I didn't see the complete breakdowns yet but it's interesting that the top rated stations in the market have jocks/reporters (live or voicetracked) and that the automated, 100% imaged stations seem to fall well behind. I know it's wishful thinking but it sure would be nice if the suits would pay attention to this trend. Any pigs sprouting wings yet?
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Jock vs. Jockless
- Thread starter radiovictim
- Start date
Their are still some stations that are jockless but have personally, I like to listen to Jack sometimes
Last fall I got to take a look at some market research for terrestrial radio only and the results were what most programmers and jocks have been saying people want people on the radio. What most users expected first and foremost was service elements from their favorite radio station, and then closely behind was contesting and local information. Music was not a first consideration as to why they chose a radio station.
The research also pointed out that listeners will choose radio in the car over IPods and CD’s 87% of the time as long as their expectation of radio is met. If not then the numbers drop to around 35% of in car listening.
So listeners are still out there and while the media is changing, their expectation of what a radio station is hasn’t changed. They still expect to hear friendly voices with local information on their favorite station. Without doing this we simply drive that audience to other sources of media.
I had a Consultant once tell me that radio was going through a rebirth and that my focus as a programmer needed to be on new medias like streaming and internet content and that terrestrial radio would be a second consideration to radio listeners over those choices. That was about 7 years ago and since then not much has changed. We still have terrestrial signals and stations still aren’t seeing huge jumps in web hits or streaming numbers. While the number are growing so is the population and access to internet, but overall percentages stay the same.
Radio will not pull itself out of the mess it is in until we do what we do best and that’s radio. The formula is simple, worked for years and lots of people made lots of money. Have local DJ’s that play the hits, put together some fun promotions and have people who can sell commercials. Take care of the basics and the rest will fall into line. It never was rocket science and no matter how much they calculate, apply theories and come up with ways to launch it to even higher levels at the end of the day…..it’s still a radio station.
The research also pointed out that listeners will choose radio in the car over IPods and CD’s 87% of the time as long as their expectation of radio is met. If not then the numbers drop to around 35% of in car listening.
So listeners are still out there and while the media is changing, their expectation of what a radio station is hasn’t changed. They still expect to hear friendly voices with local information on their favorite station. Without doing this we simply drive that audience to other sources of media.
I had a Consultant once tell me that radio was going through a rebirth and that my focus as a programmer needed to be on new medias like streaming and internet content and that terrestrial radio would be a second consideration to radio listeners over those choices. That was about 7 years ago and since then not much has changed. We still have terrestrial signals and stations still aren’t seeing huge jumps in web hits or streaming numbers. While the number are growing so is the population and access to internet, but overall percentages stay the same.
Radio will not pull itself out of the mess it is in until we do what we do best and that’s radio. The formula is simple, worked for years and lots of people made lots of money. Have local DJ’s that play the hits, put together some fun promotions and have people who can sell commercials. Take care of the basics and the rest will fall into line. It never was rocket science and no matter how much they calculate, apply theories and come up with ways to launch it to even higher levels at the end of the day…..it’s still a radio station.
audiophantom said:Last fall I got to take a look at some market research for terrestrial radio only and the results were what most programmers and jocks have been saying people want people on the radio. What most users expected first and foremost was service elements from their favorite radio station, and then closely behind was contesting and local information. Music was not a first consideration as to why they chose a radio station.
The research also pointed out that listeners will choose radio in the car over IPods and CD’s 87% of the time as long as their expectation of radio is met. If not then the numbers drop to around 35% of in car listening.
So listeners are still out there and while the media is changing, their expectation of what a radio station is hasn’t changed. They still expect to hear friendly voices with local information on their favorite station. Without doing this we simply drive that audience to other sources of media.
I had a Consultant once tell me that radio was going through a rebirth and that my focus as a programmer needed to be on new medias like streaming and internet content and that terrestrial radio would be a second consideration to radio listeners over those choices. That was about 7 years ago and since then not much has changed. We still have terrestrial signals and stations still aren’t seeing huge jumps in web hits or streaming numbers. While the number are growing so is the population and access to internet, but overall percentages stay the same.
