New Topic

[954]

Why is this board dead? Three days since the last posting, which was by me!

Stuart recently posted enough info about several stations to create a miniseries.

I have posted links to a bunch of new and updated pages, about radio news and history of local stations.

Doesn't anyone have any comments about either?

TV can't be that good!

73s

 

[John FL]

It seems many of the individual boards are not what they used to be. I get the feeling many who contributed on the former radio-info site have had challenges getting signed on to this one and/or perhaps many have just lost interest which is a shame.
I haven't lived in South Florida since '97 but my heart is still there in many ways. Stuart Elliott's saga of the days when Y-100, I-95 and 96X were competing against each other brought back wonderful memories for me. Radio was so very exciting from the AM heydays (when I lived up North and listened to WABC) right through when the FMs gained dominance. I was probably one of the biggest fans Y-100 had prior to all the competition. To this day, the morning show that featured Bill Tanner, Jim Reely (sp) with his cast of characters and of course Footy who was known as Athletes Foot back then remains one of my favorite morning shows. Looking back, it was a brilliant production. Thanks Stuart for going though that beautiful account for us!
With a few exceptions here and there radio is terminally boring which may account for the lack of comment by many. I think many don't want to bother because the powerful few now control radio and the thinking is why bother.
But there is nothing wrong with telling it like it is or remembering radio for what it was.

Let me also acknowledge your efforts (954) with the July radio page. It was my first time reading what you put together. It's nice to see the labor of love. I loved reading about Eric Brandon. I suppose like so many other listeners as we aged, I began to grow away from Y-100 and the like to WAXY 106 and then unto Majic 102.7 when WAXY literally experimented with so many different sounds that no one really knew what they were all about. I listend to Majic right up until I moved and then found them a few years ago on the internet. The world is getting smaller. Eric was one of my favorites. I think he was perfect for middays. A shame these business decisions happen but that's part of life.

It seems that perhaps with the exception of morning drive, radio ownership is determined to remove anyone who has a special and listener-attracting personality. What we have nowadays is talent who basically repeat what the sweepers constantly say , introduce a traffic report or update the temperature/weather forcast once an hour. Not only boring but the listener doesn't get any kind of emotional bond with the talent. But that's by design for obvious reasons.

Sorry for the rambling here but I've always had a passion for radio. And Stuart's story and 954's dedication to the business just made me wax a little nostalgic. Again, thanks guys for what you do! It IS appreciated.

 

[jcolletta275]

Speaking of Tanner in the Morning, does anyone have any airchecks of the show? I'd love to hear them.

 

[954]

Let me also acknowledge your efforts (954) with the July radio page. It was my first time reading what you put together. It's nice to see the labor of love. I loved reading about Eric Brandon.

Thank you.

Remember to watch for Eric and his wife on Wife Swap! I generally skip reality shows, but I want to watch this one!

BTW, It's not only a labor of love. I always hope someone on the board who needs to buy books or a PC or software or appliances or CDs or a HD radio will remember and go through the links on my site... because you'd save money and I'd get a commission. (HINT! HINT! HINT!) I hope anyone with a radio-related site will consider linking to it: http://RadioPages.net

I became a radio geek when commuting 2 hours a day to college. Lots of time to listen to AM! My favorite part of the site is newspaper articles about radio I wrote in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, little suspecting that they'd be recycled on the Internet in the future. (Most of these haven't been moved from the old site yet.)

With a few exceptions here and there radio is terminally boring...

Well, the music sucks and the personalities are gone or repressed. Of course it's boring.

It seems that perhaps with the exception of morning drive, radio ownership is determined to remove anyone who has a special and listener-attracting personality.

I think you're right. But why?

The only explanation I can think of is to make them disposable, so firings and format changes are more convenient.

Is that it?

73s from 954

 

[John FL]

It seems that perhaps with the exception of morning drive, radio ownership is determined to remove anyone who has a special and listener-attracting personality.

I think you're right. But why?

The only explanation I can think of is to make them disposable, so firings and format changes are more convenient.

Is that it?

