• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Portland Book

>
> > Too bad....because You and I worked together at a Portland
>
> > radio station several years ago! But I don't expect you
> to
> > remember me? Let's just say that I had a great deal of
> > respect for your broadcast philosophy when you were
> getting
> > started!
>
> Then I'd love to know who you are, since the only Portland
> radio station I've worked at since 1996 is WJBQ. Previous
> to that I did two years at WRED, and before that I worked at
> several stations in the Bangor area. If you don't want to
> post here on the board your identity, feel free to email it
> to me at the station.
>
Argy,by any chance were your on air initials "BG"?
 
>
> Argy,by any chance were your on air initials "BG"?
>

i can tell ya that Argy isn't BG.

but i can tell ya that BG's "on air" and "off air" initials are the same.

and BG's walked away from radio (for now) very peacefully and professionally, without any whining or prolonged "why me?" stuff. last i heard, BG is looking after his Dad after the loss of his Mom recently.
 
>
> Don't get me wrong Argy, I do agree with you on some points
> you make. Radio does have its problems. I just think your
> input would be better served to fix the problems you see
> with radio by taking a different approach in your posts.
> You come across as a bitter, out of work jock who yearns for
> the old days, rather then someone who sees problems with the
> business and is able to offer suggestions to fix them.

Bitterness might appear to be present in the posts I contribute...but a few of my words and expressions MIGHT call attention to a problem that continues to grow in this market: "Complacency!" 100% of everything available on the radio dial isn't terrible! [Maybe this is why 'ala carte listening' is the preferred choice of many members of the radio audience?]. But for friends (in and out of the business) who know who I am...."sugar and spice" aren't my style. I leave that for the on-air people who are "pretending to have a good time" during their shows!

I'm happy to offer many programming suggestions....but as you know already, Jeff, suggestions are only accepted IF THE SOLUTIONS "come cheap!" This is the reason I've refrained from offering new format ideas not present in this market. It's a simple case of a radio station taking any good programming idea and watering it down to the point where it doesn't make sense to even try it. And in order to let a listener know about a new format...the staff has to believe in it and promote the hell out of it!

"THE GOOD OLE DAYS"-----I don't want. GOOD RADIO STATIONS that relate to its listeners (not according to the whims of a consultant or a competitor) INTEREST ME MORE! Using the term: "the good ole days" is a cop-out excuse for DOING NOTHING!

Read yesterday's MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM article (in AUDIENCE) about WYAR, if you haven't already. 89.3FM's programming certainly isn't perfect, but at least its owner is making an attempt to try something different? More important...the station is attempting TO RELATE to an audience segment that most 'consultants' have already written off!

And what does this type of attitude mean for the 25-49 year olds you have now who will reach their 50s in the next 10-15 years?

"Wake up and smell the money"----what segment of the listening audience do you think REALLY has it?

argytunes
 
> >
> > > Too bad....because You and I worked together at a
> Portland
> >
> > > radio station several years ago! But I don't expect you
>
> > to
> > > remember me? Let's just say that I had a great deal of
> > > respect for your broadcast philosophy when you were
> > getting
> > > started!
> >
> > Then I'd love to know who you are, since the only Portland
>
> > radio station I've worked at since 1996 is WJBQ. Previous
>
> > to that I did two years at WRED, and before that I worked
> at
> > several stations in the Bangor area. If you don't want to
> > post here on the board your identity, feel free to email
> it
> > to me at the station.
> >
> Argy,by any chance were your on air initials "BG"?

NOPE!
>
 
> > >
> > > > Too bad....because You and I worked together at a
> > Portland
> > >
> > > > radio station several years ago! But I don't expect
> you
> >
> > > to
> > > > remember me? Let's just say that I had a great deal
> of
> > > > respect for your broadcast philosophy when you were
> > > getting
> > > > started!
> > >
> > > Then I'd love to know who you are, since the only
> Portland
> >
> > > radio station I've worked at since 1996 is WJBQ.
> Previous
> >
> > > to that I did two years at WRED, and before that I
> worked
> > at
> > > several stations in the Bangor area. If you don't want
> to
> > > post here on the board your identity, feel free to email
>
> > it
> > > to me at the station.
> > >
> > Argy,by any chance were your on air initials "BG"?
>
> NOPE!
> >How about "BP"?
>
 
