My Take On What's Wrong With Radio

[davideduardo]

I I still think that radio is a viable, magical medium. Right now it suffers from the negative publicity that I feel was started by the satellite companies when they were starting their ventures. They wanted to make terrestrial radio sound bad to get subscribers and it seems to have worked. Not so much to get subscribers, but to make everyone think that it's a lot worse than it really is.

Brilliant observation, suitable for framing.

 

[davideduardo]

[EDIT-post removed]

As has been stated, Cramer is right less than 50% of the time (it's like 48%). I could do that throwing darts at the WSJ quote pages. He's just more entertaining than I am. So go ahead and believe him. For those of us who do not day trade but invest, his advice is of marginal value if anything.

Yes, radio is a lousy stock play. So has Wells Fargo been, yet today it is very possibly a great buy. My point is that the market does not necessarily reflect the value of companies. Fast growth is what attracts attention, particularly with computer programmed trading... yet the underlying cash flow of most radio companies makes today's prices look attractive now. Look at the EBITDA, and the ability to pay and sustain dividends...

 

[XRQKFM]

Quote
One student of Radio Brandy had it in her mind that she was going to work for Univision, it was her life’s dream since she was 9, after reading David’s post for the last couple of months she has decided to go in another direction. A big loss for Univision as the girl is very talented; you might say she was ready for primetime.

That's a lie. Univision has only been in radio for a couple of years. Unless the girl is 13 and thinks she can get a job at that age in violation of most labor laws, you are making this up.

I never said Univision Radio, now did I?, she wanted to be a News Anchor on the Television side, and since she is just 19 now, and since Univision was founded in 1992, that sounds about right to me. You do the math!

"Why would someone give up on their dreams because of someone on a message
board."
Would you want work around a person like that? I think she is going to start her own broadband Spanish radio network instead.

Personally, I'm invigorated reading David's facts, because the radio-is-dying crowd around here gets old.[/quote]
Like I said its not dying, its changing, It has provided a wealth of opportunities to me, and many others who have decided to set out on their own. It's what America was built on, you know like those scofflaws who founded Amreica in the first place.

Further, those radios did not "interfere down the street" but, in fact, when driven around, interfered with reception in all the cars for 50 or 60 feet around on the street and on highways. That is illegal, although a pirate proponent may not agree.

I have radio stations interfere with other radio stations all the time when I drive around, I have three radio stations mixing it up on Hwy 58 all the time.
On the 15 two Vegas there are two different 93.1's fighting it out, and two 104.3's
should I turn one of them in David or is it ok if its legal interference?

One word: illegal. Who does an illegal act? A criminal.

I can't belive you think that way David; about half your listeners who came here to make a better life, just as microbroadcasters want to make better radio for their communities.
In your own words David" One word: illegal. Who does an illegal act? A criminal".
Unless of corse you are a down to earth hypocrite! Scofflaws is how I think you referred to them in another post yesterday.
No David, I don't think you would care much for the scofflaws that founded this country in the first place!

The distinction here is that I believe that broadcasters shall follow the laws and regulations and the standards of the community.

Now that's a joke! No wait David I think you have just made our argument for us, Clear Channel clearly does not follow the laws and regulations and the standards of the community. Just ask the Mayor of Tehachapi, boy are those folks ticked off at Clear Channel! Just wait for the train derailment in town with a toxic leak and a thosand dead bodies all over town and all hell is going to break out for CC. Mark my words “the day of reckoning will come soon enough for Clear Channel and their elk”

Steve
www.radiobrandy.com

 

[davideduardo]

I never said Univision Radio, now did I?, she wanted to be a News Anchor on the Television side, and since she is just 19 now, and since Univision was founded in 1992, that sounds about right to me. You do the math!

This is a radio board. Unless you specify "TV" there is nobody who can tell what you are talking about.

Would you want work around a person like that? I think she is going to start her own broadband Spanish radio network instead.

Most people want to work around mentors who are caring and who give them the proper direction and the benefit of experience. At age 19, one likely has neither the experience nor the education to do either of the things you mention.

It's what America was built on, you know like those scofflaws who founded Amreica in the first place.

Our founding fathers gave us a system of the people with rule of law and a representative government. Today, scofflaws are not dissidents, they are criminals. There are ample avenues for change within the system they founded, an none require death and violence.

I have radio stations interfere with other radio stations all the time when I drive around, I have three radio stations mixing it up on Hwy 58 all the time. On the 15 two Vegas there are two different 93.1's fighting it out, and two 104.3's
should I turn one of them in David or is it ok if its legal interference?

