"Public airwaves"

[A- Game]

Has anyone else ever wondered if given a choice, people would prefer to hear a live and local person on the radio, rather than Ryan Seacrest, Delilah, or some disembodied voice-track? Since the day Bill Clinton signed Telecom '96 into law, a once rich, vibrant and locally important medium has been hollowed out and commodified to the point where it bears little resemblance to what it was before it was sold to the highest bidders, who went on a feeding frenzy using leveraged buyouts to gobble up radio stations from coast to coast, until only a handful of corporations controlled everything you hear. It's been sad and disgusting to watch this long slow circle to the bottom of the drain. The result is that what you hear in Cleveland is what you hear in Jacksonville, Sacramento, Memphis, San Antonio, and Tulsa. The local flavor of radio has been sucked out, discarded and replaced by a homogenized one size fits all, same menu everywhere paradigm, just like McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, or Wendy's. At the same time hundreds and hundreds of careers are being flushed away, as these companies struggle to manage all the bad debt that they created. People who have done nothing but radio all their lives are being tossed out into a job market that neither wants or needs their talents. The people who run this game today like to think of themselves as broadcasters, but in reality they are salesmen and systems managers who must squeeze harder and cut more fat every year in order to remain competetive with not only other companies, but also with the other brands they manage. I read someone on this forum refer to "The public's airwaves". Well, they once were. But today radio stations are no longer a public trust, but just another commodity to be mined for corporate profit. Walk the cavernous hallways of these corporate clusters these days and you'd be lucky to bump into another human being. The on air studios are empty, except for the computer screens and the voice of soem guy or gal who has never set foot in out city sending a "Shout out to the folks listening at FedEx" Or some other local company on their e-mail list that day. They might even put on a fake phone call or two, just to make the illusion even more believable. But it sure was fun while it lasted.

 

[tomservo]

So, which station did you get let go from? ;D

I feel your pain, but the numbers don't lie. Radio listening is still sky high. The people have apparently spoken and they don't care where the voice is as long as it's not too obviously out of market. I find it hard to believe that anyone cares about Ryan Seacrest or John Tesh enough to tune in to their shows specifically for them, but these syndicated national-scope programs have obviously not dented the revenues and ratings or they'd be gone.

We're probably to the point now where an entire generation has been able to grow up on canned, voicetracked and syndicated radio programming, so "live and local" would be completely foreign to them.

 

[TheBigA]

replaced by a homogenized one size fits all, same menu everywhere paradigm, just like McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, or Wendy's.

Know why? Because all the local department stores, hardware stores, burger shops, and other local advertisers got replaced by national chains. You can't have local radio without local advertisers, and most of are long gone.

 

[A- Game]

"We're probably to the point now where an entire generation has been able to grow up on canned, voicetracked and syndicated radio programming, so "live and local" would be completely foreign to them."

Correct. An undisputable statement of fact. And it gives my point even more clarity. An entire generation thinks that the way things are is perfecly fine and knows no differently. Congratulations to those who have helped make it so.

"all the local department stores, hardware stores, burger shops, and other local advertisers got replaced by national chains. You can't have local radio without local advertisers, and most of are long gone."

More unvarnished truth. And a sad commentary on what we as a nation have become. When I was in the game I heard over and over how we were now competing with all the new technology that delivered musical content. I-Pads. Pandora. etc. It doesn't make sense because it assmumes that radio's base worth is that of a music delivery system. If that assumption is correct, then radio is a loser right out of the chute. I could just download the station's playlist and set it to shuffle and not have to listen to 14 minutes of commercials to break up my jamming to Lady Gaga, Tim McGraw, Beyonce, Elton John, Adele, and Taylor Swift. If people really want more music and really hate someone's voice interrupting it, they can have that. Following that logic, why not get rid of ALL those annoying voices on the radio. If people really start tuning out afer 15 seconds of talk just eliminate all of it. Imagine how much money you'd save if you fired all of the voice-trackers too!

 

[TheBigA]

An entire generation thinks that the way things are is perfecly fine and knows no differently. Congratulations to those who have helped make it so.

Consider that boomers grew up never knowing how great radio was in the 30s and 40s. They re-made radio into a much cheaper version of what came before. Then they allowed it to be expanded in the 80s so there were far more radio stations than local markets could financially support. And now those boomers are complaining that the next generation doesn't know how great things were. Amazing how history repeats itself.

I could just download the station's playlist and set it to shuffle and not have to listen to 14 minutes of commercials to break up my jamming to Lady Gaga, Tim McGraw, Beyonce, Elton John, Adele, and Taylor Swift.