Radio will not pull itself out of the mess it is in until we do what we do best and that’s radio. The formula is simple, worked for years and lots of people made lots of money. Have local DJ’s that play the hits, put together some fun promotions and have people who can sell commercials. Take care of the basics and the rest will fall into line. It never was rocket science and no matter how much they calculate, apply theories and come up with ways to launch it to even higher levels at the end of the day…..it’s still a radio station.
Dittos!
hey audiophantom--good post and observations.
Let me add that good radio becomes your friend--adding a connection, a level of depth to the listening experience. That magic is usually a jock that makes you feel welcome and part of a larger family.
Let me add that good radio becomes your friend--adding a connection, a level of depth to the listening experience. That magic is usually a jock that makes you feel welcome and part of a larger family.
audiophantom said:Last fall I got to take a look at some market research for terrestrial radio only and the results were what most programmers and jocks have been saying people want people on the radio. What most users expected first and foremost was service elements from their favorite radio station, and then closely behind was contesting and local information. Music was not a first consideration as to why they chose a radio station.
The research also pointed out that listeners will choose radio in the car over IPods and CD’s 87% of the time as long as their expectation of radio is met. If not then the numbers drop to around 35% of in car listening.
So listeners are still out there and while the media is changing, their expectation of what a radio station is hasn’t changed. They still expect to hear friendly voices with local information on their favorite station. Without doing this we simply drive that audience to other sources of media.
I had a Consultant once tell me that radio was going through a rebirth and that my focus as a programmer needed to be on new medias like streaming and internet content and that terrestrial radio would be a second consideration to radio listeners over those choices. That was about 7 years ago and since then not much has changed. We still have terrestrial signals and stations still aren’t seeing huge jumps in web hits or streaming numbers. While the number are growing so is the population and access to internet, but overall percentages stay the same.
Radio will not pull itself out of the mess it is in until we do what we do best and that’s radio. The formula is simple, worked for years and lots of people made lots of money. Have local DJ’s that play the hits, put together some fun promotions and have people who can sell commercials. Take care of the basics and the rest will fall into line. It never was rocket science and no matter how much they calculate, apply theories and come up with ways to launch it to even higher levels at the end of the day…..it’s still a radio station.
I liked what you had to say, even though I operate an Internet Radio Station (webcaster).
Though the station I operate is jockless, I appreciate Terrestrial stations that offer true information in the local market and some flavor from the local announcers. Voice tracked radio isn't the same as having someone locally right behind the mic. I guess I miss the days when I was spinning 45's and LP's and sat behind a mic in a local market. Yeah, I'm an old fart!
While operating an Internet station is fun, there is something to say about having a local flavor, which a Internet only station is unable to accomplish. Terrestrial stations with a webcasting presence are nice if you want to listen at the office and continue to hear local content, but with the plethora of stations on the Internet, I think they sometimes get buried with all the rest of us in the muck of so many available station choices. I think this may explain why the streaming numbers for both Internet only and streaming Terrestrial stations remain the same, even when broadband is becoming accessible to more and more people.
So why is an Internet station "unable" to have a local focus? eX1065.com(go ahead, click it... I know you want to!) has 10 hours/day of live & local talent on from Sacramento (12 on Fridays!), talking about Sacramento. We play a great deal of Sacramento music and we present and support local live music. We even hang banners and hand out junk... just like traditional radio.
Every day the playing field between Olde Timey Radio and Internet Radio levels out a little more. The quantum leap comes when internet ready radios are commonplace in cars... that day is not far away. As it stands now, I-radio has a great deal of mobility with all the phone streaming our users launch daily.
Every day the playing field between Olde Timey Radio and Internet Radio levels out a little more. The quantum leap comes when internet ready radios are commonplace in cars... that day is not far away. As it stands now, I-radio has a great deal of mobility with all the phone streaming our users launch daily.
This issue has been discussed many times and bottom line it does not matter if you have the Best Airstaff, Promotions, Signal or Engineering,
Jock or Jockless. Are you playing the music your listeners want to hear? I cannot afford a live airstaff so I keep it simple and let the music talk and I'm very successfull.
BTW both of my fellow Internet Broadcasters above have awesome stations, We are showing the "Over the Air" stations and the world the little guy can do it and have fun too, Did you hear today that the Big Radio companies now see Pandora as a threat!
Cheers
BUD
Jock or Jockless. Are you playing the music your listeners want to hear? I cannot afford a live airstaff so I keep it simple and let the music talk and I'm very successfull.