73s from 954

Yes, that is certainly it! I'm sure it also cuts down on listener complaints when a favorite personality falls by the way side. Guess there aren't too many anymore, so, fewer complaints. Chicken-crap method to run a business but if most of these guys really had their way, stations in the middle of the pack or below would be automated 24/7. I'm not sure if this is a practice taking place in Miami/South Florida but here in Jacksonville, many FMers are automated from 7PM Friday to 6AM Monday. It's a disgrace. I thought radio was a communication medium? Pardon my sarcasm but it sickens me to see the direction we are heading!

 

[top4odj]

There really isn't alot of board action with the new style of radio that's out there, the only time something worth while to post something about is when someone leaves a station. Face it, as i've said before, radio of today isn't anything like the 60's, 70's and some of the 80's. I remember being a listener in the early 70's and besides loyalty to a station, you knew everyones name. It's so bland and the turn over ratio is so high, there are an extreme few who stick out, and they are the long time veterans. Radio, while always being a business, has, for the most part, lost that little thing called "Creativity"

Technology has added nails in the listening coffin too. In a way, you can't blame (gawd I hate to say this)...Corprate boys. They are just taking advantage of the technology that allows voice tracking & automation. It's easier to pay someone 50 or 100 dollars to come in for an hour or 2 and lay down a weeks worth of "shows", than to pay someone $30,000 a year to be live. BUT.....as we see...that comes with a price. You lose that connection between station and listener. Unless you're sucked in by winning prizes, which now aren't as fun as before since the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale market gets year round ratings. In the 70's you were rated for a month at a time, 2 times a year. The other 10 months, you earned your listenership based on the Music AND your air talent. You had fun....your listeners were a part of your station as well as your show. If radio took a little step back and went to the basics in some ways...i'd love to go back. The reason I don't is because I don't want to rip n read. I want to be able to create and as we see every day....that ain't happening!

I thought i'd delve into XM Radio and see what Satellite radio is all about. After 2 months, i'm ready to cancel. I listen mostly to the 70's on 7. I wrote XM and told them so. Reason being, is that out of the thousands and thousands of songs that came out of the 70's, they have a roatation too. I told them there is no reason to hear the same song within 36 hours, that with all the product that was available back then, it should be weeks before you hear any repetition at all. I also said that I wasn't jumping to Sirius, but instead, I was going to start burning some of my 4000 albums to CD and listen to my own product....FOR FREE!. Of course, I got the customary form apology email reply and that I should write "[email protected]" and tell them how I felt, and sorry I was ready to cancel, but to make sure I called their 1-800 number to do so. So see....Satellite radio is really not much different on how the public is treated. We're not taken seriously.

Welp...I think i've said enough for the moment, and will step off my soap box. As soon as my brain clears, i'm sure i'll have more to say!!!

 

[The-Major]

Why is this board dead? Three days since the last posting, which was by me!
Stuart recently posted enough info about several stations to create a miniseries.
I have posted links to a bunch of new and updated pages, about radio news and history of local stations.
Doesn't anyone have any comments about either?
TV can't be that good!
73s

I understand your frustration 954. This (Radio-Info) is the only board that I post on, and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale (my home) is one of only a small handful of boards that I even look at on here (much less post on). I feel at home on here. It's where I belong. It's my destiny. OK - enough sentimentalism here.

I sometimes find myself re-reading some of the classic posts in here when it's particularly slow. I don't go all the way back to June 2005 (as far back as the messages have been archived), as there is obviously a lot of wonderful material that has been posted recently that is worth reading again. DJ Stuart Elliott's flashbacks of the 1980s are message posting masterpieces as far as I'm concerned. Hey - I figure that since it's Summertime it's rerun season, and reruns can apply to message posts as well !

THE MAJOR OF THE 305

 

[The-Major]

But there is nothing wrong with telling it like it is or remembering radio for what it was.

