mo rock said:
paul, i think we’ve established that this is strictly dialogue between you and i and none of it is personal, so i don’t think you will be offended when i say you are exhibiting the classic symptoms of Stockholme Syndrome. Held hostage by the anomaly that is your stations success in a dying medium (rock radio) you have no choice but to believe some of the things you say while clearly stating subconscious disdain for them.
Oh...make no mistake. It's not subconscious at all. I absolutely
hate the way radio is right now. I think I'm well quoted on this in just about every interview/self-flagellating piece I've ever done. However...based upon the parameters we are asked to work within, there is a system that allows for success. Do I like it? Hell no. Do I personally embrace it in my own musical consumption? No I do not. But, what I
do do (heheh doodoo) is understand that this is a job, and I am paid to do it to the best of my abilities. I happen to love what I do every day. I cannot control the songs. Pearl Jam is Pearl Jam. Same on every station that plays them...But I
can control what comes between them. And that is truly what makes the difference. And this is where (respectfully) I believe you're losing focus. You see these proven songs as an albatross. I see them as a tool to connect. I want the person hearing me play this song to identify with my attachment to it more than the other guy.
Then...once I have established that legitimate credibility with the listener, I have the latitude to expand within the brand. I would bet I own the "metal" position in my market. Me personally. And yet I don't host the metal show. Why? Because a reference here & there expands our brand. I use Black Sabbath's 30-year old song to connect them to the Cradle Of Filth kid. And we get credit for more than we do. I don't have to actually
play certain songs to own the position. That's how you work within the confines.
If Kings Of Leon (and I use them for consistency sake) were on Letterman, I'd reference it. The person who enjoys their music will see that we embrace the band. And those that don't...would see the reference for a reference. That's what we do...we're attempting to make a legitimate emotional connection with the audience. Anything that causes them to listen. Not just have us on. But
actively listen....is a win. Radio is so much more than
playing music. People don't listen for the music. They truly don't.
They listen to feel connected to the music. And you can make that connection without actually playing the song.
mo rock said:
a station’s audience is not a stagnant number. if i perform in a comedy club, the audience is the number of people in the seats. radio’s audience is ever revolving and can be any given number depending on what you serve them at that given moment but more often regularly, therefore, in my uneducated opinion, serve the medium, not what one thinks the audience is and the audience will be there. maybe we’re arguing semantics, but a statement like, “those with the highest numbers win” is indicative of the shortsighted thinking that caused mistakes at nabco. the devil stated in dante’s inferno that “it is better to rule in hell than serve in heaven”, well sometimes its better to be around forever at number 3 than 3 years at number 1 and then flame out because success stunted your growth when it renedered you too afraid to experiment.
Or...as has been the case since long before I got here. You can spend years at #1 in your target demos. And the...using this system we both seem to hate...you can have a PD walk in and enhance the brand to achieve its greatest performance. What you see as "short-sighted" is reality. In this instant benefit world. Nobody cares what you did last week. Or has the patience to wait. Give me the best now. And PPM is going to make it "worse" before it gets better. New music is going to be almost nonexistent.
mo rock said:
one other thing, the very statement “i don’t get the Kings Of Leon” is why it is incumbent more stations play them. because it’s new. it’s different. i don’t think they are the greatest band in the world, and i think Band Of Horses more worthy of the exposure, but damn, it’s nice to hear a band on the radio that’s not a regurgitation (Hinder). and like others, i think they are as active as rock gets. but you have the job my friend.
New? Hardly. I was exposed to the band 6 years ago while in Sacramento. They were unfortunately packaged as a "Christian band." And this latest single is truly an acknowledgment to U2. Another band that has no place (IMHO) on Active Rock.
There's nothing "new" about this band at all. And there's nothing "Active Rock" about them at all. That doesn't make the songs bad. It just means that a lot of Active Rock stations are dealing with an identity crisis and reaching for good music for the short-term. And the potential expense of their heritage brand. Which goes back to the....is the heritage brand worth protecting? In my market. Yes. It is strong and successful. So, we avoid anything that might take away from what we are.
