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New TV Spot For Boston's WMKK-93.7 Comes Right Out And Says: "No DJ Interruptions"

"No DJ Interruptions"

It's not exactly like these stations are the first in radio history to go without DJs. The only people who seem to be making a big deal out of this are DJs who are not that great in the first place and hanging onto their jobs for dear life.

If that's part of a particular station's overall strategy, so be it. If it works for them, why should anybody complain?

>
> In one of the commercials (click-on the "Moon Burrito TV
> Spot"), the station admits that there are "no DJ Interruptions".
>
> I don't know if any other "Jack"-type stations have run or
> are running TV spots in which the station claims that not
> having live announcers is an asset.
>
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

Top rated stations WJXA & WCJK in Nashville have all of 13 hours/day
live and local on-airs combined. Your point is well taken. The staff
at Mix is tops in quality in Nashville. Local radio can certainly
sound rough and unprofessional more and more these days --- even in the
Top 50 markets. Sometimes it is better for everyone involved to not be
local all the time. I know that sounds harsh, but it is a sign of
the road ahead. The good will survive and be assets to their stations. <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by tibbs on 03/29/06 08:37 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

> Top rated stations WJXA & WCJK in Nashville have all of 13
> hours/day
> live and local on-airs combined. Your point is well taken.
> The staff
> at Mix is tops in quality in Nashville. Local radio can
> certainly
> sound rough and unprofessional more and more these days ---
> even in the
> Top 50 markets. Sometimes it is better for everyone involved
> to not be
> local all the time. I know that sounds harsh, but it is a
> sign of
> the road ahead. The good will survive and be assets to their
> stations.
>
Not disagreeing with you ... No DJ may be better than a bad one.

However, I can't help wonder whether there would be more good DJs if the time and effort were used to develop people - people working overnights, weekend evenings or Sunday mornings when listenership is at its lowest. Let them get some practice when many people aren't tuning in and promote them if and when they improve.
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

> It's not exactly like these stations are the first in radio
> history to go without DJs. The only people who seem to be
> making a big deal out of this are DJs who are not that great
> in the first place and hanging onto their jobs for dear
> life.
>
> If that's part of a particular station's overall strategy,
> so be it. If it works for them, why should anybody
> complain?

There he goes. can't even name a name of a bad dj that worked there can ya?
Oldies cat also says "I believe there should be djs on jack" then says its good to have no djs.
What an idiot!
 
"No DJ Interruptions"

Uh, excuse me. What I've SAID is that it is MY PREFERENCE to have some sort of personality presence on Variety Hits stations. There's nothing written in stone that says these stations HAVE TO do it one way or another- that's up to them, not me.

Saying that if it's part of a station's strategy not to have jocks is fine if it works for them is not inconsistent with what I've said.

(you are obviously one of those paranoid, just-barely-hanging-on frustrated jocks- you, sir, are the idiot).

>
> There he goes. can't even name a name of a bad dj that
> worked there can ya?
> Oldies cat also says "I believe there should be djs on jack"
> then says its good to have no djs.
> What an idiot!
>
 
"No DJ Interruptions"

OR- is it time that a lot of talent take a close look at how they're devoting the effort to get better? The onus can also be put on talent who are no more than liner card and intro jocks- I'd rather hear the music WITHOUT jocks if all they're going to do is the same/old same old that was/this is type of B.S.

It's easy to blame consolidation and consultants and all that other nonsense, but, in the end, the best talent will never have to worry about having a place in our business. There are those out there who have lousy attitudes and refuse to be team players that will be left behind and I say that's fine. Either get better or go sell time shares.

>
> However, I can't help wonder whether there would be more
> good DJs if the time and effort were used to develop people
> - people working overnights, weekend evenings or Sunday
> mornings when listenership is at its lowest. Let them get
> some practice when many people aren't tuning in and promote
> them if and when they improve.
>
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

> (you are obviously one of those paranoid,
> just-barely-hanging-on frustrated jocks- you, sir, are the
> idiot).

What? for not thinking i can be replaced? Replace me with talent, not back to back music! Sheesh! I guess I'm the best talent there really is, and music non stop is what matters instead...oh well...
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

> > However, I can't help wonder whether there would be more
> > good DJs if the time and effort were used to develop
> people
> > - people working overnights, weekend evenings or Sunday
> > mornings when listenership is at its lowest. Let them get
> > some practice when many people aren't tuning in and
> promote
> > them if and when they improve.

OK...now this time, with highest respect to your posting in this thread, don't you agree that radio should now get back to the days of live overnights locally.

The sooner we do that, the better. The good jock should be able to say what has to be said WITHOUT the expectation that editing will always be an option.