So true ... So true ... Of course 'telling it like it is' gets old after awhile - just like radio in 2006. 'Remembering radio for what it was' - now that never gets old. Thinking and hearing about radio from yesteryear is a lot of fun. I have a lot of fond memories of radio back in the 1990s, 1980s, and 1970s - enough to fill a book. I was born in the mid-1960s, so I obviously don't remember anything about radio from back then. Over the past 20 to 25 years or so one of my part-time hobbies has been to experience radio the way it was before I existed back in the 1950s, 1940s, and even into the 1930s via classic radio broadcasts that are widely available on tape - and nowadays on XM-164 (Olde Time Radio Classics).

Sorry for the rambling here but I've always had a passion for radio. And Stuart's story and 954's dedication to the business just made me wax a little nostalgic. Again, thanks guys for what you do! It IS appreciated.

I appreciate everyone who posts worthwhile messages and experiences about the radio business on here. This 'New Topic' thread here that 954 created in an apparent act of desperation may keep me up for hours tonight posting ! THANKS 954 !

THE MAJOR

 

[The-Major]

Speaking of Tanner in the Morning, does anyone have any airchecks of the show? I'd love to hear them.

Hey Josh - Good to see you on here again. I would love to spend hours and hours on end listening to classic Y-100 airchecks from their first few years of existence way back when. There are a few Robert W. Walker airchecks floating around the web. I found one from the Spring Of 1977 on AIRCHEXX. They also have Jackson Armstrong from 1975 and Harley Davidson from 1986 on that particular web site. I'm sure that there are classic Bill Tanner airchecks all over the web. We just need to find them. I'm surprised that a lot of these airchecks are in such excellent condition !

If you want to hear a powerful TOP 40 radio station with personality overflowing everywhere from the jocks to the jingles to the sweepers then listen to some of those classic Y-100 airchecks from 30 years ago !

THE MAJOR

 

[The-Major]

My favorite part of the site is newspaper articles about radio I wrote in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, little suspecting that they'd be recycled on the Internet in the future. (Most of these haven't been moved from the old site yet.)

YES - But did you ever write about Footy during the 32 years that he was entertaining his loyal fans in the morning via Y-100 ? Have you thought about doing an in-depth sit-down interview with Footy as he reflects back on his long and successful career ? I hear that he's not as busy now as he once was. He's also getting more sleep in the morning. See if you can arrange that scoop.

Well, the music sucks and the personalities are gone or repressed. Of course it's boring.

NO - The music does not suck. My loyal fans from all over the world would call me out on that if I didn't say something. I know that at least some of them are checking in here from time to time. I do agree with you though about the personalities.

THE MAJOR

 

[The-Major]

I remember being a listener in the early 70's and besides loyalty to a station, you knew everyones name.

30 to 35 years ago (when I was a kid growing up in the Washington D.C. area) I used to listen to a few stations - such as WWDC AM-1260 which was the TOP 40 station back then - and WASH-FM-97.1 which was the A.C. station (and still is today). Do you know that I still remember to this day virtually all of the deejays from both of those memorable stations in my life. It proves what you keep saying about radio from back then.

I thought i'd delve into XM Radio and see what Satellite radio is all about. After 2 months, i'm ready to cancel. I listen mostly to the 70's on 7.

I've been an avid listener of XM for going on 7 months now, and I'm generally happy with the service. I listen mostly to the jukebox effect of '20 On 20' with a little 'KISS-21' thrown in for good measure. I get to hear all of the hot hits of today that Y-100 doesn't play.

THE MAJOR

 

[top4odj]

NO - The music does not suck. My loyal fans from all over the world would call me out on that if I didn't say something. I know that at least some of them are checking in here from time to time. I do agree with you though about the personalities.

THE MAJOR
[/quote]

YES & NO.....No because it's what the listeners of today like....Yes because it's not what we listen to. Just like our parents in the 60's and theirs in the 50's. Every generation isn't too thrilled what's churned out in the present. Personally, i'm not a fan of todays music. Reason being 1) Alot of todays stuff has "sampled" music from the 70's and very few of them are good. 2) Todays music is all techno. I like a groups Chicago or Earth Wind and Fire & even KC because they utilize the wind sections (horns...Trumpets, Sax, Oboe, Trombone..etc.) 3) Simplicity....when you listened, it felt good, sure, you can understand the words to todays stuff as well, but a major portion of the songs out today are just rude, vile and degrading. I'm not a prude by anymeans, hell, I love Andrew Dice Clay, but lines are crossed and it's no holds barred. Something that i'm just not into.