BTW both of my fellow Internet Broadcasters above have awesome stations, We are showing the "Over the Air" stations and the world the little guy can do it and have fun too, Did you hear today that the Big Radio companies now see Pandora as a threat!
Cheers
BUD
bkress said:Did you hear today that the Big Radio companies now see Pandora as a threat!
Cheers
BUD
As they should. Pandora tailors the music to your specific tastes. Radio can only do that in general terms. Hehe, I'd like to hear a radio station play some Radiohead, Buddy Guy, Tim Buckley and Todd Rundgren in the same set!
It's true, radio has to play what the listeners want, generally speaking. Of course not everybody is going to like every song. But I'll listen through some I don't care for if the the between-song presentation keeps me engaged
radiogroupie said:audiophantom said:Last fall I got to take a look at some market research for terrestrial radio only and the results were what most programmers and jocks have been saying people want people on the radio. What most users expected first and foremost was service elements from their favorite radio station, and then closely behind was contesting and local information. Music was not a first consideration as to why they chose a radio station.
The research also pointed out that listeners will choose radio in the car over IPods and CD’s 87% of the time as long as their expectation of radio is met. If not then the numbers drop to around 35% of in car listening.
So listeners are still out there and while the media is changing, their expectation of what a radio station is hasn’t changed. They still expect to hear friendly voices with local information on their favorite station. Without doing this we simply drive that audience to other sources of media.
I had a Consultant once tell me that radio was going through a rebirth and that my focus as a programmer needed to be on new medias like streaming and internet content and that terrestrial radio would be a second consideration to radio listeners over those choices. That was about 7 years ago and since then not much has changed. We still have terrestrial signals and stations still aren’t seeing huge jumps in web hits or streaming numbers. While the number are growing so is the population and access to internet, but overall percentages stay the same.
Radio will not pull itself out of the mess it is in until we do what we do best and that’s radio. The formula is simple, worked for years and lots of people made lots of money. Have local DJ’s that play the hits, put together some fun promotions and have people who can sell commercials. Take care of the basics and the rest will fall into line. It never was rocket science and no matter how much they calculate, apply theories and come up with ways to launch it to even higher levels at the end of the day…..it’s still a radio station.
Dittos!
More dittos! ;D
--jay
You'd think...with all of the alleged avenues for people to get their new music (yes...I'm talking to all of you who think Satellite/Ipods/Internet/Any other media source you can use to slag radio) There'd be at least one of two things happening...1. Terrestrial would be knee-jerking to catch up. Or 2. There'd be some semblance of sales story.
But there isn't.
During times of economic hardship...and it's easily arguable we're in one of those times...People want what they know. Safe...Familiar...Music that reminds them of better times.
Re-post of my thoughts on this on another board, slightly tailored to this discussion.
Radio is about being the epicenter of a lifegroup.
We are a reflective medium. We play what they want. Or, we don't get ratings. The days of music education are gone for radio now.
That doesn't mean they are gone for good. It means we as an industry are not doing good enough a job of being that epicenter of a lifegroup. We are not engaging enough. We are not interactive enough. We have not given the listener a sense of involvement to the point where they believe anymore. There was a time when Lynyrd Skynrd's plane went down...fans called their favorite station. When Kurt Cobain died, fans called us to vent. That doesn't happen anymore. You know why?
We became a monologue. Talking at, and not with.
We ceded our position to the internet, and other media. Because we let Wall St. dictate our product. Because we cheaped out and eliminated live jocks. And those jocks we still have...we tell to shut up. This is nothing short of stupid. People don't hate talk. They love it. They want it. They hate useless talk. And there's a ton of it on the dial. Because PDs have so much on their plates, they can't manage talent. And their APDs are (more often than not) either glorified secretaries, or untrained in how to coach talent. And we have a lot of people in high places, that have neither cracked a mic, nor a creative bone in their bodies. Our business is run by salespeople. And I understand that. We're in it to make money. But most salespeople have no idea what we do on our side. Can't blame them. Some don't even listen to the properties they're selling...that I have nothing but contempt for. But...we need to let these people know how this is done. It's not a regular marketing machine. It's unique. And education is both time-consuming, and sometimes expensive. But which costs more...taking the time to do it correctly? Or, doing it 6 times? Wall St. doesn't have the time, nor the patience.