Too many vt staff just edit, then edit again...let them go, and keep those who can be live without fear.
It amazes me the number of announcers in the biz who are only there because they know they can edit what they say before it airs. That's just not true radio to me...
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

> Too many vt staff just edit, then edit again...let them go,
> and keep those who can be live without fear.
> It amazes me the number of announcers in the biz who are
> only there because they know they can edit what they say
> before it airs. That's just not true radio to me...
>


Wow, I expected to get lambasted for my comment above. YOU
guys are totally right about the fact that new talent cannot
come into their own with vt or no time on the air. It is
somewhat costly for small market stations to pay for hours
with no $$$ coming in only to have the improved person quickly
move on. Larger markets still manage some opportunities.

As for one of the best statements of truth this year ---

> It amazes me the number of announcers in the biz who are
> only there because they know they can edit what they say
> before it airs. That's just not true radio to me...

Bravo! That certainly isn't the definition of t-a-l-e-n-t!!!
That sir, is part of the very problem ceated by cost cutting
and taking the easy way out.
 
Re: "No DJ inturruptions"

> Bravo! That certainly isn't the definition of t-a-l-e-n-t!!!
> That sir, is part of the very problem ceated by cost cutting
> and taking the easy way out.
>
It may not be about taking the easy way out though, but rather paying people what they're worth.
Also, not exploiting anyone or letting cheques bounce.
If Contra is going to be the end result, that should be the promise from the begining.
NOT...here's you're paycheque, while the pd points to some furniture in a corner.

People who do the work deserve to be paid for their efforts.

I'm even willing to focus on doing live overnights myself, if it means I can establish a new airchek, get some contra...and polish up what ever may need polishing up.
However, the Contra deal has to be what is said to be, not a total surprise every time, or a change from a gift certificate for a grocery store to a pile of furniture no one wants.
As useful as the furniture may be, I still can't eat it!
(***note that contra comments are focused more toward smaller markets)<P ID="signature">______________
"If you never say NO, How much is your YES worth?"
</P>
 
Re: New TV Spot For Boston's WMKK-93.7 Comes Right Out And Says: "No DJ Interruptions"

Exactly what I'd expect from a Jack FM clone. They've missed the point. They copied the Jack format, and guessed that it's all about not having dj's. WRONG! Some Jacks have dj's, some don't, but that's not base of the format, just one small element of it.


> On their website, WMKK-93.7 Lawrence/Boston has made
> available streaming video of a new TV commercial the station
> is now running in the Boston area.
>
> In one of the commercials (click-on the "Moon Burrito TV
> Spot"), the station admits that there are "no DJ
> Interruptions".
>
> I don't know if any other "Jack"-type stations have run or
> are running TV spots in which the station claims that not
> having live announcers is an asset.
>
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

I agree. While I no longer do stuff on air, when I did, I wasn't half bad BUT that was because of the hours I was able to spend learning the craft at 2am on a Wednesday or 7am Sunday morning. Nowadays those opportunities are less and less! No wonder talent is going downhill, they arent given a chance to learn the craft in "dead" hours!
 
"No DJ Interruptions"

If listeners are telling XXXX station they prefer a lot of music without DJ interruptions, what is your problem? A radio station's goal is to have the most listeners and if one strategy is not to have DJs, that is there prerogative.

Isn't the idea to (hope you're sitting down) please THE LISTENERS? Hate to break this news to you, but there is no sort of entitlement that says all radio stations are required to have personalities. There are a number of different ways to be successful in this business and is just another option.

It's THE LISTENERS that matter- wake up.

>
> What? for not thinking i can be replaced? Replace me with
> talent, not back to back music! Sheesh! I guess I'm the best
> talent there really is, and music non stop is what matters
> instead...oh well...
>
 
"No DJ Interruptions"

Not necessarily. I can be live and local with the best available local talent- but say that talent pool is lousy (small or medium market, niche format, whatever). In that case, I'd rather import BETTER TALENT to give me a better sounding radio station than be local just to say "I'm live and local".

I don't know if you realize that radio is about 30 years behind television on this "live and local" concept. Most TV stations in the country do not have "live and local" programming 90% of the day and they're doing just fine.

If the goal is to provide the best entertainment or best information, then whatever means avaialbe should be used to fulfill that goal.

Again, no disrespect intended, but your post feels like it's come from somebody who's somewhat new and hasn't had much coaching OR somebody who's been in the business for a long time and feels like they've never quite "made it".



> OK...now this time, with highest respect to your posting in
> this thread, don't you agree that radio should now get back
> to the days of live overnights locally.
>
> The sooner we do that, the better. The good jock should be
> able to say what has to be said WITHOUT the expectation that
> editing will always be an option.
>
> Too many vt staff just edit, then edit again...let them go,
> and keep those who can be live without fear.
> It amazes me the number of announcers in the biz who are
> only there because they know they can edit what they say
> before it airs. That's just not true radio to me...
>
 
"No DJ Interruptions"

You surprise me, Tibbs- your post is noble but in a bit of denial.