> > > >
> > > > > Too bad....because You and I worked together at a
> > > Portland
> > > >
> > > > > radio station several years ago! But I don't expect
>
> > you
> > >
> > > > to
> > > > > remember me? Let's just say that I had a great deal
>
> > of
> > > > > respect for your broadcast philosophy when you were
> > > > getting
> > > > > started!
> > > >
> > > > Then I'd love to know who you are, since the only
> > Portland
> > >
> > > > radio station I've worked at since 1996 is WJBQ.
> > Previous
> > >
> > > > to that I did two years at WRED, and before that I
> > worked
> > > at
> > > > several stations in the Bangor area. If you don't want
>
> > to
> > > > post here on the board your identity, feel free to
> email
> >
> > > it
> > > > to me at the station.
> > > >
> > > Argy,by any chance were your on air initials "BG"?
> >
> > NOPE!
> > >How about "BP"?

SORRY...NOT HIM EITHER!
> >
>
 
> > > > >
> > > > > > Too bad....because You and I worked together at a
> > > > Portland
> > > > >
> > > > > > radio station several years ago! But I don't
> expect
> >
> > > you
> > > >
> > > > > to
> > > > > > remember me? Let's just say that I had a great
> deal
> >
> > > of
> > > > > > respect for your broadcast philosophy when you
> were
> > > > > getting
> > > > > > started!
> > > > >
> > > > > Then I'd love to know who you are, since the only
> > > Portland
> > > >
> > > > > radio station I've worked at since 1996 is WJBQ.
> > > Previous
> > > >
> > > > > to that I did two years at WRED, and before that I
> > > worked
> > > > at
> > > > > several stations in the Bangor area. If you don't
> want
> >
> > > to
> > > > > post here on the board your identity, feel free to
> > email
> > >
> > > > it
> > > > > to me at the station.
> > > > >
> > > > Argy,by any chance were your on air initials "BG"?
> > >
> > > NOPE!
> > > >How about "BP"?
>
> SORRY...NOT HIM EITHER!
> > >
> >
> It's GD, by the way
 
> > > Long live BLM.
> >
> > Then I guess they're going to need to ship it out to that
> > place in Arizona where they sent Ted Williams' head.
> >
>
> Don't even try and tell me that when the Bone is far, far
> below BLM. Hey, got a new morning show yet?
>

Oh Captai- er- I mean... you silly anonymous man that doesn't work for WBLM. Listen to you sputter. Frank whupped your (err, your favorite stations) hiney. The Bone even named a feature after your screen handle! Why so bitter?
 
Did anyone catch the Positive 89.3 WMSJ numbers? Across the board pretty decent numbers for a station (in Old Port's words) 'with more morning show hosts than listeners'

I truly don't wanna start a fight I'm just proud of the station. I think they are on the right track.

They have great imaging w/ Jeff Collins as their voice and all their shows are improving and at worst are SOLID.

This of course is one man's opinions of which we all have one.
 
> Did anyone catch the Positive 89.3 WMSJ numbers? Across the
> board pretty decent numbers for a station (in Old Port's
> words) 'with more morning show hosts than listeners'
>
> I truly don't wanna start a fight I'm just proud of the
> station. I think they are on the right track.
>
> They have great imaging w/ Jeff Collins as their voice and
> all their shows are improving and at worst are SOLID.
>
> This of course is one man's opinions of which we all have
> one.
>

Funny, every time this station gets mentioned, it's always someone with a brand new screen name out of nowhere. Straaange.

Oh, I don't know what you use, but the rest of us use Arbitron. I don't see any WMSJs on there.
 
No mistake there, three-for-thursday.

It's late-and I lack the energy for debate.

But let's also note that WMSJ is a non-profit ("educational") broadcaster mascarading as a commercial station. Also, it's got some fascinating translator applications out there.

Sorry "radio lover" but you'll find no fan of Christian broadcasting here. I'm all for free speech and reasonable religious broadcasting. And frankly, MSJ has been a fairly respectable member of a less then respectable group. But with these new translator apps, your beloved station has just become another repetitive FM band hog.

But really, that's a debate for another time.
 