 

[954]

NO - The music does not suck. My loyal fans from all over the world would call me out on that if I didn't say something. I know that at least some of them are checking in here from time to time. I do agree with you though about the personalities.

You amaze me, Major.

Just like you are permitted to express the opinion that so-called "dance" music is entertaining, I am entitled to express my own opinion that most of the music they play on the radio today sucks.

I'm sure your fan base is intelligent enough that won't hold it against you that I expressed my own opinion. And I hope you don't divert the thread to discuss THAT!

73s from 954

 

[The-Major]

You amaze me, Major.
Just like you are permitted to express the opinion that so-called "dance" music is entertaining, I am entitled to express my own opinion that most of the music they play on the radio today sucks.
I'm sure your fan base is intelligent enough that won't hold it against you that I expressed my own opinion. And I hope you don't divert the thread to discuss THAT!
73s from 954

FUNNY STUFF ! THANKS for the laugh. I respect your opinion that today's music sucks. I'm a lover not a hater. I also won't discuss it further either, but I was just wondering, WHAT is the topic of 'New Topic' anyway ? What is the definition of is ? 8)

THE MAJOR

 

[954]

You amaze me, Major.
Just like you are permitted to express the opinion that so-called "dance" music is entertaining, I am entitled to express my own opinion that most of the music they play on the radio today sucks.
I'm sure your fan base is intelligent enough that won't hold it against you that I expressed my own opinion. And I hope you don't divert the thread to discuss THAT!

FUNNY STUFF ! THANKS for the laugh. I respect your opinion that today's music sucks. I'm a lover not a hater. I also won't discuss it further either, but I was just wondering, WHAT is the topic of 'New Topic' anyway ?

Well, I didn't want to call it Why is this board dead? because I think I had just used it *elsewhere* recently.

The important thing is, it got a response.

Regarding what the definition of IS is, ask the junior senator from NY. She may know.

73s from 954

 

[John FL]

Lots of the preceeding comments prove that radio for a long time did make long-lasting impressions on the listeners. I doubt that 20 years from now those who currently listen to today's contemporary radio will remember anything when all that is heard is one song after another with a sweeper in between.
When I hear songs from the past (60s - 80s) I can still remember talk-ups from the jocks and let me tell you, if it wasn't funny or clever then, it certainly would be forgotten by now.
Yeah, nothing stays the same and it wouldn't be realistic for radio programming to remain constant for decades. Listener preferences change and the times change. But even with that and perhaps even keeping DJ banter down to a minimum to satisfy some research findings, it's obvious that no one sounds like they are having fun on the air anymore. That's a significant piece that is missing. Even in morning drive, few are given ample time to execute a clever routine or to engage the listener.
Sometimes I can't remember what I ate for dinner the night before. The other day I heard the song "Man Eater" and I remembered like it was yesterday that I won $100 from Y-100 when that song played on "Tanner in the Morning" in some type of contest. Here some 20+ years later, I remember the Y-100 line-up was Tanner, Crammer, the Madame, Robert W or Don Cox and Kid Curry. Over at I-95, the first song played was "Celebration" by Cool and the Gang. They played the #1 song every 90 minutes. Repetition didn't matter. There was an on the air excitement on these stations that made you feel like you were in on some private party.
And on a serious note, you could count on radio to provide up-to-date info. Nowadays jocks have such limited talk time that if there is a serious accident or weather situation, oh well. And for stations that go automated or voice-tracked, the listener is just kept in the dark about anything worth communicating about.
I still think that terrestial radio can differentiate themselves from satellite by being unique to the market in which they serve and allowing the talent a little bit more lee-way to inject some personality into their "show." It's possible someone somwhere will get back to basics. All it takes is one of the movers and shakers to try a different approach and if it works, you can bet your bottom dollar, that others will follow. Nothing wrong with dreaming. Again, apologies for the rambling. I think I've now gotten most of this stuff off my chest.

