More "True Confessions" from Radio owners.

[local oscillator]

Actually SXM wanted to offer localism through the terrestrial repeaters, but that was nixed.
A DAB system could be as regional as desired, using as many or as few sites as desired, still local breaks would always be used.

I think a definition of LOCAL is in order. From MY perspective (25 years of successful LOCAL ownership), true LOCAL programming is not automated, satellite-delivered, voice-tracked, created by convoluted computerized switching schemes, or created by suppliers and group hubs located "elsewhere." True LOCAL programming is generated in-market, by folks who reside in-market, and are led by decision-makers who reside in-market. In other words, it's unique. Faking LOCAL using the aforementioned methods is worse than not being LOCAL at all. True LOCAL is powerful; fake LOCAL is a scam easily detected and rejected by listeners.

 

[tomservo]

Actually SXM wanted to offer localism through the terrestrial repeaters, but that was nixed.
A DAB system could be as regional as desired, using as many or as few sites as desired, still local breaks would always be used.

I think a definition of LOCAL is in order. From MY perspective (25 years of successful LOCAL ownership), true LOCAL programming is not automated, satellite-delivered, voice-tracked, created by convoluted computerized switching schemes, or created by suppliers and group hubs located "elsewhere." True LOCAL programming is generated in-market, by folks who reside in-market, and are led by decision-makers who reside in-market. In other words, it's unique. Faking LOCAL using the aforementioned methods is worse than not being LOCAL at all. True LOCAL is powerful; fake LOCAL is a scam easily detected and rejected by listeners.

If that's the case, then these sham stations should be folding by the hundreds. But they don't.

People by and large don't care about radio anymore and they certainly don't care if the jock is in his or her same community or not, otherwise these silly schemes wouldn't have worked in the first place. I'm becoming more and more convinced that radio has already lost the game, music-wise, and there's no sense in going back to live and local if everyone is going to treat music radio as an extended iPod they can't control.

Live and local only matters now on speech content. Talk and news and sports.

 

[local oscillator]

Actually SXM wanted to offer localism through the terrestrial repeaters, but that was nixed.
A DAB system could be as regional as desired, using as many or as few sites as desired, still local breaks would always be used.

I think a definition of LOCAL is in order. From MY perspective (25 years of successful LOCAL ownership), true LOCAL programming is not automated, satellite-delivered, voice-tracked, created by convoluted computerized switching schemes, or created by suppliers and group hubs located "elsewhere." True LOCAL programming is generated in-market, by folks who reside in-market, and are led by decision-makers who reside in-market. In other words, it's unique. Faking LOCAL using the aforementioned methods is worse than not being LOCAL at all. True LOCAL is powerful; fake LOCAL is a scam easily detected and rejected by listeners.

If that's the case, then these sham stations should be folding by the hundreds. But they don't.

People by and large don't care about radio anymore and they certainly don't care if the jock is in his or her same community or not, otherwise these silly schemes wouldn't have worked in the first place. I'm becoming more and more convinced that radio has already lost the game, music-wise, and there's no sense in going back to live and local if everyone is going to treat music radio as an extended iPod they can't control.

Live and local only matters now on speech content. Talk and news and sports.

They aren't folding because they still have listeners and are still profitable -- which goes to show you the power of Radio. Nonetheless, most aren't close to what they could be by being truly local, live, unique, and relevant to their markets. And the big boys might be some of the worst, cost-cutting their way to oblivion. That's what what happens when you take on debt that you can't afford. Unfortunately, they're negatively impacting the entire industry.

I agree with you that spoken word content is what matters, but that's true for music stations as well. Music, if done poorly, can cause your station to lose; music done well keeps you in the game. It's what's between the songs that can make your station a winner. Too many folks think that Radio = Music. Not true. Music = The stuff on iPods, CD's, Pandora, 45's & 33's, iTunes, 8-tracks, etc. Radio always has been -- and still is -- much more.

 

[Ai4i]

It's what's between the songs that can make your station a winner. Too many folks think that Radio = Music. Not true.

First thing I noticed about Sat Rad nearly a dozen years ago was that I turned the volume up when the music stopped. Every word was about the music and programs on that and similar channels that I might not know about. Never a mention about the weather, buying cars, choosing a bank, where to buy my next shoes, etc. Finding a business model that eliminates all non-program material, is the new century's challenge for commercial broadcasters. Any solutions?

 

[local oscillator]

There is no one-size-fits-all solution; that's why great stations aren't commonplace. All spoken-word elements -- even commercials -- have the potential to elevate a station beyond iPod/Pandora status, but each station's situation is different. I think that most solutions would be described by some or all of these adjectives: local, live, consistent, committed, relevant, involved, accessible, responsive, entertaining, informative, responsible, reliable, trusted. Clearly these don't describe a solution that can happen overnight. "Equity" has to built up over time. Every change in ownership, management, format, airstaff, call letters, etc. delays progress. I certainly don't want to give the impression that I think I have all the answers for Radio's ills, but I'm reasonably certain that consolidation, HD Radio, and social media aren't among them!

 

[Tom Wells]

Local Oscillator, you forgot 78s, cylinders and wire recordings, paper tape iron oxide recordings....

I accept radio ( and present my part 15 ) radio as mostly a jukebox, but expect so much diversity that I can listen to my own product and yet always want to add more diversity in music.