From the brief description, you are talking about interference to stations outside their 54 dbu protected contours. 93.1 is LA, Bakersfield and Las Vegas. On most of the 15, none of them has a protected signal. In the case of the illegal XM radios, they were overriding local stations in their primary contours. Big difference.

I can't belive you think that way David; about half your listeners who came here to make a better life, just as microbroadcasters want to make better radio for their communities.

Over half did not come illegally; as an example, of the 8 million Puerto Ricans in the US, every one is and always was legal. The same goes for 99% of the Cubans, etc.

No David, I don't think you would care much for the scofflaws that founded this country in the first place!

Again, breaking the law unilaterally is not an option in a nation where there is rule of law. Our government provides for change. If you work with it, you are democratic. If you break the rules, you get arrested.

Now that's a joke! No wait David I think you have just made our argument for us, Clear Channel clearly does not follow the laws and regulations and the standards of the community. Just ask the Mayor of Tehachapi, boy are those folks ticked off at Clear Channel! Just wait for the train derailment in town with a toxic leak and a thosand dead bodies all over town and all hell is going to break out for CC. Mark my words “the day of reckoning will come soon enough for Clear Channel and their elk”

I did not know elk thrived on the high desert. I thought it was more jackrabbits and snakes. Or were you searching for "ilk" instead? Is English not your first language?

But that is a petty digression (as fun as it may have been).

I can't believe someone is going to drage Minot out again. Radio's biggest urban legend is that the failure of the EAS system in Minot was Clear's fault; in truth, stations do not activate the EAS and can not activate based on a request line call. Only local authorities and civil defense, as well as state and national authorities can activate it and it is done electronically. In Minot, the local authorities had their heads so well and completely wedged that they had not installed the EAS gear, did not go to the training sessions and couldn't have activated it if they tried.

So don't pin this one on radio, Clear Channel or consolidation. Pin it on the inept local authorities who probably botched lots of other things too.

Geesh.

 

[XRQKFM]

From the brief description, you are talking about interference to stations outside their 54 dbu-protected contours. 93.1 is LA, Bakersfield and Las Vegas. On most of the 15, none of them has a protected signal. In the case of the illegal XM radios, they were overriding local stations in their primary contours. Big difference.

Now David, do you really think the average listener knows the difference between interference protected with a 54dbu over a 70dbu contour and a XM radio blocking a signal for a few seconds? But you just managed to try and justify legal interference as I thought you would! You are too predictable!

Our founding fathers gave us a system of the people with rule of law and a representative government. Today, scofflaws are not dissidents, they are criminals SAYS WHO? There are ample avenues for change within the system they founded, an none require death and violence.

Tell that to the slaves! Back when it was legal to own and kill one, David you are the type of person who would have snitched on the family sheltering the slaves from their owners. Under your logic, the guy sheltering the slave would have been considered a thief, and you would turned him in for stealing the slave, with your logic back in the day when slave ownership was legal and freeing a slave was illegal.
It’s scofflaws like my ancestors that were willing to take the risk to set them free at great risk to their own lives and personal freedom. Yes David even my ancestors had to deal people with your mindset, I hate to break it to you; but you are not the first tattletale on the playground!

Again, breaking the law unilaterally is not an option in a nation where there is rule of law. Our government provides for change. If you work with it, you are democratic. If you break the rules, you get arrested.