 

[jcolletta275]

I have to agree with The Major... the music doesn't suck, it's the personalities and presentation.

(And yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion about the music.)

Major, I've heard some of those airchecks you've mentioned and... WHEW! All I can say is that every time I listen to them, they simply reinvigorate my passion for this job!

So the question is, why aren't there more people who have a passion for truly engaging radio like us on the air?

 

[The-Major]

YES & NO.....No because it's what the listeners of today like....Yes because it's not what we listen to. Just like our parents in the 60's and theirs in the 50's. Every generation isn't too thrilled what's churned out in the present. Personally, i'm not a fan of todays music.

Points well taken. You know when I was in my teens and 20s and 30s I sometimes wondered what type of music I would listen to when I'm 40. Well here I am less than 11 months away from turning 40 and the answer is - TOP 40 hit music. I'm way older than the target demographics of most CHR-POP stations (and also the wrong sex for that matter). But hey I guess it's the Casey Kasem / Rick Dees in me that keeps me liking what I hear. My parents were still listening to TOP 40 music well into their 40s, so I guess I'm normal. I think my Mom was actually listening to hard rock into her 50s !

I can actually see myself listening to an 'Adult Hits' or even an aggressive 'HOT-A.C.' station at this time. It's a shame that Miami has neither format. COAST-97.3 is 'A.C.' to me. They play way too many oldies. They play way too many slow songs. They are a boring station to me. Up the road 97.9-WRMF is mostly gettin' the job done, but I live way down south in Homestead, so it's more static than not. Over on XM I listen to two different TOP 40 stations just to hear the hits that Y-100 does not play. Y-100 is extremely 'urban' for a TOP 40 station. They do not reflect mainstream hit music. Their idea of TOP 40 music is every single hip hop and rap song on the charts ... and The All-American Rejects and Fall Out Boy.

THE MAJOR

 

[The-Major]

Well, I didn't want to call it Why is this board dead? because I think I had just used it *elsewhere* recently.
The important thing is, it got a response.
73s from 954

Well this board is no longer dead thanks to wonderful posters like yourself, Stuart, John, and Josh. It's always a pleasure discussing radio with each and every one of you ! That's why we're here.

THE MAJOR

 

[The-Major]

Major, I've heard some of those airchecks you've mentioned and... WHEW! All I can say is that every time I listen to them, they simply reinvigorate my passion for this job!

You know during Footy's final week a couple of months ago I actually dug up my old cassettes (yes - tapes) that I bought at the store that were compilations of skits from the old 'Y-100 Morning Zoo' ('with Bobby Mitchell and Footy too'). I listened to them in my car during that final week. I couldn't help but observe over and over again that that was one funny LIVE and LOCAL morning show back in the day. What made me laugh back then made me laugh all over again in 2006. We didn't know how good we had it back then. I even remembered when a lot of those skits first aired, and what I was doing at the time. I remembered when I won prizes from them. I remembered when I was invited to sit in with them for an entire morning show broadcast in the old studio on East Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. I remember when I followed 'Mike Van Driver The Third' (one of their early interns) all over Homestead in a wacky 'where is he at' contest. With all due respect to Kenny Walker and Footy I came to realize that the last few years of 'Kenny & Footy' were a pale skeleton of what the morning show was once like. And I'm only going back to the late-1980s / early-1990s here.

So the question is, why aren't there more people who have a passion for truly engaging radio like us on the air?

Tough question indeed. It's a different world today. Radio is different. Television is different. The listening audience is different. The viewing audience is different. Y-100 doesn't play rock or dance. MTV doesn't play music videos. Everything has evolved into something different. Some of it is for the better, and some of it is for the worse. Too many decisions today are based on extremely small 'sample' groups or very generic research conducted elsewhere. That's why we have our memories of how everything once was. Maybe sometime in the future evolution will come back around again.

THE MAJOR