And if we stick to opinions, which is all I’m trying to do, can I ask you if you like listening to KRTH? Are you not sick of the same songs being beaten to death? Do you never wish for a greater variety and more songs?
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iHeartMedia clusters that have zero local personalities
- Thread starter victorres43
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If you haven't noticed; smartphones and Internet tech has become the hand held, voice recognition, go-to competitor to radio and TV. The vast majority of people still listen to their vehicle radio while driving, but have what amounts to a super computer in their pocket or purse that they rely on for education, communication, shopping, entertainment, news, and 24/7 accessing their social circles. There's no un-ringing that bell. Making believe one can just go back to the days before smartphone and Internet tech wasn't around to somehow recapture the days of our youth, amounts to useless tilting at windmills. For as much as you hold disdain-for or hold 'corporations' you think are responsible for killing the medium you loved, it's misplaced blame. Public or for-profit; radio has always been a business that needs to make money to survive and thrive. You make money by reaching an audience. These people you hold in such disregard have been testing ideas and working to keep radio and TV relevant for decades because they want to see continued success of their businesses. Some, like iHeart, after going through significant headwinds, found that diversifying into other forms of new media and entertainment other than just radio, has put them in a much better position to remain viable. Something you're disregarding too, is not only have listening habits changed, but so has the revenue model. Advertisers are having to change their business model, including advertising in order to survive and grow. Unfortunately, that new way to reach an audience hasn't included radio or newspapers.
In short; Radio isn't dying, but it's had no choice but to evolve within the growing lanes of competition that wasn't around when radio was the only thing.
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No one said we have to un-ring the bell. But with all the talent out there, I think radio can do better than being a repetitive juke box with little personality.
Come on. I love radio - I wouldn't be here if I didn't - but even I have to admit that to the majority of people, it's the thing in the corner of their office or workshop, or in their car, and they press a button and some pleasant background sounds come out of it to make working or driving a bit less boring.
Only radio people are listening to every word spoken by the jock, and admiring a great link or a particularly good segue. The craft of the jock is to make the station sound pleasant in the background and entertaining during the brief periods the listener is paying attention.
Even if I concede your point, the voicetracked jocks are largely not doing that. Spending every break discussing the iHeart Music Festival does not make the station sound pleasant or entertaining. Radio can do better. Jocks can do better, but they simply aren't allowed.
But why do you think that someone talking between songs will be so much more appealing to today's consumer? Research has shown that just isn't the case. If you can build playlists of your own liking on that device in your pocket, why would you think that some radio station using a lot of electricity to play random music tracks hoping someone would like it would be successful?
Maybe it does not have to be someone talking between songs. Maybe there are other ideas. But making radio sound like a boring jukebox isn't the answer either. The proof is in the numbers. Radio is losing listeners, especially those younger than 50.
With that said, here's what "someone talking between songs" offers:
1. Local information
2. Weather information - this is something that listeners sorely miss
3. Compelling content - a factoid or something that makes listening more interesting
4. A mood. I read about a local radio hall of fame inductee recently. The jock was from an 80s and 90s CHR station in a medium market. The write up was that this jock, who was an afternoon driver, created a "relaxed mood." Jocks aren't allowed to do that today.
5. Fun. Yes, that is a mood. But many of us know jocks that made listening more fun.
6. You would be surprised at the personal connection people have with jocks. I have a friend originally from Boston who loves music but was never a radio aficionado. Back in the 2000s, I met up with him while we were both in Sacramento. We were in the lobby of a restaurant and the radio was on loudly. The jock was David Allan Boucher (who recently retired from Boston's Audacy AC station). This friend immediately recognized the voice and name and was shocked to hear him in Sacramento. Yes, this is an anecdote. But it is telling.
It's not an insult, it's reality. People have radio on in the background and don't pay much attention. I gave an example of an office I worked at in 1988. Nobody heard a thing the DJs said. People really can't stop work to listen to a "compelling" DJ talk up intros or do comedy bits.
More importantly, how does chatty DJs and bigger playlists sell more advertising?
By attracting more listeners and building station loyalty.
None of that list is true anymore. Millennials and GenZ have so many more choices via the device in their pocket. Full stop.
Radio is something that's available when they're driving and aren't supposed to be looking at their phone. Even then, they might likely use Apple Carplay to stream or play music off their playlist. I'm sorry, but your buggy whip-in-a-world-of-automobiles- thinking, is just ignoring any sense of reality.
Then it should be up to radio to step up its game and compete. Make radio more appealing to young people. Right now, radio is doubling down on a losing strategy.
That's your opinion.
And thanks for your kindness - especially laughing at my reply.That's your opinion.
I don't have a strong preference for the music on KRTH and don't stream it... ever.
But looking at the rotations, I don't think I would find the playlist repetitive as I'd have to listen 4 or more hours a day to even hear a few repeats in the same week.
No it's not. Presenting facts to someone whose opinions are based on incorrect information is not trolling. Your first amendment right stops where mine begins. You're trying to prevent me from stating my opinion or engaging in discussion because it offends you.
Nonsense. There are new ideas every day. They're not posted here because new ideas are company property. New show ideas, new formats, new ways to present information, new staff hires all come in the form of press releases and are usually presented in the Buzzfeed section of this board. Some of us work in the business, and we present our ideas there. This isn't a hobby. It's a job. Those who present ideas here are likely not in a position to get them done.
Which song was it? If it was a current, that is extremely low. In order for a song to get to #1, a song needs to be heard at least five times a day. Record labels want their songs and artists to get #1s. The only way that happens is with regular spins.
The two least appealing things to really young demos are ads and jocks.
So because of your unique take on the way it should be, you don't think radio companies have tried to improve over the years? Really?
And that is just a low end of 35 spins. A real power hit in most adult formats will exceed 60 spins a week, while CHR and Urban can do over 100.
Chesney's summer song this year was "Everyone She Knows." It peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Twice a day sounds about right to me. I was certainly hearing "Wasted on You" and "Damn Strait" a whole lot more frequently than I was hearing that song.
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