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Lamest...

I think the things that fuel these boards are discontent and change. I listen to what I like and am not about to spend time with what I don't just to complain about it. The other form of discontent comes from insiders who are not happy and need to vent about the status quo, other jocks, or the stations they wish they worked at. Thankfully that kind of slamming isn't that prevalent anymore. What are we supposed to do? Complain about Coast and B101 ad infinitum? As far as change, the only one I've noted is that both Jenn and Ryan are doing middays at HJY but since I can't always listen at that time, I haven't gotten a handle on whether it's a split shift or what the deal is. I didn't start a topic with that because no one would have responded to it anyway. I love radio and the people I've worked with, but sadly I have to admit to more and more disinterest. I'm glad you brought this up though.
 
Well said, Runrigger. In the eyes of most of those of us who have posting here for years, most of the changes have been negative. There has been more consolidation. Once-great stations are programmed from out of market, with few-to-no local jocks. These topics have been largely exhausted. And unfortunately, with the type of debt that Cumulus has acquired, let's hope that Cumulus does not go the Premium Choice route.

But instead of negativity, let's discuss some of the changes...and I will try to focus on the positive, especially on the FM side:
-PRO-FM: Since the Cumulus takeover, they sound more mainstream - and less Adult CHR - than ever. They are playing more Dance/Hip-Hop/R&B. The 5 PM mix is an example of this more Rhythmic lean. I don't know if the changes reflect shifting demographics in Providence or they reflect a nationalization of Cumulus formats.

Coast: Despite what most of us despise - not a single live jock - the music variety is decent for a Hot AC. In addition, the imaging sounds better.

HJY: Paul and Al and Charles are still at the top of their games. Jenn and Battle are also excellent jocks. The playlist seems tighter than ever - heavy on the Classic Rock, increasing amounts of Alternative Gold, rare Modern Rock. This is what works in the PPM world.

WBRU: The music is still good. The Gold always sounds good as well.

Cat Country: Live and local is the way to go. The music is good. But I would like to see more Gold.

B101: With HJY's focus on Classic Rock, I wonder if B101 isn't a candidate for a format change at some point?

Lite: They keep humming along. However, jockless nights are a travesty.

Hot: The music sounds good. They seem to have gone the direction of "Hits and Hip Hop." With PRO-FM becoming more Rhythmic, I wonder if Hot isn't a condidate for a format change either.
 
Scott,
B101 continues to be a serious ratings player with the current format. It is the most balanced demographic format in the market, being almost evenly split Male/Female making it a candidate on most 25-54 and 35-64 buys. As much as the Premium Choice decision sucks for local Personalities, Mark Coppola is a ratings leader, book after book which is sad. Therefore, from a ratings, and revenue perspective, whatever musically is going on with B101 is a success, and is not going anywhere.
 
I used to have a great time posting on this board. Stirring things up. But then even I got sick and tired of hearing myself talk about the same topics over and over. It was just negative and unhealthy. So I decided to go away and stop posting for almost a year. During that time I would ocassionally check in and see other people still complaining about the same stuff that I used to complain about. However I can perfectly understand why. It's because the landscape of Providence radio has not changed for years! Therefore the conversation about radio in this town is going to reflect that exact same thing.

So why haven't things changed? It depends on how you look at it. You could say things are so good that they've remained stable. Stability in radio is rare. So maybe we are doing better than most other cities. Why change what isn't broken. On the other side of the coin you could say that Providence radio has hit rock bottom. It's so stale that even talking about radio in this town isn't fun anymore. It could explain why this forum seems like a ghost town now compared to the past when it was very active. So there you go. It's all how you look at it.

Personally.... even if all sorts of new exciting changes starting happening on the dial, I don't even know if it would make a difference to me anyway. Similar to lots of other people, the internet has really taken over. Youtube and the internet as a whole has entertained me in ways that radio never did. Technology has made such a big difference in listening habits. In 1982 Video supposedly killed the Radio Star. However in reality that wasn't the case at all. Radio was as great as it ever was. Unfortunately I think radio has finally met it's match. MP3's, ipods, iphones and consolidation are not only killing the radio star. The Radio star is being brutally murdered.
 
That's more like it! 10-days without a single, solitary post on this board was really sad to see. Glad to know now that everyone is alive and well at the very least.
 
I don't think you can say Marc Coppola is a ratings leader. Not to take anything away from the guy but B101 musically middays is a ratings leader. He doesn't have to be paid attention to and that's the direction post AM drive has gone. People don't care about radio like they used to. Those who have lasted in the business for years just go with the flow, like it or not. Weekenders just do it for the extra bucks and to preserve the dream. That's what it is. Preserving the dream. I can tell by reading responses which people are in or used to be in radio and how they're just accepting things.
 
McRadio said:
......I can tell by reading responses which people are in or used to be in radio and how they're just accepting things.

You nailed it. I'm doing voice stuff for a couple of stations at no charge just to keep interest alive. Easy to do these days with free (and quite decent) recording/editing programs, a good quality microphone and a USB converter. Record; edit; e-mail as MP-3 files and it still sounds like a studio recording.

But when my generation is gone will the succeeding generation care enough to do the same? I think not.
 
ScottBurns said:
In the eyes of most of those of us who have posting here for years, most of the changes have been negative. These topics have been largely exhausted.

EXACTLY !!! And all the negative energy....the anger and cynicism that provided so much fuel for this board over the years is awfully tough to sustain. How many times can folks get themselves "charged-up" to post about the latest bone-headed fool thing that happens in the market? Put simply, I think most of us here are just worn out.

I COULD say something here about a recent Cumulus change which I think is moronic......but why bother?... ;)
 
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