OFCOURSE I'M BROKE... I WORK IN RADIO.

[RADIO TRUTH]

Addressing earlier posts of David Eduardo.....

Various wimax systems will be available for free distribution of various programming products. Radio, through history has had an artificial monopoly because there are a limited amount of frequencies in the broadcast spectrum. The U. S. government agencies will not let that happen with internet or there will be a ton of antitrust lawsuits against the phone or other companies who control wimax, as well as whatever U. S. government agency that acts as a governing agency for internet. It's one thing to have a controlled monopoly because of limited space in the broadcast spectrum. It's another thing to try to artificially control competition when the internet has unlimited space for competition. Unlimited competition for radio with wimax can only hurt, dilute and fragment any local radio station in any market. Local radio stations, at this point in history, make a feeble attempt to be local anyway. Since the laws lowered the requirements of local news and public affairs, all music does the minimum in local news. If local radio is so efficient then how is it that Howard Stern did so well as a nationally syndicated show in morning drive rather than the stations that ran his show do local programming? This shows that those local stations that ran Stern, thought he was more valuable than any local morning drive personality they could put on. How is it that Don Imus is now actively being syndicated to stations around the country if all these stations want to be local. If you were talking local radio in the 60s, you would be right but, in 2008 stations would rather run cheaply than have the expense of real quality local morning programming. Wimax is going to make all local radio highly vulnerable. The local stations will still retain audience but, they are going to be picked at from all sides with unlimited wimax choices on internet. In a world where a station like WCBS-FM has four full time djs each working five hour shifts and the overnight is automated, I doubt that any local station is going to spend any significant money to be more local at a time when they need to do it and lots of wimax competition is on the horizon. While only 30% of radio listening is in cars, wimax will level the playing field for internet broadcasters versus local radio and if there is a program that can grab the listener's attention like Howard Stern did and Imus does, it will not matter if it is a local or national show. Local radio's numbers, as the technology progresses, will be going down. It is inevitable.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

Next we address the royalties question.....

There are a group of attorneys who represent the digital broadcasters association. The Internet Radio Equality Act is only one possibility but, this is far from over. There are a number of unresolved legal issues. Again, as above, this all deals with antitrust. Once there is an agreement, it will be for all internet broadcasters.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

And now WCBS-FM.....

WCBS-FM billed $43,000,000 when it was the number one station 35-54 in New York with about a 5.0. WCBS-FM will never approach those numbers with its current format
ever again. Taking this one step further, all of the CBS owned classic hit stations have very static ratings. They all make money but, will never see the billings that they did at their best as oldies stations. I do expect WCBS-FM to do better than the $18,000,000 it did as Jack. The $64000 question is how much better? This brings up another question. If the CBS owned classic hit stations are doing so well and doing such a great job being local, why did CBS buy lastfm.com as a means of distributing various other forms of radio programming?

 

[little1]

Because CBS sees themselves not as a radio company but as a content delivery company? And it doesn't matter if the format they use to deliver it is radio or wimax, it's all about delivering the content to the consumers.

Which is why i still think internet radio as some of you people describe it is never going to be able to compete with terrstial radio. Because if push comes to shove, do you think CBS or any other major company will just LET internet stations start picking off their audience? At that point they redo contracts to stream music, they redo contracts to have DJ's do air and stream shows, and the massive powers of CBS's, etc obliterate some dude 'programming' a station out of his garage from his PC...

 

[busyradioguy]

Because CBS sees themselves not as a radio company but as a content delivery company? And it doesn't matter if the format they use to deliver it is radio or wimax, it's all about delivering the content to the consumers.

Which is why i still think internet radio as some of you people describe it is never going to be able to compete with terrstial radio. Because if push comes to shove, do you think CBS or any other major company will just LET internet stations start picking off their audience? At that point they redo contracts to stream music, they redo contracts to have DJ's do air and stream shows, and the massive powers of CBS's, etc obliterate some dude 'programming' a station out of his garage from his PC...

Someone give me a holler when Radio Truth's Internet Station is #1 in the Nation, thanks.

 

[davideduardo]

WCBS-FM billed $43,000,000 when it was the number one station 35-54 in New York with about a 5.0. WCBS-FM will never approach those numbers with its current format

I did a 4 book average for 2000 when CBS FM did over $40 million. It was not #1 35-64, although it did have a 6.0 share in that demo. I did the same for 2003 and the station was #3 in the demo with about a 4.8 share. For 2005 it was 10th with a 3.0 share. In other words, the erosion was consistent and gradual.

In Winter, 2008 the stastion is back in the 4's, the area where they were billing $33 to $34 million. As the format reestablishes itself, it is likely billing will harbour around $35 million... the difference from 2000 being more related to the economy and fragmentation than the format itself.

 

[domino]

I wish I would've read this thread earlier. No one on here has stepped up and mentioned the obvious flaw for most on air talent. Most DJ's don't try to make the station they work for ANY MONEY. You want job security, make your station money. You can do it with ratings, your connections with the community, BY GOING ON SALES CALLS. Most the people that sell radio now days have no clue on what they are selling and no passion for the product. I can't tell you how many deals I closed with a sales person. The talent of today has to be cognizant with what radio is really about. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE REVENUE!!! Make sure you do everything you can to add to the bottom line. I've been in the biz 27 years and I still get excited everyday to go to work. Radio is actually in a great place right now. While most people are negative and crying, the opportunities for the people that get it are endless. Evolve with the times and you will continue to succeed

 

[busyradioguy]

I wish I would've read this thread earlier. No one on here has stepped up and mentioned the obvious flaw for most on air talent. Most DJ's don't try to make the station they work for ANY MONEY. You want job security, make your station money. You can do it with ratings, your connections with the community, BY GOING ON SALES CALLS. Most the people that sell radio now days have no clue on what they are selling and no passion for the product. I can't tell you how many deals I closed with a sales person. The talent of today has to be cognizant with what radio is really about. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE REVENUE!!! Make sure you do everything you can to add to the bottom line. I've been in the biz 27 years and I still get excited everyday to go to work. Radio is actually in a great place right now. While most people are negative and crying, the opportunities for the people that get it are endless. Evolve with the times and you will continue to succeed

Yet another con-sultant roaming the boards. :

 

[little1]

I wish I would've read this thread earlier. No one on here has stepped up and mentioned the obvious flaw for most on air talent. Most DJ's don't try to make the station they work for ANY MONEY. You want job security, make your station money. You can do it with ratings, your connections with the community, BY GOING ON SALES CALLS. Most the people that sell radio now days have no clue on what they are selling and no passion for the product. I can't tell you how many deals I closed with a sales person. The talent of today has to be cognizant with what radio is really about. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE REVENUE!!! Make sure you do everything you can to add to the bottom line.

Probably 3/4ths of the people here just don't get that obvious point. yes this can be an art, but at it's core, it's a "bid-ness". And if you're not contributing to the bottom line somehow, someway, you're a cost center and not a profit center.

I've seen jocks who'll go out of their way to go on a sales call with a rep to see a client, and I've seen jocks who'd rather have their genitalia cut off then go on a sales call. Well, guess who's show makes more money, and guess who's job is a little bit safer...

And yes, there's a line between "whoring" yourself out and being cooperative with sales. I don't advocate 'whoring' youself out.

But a jock is shooting himself (or herself) in the foot by saying something like "I don't want to do live spots'. (and I've seen a number of jocks say EXACTLY that). Because what you're telling your bosses is 'I don't want to do something which will make the station 1.5, 2x maybe even 3x the money that a regular spot in that slot would make us"

 

[little1]

I wish I would've read this thread earlier. No one on here has stepped up and mentioned the obvious flaw for most on air talent. Most DJ's don't try to make the station they work for ANY MONEY. You want job security, make your station money. You can do it with ratings, your connections with the community, BY GOING ON SALES CALLS. Most the people that sell radio now days have no clue on what they are selling and no passion for the product. I can't tell you how many deals I closed with a sales person. The talent of today has to be cognizant with what radio is really about. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE REVENUE!!! Make sure you do everything you can to add to the bottom line. I've been in the biz 27 years and I still get excited everyday to go to work. Radio is actually in a great place right now. While most people are negative and crying, the opportunities for the people that get it are endless. Evolve with the times and you will continue to succeed

Yet another con-sultant roaming the boards. :

I think we have a pretty good idea that Domino isn't a consultant. But nice job of running out a canned response while completely ignoring the content of his post.

 

[busyradioguy]

Live spot? Wait you mean a jock who reads the spot on the air live?

If that's the case, that practice went out the door decades ago.

Like a listener is going to know a jock is reading a spot live.... Much less the advertiser.

 

[busyradioguy]

I wish I would've read this thread earlier. No one on here has stepped up and mentioned the obvious flaw for most on air talent. Most DJ's don't try to make the station they work for ANY MONEY. You want job security, make your station money. You can do it with ratings, your connections with the community, BY GOING ON SALES CALLS. Most the people that sell radio now days have no clue on what they are selling and no passion for the product. I can't tell you how many deals I closed with a sales person. The talent of today has to be cognizant with what radio is really about. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE REVENUE!!! Make sure you do everything you can to add to the bottom line. I've been in the biz 27 years and I still get excited everyday to go to work. Radio is actually in a great place right now. While most people are negative and crying, the opportunities for the people that get it are endless. Evolve with the times and you will continue to succeed

Yet another con-sultant roaming the boards. :

I think we have a pretty good idea that Domino isn't a consultant. But nice job of running out a canned response while completely ignoring the content of his post.

I read tthe content of his post just fine. And for that matter, I paid no attention to who the poster is. To me, that doesn't matter. The message is the same one I hear over and over and over, and I still don't agree with. Radio is a public service first, profit center second.

As soon as the FCC does away with the station license requirements, then I can agree with the con-sultant bit.

 

[little1]

I read tthe content of his post just fine. And for that matter, I paid no attention to who the poster is. To me, that doesn't matter. The message is the same one I hear over and over and over, and I still don't agree with. Radio is a public service first, profit center second.