You are right David; my ancestors were arrested because snitches like you turned them in for freeing and sheltering a family of slaves. Because as you put it! They broke the law and took someone’s property and set them free. Sometimes David; the law is wrong, and needs to be adjusted to do what’s right. Like then as is now, the little guy did not have the clout or jingle of the mighty railroads back then, kind of like the mighty corporations of today and the associations like the NAB. No David it was the little guy that told the British where to stick it; and tossed their tea back in the harbor, while guys like you were looking for backs to stab and tattletale on. Today it’s the independent broadcasters that are willing to take the risk and get the laws changed, because as they were yesterday, they are wrong today. After dealing with butt kissers broadcasting has managed to attract, I am willing to do whatever it takes to make things right.
Today’s rebels, what you call pirates; we prefer to call them undocumented broadcasters or micro broadcasters, they are made of the same stuff that freed the slaves and rebelled against the British.
Radio Brandy’s roll today is to provide guidance, assistance, staff and programming, we give advice on keeping things as clean as possible when it comes to transmitting a signal no matter what country our member stations are in. We want to take any argument snitches like you might have against community broadcasters away. Since David you mentioned it in another post; today’s Ramsey FM25b transmitters are very clean and stable because the small broadcasters demanded it and Ramsey responded, we are also against raising the power of such transmitters; at 25 milliwatts they can’t cause much harm if they tried too. I myself would like to see a thousand Ramsey FM25b transmitters on the air around the world this year alone. We also help to provide self-policing of the airwaves, we don’t tolerate someone stepping on another stations frequency, no matter who it is. Radio Brandy also provides random inspections to our member stations all over the world; any violation of reasonable broadcast standards is met with denial of our programming and services. We also collect data on the violations of so-called legal broadcasters like Clear Channel in the USA, trust me there are many. Unlike you cheapskates, we do have access to a FM FMS and engineers who know how to use it, we know who is naughty and who is nice among the so-called legal broadcasters. The information is withheld until someone is turned in, then its open season! Most broadcast engineers and Radio Brandy members have an understanding “Live and let live”, the late broadcast engineer Brad Sobel aka. Sandy Beach had his own line of low power AM transmitters on the market before his passing. I hate to tell you David; Radio Brandy has many broadcast engineers in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas supporting our cause and working on our behalf behind the scenes to keep things on the up and up.
Since Radio Brandy does not broadcast, nor do they own a transmitter in the USA, there is not a lot a whole lot you can do to them; you might say we are the mouth peace for the micro broadcasters Worldwide, kind of like the NAB without the overpaid lobbyist greasing government officials who are suppose to represent the people not the corporations.

David without the so-called scofflaws you dislike so much, you would be driving 55, paying the British outrages taxes, and you would still have a slave in your closet. Ya my ancestors were scofflaws, got a problem with that!

Steve
www.xrqk.com
P.S. David you are not the one to get on someones case over a typo?

 

[davideduardo]

Now David, do you really think the average listener knows the difference between interference protected with a 54dbu over a 70dbu contour and a XM radio blocking a signal for a few seconds?

I'm sure a listener out in the middle of the desert on the 15 understands there are no local stations. In any case, the FCC rules protect stations only to a certain strength, and that is so other stations can use channels elsewhere. Interferring in the primary service area is protected, and illegal.

Tell that to the slaves!

The Civil War was about the rights of the states, not specifically about slavery. In any case, comparing slavery with operating an illegal radio transmitter which causes harm to legal ones is absurd.

David you are the type of person who would have snitched on the family sheltering the slaves from their owners.

Actually, I am the type of person who went with much of the staff of WJMO from Cleveland in '62 to Newton, MS, and registered voters who, illegally, had been impeded from registering.

I hate to break it to you; but you are not the first tattletale on the playground!

The problem here, again, is that in nearly any place in the US a pirate radio station interferes with the right to operate of a licensed station. That voids the rule of law unless the rights to property are respected.

Sometimes David; the law is wrong, and needs to be adjusted to do what’s right.

In most cases, siezing or destroying the value of the property or rights of others is not necessary. Even in the civil rights movements, legal protest and demonstrations have achieved more than rioting and burning. Just analyze the results.

Today’s rebels, what you call pirates; we prefer to call them undocumented broadcasters or micro broadcasters, they are made of the same stuff that freed the slaves and rebelled against the British.

BS. Most pirates, like most web streams, are simply the reflection of someone who thinks their mix of hip hop or rock is better than anyone else's. There is no shortage of sources of entertainment, and the web is where one can legally express ones creativity, not on top of someone's property.

Radio Brandy’s roll...

Drum roll? Tootsie roll? French roll? I think you mean "role" and not "roll." You ARE an ESL student!

[/quote]

[/quote] Unlike you cheapskates, we do have access to a FM FMS[/quote]

The legally acceptable ones are tens of thousands of dollars, as to measure FM you have to drag the FSM across many areas and average since FM signals are so susceptable to things like obstructions, etc. AM can take a few dozen points; FM requires much much more.

[/quote] Radio Brandy has many broadcast engineers in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas supporting our cause and working on our behalf behind the scenes to keep things on the up and up.[/quote]

I really doubt that. If your website is an example of your professionalism, I find it cluttered, unorganized, with a disgusting reliance on sexist images of women posing in "unradiolike" pictures.

I am, though, glad you are teaching a new generation of broadcasters to use cart machines and cassette decks.