> No mistake there, three-for-thursday.
>
> It's late-and I lack the energy for debate.
>
> But let's also note that WMSJ is a non-profit
> ("educational") broadcaster mascarading as a commercial
> station. Also, it's got some fascinating translator
> applications out there.
>
> Sorry "radio lover" but you'll find no fan of Christian
> broadcasting here. I'm all for free speech and reasonable
> religious broadcasting. And frankly, MSJ has been a fairly
> respectable member of a less then respectable group. But
> with these new translator apps, your beloved station has
> just become another repetitive FM band hog.
>
> But really, that's a debate for another time.

It would be interesting if 105.9 was sold to K-Love, as was hinted/commented on below. K-Love on WBCI would provide a tough challenge to WMSJ.
 
I've "lerked" long enough. I figure it's time to post.

> > Sorry "radio lover" but you'll find no fan of Christian
> > broadcasting here. I'm all for free speech and reasonable
> > religious broadcasting. And frankly, MSJ has been a fairly
> > respectable member of a less then respectable group.

Question for you.. why would you have to be a "fan of Christian broadcasting" to understand if a station is doing something right or not? I'm not a fan of some formats in the market, but I still think they are doing a real good job.

> > But with these new translator apps, your beloved station has
> > just become another repetitive FM band hog.

Since WMSJ is under 10,000 watts, and there is no room on the dial around 89.3 for a power increase, the only way WMSJ can grow is to pick up translators. Wouldn't you want your station to find a way to pick up more listeners with a bigger signal? With no similar format in MA or NH, why not try to reach the people in that area that would like to hear that format?

> It would be interesting if 105.9 was sold to K-Love, as was
> hinted/commented on below. K-Love on WBCI would provide a
> tough challenge to WMSJ.
>

WBCI will not sell. I know the owner, and he has repeatedly tried to be bought out, but will not sell. Will K-Love enter the market on some other dial position? Maybe, but they've had their chance, and so far haven't shown an interest in coming to Portland.

For the person who said "we all use Arbitron, and I don't see any WMSJ's here". WMSJ does use Arbitron, and in the book that just came out, WMSJ had the highest TSL in the market in a few different age range/time frame, and also had Top 5 in market share in numerous places. You may not like the station, the format, or think it can compete in Portland, but according to the Fall '05 book, WMSJ is becoming a player in Portland radio.

Enjoy your weekend.
 
> Funny, every time this station gets mentioned, it's always
> someone with a brand new screen name out of nowhere.
> Straaange.

Funny that you'd know the history of this station being mentioned on this forum and yet you've only been a member since 11/30/05. An entire 2 months. WOW! You're definately an authority.


> Oh, I don't know what you use, but the rest of us use
> Arbitron. I don't see any WMSJs on there.
>

You do know that non-com's are not mentioned in the public ratings right? Welcome to the world of radio.
 
> No mistake there, three-for-thursday.

Well it is a bit of a mistake.

> It's late-and I lack the energy for debate.

6:20 am is late? WoW!

> But let's also note that WMSJ is a non-profit
> ("educational") broadcaster mascarading as a commercial
> station. Also, it's got some fascinating translator
> applications out there.

Mascarading as a commercial station? O you mean by them having underwriters? Only 2 breaks an hour with only 6 minutes max total? Yeah that's sure is the big bad WMSJ trying to be a big boy commercial station.


> Sorry "radio lover" but you'll find no fan of Christian
> broadcasting here. I'm all for free speech and reasonable
> religious broadcasting.

No one's asking you to be a fan. Just asking for a good job, or bad job. It's amazing that everytime someone gets on this board to say something good someone else has to bash them for their opinion. Since when is an opinion harmful to have? Since when can someone not say..hey the station I like to listen too is doing ok. Since when is that wrong?


And frankly, MSJ has been a fairly
> respectable member of a less then respectable group.

Less then respectable group? What in the world are you talkig about. You're funny. Trying to use big words that are out of place and pulling random thoughts out of the air.

But> with these new translator apps, your beloved station has
> just become another repetitive FM band hog.