Except you'd have to take the time and effort to do that, plus spend money. Let's face it: Most people are cheap and lazy. They eat at McDonalds because it's cheap and quick. Those people aren't going to spend money and time downloading songs.

 

[KFodor]

As I recall, most of we baby boomers were working inside the stations you are talking about.

Few of us work for the FCC...even fewer of us have the money to buy radio stations. We work in radio, remember? ;D

Blaming our generation for radio's problems? Blame Bill Clinton for dereg, but also don't forget it was begun under Jimmy Carter, who tried to reduce the mountain of paperwork that went into station renewal applications (which did make sense at the time). I think that some of dereg made sense, other parts...the baby got thrown out with the bathwater.

Perhaps the question that should be asked here is: if listeners are satisfied with what they are getting today (agreed...a sad commentary), were flannel mouthed DJ's ever needed at all? All we needed was the technology. Bottom line, though...we can rage and scream about it all we want. It is what it is. Now, we have to make the best of it and make the voice tracking sound as live as possible...which you can do, if you put the work in it.

 

[TheBigA]

Blaming our generation for radio's problems?

I don't know that I did that. I blame boomers for thinking there's only one approach to radio, the one that came about on their watch, it's always been that way, and it's the best. The previous generatio n grew up with a different type of radio. They loved it too, but it changed. This next generation will change radio too, and adapt it to fit the current environment. In fact, they already have. It's different from what radio was in the 80s, but that doesn't make it bad. Just different.

Blame Bill Clinton for dereg,

Deregulation is about government, not radio. The fact is that kids misbehave once their parents leave. Radio was forced to operate a certain way by government regulations. That didn't make it right. Once those regulations were removed, radio companies behaved more naturally, rather than doing what some outside regulator forced them to do. By the way, radio deregulation was a fully bi-partisan act, overwhelmingly passed by the Senate 81 to 18, and the House 414 to 16. In the House 236 Republicans voted in favor, compared to 178 Democrats. Don't blame Bill Clinton. Blame everyone. Blame the fact that time marches on, and things change.

 

[A- Game]

Deregulation is about government, not banking. The fact is that kids misbehave once their parents leave. Banks were forced to operate a certain way by government regulations. That didn't make it right. Once those regulations were removed, banks behaved more naturally, rather than doing what some outside regulator forced them to do. By the way, banking deregulation was a fully bi-partisan act, overwhelmingly passed by the Senate ,and the House . Don't blame Bill Clinton. Blame everyone. Blame the fact that time marches on, and things change........ Boy have they ever.

 

[snazzyjazzy]

Talk radio is what will keep radio a viable medium for a few years longer anyway. I don't see too many youngsters going to the radio for music anymore because of iPods. That's why you are hearing more and more talk on the FM dial. Back in the 1980's and 1990's, talk was pretty much relegated to the AM dial because FM had become the dial for music with its stereo signals. AM stereo never really caught on.

Syndication and automation, in my opinion, became the rage in smaller markets before medium and large markets. National media companies figured listeners would rather hear a polished, national, voice, than some hick in middle of nowhere Mississippi. Then, the domino effect kicked in with corporate greed with local personalities getting replaced in bigger and bigger markets. The farm system for radio personalities got destroyed with so much syndication and automation going on in the smaller markets.

 

[TheBigA]

Talk radio is what will keep radio a viable medium for a few years longer anyway. I don't see too many youngsters going to the radio for music anymore because of iPods. That's why you are hearing more and more talk on the FM dial.

Hmmm... Actually talk radio, especially conservative talk radio, is in decline right now, because it's demo is aging, and advertisers don't want to be associated with controversy. Sports talk radio is growing. Music radio is still huge because people have to program iPods, but radios program themselves. Also iPods cost money to program, and radios don't. Radio is still the top source for new music discovery. Right now, the demos for music radio are pretty much unchanged from what they were in the 60s. You'd be surprised how many young people listen to radios, although not on traditional devices.

The farm system for radio personalities got destroyed with so much syndication and automation going on in the smaller markets.

You don't need to go through a farm system in small market radio when you have so many other ways to do radio today. There are still entry level jobs in large market stations. Traffic reporters, morning show sidekicks, promotions stunt boys, web content creators, and other ways to get into the business that never existed 20 years ago. Once you're in the door, it's up to you to make your breaks.