With entertainment (including music) available from so many sources (and new ones coming out at an accelerated pace). Like I said, it's all cute and noble that everybody want to be live all the time- the reality is that those days have passed. The technology affords us the opportunity to get the best talent avaialable (regardless of where they physically live) and if I'm programming any radio station, my duty is to MY LISTENERS, not to DJs either trying to get into the biz or to stay in the biz. Listeners (ratings)=revenue=success.
>
>
> Wow, I expected to get lambasted for my comment above. YOU
> guys are totally right about the fact that new talent cannot
>
> come into their own with vt or no time on the air. It is
> somewhat costly for small market stations to pay for hours
> with no $$$ coming in only to have the improved person
> quickly
> move on. Larger markets still manage some opportunities.
>
> As for one of the best statements of truth this year ---
>
> > It amazes me the number of announcers in the biz who are
> > only there because they know they can edit what they say
> > before it airs. That's just not true radio to me...
>
> Bravo! That certainly isn't the definition of t-a-l-e-n-t!!!
>
> That sir, is part of the very problem ceated by cost cutting
>
> and taking the easy way out.
>
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

> You surprise me, Tibbs- your post is noble but in a bit of
> denial.
>
> With entertainment (including music) available from so many
> sources (and new ones coming out at an accelerated pace).
> Like I said, it's all cute and noble that everybody want to
> be live all the time- the reality is that those days have
> passed. The technology affords us the opportunity to get
> the best talent avaialable (regardless of where they
> physically live) and if I'm programming any radio station,
> my duty is to MY LISTENERS, not to DJs either trying to get
> into the biz or to stay in the biz. Listeners
> (ratings)=revenue=success.


I don't know where I disagree with you on this point, 'Cat.

Small markets (like really small markets) are in a tough
position of profits vs. local talent. As far as sounding the best
for less, true thatVt/new tex is the way of the future. In no time
at all, it'll all be CC's various national formats, etc.
There will be some local interaction, but it'll be less
and less for sure. I have found that some of the best
talent (eventual, I will admit) came up through the
ranks, surprised everyone and went on to bigger and
better things (as compared to ego's and attitudes that
came down the ladder from bigger markets promising
the moon and delievering nothing but headaches and
further mgmt. hiding/lying on references just to get
them out the door.) But, for sure, training new talent
is risky, costly and often a needle in a haystack.
Cost vs. return is not very often to the positive.
But, in a few situations --- it's really paid off --- big,
huge --- and at least made it seem to be a benefit.
Me -- Noble -- no, just maybe a knack for knowing when there
is a chance that something big could work. The opposite -
being to nice and not willing to let average/or less
go - that's noble. Make that charitable. Been there --
done that --- wait, am I still doing that? Dammit.
Okay, call me noble. Argh!
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

The place to get the start.
The "Farm team"
Where's that?
The place to polish up...where's that?
<P ID="signature">______________
"If you never say NO, How much is your YES worth?"
</P>
 
DJ Interruptions

That is indeed the biggest challenge. And, there are still places to do it.
It's up to the talent to be more resourceful than ever and to have a good bank of mentors to bounce things off, etc.

BUT- it's also up to we Programmers to always have our eyes out for potential talent. I recently came across a chap who applied for a gig with a station I'm involved with who wasn't quite ready- they really needed some work but you could hear the potential. When I told him he wasn't exactly ready for what we needed, I took a few minutes and shared some things I thought would help and he seemed surprisingly grateful. What's happened is Programmers have so much more responsibility than ever that they forget to be a mentor, to pass on what they were blessed to be taught.

Is it harder these days? Definitely. It the 'farm team' concept doesn't have to go away, unless Programmers and jocks are just too lazy or unmotivated to put the time and effort into it.

> The place to get the start.
> The "Farm team"
> Where's that?
> The place to polish up...where's that?
>
 
Re: "No DJ Interruptions"

> The place to get the start.
> The "Farm team"
> Where's that?
> The place to polish up...where's that?

I would love to say "college radio," but the "shut up and play the jams" mentality started there. Unless it's a killer segue, they don't care about personality (and most people in college radio are more interested in getting in the music business than the radio business anyway).

And college stations seem to be hit on one end by administrations wanting to go NPR on one end, encroaching religious translators on another end and the tendency to not think beyond nothing but ultra-micro-niche programming without any concepts of audience flow. And when it comes to breaking potential artists for commercial radio, that seems to be something they want to avoid at all costs.
 
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