 

[XRQKFM]

In most cases, seizing or destroying the value of the property or rights of others is not necessary.

First and foremost; its not the broadcasters property, they are merely guest on our property, That’s right, the airwaves are not your property they are on loan from me and every other American citizen, and if you are not respectful of our property, we just might take it back.

The Civil War was about the rights of the states, not specifically about slavery. In any case, comparing slavery with operating an illegal radio transmitter which causes harm to legal ones is absurd.

Who was talking about a Civil War?
You are right David; being tied to a chain and owned by someone does not cause the same harm as a 25-milliwatt transmitter might, it’s a 1000 times worse!

The problem here, again, is that in nearly any place in the US a pirate radio station interferes with the right to operate of a licensed station. That voids the rule of law unless the rights to property are respected.

Again it’s not your property, your property rights them is null and void!

US a pirate radio station interferes with the right to operate of a licensed station

What kind of interference are you talking about? Financial or RF

BS. Most pirates, like most web streams, are simply the reflection of someone who thinks their mix of hip hop or rock is better than anyone else's.

Just like my ancestors thought they had a better way to govern than the British.

There is no shortage of sources of entertainment, and the web is where one can legally express ones creativity, not on top of someone's property.

Again you broadcasters are guest on property my family fought and died for.

You ARE an ESL student!

You ARE an ESL student! Is that a statement or a question?
David stop being condescending to me and others, it’s unbecoming of you!.

I find it cluttered, unorganized, with a disgusting reliance on sexist images of women posing in "unradiolike" pictures.

What do you find un radio like about the girl in this picture?
http://www.radiobrandy.com/image/OYinXmtrshackX220ENOPH.jpg
Or are you talking about these girls?
http://www.radiobrandy.com/radiocampus.html
David you must have a real dislike for women!

I am, though, glad you are teaching a new generation of broadcasters to use cart machines and cassette decks.

Since they are still in use around the world, the students should know how to use them, along with the latest computer workstations. The carts have yet to catch a virus and freeze up here. Its also good for the environment, instead of trashing good working equipment, it’s being put to good use.

Steve
Radio Brandy

 

[romer979fm]

next on "radio mensa"...
"My Brain is Bigger Than Yours" by Dave & Brandy

 

[davideduardo]

next on "radio mensa"...
"My Brain is Bigger Than Yours" by Dave & Brandy

The amusing thing is that, in Spanish, "mensa" (or "menso") means "dumb" or "foolish."

 

[davideduardo]

First and foremost; its not the broadcasters property, they are merely guest on our property, That’s right, the airwaves are not your property they are on loan from me and every other American citizen, and if you are not respectful of our property, we just might take it back.

Radio frequencies are administered by the government, just as oil leases on Federal lands or fishing rights are. There are property rights as long as a valid agreement with the government, in representation of the people, and the lesee is in existence. While that agreement is in force, the permitee or lesee has´property rights and the expectation that these will be protected.

You ARE an ESL student! Is that a statement or a question?
David stop being condescending to me and others, it’s unbecoming of you!.

Your frequent mis-uses of the language, followed by your ponitifications about training illegal broadcasters "around the world" are inconsistent with each other. That smacks of the blind leading the blind... such as encouraging a 19-year-old to be a news anchor when that requires a modicum of journalistic skills as well as general knowledge, particularly in Hispanic media.

Since they are still in use around the world, the students should know how to use them, along with the latest computer workstations.

I do work in so-called "third world" countries, and I have not seen a cart machine for more than a decade. Heck, you can not even get carts or the tape to refill them with any more. Training people to use gear that is not used, vs. Profit, AudioVault, etc., is insane.

What is used widely around the world that I see none of in your "studios" are MD players. Cassettes, similarily, are seldom found but MD is widely used.

 

[CHRles]

I don't understand how people continue to try and argue with David. I'm sorry but very few people in the world have the kind of knowledge that David holds in regards to radio, both its past, and its present. Everyone thats tried arguing with him on other boards, like Texas, was ultimately proved wrong. Same here - it's just that many of you won't admit that he's right. In fact, you seem to have a hard time accepting the truth, b/c David sees the big picture and all you guys see are todays headlines. Learn to think like a pro, and stop bashing one.

 

[davideduardo]

I don't understand how people continue to try and argue with David. I'm sorry but very few people in the world have the kind of knowledge that David holds in regards to radio, both its past, and its present. Everyone thats tried arguing with him on other boards, like Texas, was ultimately proved wrong. Same here - it's just that many of you won't admit that he's right. In fact, you seem to have a hard time accepting the truth, b/c David sees the big picture and all you guys see are todays headlines. Learn to think like a pro, and stop bashing one.

