Northern New England/wow this board is quiet

[coz]

Less and less people thinking about radio...

 

[True Grit]

Less and less people thinking about radio...

Well, the work force is cut in half from what it was just a handful of years ago. That could explain it.

 

[probuttonpusher]

It's become mostly about the Rutland area on this board, plus I think the redesign might have something to do with it. Somes it takes forever to load and my pop up blocker makes it hard to get to the boards.

 

[True Grit]

It's become mostly about the Rutland area on this board...

I dunno...the Bangor market seems to get a fair share of gab, too. Or maybe those posts just jump out at me more.

 

[Gadon]

You mean that Rutland isn't the center of the Northern New England radio universe ??

 

[Ozman]

Maybe that I'm transferring to a college in Ct..
I can't stand it up here anymore. If feels like no ones listening to the radio anymore...

 

[louiemanno]

I try very hard to stop thinking about radio (until recently getting up at 3:00 every morning to essentially prep for a non-existent show). I find myself checking the board at least once a day though, which may be impeding my personal reinvention process.

Anyway, it’s the holidays and many broadcasting brothers and sisters are out of work. And our old friend radio is on a sick bed... and none of that is any fun.

I paradoxically, remain upbeat,

Louie

 

[True Grit]

I try very hard to stop thinking about radio (until recently getting up at 3:00 every morning to essentially prep for a non-existent show). I find myself checking the board at least once a day though, which may be impeding my personal reinvention process.

Anyway, it’s the holidays and many broadcasting brothers and sisters are out of work. And our old friend radio is on a sick bed... and none of that is any fun.

Sick bed? More like death bed.

 

[nhradiochild]

Well, I'd like to look at it this way:

Look how close it is to Christmas. Could it be that people are actually focusing on the holidays more than a realistically "go-nowhere" message board?

I think "not-to-worry". Folks will probably start popping back up after the holiday rush is over. 8)

 

[Zeb Norris]

I like to comment from time to, but not long ago I got called pathetic for posting. I guess PDs aren't supposed to actually, you know, take an interest in what listeners have to say. Not that I mind breaking THAT mold.

Happy Holidays!

Zeb

 

[louiemanno]

Sick bed? More like death bed.
[/quote]

I see where you are coming from True Gritt… But I carefully selected the term “sick bed”. Because at this point radio is only in the hospital not the hospice.. Yes I admit... I truly believe that radio can be made well again. And it just may happen the some of us who are among the “curb kicked” will be called upon to help save radio’s ass. (Of course that would be inconceivably ironic poetic justice) I look at it this way… (if it doesn’t happen in real life… It would make a good screenplay)

OK… That’s enough radio for today… I have to get back to reinventing myself.

Louie

 

[True Grit]

Louie wrote: <I see where you are coming from True Gritt… But I carefully selected the term “sick bed”. Because at this point radio is only in the hospital not the hospice.. Yes I admit... I truly believe that radio can be made well again. And it just may happen the some of us who are among the “curb kicked” will be called upon to help save radio’s ass. (Of course that would be inconceivably ironic poetic justice) I look at it this way… (if it doesn’t happen in real life… It would make a good screenplay)>

Quite the screenplay indeed. (would that be a disaster movie?) I realize I come off as cynical and/or negative, but given what's happened over the years, both to me personally and to the business in general, I'm incapable of wearing rose-colored glasses.

 

[louiemanno]

I realize I come off as cynical and/or negative, but given what's happened over the years, both to me personally and to the business in general, I'm incapable of wearing rose-colored glasses.

True Grit:

Hey now! Don’t think you folks in New England own the performance rights to sardonic repartee... “Not for nothing” I’m an Italian American guy from Brooklyn New York and I to am, (implying you are) a black belt in sarcasm. Sarcasm can manifest in many forms; sometimes noticeably blatant… sometimes as subtle as gossamer. And to make yourself extra clear there’s always the “wink” icon.

All that being said I do harbor a perpetual daydream that radio will be strong and good again and the righteous will prevail.

Still cautiously optimistic,

Louie

 

[grover]

Merry Christmas to All
I've been out of Radio except for KISS 94.5 Bangor
Image Work(That Ends This month) for 15 Months!
let go from WNSX Tuesday Sept 24th 2007
BUT LIFE goes on....I'm Thank Full for the Fun
years I had in the Biz! From WHDH/BOSTON to WNSX/ELLSWORTH
The Message of Christmas is HOPE!
With the Birth of "JESUS"
Remember What is said about Rich People
"It is FAR easier for a Camel to go thru the EYE of a needle
Than it is for a RICH man to enter the KINGDOM of HEAVEN"
Things will get BETTER!
Joe

 

[True Grit]

I realize I come off as cynical and/or negative, but given what's happened over the years, both to me personally and to the business in general, I'm incapable of wearing rose-colored glasses.

True Grit:

Hey now! Don’t think you folks in New England own the performance rights to sardonic repartee... “Not for nothing” I’m an Italian American guy from Brooklyn New York and I to am, (implying you are) a black belt in sarcasm. Sarcasm can manifest in many forms; sometimes noticeably blatant… sometimes as subtle as gossamer. And to make yourself extra clear there’s always the “wink” icon.

All that being said I do harbor a perpetual daydream that radio will be strong and good again and the righteous will prevail.

