kill the playlist, let the Dj's think

[gethigh]

I keep seeing Pd's and Big radio's deep thinkers harken back to an era when DJ's "played what they wanted to play". SO Whola! The "Jack" format was born. I have a comment, and hopefully some of you other folks will logically reply with good insightful (BLEEP). My comment is that if programmers want to go back to when the DJ's made the station, why not end this crap of formulating a playlist which includes this artist, and that artist or this sound and these top 40 artists from 1975 - 1980-whatever. HOw about just designating the station as a particular type of station, i.e Blues, jazz, rock, country, or whatever, and then giving the Dj's you hired, the confidence to BE DJ''s. If radio got huge because people like Ed schiacky(sp?) discovered and exposed artists like Bruce Springsteen, then why can't they be given that confidence again so dj's can "turn people on" to a particular artist or start something fresh. It's a whole lot better than rehashing the same tunes from 38 Special, Skynyrd, steely dan, fleetwood Mac, Peter Gabriel, Bruce, all the woodstock-era bands and calling yourself a "classic rock station".
Is there some grand design preventing dj's from having this ability to do what they started in the 1st place. If it wern't for those early disc jockeys, then what would all these playlist happy radio companies be able to play to death?

 

[bierkenstock]

Been There, Done That

It's been tried. And dumped. DJ's stopped picking records following the 1959 Payola scandal. Turned out money, drugs and sex were playing a major role in their choices.
Even more important, despite some notable exceptions, most DJ's were not very good at picking music or discovering new songs and new talent. They focused on what they liked with little regard for what the audience would like. And with different DJ's picking their own stuff, the sound of a station was inconsistent throughout the day.
And don't buy radio hype: Jack/Ben stations do not play what they like. These stations have playlists picked by programmers using audience research. The only difference it is a longer and somewhat more diverse playlist, but it's still a playlist (and Jack stations don't use jocks at all). Pretty much these stations cover the same musical territory as Sunny, only Sunny has shorter active playlist (with stuff rotating in and out - Jack uses the entire playlist at any given time). Think of Baskin-Robbins. They sell 31 flavors each month but they have developed over 500 flavors. Some flavors are always on the menu, most get rotated in and out. Sunny works like Baskin-Robbins. Jack offers all 500 flavors.
What's your problem with music radio anyway? Why are you so critical?

> I keep seeing Pd's and Big radio's deep thinkers harken
> back to an era when DJ's "played what they wanted to play".
> SO Whola! The "Jack" format was born. I have a comment, and
> hopefully some of you other folks will logically reply with
> good insightful (BLEEP). My comment is that if programmers
> want to go back to when the DJ's made the station, why not
> end this crap of formulating a playlist which includes this
> artist, and that artist or this sound and these top 40
> artists from 1975 - 1980-whatever. HOw about just
> designating the station as a particular type of station, i.e
> Blues, jazz, rock, country, or whatever, and then giving the
> Dj's you hired, the confidence to BE DJ''s. If radio got
> huge because people like Ed schiacky(sp?) discovered and
> exposed artists like Bruce Springsteen, then why can't they
> be given that confidence again so dj's can "turn people on"
> to a particular artist or start something fresh. It's a
> whole lot better than rehashing the same tunes from 38
> Special, Skynyrd, steely dan, fleetwood Mac, Peter Gabriel,
> Bruce, all the woodstock-era bands and calling yourself a
> "classic rock station".
> Is there some grand design preventing dj's from having this
> ability to do what they started in the 1st place. If it
> wern't for those early disc jockeys, then what would all
> these playlist happy radio companies be able to play to
> death?
>

 

[DrJonnyFever]

Re: Been There, Done That

> It's been tried. And dumped. DJ's stopped picking records
> following the 1959 Payola scandal. Turned out money, drugs
> and sex were playing a major role in their choices.
> Even more important, despite some notable exceptions, most
> DJ's were not very good at picking music or discovering new
> songs and new talent. They focused on what they liked with
> little regard for what the audience would like. And with
> different DJ's picking their own stuff, the sound of a
> station was inconsistent throughout the day.

Spoken like a true person who never understood or respected the AOR format. Some points are true but overall there is more to the story. First lets clear the air when MMR was "great" there ratings were not, until the 80's. By then though DJ's where picking only 15% of the music, they started doing well. Do the math to figure out what the programing department was picking. Also talents like Ed and Michael and the Ricky mess all became threats against big management. There shows could not be replaced by just any DJ's this is seen as an unnecessary risk by big management. Would you want to have an employee that you could not fire if there ego got out of control? So take away all the freedom and problem solved. Remember rock radio fans, here is the Holy Trinity of Corporate Rock radio:
#1 MONEY$$$$$$
#2 POWER
#3 Ratings

they are never going to change rules #3 with #2 so if you don't like it, go by your own radio station... but of course corporate has put that game way out of reach too.

 

[SCRHack]

Re: Been There, Done That

Damn those evil corporations. They're to be blamed for everything I tell ya.

 

[DrJonnyFever]

Re: Been There, Done That

> Damn those evil corporations. They're to be blamed for
> everything I tell ya.
>
hmm what makes them evil?

 

[SCRHack]

Re: Been There, Done That

> > Damn those evil corporations. They're to be blamed for
> > everything I tell ya.
> >
> hmm what makes them evil?
>
Umm my post was being very facetious.

 

[obi]

Re: Been There, Done That

> > Damn those evil corporations. They're to be blamed for
> > everything I tell ya.
> >
> hmm what makes them evil?
>

Their intentions are benevolent only to themselves...
That, and their wicked, maniacal laugh...mwahahahaha....

 

[DrJonnyFever]

Re: Been There, Done That

> > > Damn those evil corporations. They're to be blamed for
> > > everything I tell ya.
> > >
> > hmm what makes them evil?
> >
>
> Their intentions are benevolent only to themselves...
> That, and their wicked, maniacal laugh...mwahahahaha....
>
Aw damn the laugh.... I should of known!!!