And now...because times are tough economically, and new product is in a down cycle, stations like 94/7 or, When they re-did KWOD, have to circle the wagons and rearrange their strategy. That's the first step. Everybody's a PD. Most have never actually done it. And fewer know how to do it correctly.
I'll say it again:
People do not listen to the radio for music. They listen to feel connected to the music.
Read it again until you understand it. It is the absolute essence of our industry.
It is incumbent upon every talent to do their best every shift to capture that listener. Make them feel like you care that they're listening. Answer EVERY E-mail. Spend an extra 5 minutes on the phone with them. Don't sit behind the table at a remote. This is show business. We must remember that. Give them 5 minutes, and you can have them forever. Know everything there is to know about EVERY band on your playlist. Take credit for other stations' contesting. If someone calls and asks if they're the right caller, don't tell them you're not giving anything away. Let 'em know you just got a winner, and thank them for listening. They came to you...don't send them away disappointed.
I think I've rambled enough.
Do your job correctly. And you will be successful.
It really is that simple.
The trick is to find "correctly" in today's radio structure....
And eliminating jocks...is NOT the answer. People watch football for the players. People go to movies for the actors.
People make the difference. Always have
But there isn't.
During times of economic hardship...and it's easily arguable we're in one of those times...People want what they know. Safe...Familiar...Music that reminds them of better times.
Re-post of my thoughts on this on another board, slightly tailored to this discussion.
Radio is about being the epicenter of a lifegroup.
We are a reflective medium. We play what they want. Or, we don't get ratings. The days of music education are gone for radio now.
That doesn't mean they are gone for good. It means we as an industry are not doing good enough a job of being that epicenter of a lifegroup. We are not engaging enough. We are not interactive enough. We have not given the listener a sense of involvement to the point where they believe anymore. There was a time when Lynyrd Skynrd's plane went down...fans called their favorite station. When Kurt Cobain died, fans called us to vent. That doesn't happen anymore. You know why?
We became a monologue. Talking at, and not with.
We ceded our position to the internet, and other media. Because we let Wall St. dictate our product. Because we cheaped out and eliminated live jocks. And those jocks we still have...we tell to shut up. This is nothing short of stupid. People don't hate talk. They love it. They want it. They hate useless talk. And there's a ton of it on the dial. Because PDs have so much on their plates, they can't manage talent. And their APDs are (more often than not) either glorified secretaries, or untrained in how to coach talent. And we have a lot of people in high places, that have neither cracked a mic, nor a creative bone in their bodies. Our business is run by salespeople. And I understand that. We're in it to make money. But most salespeople have no idea what we do on our side. Can't blame them. Some don't even listen to the properties they're selling...that I have nothing but contempt for. But...we need to let these people know how this is done. It's not a regular marketing machine. It's unique. And education is both time-consuming, and sometimes expensive. But which costs more...taking the time to do it correctly? Or, doing it 6 times? Wall St. doesn't have the time, nor the patience.
And now...because times are tough economically, and new product is in a down cycle, stations like 94/7 or, When they re-did KWOD, have to circle the wagons and rearrange their strategy. That's the first step. Everybody's a PD. Most have never actually done it. And fewer know how to do it correctly.
I'll say it again:
People do not listen to the radio for music. They listen to feel connected to the music.
Read it again until you understand it. It is the absolute essence of our industry.
It is incumbent upon every talent to do their best every shift to capture that listener. Make them feel like you care that they're listening. Answer EVERY E-mail. Spend an extra 5 minutes on the phone with them. Don't sit behind the table at a remote. This is show business. We must remember that. Give them 5 minutes, and you can have them forever. Know everything there is to know about EVERY band on your playlist. Take credit for other stations' contesting. If someone calls and asks if they're the right caller, don't tell them you're not giving anything away. Let 'em know you just got a winner, and thank them for listening. They came to you...don't send them away disappointed.
I think I've rambled enough.
Do your job correctly. And you will be successful.
It really is that simple.
The trick is to find "correctly" in today's radio structure....
And eliminating jocks...is NOT the answer. People watch football for the players. People go to movies for the actors.
People make the difference. Always have
Neanderpaul said:Do your job correctly. And you will be successful.
What's a "job?"
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