Oh that's right..it's not ok for a station that wants to cater to their listeners to want allow them to hear the station. Only if the NPR or whatever your station is was to do it...then it would be ok. The double standards implied are too much. I do however find it funny that all of you who "know what radio should be" and yet you've got nothing worthwile to give as a solution. Anyway that's my opinion and I'm sure I'm wrong in your eyes and that's just fine. I like what I like and you like what you like. You'll never change my mind or talk me out of my opinion. and if I don't respond to you and your retort it's not because I'm backing down it's just because I have more class.

Check
 
> > No mistake there, three-for-thursday.
>
> Well it is a bit of a mistake.
>
> > It's late-and I lack the energy for debate.
>
> 6:20 am is late? WoW!
>
> > But let's also note that WMSJ is a non-profit
> > ("educational") broadcaster mascarading as a commercial
> > station. Also, it's got some fascinating translator
> > applications out there.
>
> Mascarading as a commercial station? O you mean by them
> having underwriters? Only 2 breaks an hour with only 6
> minutes max total? Yeah that's sure is the big bad WMSJ
> trying to be a big boy commercial station.
>
>
> > Sorry "radio lover" but you'll find no fan of Christian
> > broadcasting here. I'm all for free speech and reasonable
> > religious broadcasting.
>
> No one's asking you to be a fan. Just asking for a good
> job, or bad job. It's amazing that everytime someone gets on
> this board to say something good someone else has to bash
> them for their opinion. Since when is an opinion harmful to
> have? Since when can someone not say..hey the station I
> like to listen too is doing ok. Since when is that wrong?
>
>
> And frankly, MSJ has been a fairly
> > respectable member of a less then respectable group.
>
> Less then respectable group? What in the world are you
> talkig about. You're funny. Trying to use big words that
> are out of place and pulling random thoughts out of the air.
>
>
> But> with these new translator apps, your beloved station
> has
> > just become another repetitive FM band hog.
>
> Oh that's right..it's not ok for a station that wants to
> cater to their listeners to want allow them to hear the
> station. Only if the NPR or whatever your station is was to
> do it...then it would be ok. The double standards implied
> are too much. I do however find it funny that all of you who
> "know what radio should be" and yet you've got nothing
> worthwile to give as a solution. Anyway that's my opinion
> and I'm sure I'm wrong in your eyes and that's just fine. I
> like what I like and you like what you like. You'll never
> change my mind or talk me out of my opinion. and if I don't
> respond to you and your retort it's not because I'm backing
> down it's just because I have more class.
>
> Check

Just a teense defensive, no?

Amd did someone ask for the check? You and the God squad are buying.
>
 
> > No mistake there, three-for-thursday.
>
> Well it is a bit of a mistake.
>
> > It's late-and I lack the energy for debate.
>
> 6:20 am is late? WoW!
>
> > But let's also note that WMSJ is a non-profit
> > ("educational") broadcaster mascarading as a commercial
> > station. Also, it's got some fascinating translator
> > applications out there.
>
> Mascarading as a commercial station? O you mean by them
> having underwriters? Only 2 breaks an hour with only 6
> minutes max total? Yeah that's sure is the big bad WMSJ
> trying to be a big boy commercial station.
>
>
> > Sorry "radio lover" but you'll find no fan of Christian
> > broadcasting here. I'm all for free speech and reasonable
> > religious broadcasting.
>
> No one's asking you to be a fan. Just asking for a good
> job, or bad job. It's amazing that everytime someone gets on
> this board to say something good someone else has to bash
> them for their opinion. Since when is an opinion harmful to
> have? Since when can someone not say..hey the station I
> like to listen too is doing ok. Since when is that wrong?
>
>
> And frankly, MSJ has been a fairly
> > respectable member of a less then respectable group.
>
> Less then respectable group? What in the world are you
> talkig about. You're funny. Trying to use big words that
> are out of place and pulling random thoughts out of the air.
>
>
> But> with these new translator apps, your beloved station
> has
> > just become another repetitive FM band hog.
>
> Oh that's right..it's not ok for a station that wants to
> cater to their listeners to want allow them to hear the
> station. Only if the NPR or whatever your station is was to
> do it...then it would be ok. The double standards implied
> are too much. I do however find it funny that all of you who
> "know what radio should be" and yet you've got nothing
> worthwile to give as a solution. Anyway that's my opinion
> and I'm sure I'm wrong in your eyes and that's just fine. I
> like what I like and you like what you like. You'll never
> change my mind or talk me out of my opinion. and if I don't
> respond to you and your retort it's not because I'm backing
> down it's just because I have more class.
>
> Check

Just a teense defensive, no?

