming

 

[TheBigA]

But no one has made it a cohesive FM talk product. In part, because developing talent takes time and expense.

I disagree that's the reason. I believe the problem is younger audiences aren't interested in traditional news/talk presentation. When radio stations replace a traditional boomer news/talk host with someone younger, such as Ben Shapiro, the established boomer audience complains that he talks too fast. We will see what happens, because Ben will be replacing Michael Savage nationally starting next week. But the fact is that radio companies have been investing in developing news/talk talent, and audiences have been unhappy with them.

 

[Delete My Account]

It's not merely the age of the talent, it's the approach. Taking the same formula or core agenda and aging it lower doesn't seem to attract younger audiences. The podcasts most popular with younger adults aren't Shapiro-esque for the most part. Nor are the successful talk based programs on music stations. I've long been baffled by why radio didn't develop a Jon Stewart. What about the culture or investment strategies of modern broadcasters makes it seemingly impossible for them to create a spoken word format that isn't rooted in conservative politics that appeals to a younger audience?

 

[TheBigA]

It's not merely the age of the talent, it's the approach. Taking the same formula or core agenda and aging it lower doesn't seem to attract younger audiences.

I agree with all of that.

What about the culture or investment strategies of modern broadcasters makes it seemingly impossible for them to create a spoken word format that isn't rooted in conservative politics that appeals to a younger audience?

Nothing, other than the fact that one format is incompatible with the other. In other words, you either do conservative talk, or you do lifestyle talk. Right now, for the most part, conservative talk is still paying the bills, so you dance with the one who brought you. Some local stations have hired lifestyle talkers rather than political talkers. So far, none have made the move to syndication. But at some point, you will begin to hear less political talk, and more lifestyle talk on the radio.

 

[spt87]

I'm not sure its talent as much as topics. I think the constant political talk is a turn off to many - even myself at times and I tend to listen to news/talk more than other formats.

When I was kid talk shows were rare but there were a couple I caught at night and they talked about all kinds of stuff or just played a games mixed in with talk topics and it rarely was politics. I think if you look at the BZ night talk shows they do get into politics quite a bit but there are a lot of other things they get into. Same even for Howie Carr who is politics heavy but he does do other stuff.

I'll bet this has always been an older skewing format anyway with a few younger people mixed in. Back in the day an A/C station may run talk at night - but the Top40 didn't (except for Dr. Ruth but that's another matter). BTW I'm not sure a Dr. Ruth would work now since you can get that topic all over the internet 24x7. It was a 19 year old who spearheaded the drive to bring Steve Leveille back to BZ after all.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm not sure its talent as much as topics. I think the constant political talk is a turn off to many

I agree with all that, and you're also right that the Dr. Ruth program (it was syndicated) as well as Lovelines with Dr. Drew were also popular with younger audiences. However, both shows were run Sunday nights on rock or alternative stations, not talk stations. Lovelines was originally a local show on KROQ. Dr. Ruth began as a local show on WYNY, a local AC station owned at the time by NBC. BTW Dr. Ruth is still alive, and she's 90 years old. So good sex may lead to long life. At least that's what she would say.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Some local stations have hired lifestyle talkers rather than political talkers. So far, none have made the move to syndication. But at some point, you will begin to hear less political talk, and more lifestyle talk on the radio.

Lifestyle talk is generally harder to syndicate than political talk. By that, I mean if you're a host in Houston who likes to go gator hunting in the Louisiana bayous, and watch NASCAR on the weekends, that is not a lifestyle that will syndicate well to Boston.

Arguably even across urbanites. How much does a lifestyle in Cambridge have to do with a lifestyle in Brooklyn? How about Little Rock?

Advice shows like Dr. Laura, Joy Browne, and Dave Ramsey fit under the lifestyle umbrella, I suppose. But one of those three is retired, one is dead, and one is boring. There are a lot of "lifestyle" shows out there that are produced weekly. But it seems like most news/talk stations find paid programs and best-of shows to be advantageous, instead of talk shows about automobiles, outdoor life, or parenting or whatever. I'd guess because they chop up the schedule and destroy TSL.

 

[TheBigA]

I'd guess because they chop up the schedule and destroy TSL.

That's right, although if you listen to the most popular morning shows today, there's a lot more talk than you'd expect. But its combined with music. That combination is what keeps young audiences. Howard Stern continued to play music for a year when he started at K-Rock. He only stopped playing music in 1987 when he was confident he could fill the time with talk, and the music was getting in the way. His show was the lone talk show on music formatted stations aiming at younger audiences.

 

[alg2468]

Dr.Laura is not retired; she is on Sirius radio and her daily 3 hour show is available by annual subscription on her website for download since 2011. Her advice has also become moderate since her radio days.