There is no one size fits all solution, there are millions of solutions which fit a multitude of needs.

A perceived lack of OTA bandwidth has resulted in the few "money making" licensable models for radio.
Radio has a lot of good work to do, and there's no good reson why a lot can't be purely voluntary, if anyone cares to do so.

I still listen to AM radio on the way to and from work. Love Garry Meier (sp?) on WGN, a station he used to poke fun at.
I work so close to the WGN/WBBM sticks that I think we could recharge our plant golf buggies off a rectifier tuned to 740.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I agree with you that spoken word content is what matters, but that's true for music stations as well. Music, if done poorly, can cause your station to lose; music done well keeps you in the game. It's what's between the songs that can make your station a winner. Too many folks think that Radio = Music. Not true. Music = The stuff on iPods, CD's, Pandora, 45's & 33's, iTunes, 8-tracks, etc. Radio always has been -- and still is -- much more.

Radio sure was more than music - a long time ago. When corporations stripped it of all creativity and localism, when talk, sports, and foreign language took over the dial, when morning shows came on the air obsessed only with anatomy between the legs and the latest drunken celebrity mis-deeds - all that is left is the music - on the few stations that cater to IQ's over 70 and emotional age over 12 years old. It is really hard to listen to the radio when you are vomiting in response to what the announcers are saying. Unfortunately for radio programming to that dumbed down demographic, statistically most people have IQ's over 70, are not sex and celebrity obsessed, and are intellectually functioning as adults, not tweens.

 

[Ai4i]

...when...foreign language took over the dial...

Foreign language stations are often very community oriented.
Have you tried listening to them (not knowing the language is no excuse)?

...morning shows...obsessed only with anatomy between the legs...

Morning shows also analyze and compare bras sizes.

It is really hard to listen to the radio when you are vomiting in response to what the announcers are saying.

You are listening to the wrong stations.
Does your FM radio tune below 92 MHz?

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Foreign language stations are often very community oriented.
Have you tried listening to them (not knowing the language is no excuse)?
Morning shows also analyze and compare bras sizes.
You are listening to the wrong stations.
Does your FM radio tune below 92 MHz?

How can you tell they are community oriented when you don't speak foreign? I don't speak foreign - ANY foreign. So those stations are useless to me. If somebody is paying the bills, that's great for them. But if they are foreign language, that is their audience. Nobody should pretend anybody who doesn't speak the language gives a rodent's posterior about the station even being on the air. BOR-RING jabber. When a station goes foreign - that's it - its off my presets, I tune past, they could turn off the transmitter and go away and I'd be happy.

Ha ha good one about morning shows. I find myself moaning - just shut up and play music! Who listens to these clowns talking about nothing, anyway? Fingernails on a blackboard would be less irritating and more entertaining. There was a reason why stations in the 60's had the jingle "more music"!

Left side of the dial - below 92 MHz - leftist talk. Right side of the dial - right wing talk. Left dial / right dial. I get it. Dividing line at 92. "Talk" is the problem. I don't care what the left / right wing has to say. I want MUSIC not babbling idiots on either side. I can make up my own mind without left / right wing brainwashing. Music below 92 - a few classical - thank God. A lot of boring praise and worship CCM - no thanks, God! Music above 92 - top-40, hip-hop, country, foreign. No thanks. In my town ONLY HD-2 has anything worth listening to. But satellite has the advantage of many more channels. Guess where the bulk of my listening is?

The problem is corporate formats, lawyer approved content, focus groups with pre-determined outcomes. Radio should try playing something people really want to hear, instead of something they want to play. Declining overall ratings with respect to satellite, Pandora, iPods, and other sources should have been a warning sign years ago, now it is probably too late.

 

[Ai4i]

Perhaps the Europeans - the English, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese should stop forcing their languages on the native residents of the Americas.
I was actually refering to classical, jazz, folk, and college music radio, not NPR (National Public Radio) or npr (national praise radio).

 

[Savage]

Aha! The perfect HD-2 format, a la translator or otherwise: "Dutch Talk!" Think of the logo - "Sabot 104.1" !!

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Perhaps the Europeans - the English, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese should stop forcing their languages on the native residents of the Americas.
I was actually refering to classical, jazz, folk, and college music radio, not NPR (National Public Radio) or npr (national praise radio).

Ha Ha - thought they had KTNN Window Rock - which is an elusive DX target from Houston, by the way.

The good formats on the left side of the dial to which you refer are almost all relegated to HD-2, HD-3 around here. It seems that some variety of talk dominates NPR, I never bother to listen to propaganda from either side any more. My IQ, as I mentioned, is over 70. Houston actually did get an over the air classical - KUHF figured out nobody is listening to HD-2 and the classical fans were probably vocal enough that they decided to throw them a bone in the form of their own signal. Actually not on a bad stick, as Houston goes. A lot better than what KSBJ gives over the air NGEN listeners - now there is a format I can get into. Sadly deep fringe DX from NW Houston, fighting it out with The Wolf from Ft. Worth and KISS from San Antonio, which goes to show just how weak a translator can be only 20 miles away.

Satellite has much better classical, folk, and jazz offerings than HD-2's.

 

[Ai4i]

Of course we agree on that.
Libertarian in my old age, I would rather pay for radio, and I do not mean on the honor system, then have it financed any other way.