Moaning Jocks

[Clayton Douglas]

in 60's radio I recall jocks moaning about six day workweeks, overtime, automation, low pay, boring short playlists, not being able to talk on air enough, no input in music selection and about PD's being imcompetent jerks! not much has really changed --- except spots sell for a lot more now---- and ratings mean more. most jocks I worked with moaned all day but were too lazy to leave radio and do other work. that likely hasn't changed either.

 

[Clayton Douglas]

in addition -- most jocks I used to work with came to radio after being used car salesmen. radio paid less--- but was easier!

 

[Clayton Douglas]

Point I was trying to make about jocks was---many of today's jocks think radio is awful. So did jocks back in my days. (1960's) But-- today more $$ is involved. much more $$!

 

[Countrykev]

Yeah, there is more money involved in radio today, but typically the staff doesn't see it.

Back in the day it was the owner and GM who drove the BMW's and lived in the wealthy neighborhoods. Today it's the bankers who own the stations as a commodity that are making the money. Yeah, there are a few major market morning shows making healthy six and seven figures but still...

Although in the last year or two it has been nice to see a slow reversal of the trend of bankers owning radio stations. They found out there wasn't the money they thought there would be!

Anyway, bottom line, the night jock making $22,000 a year would beg to differ about more money in radio.

 

[Clayton Douglas]

I meant more $$$ is involved today for the sales/management suits---- not for air talent. Most air talent are still underpaid just as they were 40 years ago. It's a wonder any of us remain interested in radio.

 

[davideduardo]

I meant more $$$ is involved today for the sales/management suits---- not for air talent. Most air talent are still underpaid just as they were 40 years ago. It's a wonder any of us remain interested in radio.

Supply and demand... there are fewer good sellers and managers than jocks, so they make more.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Thanks for the Corporate View

I meant more $$$ is involved today for the sales/management suits---- not for air talent. Most air talent are still underpaid just as they were 40 years ago. It's a wonder any of us remain interested in radio.

Supply and demand... there are fewer good sellers and managers than jocks, so they make more.

BULL.

Consultants and programmers have limited the input of jocks so severely in most dayparts that they have little opportunity to add value to programming. When they're given the opportunity - like on morning shows - the value goes up exponentially.

The homogenization of radio is directly attributable to short-sighted management who consider jocks and expense, not an asset. That's why you see a dozen 4-share radio stations in major markets that used to have dominant stations and also-rans.

I know, you'll try to tell me that music formats beat personality formats, and that's why they've become predominant. I'll tell you that it was a conscious decision by upper management to devalue jocks that made that happen, not a lack of talent. Formats were - and are - locked down to the point where there's little opportunity to entertain. It's hard to make a difference when you've got four talk-overs an hour.

Corporate will reap what it sowed. The next generation sees radio as an iPod that it doesn't have control of. Why bother with radio when they have an iPod that they DO have control of?

It will get very interesting when Internet radio becomes widely available through a ubiquitous wireless connection. If artist fees don't shut it down, traditional radio may be in real trouble.

 

[rickradio]

Re: Thanks for the Corporate View

From SirRoxalot:

BULL.

Consultants and programmers have limited the input of jocks so severely in most dayparts that they have little opportunity to add value to programming. When they're given the opportunity - like on morning shows - the value goes up exponentially.

The homogenization of radio is directly attributable to short-sighted management who consider jocks and expense, not an asset. That's why you see a dozen 4-share radio stations in major markets that used to have dominant stations and also-rans.

I know, you'll try to tell me that music formats beat personality formats, and that's why they've become predominant. I'll tell you that it was a conscious decision by upper management to devalue jocks that made that happen, not a lack of talent. Formats were - and are - locked down to the point where there's little opportunity to entertain. It's hard to make a difference when you've got four talk-overs an hour.

Corporate will reap what it sowed. The next generation sees radio as an iPod that it doesn't have control of. Why bother with radio when they have an iPod that they DO have control of?

It will get very interesting when Internet radio becomes widely available through a ubiquitous wireless connection. If artist fees don't shut it down, traditional radio may be in real trouble.

From "BULL" to "BULLSEYE."

Thanks for your refreshing candor, SirRoxalot. You're right on target. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it.

 

[jcolletta275]

Dead-on, SirRoxalot!

 

[PTBoardOp94]

The homogenization of radio is directly attributable to short-sighted management who consider jocks and expense, not an asset. That's why you see a dozen 4-share radio stations in major markets that used to have dominant stations and also-rans.

Why is it bad for 12 stations to have half of the listenership as opposed to one station having half of the listenership? I mean, sure, the owners of WLS loved having a thirty or forty share. But I'm guessing the owners of what is now WAIT didn't like it so much...

But I don't disagree with your sentiments, on the whole.

 

[FredRichards]

The air talent is like actors in a movie, and the format is like a script. If the actor or the script is not good, people don't bother to check out the show.

If it's a real stinker, it won't make it to DVD. Nobody remembers the name of a bad actor, but everyone knows Tom Cruise. And he's remember despite some bad scripts, because of his talent.

There are many stations who if they were compared to acting and scripts would be a close second to "Gigli".

The point is, management can produce a "B" movie or a blockbuster. It's their choice. A consultant can't do squat if the management does not hire good people, and does not pay attention to the format. And most consultants don't have the time to coach talent on how to sound good, and in many cases they don't have the ability to tweak a lot of what is wrong. They can only urge management to make changes.