Thanks for the vote of confidence from someone who has been on this board even longer than I have.

While nobody has a monopoly on opinions, it's a shame that so many opinions are based on the wrong facts. Like a house on a weak foundation, the arguments based on bad basic facts just get nowhere.

It's been fun to debate with Caguy here. While we may disagree on a number of points of view, the outcome of our recent exchange was Caguy's brilliant observation that the mood of gloom had been set years ago by the marketing strategies of satellite which involved dissing terrestrial radio.

It's amazing how many people have bought into the idea that terrestrial is dying and also into the idea that there is something intrinsically better about a deep cuts library or playing lots of new cuts. But satellite has been saying this over and over, and terrestrial has not answered back. So people think that things that are provably untrue are just the opposite.

Anyway, that's the kind of debate we need... where different points of view produce new ideas.

 

[Stewy]

Winning a discussion is perceptual. Enjoyable debate and reading on this thread. I still stand by my post on page 1 of this thread and Calguy's statement that radio is in this sad state because of greed.

Statistical deflection doesn't change the reality of falling revenue, much less on air creativity and poorer community service. But as stated before, all is changing, as it always does.

Get ready for more regulation, tighter inspection and true penalties if a station is not serving their community. The pendulum is swinging and soon swiftly. After twenty + years of less and less regulation in all business and lessened government oversight....make sure you keep your public files in top notch shape.

Here's a guess; by 2011 the number of FCC folks checking and monitoring will double considering the cell towers and all the digital conversion occurring in the broadcast industry. As much as I dislike the oversight, I think it's time.

 

[davideduardo]

Statistical deflection doesn't change the reality of falling revenue, much less on air creativity and poorer community service. But as stated before, all is changing, as it always does.

Revenue is not falling... it is just not growing like it did in decades past. In fact, last year had total revenue growth, while this year is projected by Kagen at about 1.5% to 2%.

Creativity is subjective. In the fastest growing sector in radio, I see lots of creativity in all dayparts.

And I see community service that matters, not the dumb Sunday morning shows of the past.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

In the fastest growing sector in radio, I see lots of creativity in all dayparts.

Which isssss What??? Since we can't read your mind... Please give a few examples

 

[vsa]

I don't understand how people continue to try and argue with David. I'm sorry but very few people in the world have the kind of knowledge that David holds in regards to radio, both its past, and its present. Everyone thats tried arguing with him on other boards, like Texas, was ultimately proved wrong. Same here - it's just that many of you won't admit that he's right. In fact, you seem to have a hard time accepting the truth, b/c David sees the big picture and all you guys see are todays headlines. Learn to think like a pro, and stop bashing one.

I tend to agree. David has my respect. He is quite knowledgeable and I've enjoyed sparring with him in the past about HD radio, which I believe is or was his weakest spot. Since David mentioned a Kagan forecast for 2008 in this thread, I thought I'd mention a forecast Kagan made 2 years ago about HD radio that they will end up missing by a few dollars. Sometimes Kagan gets it wrong. The ".19 million" part made it look so authoritative.

"...A just-released report from Kagan Research on HD Radio projects total HD revenue will hit $805.19 million by 2008, raised through a mix of traditional advertising on multicast channels, sponsored "'now' channels" (targeted traffic and information with sponsorships), datacasting, and subscription radio. The projected total would be about 4% of total radio revenue..."

http://jointcommunications.blogspot.com/2006/01/kagan-805m-from-hd-radio-by-2008.html

 

[davideduardo]

In the fastest growing sector in radio, I see lots of creativity in all dayparts.

Which isssss What??? Since we can't read your mind... Please give a few examples

Hispanic, forecast for 6% growth this year.

 

[briancraig]

Anyone who doesn't think radio is in trouble, long term needs to read this article in Mediaweek:

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003708994

 

[oaktree]

Or this ...

http://seekingalpha.com/article/64210-radio-industry-too-much-supply-means-too-little-profit

 

[Stewy]

If you guys don't think revenue is down (I'll accept the Hispanic exception) then you must be buried so deeply in it you can't afford to believe anything else. I hope that's not the case, if it is please get your contingencies operational so you might escape bruised but not bloodied.

Also, if I may, I wish all of you and your significant others a very Happy St. Valentine's Day!