And did someone ask for the check? You and the God squad are buying.
>
 
> For the person who said "we all use Arbitron, and I don't
> see any WMSJ's here". WMSJ does use Arbitron, and in the
> book that just came out, WMSJ had the highest TSL in the
> market in a few different age range/time frame, and also had
> Top 5 in market share in numerous places. You may not like
> the station, the format, or think it can compete in
> Portland, but according to the Fall '05 book, WMSJ is
> becoming a player in Portland radio.


I think it's a damn shame that radio has gotten to the point where "commercial stations" are judged against the non-commercial ones.

Perhaps it's easier for an employee of a commercial radio station to put down an alternative 'non-sponsored station?' Talk is cheap...making improvements are more difficult.

Face it...if there ARE LISTENERS to an alternative formatted radio station that isn't commercially sponsored or funded, LEAVE 'EM ALONE AND LET 'EM LISTEN!

Stop using ARBITRON (or any other rating service) as the determining factor for the success or failure of a radio station! Most of us know that "it's the luck of the draw!" The age group of people who receive diaries...or even receive a phone call...has a tendency to vary from one ratings book to another!

Nobody is twisting anybody's arm to listen to any radio station or enjoy any particular format. It comes down to personal choice.

And with all due respect to a few of the 'smart A's' who currently work for a commercial radio station who find it easier to criticize A NON-SPONSORED or NON-COMMERCIAL FORMAT.....why not work on cleaning up some of the "on-air garbage" that's present on YOUR frequency right now? OR...if you can't do that...give me the name of a radio station in this market that couldn't use some form of "programming improvement?"

argytunes
 
Actually, your post isn't to be discounted. I respect your opinions and since I came across rather harsh-I see why you had trouble accepting mine.

I made a mistake is characterizing MSJ as just another Christian station. They provide a lot of local content, clearly fill a need (if evidenced by the number of Joy 89.3 bumper stickers I see) and have a clean sounding on-air product.

I'm also smart enough to know that non-commercials do appear in the ratings, but are generally ignored. There is, and I say this as someone who draws a paycheck from a non-profit, a good reason for this (in my not-so-humble opinion)--non-profits shouldn't be concerned about ratings-they should be concerned about their message. I have little doubt that the higher ups at MSJ and MPBN agree with this. Worrying about ratings is how the idiosyncrasies like liner cards, boring stopsets and repetitive playlists develop at (some, not all) commercial stations.

As it should-commercial stations are ratings driven because they exist to make money-non-profits exist to get a message across.

In a little bit, once I pull together some more research-I'll post my complete thoughts on this issue and a bit of background on me-which you can feel free to pick apart or just ignore. Frankly, debate about issues-rather than personal attacks and non-constructive criticism (which I myself have been guilty) is why I started posting on this board in the first place. I love radio-and have no doubt that just about everyone else here loves it too-regardless of their favorite format.
 
Stop using ARBITRON (or any other rating service) as the
> determining factor for the success or failure of a radio
> station! Most of us know that "it's the luck of the draw!"
> The age group of people who receive diaries...or even
> receive a phone call...has a tendency to vary from one
> ratings book to another!

I agree you very much here. See my above post-there's no need for perfectly good non-comms to worry about market share. And ultimately, it would be nice if commercial stations stopped worrying about the book so much too. I also wish people cared more about going to a high school sports game than who won.

> Nobody is twisting anybody's arm to listen to any radio
> station or enjoy any particular format. It comes down to
> personal choice.

Also agree here.

> And with all due respect to a few of the 'smart A's' who
> currently work for a commercial radio station who find it
> easier to criticize A NON-SPONSORED or NON-COMMERCIAL
> FORMAT.....why not work on cleaning up some of the "on-air
> garbage" that's present on YOUR frequency right now?
> OR...if you can't do that...give me the name of a radio
> station in this market that couldn't use some form of
> "programming improvement?"

Not sure if you meant me-but see my above post. I pull, maybe $80 bucks a month from a commercial station. Hardly enough to buy my soul.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom