> I don't get why Jack stations are jockless. Our Jack clone
> The Peak has personalties all day and night. I do think it
> helps drive your station. When you have personalities that
> can relate to the listener, banter back and forth with them.
> I think it makes for a more FUN presentation on the air. I
> mean if the listener wanted to hear their favorite songs
> they could just get an IPOD. They turn on the radio to hear
> something they cant get from a jukebox. So why no
> personalities on the Jack stations
Not all JACK-FM, or Variety Hits stations in general, are jockless. KFMB-FM in
San Diego, which is a JACK-FM station, retained its morning drive show. WBUF in
Buffalo, another JACK-FM station, has
Howard Stern syndicated in morning drive (albeit only because of contractual requirements).
The iPod comparisons irk me in that an iPod is a very personalized experience. Variety Hits is a format programmed to appeal to a broad base of people with hit songs that don't receive a great deal of airplay relative to their recognition/appeal. The only real similarities I see are the variety of music both can have and the way that chatter is non-present with both.
As for personalities, some stations are getting on board with it. Canada is filled with VH stations that have personalities (though Canada, sadly, gets ignored all the time, from a "how long will this format last?" POV to the personality issue). But, for example, in
Champaign/Urbana, IL, just this week their VH station, 92.5 The Chief, announced that they'd have live jocks from 5 AM-8 PM. So it's being implemented slowly but surely in some places...<P ID="signature">______________
Lou Pickney
Tampa, FL
RadioHotTalk.com &
VarietyHits.com</P>