Re: radio statement
-Home Depot serves millions of satisfied customers but many hardware stores have been put out of business by them and many "customers" have suffered with no one catering to individualized "customer service".
>> So, companies like Home Depot or 7-11 shouldn't exist because they have more advantages than the Ace Hardware at the 4-corners of every small town? C'mon, cat, that sort of thinking is horse & buggy. The world around us and the available technology is changing faster than ever. I know that is uncomfortable for some, but using your mindset television should just be the 3 main networks and maybe a couple of local access cable channels. And, please remember, the "customers" are moving faster than ever and into instant gratification- business is simply RESPONDING to their customer base.
-The, back in the day (as you put it) when radio was interesting was what it was....small town was small town...no marketing perhaps but they served their markets to the best of their ability. Today most stations sound alike. Market 15, market 1....makes no difference. Boring!
Who suffers? The listener. Nothing is catered to specific markets anymore.
>> "Back in your day", there was usually a Top 40 station, a rock station, country, maybe an AC, sometimes a news/talk station. Today, we have more choices. There's CHR, CHR/rhythmic, Hot AC, soft AC, mainstream AC, alternative, AAA, Country, classic Country, Variety Hits, Classic Rock, Classic Hits, Oldies, Nostalgia, news/talk, progressive talk, jazz, urban, urban AC, gospel, contemporary christian, spanish, regional Mexican, tropical--the list keeps growing. We can debate all day about the entertainment value of specific stations. And, when it comes to "most stations sound alike", it could be argued that in the glory days of Top 40, all the Drake-programmed stations sounded very similar. A lot of the ACs back then were automated by the same syndicators, and so on. There are hundreds of examples of successful, locally driven stations all over the country, owned by major and by smaller groups. The onus to create exciting, entertaining radio is not the responsibility of the group owners but the local operators. If GMs and PDs play it too safe, that's their fault.
-and of course radio was always about making money but when you consolidate you take away individuality and you standardize everything across the board, in this case country. Cost cutting techniques have always been in place that's a normal business practice so thanks for the enlightenment.
Since cost cutting is valid whether a conglomerate owns radio stations or independents to I chose the independents. At least you have typically a better sounding market niche format.
>> I'm not sure what you're trying to say with this statement. There isn't a major company in America that isn't looking to improve profits. It's kind of the idea of being in business- to serve your customers and grow profits. Why this "well, radio shouldn't do that-it shouldn't be all about the money"? Radio is a business- it's SHOW BUSINESS and both the "show" and the "business" are important to cultivate. Yeah, I know the good ol' days of Wolfman Jack on his 150kw mexican station in the middle of the night and cruisin' the burger stand is cool & neat and all romantic, but there are two things about time: you can't freeze it and you can't change it. We're not in "Happy Days" anymore.
-last but not least, everyone knows that firing and tighter budgets have been common place for MORE than 30 years but firing someone right before Christmas, common place or not is tacky.
>> Can't disagree with you here. There's no substitute for common sense and compassion. But, again and unfortunately, this sort of thing has always gone on, since we've had personalities on the radio. And, frankly, is there any good time to let people go? Everybody complains no matter when people are cut loose. If you want until after the holidays, that seems cold & calculated, too. But, just before Christmas does suck (and always has sucked).
