E
EARCANDY
Guest
Reading over what the wedding DJ (RadioXavier) and Chris the listener had to say in the KOAI and WABC topics, a couple of things came to mind.
The wedding DJ wonders if the state of music is tired these days. When something is popular these days, society now has more ways to bombard us with it: radio, television, billboards, in-store music, advertising, etc., so if we don't like something it's easy to get bored real quickly. At the same time we are being told to expect instant gratification. Sometimes I find myself flipping stations not because I'm unhappy with what I'm hearing, but I want to know if there is something even better on elsewhere.
Wedding DJ also asked, what is new on the horizon for music stations. New songs will be added as they come out but I don't see anyone taking any big chances or breaking any new ground. Reality is, today's radio stations are owned by corporations listed on the stock exchange who have share holders. In share holder meetings, no one is asking what new and innovative things are being done. They are asking one question only...what is the bottom line? What is the return on my investment? They don't care if the station is playing Kelly Clarkson's newest CD or Chris the listener's primal scream....as long as they are seeing a return on their investment.
Speaking of Chris the listener. This forum is open to anyone interested in radio, but I think it's hard to understand the passion that most of us have if you haven't worked in the business. I look at it this way, if car makers have a forum open to anyone, I might check it out. I've driven cars for years, I've been a passenger in cars. I wouldn't tell them how to make the cars because I don't know all of the makings of a car and I don't know all that has happened in their industry. I just know that they make cars - some I have liked more than others. Some of the car makers might think they have better ideas than others. We have that here too. Some people on here are experts, some are experts in their own minds, some are potential experts. But most that work in radio have at the very least a general knowledge of the complexities of what it takes to make a winning station - whether their ego allows them to believe it or not.
One thing that I have always liked about this forum is personal opinions aside, most everyone gives respect when it comes to those who have paved the way before us. For those who do not have the passion, they do not understand what it means to know the history of the stations and the DJ's that have made radio possible.
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"A few days later, I remarked to a fellow reporter that I had spent several evenings listening to programs. 'Do you think radio is here to stay?' I quoted the popular gag of the day. 'God forbid!' he said. Apparently the young man who functioned as radio editor of the News shared his sentiments. Convinced that there was no future either in broadcasting or in writing about it, he resigned his job, and some time later I stood before the city editor again. 'Gross, you're it,' said the boss. 'I don't like radio,' I said. 'I want to be a drama critic.' 'You'll be a radio critic,' he insisted. 'But I'm not qualified,' I protested. 'I don't know a thing about radio.' 'Oh yes you do! From now on you're our expert--our great authority. And do you know why? Because you're the only guy around here who knows how to turn one of those damned things on!'"--Ben Gross, I Looked and I Listened, 1954.
The wedding DJ wonders if the state of music is tired these days. When something is popular these days, society now has more ways to bombard us with it: radio, television, billboards, in-store music, advertising, etc., so if we don't like something it's easy to get bored real quickly. At the same time we are being told to expect instant gratification. Sometimes I find myself flipping stations not because I'm unhappy with what I'm hearing, but I want to know if there is something even better on elsewhere.
Wedding DJ also asked, what is new on the horizon for music stations. New songs will be added as they come out but I don't see anyone taking any big chances or breaking any new ground. Reality is, today's radio stations are owned by corporations listed on the stock exchange who have share holders. In share holder meetings, no one is asking what new and innovative things are being done. They are asking one question only...what is the bottom line? What is the return on my investment? They don't care if the station is playing Kelly Clarkson's newest CD or Chris the listener's primal scream....as long as they are seeing a return on their investment.
Speaking of Chris the listener. This forum is open to anyone interested in radio, but I think it's hard to understand the passion that most of us have if you haven't worked in the business. I look at it this way, if car makers have a forum open to anyone, I might check it out. I've driven cars for years, I've been a passenger in cars. I wouldn't tell them how to make the cars because I don't know all of the makings of a car and I don't know all that has happened in their industry. I just know that they make cars - some I have liked more than others. Some of the car makers might think they have better ideas than others. We have that here too. Some people on here are experts, some are experts in their own minds, some are potential experts. But most that work in radio have at the very least a general knowledge of the complexities of what it takes to make a winning station - whether their ego allows them to believe it or not.
One thing that I have always liked about this forum is personal opinions aside, most everyone gives respect when it comes to those who have paved the way before us. For those who do not have the passion, they do not understand what it means to know the history of the stations and the DJ's that have made radio possible.
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"A few days later, I remarked to a fellow reporter that I had spent several evenings listening to programs. 'Do you think radio is here to stay?' I quoted the popular gag of the day. 'God forbid!' he said. Apparently the young man who functioned as radio editor of the News shared his sentiments. Convinced that there was no future either in broadcasting or in writing about it, he resigned his job, and some time later I stood before the city editor again. 'Gross, you're it,' said the boss. 'I don't like radio,' I said. 'I want to be a drama critic.' 'You'll be a radio critic,' he insisted. 'But I'm not qualified,' I protested. 'I don't know a thing about radio.' 'Oh yes you do! From now on you're our expert--our great authority. And do you know why? Because you're the only guy around here who knows how to turn one of those damned things on!'"--Ben Gross, I Looked and I Listened, 1954.