Still cautiously optimistic,

Louie

Hey, I wouldn't dream of hogging all the sardonic repartee; there's plenty to go around. Here, have another helping--

The May's and the Dickey's will be on skid row in a matter of time.

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

 

[Thom Rounds]

We (that is, radio in general) have been down this path before.

We've had periods of jukebox radio up and down the dial, with every station barely competing for a .1 share leg-up on the compeition. We've had periods of rapid ownership and numerous format changes per year, which only signal to the listener (and more importantly, potential customers) that "this station doesn't beleive in itself", and makes them reach for the tune knob.

What has always been the flagship of any resurgence has been a station that stood out, a station that exuded confidence, a station that didn't reek of fear that any given move they made might sink the ship.

The recurrent trend of radio management is penny-wise and pound-foolish. They can't (or don't try to) bring in the ad revenue, so they cut the head count. They start with the jocks, thinking that all the jock does is press the "play" button every 3.5 minutes. It's akin to buying a five-star restaurant and replacing the head chef with an robotic microwave, thinking that all the head chef does is heat the food.

When the money starts getting even thinner, it never occurs to them that it's because the product has gone to crap. They start letting sales people go, which means that not only is your product quality far inferior to what it was when you started, but now you've got fewer people to peddle what's left of the product. The money starts dwinding even quicker. They might as well go around to local businesses and say "here's 500 bucks, have a nice day".

Next thing you know, the station is up for sale, and the cycle starts all over again.

This is why the conglomerates got hit so hard. They were busting their asses the wrong way around, and still are. Anyone can sit at home with a free copy of Raduga and produce the exact same product these guys are trying to convince businesses to invest in. Businesses know that, so they aren't buying. You can't polish a turd.

You can run a great station that advertisers want to brand with on a handful of dimes, if you allocate those dimes the right way. Skimping on what makes the product saleable in the first place is the wrong way. If nothing in your product stands out from the competition, the listeners will not stop on your station, no matter how great you may have once been.

The fix will come when someone who understands these simple concepts gets put in charge of a station. You need to build a quality program first, the advertisers will soon show up. If you build it, they will come. It will cost you some money up front. If you aren't willing to make that investment, you shouldn't be in the business.

When that one station gets it right, others will start emulating what they do, and the business will turn around yet again.

I haven't given up on radio, just a few of the stations I used to work for. Someone will get it right if someone is willing to take a chance and let them.

Let's hope that's sooner than later.

 

[True Grit]

We (that is, radio in general) have been down this path before.

We've had periods of jukebox radio up and down the dial, with every station barely competing for a .1 share leg-up on the compeition. We've had periods of rapid ownership and numerous format changes per year, which only signal to the listener (and more importantly, potential customers) that "this station doesn't beleive in itself", and makes them reach for the tune knob.

What has always been the flagship of any resurgence has been a station that stood out, a station that exuded confidence, a station that didn't reek of fear that any given move they made might sink the ship.

The recurrent trend of radio management is penny-wise and pound-foolish. They can't (or don't try to) bring in the ad revenue, so they cut the head count. They start with the jocks, thinking that all the jock does is press the "play" button every 3.5 minutes. It's akin to buying a five-star restaurant and replacing the head chef with an robotic microwave, thinking that all the head chef does is heat the food.

When the money starts getting even thinner, it never occurs to them that it's because the product has gone to crap. They start letting sales people go, which means that not only is your product quality far inferior to what it was when you started, but now you've got fewer people to peddle what's left of the product. The money starts dwinding even quicker. They might as well go around to local businesses and say "here's 500 bucks, have a nice day".

Next thing you know, the station is up for sale, and the cycle starts all over again.

This is why the conglomerates got hit so hard. They were busting their asses the wrong way around, and still are. Anyone can sit at home with a free copy of Raduga and produce the exact same product these guys are trying to convince businesses to invest in. Businesses know that, so they aren't buying. You can't polish a turd.

You can run a great station that advertisers want to brand with on a handful of dimes, if you allocate those dimes the right way. Skimping on what makes the product saleable in the first place is the wrong way. If nothing in your product stands out from the competition, the listeners will not stop on your station, no matter how great you may have once been.

The fix will come when someone who understands these simple concepts gets put in charge of a station. You need to build a quality program first, the advertisers will soon show up. If you build it, they will come. It will cost you some money up front. If you aren't willing to make that investment, you shouldn't be in the business.

When that one station gets it right, others will start emulating what they do, and the business will turn around yet again.

I haven't given up on radio, just a few of the stations I used to work for. Someone will get it right if someone is willing to take a chance and let them.

Let's hope that's sooner than later.

From your lengthy, but well articulated post, the only station in the Bangor market that fits that description is 'KIT.

 

[Remaster]

Radio is in a great place technology-wise. What do we not have (or the power to get) that others lack? It's future is good if the personalities KNOW, can relate, and can translate. I think that is only half the problem. Many of the forward thinking are gone due to budget cuts.. The sad part is that it takes less people to fill these slots. I've felt the sting of a budget cuts and feel for anyone in that place but the medium of radio will carry on for generations

 

[ken gilbert]

Nice thread Louie & friends. Merry Christmas!

 

[louiemanno]

Back at you Kenny Gee