 

[woodyj98]

most consultants (not all) don't have the talent to be on the air. They are nothing more than salesmen. They sell a line of BS to owners that the ONLY way to get the bucks flowing is to let them fire all the PD's they worked for before getting fired, now they tell owners they can get the bottom line down by firing all the GOOD jocks that surpassed them and the PD's that fired them.

 

[FredRichards]

I would suggest that there are some good guys, Woody. Yeah, some will tell an owner anything they want to hear, but that only works for a while. There are some consultants that when they know the owner is looking for a "yes man" will bail from station. It all comes down to ethics and integrity. Something that is rare in today's business climate, but there are some good guys out there!

 

[woodyj98]

I agree there are some good guys. I was talking about as a whole, and from some of my experiences and the experiences of others that I have personal knowledge. No disrespect intended, just as a general rule, there are TOO many yes men and not enough with integrity and honesty. Just in any business. My problem is when an owner sees that their way doesn't work, they ALWAYS find a sacrificial lamb. MOST owners will not see their very own decisions are at fault not those following their plan. There's an old saying here in the south. "Ignorance is working the SAME plan and getting the same results, while expecting the situation to change.

 

[FredRichards]

I can't disagree with what you said. Vanity and denial are as addictive as crack. I've known more than enough owners and GMs that have thrown someone under the bus, (or an entire jock staff and format), because of THEIR bad decisions.

The only saving grace is that word gets around, and eventually the only jocks that apply are the high school kids. And I've never known one of these stations to be truly successful and profitable.

One must learn from history. And once you loose your ethics, you have lost credibility.

 

[LucasNugent]

Re: Thanks for the Corporate View

BULL.

Consultants and programmers have limited the input of jocks so severely in most dayparts that they have little opportunity to add value to programming. When they're given the opportunity - like on morning shows - the value goes up exponentially.

The homogenization of radio is directly attributable to short-sighted management who consider jocks and expense, not an asset. That's why you see a dozen 4-share radio stations in major markets that used to have dominant stations and also-rans.

I know, you'll try to tell me that music formats beat personality formats, and that's why they've become predominant. I'll tell you that it was a conscious decision by upper management to devalue jocks that made that happen, not a lack of talent. Formats were - and are - locked down to the point where there's little opportunity to entertain. It's hard to make a difference when you've got four talk-overs an hour.

Corporate will reap what it sowed. The next generation sees radio as an iPod that it doesn't have control of. Why bother with radio when they have an iPod that they DO have control of?

It will get very interesting when Internet radio becomes widely available through a ubiquitous wireless connection. If artist fees don't shut it down, traditional radio may be in real trouble.

Well said man. Well said.

 

[ruger22com]

I can't disagree with what you said. Vanity and denial are as addictive as crack. I've known more than enough owners and GMs that have thrown someone under the bus, (or an entire jock staff and format), because of THEIR bad decisions.

The only saving grace is that word gets around, and eventually the only jocks that apply are the high school kids. And I've never known one of these stations to be truly successful and profitable.

One must learn from history. And once you loose your ethics, you have lost credibility.

100% agree! but remember, the motives of those behind the scene may be as weird as it gets. I was once fired (with 4 months left on a contract that they had to pay off") by a GM who said I just did not fit his mold (this in a major market)....when in fact the morning guy and the GM were working together to buy a station in another nearby markek, and the morning guy was crying on the gm's shoulder because I (the midday guy) had DOUBLE...YES DOUBLE the numbers the morning guy had.

 

[cheese]

SirRocksalot.........

Most true radio folks would agree with you. Not management, of course because they are too busy watching their 401K's grow. They don't and never will give a damn about the quality of the product. They care about their end of year bonuses. It is ignorant short-sighted greed that is killing radio. I love it when a Company brags and brags about their profit margin going up and yet, they never mention that their revenue is down. Yea, your revenue is up because YOU put thousands of talented people out of work and weakened the very product you sell. Dim wits. How about winning with a good station? Gee...that would be different. No, never mind...it's too easy to fire mothers and fathers, play the same 300 songs that are played everywhere and go gas up my Mercedes.

 

[12 In a Row]

I had my 1st taste of moaning jocks back in the 60s while interning at a Top 10 market station.

"We're not making enough money."
"Management restricts us from being a PERSONALITY."
"We play the same songs over and over again."

I don't get the one's who constantly complain but do nothing about it.

Don't be bitter about the person filling up his or her Mercedes.
If thats where the money is, join the party.

 

[MINDonDAradio247]

Personally, I hate the music on every station I have ever worked on. BUT I love the job. Its not that I am lazy to find a real job no. It is just that my career as a porn star hasnt taken me to the places I've wanted to go.

Okay I am just being silly. There is some great insight on this thread. I just wish we could have a nirvana between programming, management, consultants, and audience to have one big awesome radio station where everyone is happy. A station where management dont make staff changes that leave the employees scratching their head. A station where the jocks can tell the PD a song is hot and to add it and he does versus doing weeks of feeble research. A station where people atually "get it".

Oh wow, someone must have put some LSD in my Mountain Dew because that will never happen.

The sad truth, if you wanna be in this industry you gotta put up with the bullcaca. No one will ever be in a situation where everyone is happy. There is always something.