As soon as the FCC does away with the station license requirements, then I can agree with the con-sultant bit.

The problem with that is the FCC does nothing to actually make a station a "public service'. They might pay lip service to the concept, but when was the last time a company lost their license for not serving their community enough? For NOT putting public service first?

So why you may WISH that public service came first and profit center second, reality bites. And in the real world, profit is much more of a concern for most stations that the 'quaint' notion of serving the public.

Not saying i agree with it, just calling it like I see it.

And I'm not asking you to agree with it, but rather to acknowledge reality.

 

[eliseatheduck]

Reality? radio is dying ,withering on the vine. Its worse off than it was 20 years ago. You can spin numbers all you want and agree with merges and deregulation. In the meantime another listener just left you because you ignored them. You failed to serve their needs ,wants and desires and I don't mean sex. You sell, your advertisers believe your illusion that radio is fine, yet another person just walked by listening to an ipod or Iphone and you wont try to get them back.
Sorry salesboy and consultants ,if anyone needs a reality check,you should "check into it".

 

[busyradioguy]

I read tthe content of his post just fine. And for that matter, I paid no attention to who the poster is. To me, that doesn't matter. The message is the same one I hear over and over and over, and I still don't agree with. Radio is a public service first, profit center second.

As soon as the FCC does away with the station license requirements, then I can agree with the con-sultant bit.

The problem with that is the FCC does nothing to actually make a station a "public service'. They might pay lip service to the concept, but when was the last time a company lost their license for not serving their community enough? For NOT putting public service first?

So why you may WISH that public service came first and profit center second, reality bites. And in the real world, profit is much more of a concern for most stations that the 'quaint' notion of serving the public.

Not saying i agree with it, just calling it like I see it.

And I'm not asking you to agree with it, but rather to acknowledge reality.

This is the same ole' weak 'n' tired argument... Not asking me to agree, but asking me to acknowledge? The reality you're asking me to acknowledge is only believed in by the con artists in con-sultantville. Radio got screwed the day Clinton signed that damn Telecom act into law. Radio as it should be, is now six feet under. Stop by the grave sometime and see how no one even leaves flowers anymore. This is the only reality I will acknowledge.

 

[busyradioguy]

Reality? radio is dying ,withering on the vine. Its worse off than it was 20 years ago. You can spin numbers all you want and agree with merges and deregulation. In the meantime another listener just left you because you ignored them. You failed to serve their needs ,wants and desires and I don't mean sex. You sell, your advertisers believe your illusion that radio is fine, yet another person just walked by listening to an ipod or Iphone and you wont try to get them back.
Sorry salesboy and consultants ,if anyone needs a reality check,you should "check into it".

Yep, or to paraphrase, "The ants go marching one by one... hoorahhh, hoorahhh".

Think I'll fry the consult-ants in the back yard ant mound, with some ERP.

 

[Brokenhearted Bill]

If you were to apply the true economic factors to the radio salary scale, I am confident that you would find that salaries have diminished since the 1970s.

You can chalk up a great deal of that to deregulation, especially allowing multiple ownerships in one market.

And radio ownership/management decided that talent no longer needed to be a factor for on-air work.

I started at 14 (1954). I have a photostat (no copy machines then) of my first check and the stub. I was paid $6 an hour. I did much, much better than that when I went to New Orleans in 1958. But I think a lot of that had to do with radio people jumping ship for TV, thinking that radio was a dying business.

Within the past five years, I've done some on-camera TV and have been paid well for that, although it was nothing more than a part-time job...but fun. And I've done some voice-over which I also thought I was paid well of, but again, not enough of that.

Today's radio is best for retired radio dudes who want something to do. It is hardly the place for a young person wanting to develop a career.

 

[little1]

in 1958. (snip), thinking that radio was a dying business.

So people have been thinking that radio was a dying buisness for the last 50 years?

Imagine that.

Which is why I have a hard time taking seriously the doomsayers that say 'radio is being killed by ipods, internet radio, xm/sirius, etc".

If radio has been on it's deathbed for the last FIFTY years, doesn't that tell us that either it's healthier than some people are giving it credit for, or that it's extremely hard to kill, or that radio is like the flu virus, always mutating...

And just like the flu virus, there might be some years that the vaccine works really well, and teh flu does poorly, but there are also years where the radio/flu does just fine, thank you very much...

 

[davideduardo]

Today's radio is best for retired radio dudes who want something to do. It is hardly the place for a young person wanting to develop a career.

Tell that to the under-20 guy I put on a suburban station to do overnights 15 years ago who worked his way to daytime and then mornings and now has a 7-figure salary.

 

[busyradioguy]

Today's radio is best for retired radio dudes who want something to do. It is hardly the place for a young person wanting to develop a career.

Tell that to the under-20 guy I put on a suburban station to do overnights 15 years ago who worked his way to daytime and then mornings and now has a 7-figure salary.

Doesn't work, because radio deregulation didn't start 15 years ago.

Radio is killing itself, because of deregulation. It started in 1996.