The big issue with local talent is getting out of the studio. If a station is going to have local talent, you need to be visible. You need to work social media, you need to do personal appearances, and you need to become part of your listeners' lives. If not, then you're just more media spam, and they'll tune you out. Community service doesn't mean running some talk show at 6AM Sunday morning. It means being a part of your community, whether that means a town or a music genre, and conveying your involvement in every break.

 

[snazzyjazzy]

There are more and more people that would rather pay for iPods or a subscription to SiriusXM than listen to terrestrial radio. You do have the lazy and cheap crowd that won't pay for it. That number will decrease over time. It's worth it to so many now to be in control of their music choices and not rely on archaic terrestrial music radio.

 

[KFodor]

240 Million people listen to over the air terrestrial radio every week.

That's a hell of a lot of "lazy and cheap" people.

And young people still say FM radio is the main way they hear about new music.

 

[KFodor]

Talk radio is what will keep radio a viable medium for a few years longer anyway. I don't see too many youngsters going to the radio for music anymore because of iPods. That's why you are hearing more and more talk on the FM dial.

Hmmm... Actually talk radio, especially conservative talk radio, is in decline right now, because it's demo is aging, and advertisers don't want to be associated with controversy. Sports talk radio is growing. Music radio is still huge because people have to program iPods, but radios program themselves. Also iPods cost money to program, and radios don't. Radio is still the top source for new music discovery. Right now, the demos for music radio are pretty much unchanged from what they were in the 60s. You'd be surprised how many young people listen to radios, although not on traditional devices.

The farm system for radio personalities got destroyed with so much syndication and automation going on in the smaller markets.

You don't need to go through a farm system in small market radio when you have so many other ways to do radio today. There are still entry level jobs in large market stations. Traffic reporters, morning show sidekicks, promotions stunt boys, web content creators, and other ways to get into the business that never existed 20 years ago. Once you're in the door, it's up to you to make your breaks.

The big issue with local talent is getting out of the studio. If a station is going to have local talent, you need to be visible. You need to work social media, you need to do personal appearances, and you need to become part of your listeners' lives. If not, then you're just more media spam, and they'll tune you out. Community service doesn't mean running some talk show at 6AM Sunday morning. It means being a part of your community, whether that means a town or a music genre, and conveying your involvement in every break.

Not according to the ratings of our station is conservative talk radio in decline. (Oh yeah...and we're in a Democrat rich home county) And how much of the ones in decline are declining because of stupid management decisions, such as curtailing local news and firing local news staffs? It is completely normal for talk radio's numbers to be off for 6 months or so after a national election. We see it and hear the wishful thinking from progressive broadcasters every 4 years...

 

[TheBigA]

And how much of the ones in decline are declining because of stupid management decisions, such as curtailing local news and firing local news staffs?

Has nothing to do with it. The talk hosts are getting older, and so is their audience. Plus the general decline of AM.

 

[snazzyjazzy]

Internet radio will slowly but surely eat into the terrestrial market share. It hasn't made much of a dent yet. I realize that. That's the future of radio more so than satellite radio. Are these so-called "240 million" listening to terrestrial radio as much as they did in the past? I don't think so. Satellite radio has its share of problems. It may be this generation's "AM stereo", something that just doesn't take. However, satellite radio will stick around for a time as an option that will turn some people off of terrestrial radio. The amount of time listening to music on iPods will exceed the amount of time listening to music on terrestrial radio in the near future.

 

[TheBigA]

Internet radio will slowly but surely eat into the terrestrial market share.

Keep in mind that OTA radio is also on the internet. In fact, the top OTA radio companies are also among the top streamers. People don't buy radios anymore, but they love to listen to it. So it behooves any OTA radio station to make sure their content is available online. I was out in the middle of nowhere Saturday, went into a restaurant, and was surprised they were streaming an OTA station from Boston.

Are these so-called "240 million" listening to terrestrial radio as much as they did in the past? I don't think so.

They do. Arbitron picks up OTA radio listening regardless of the device. So people listening to Kicks on their desktop are counted as listeners to the station. The thing we notice is people don't just listen to one thing. They may listen to iPods while jogging and OTA while driving. The problem with iPod listening is every download costs money and takes time. Not the case with radio. And you have to know the song in order to download it. How do people find out about songs for download? Their traditional radio station. You see it when you go to concerts. Where did these people hear these new songs? They first heard them on the radio. Then they downloaded them.

 

[sjs1959]

Internet radio will slowly but surely eat into the terrestrial market share.

Keep in mind that OTA radio is also on the internet. In fact, the top OTA radio companies are also among the top streamers. People don't buy radios anymore, but they love to listen to it. So it behooves any OTA radio station to make sure their content is available online. I was out in the middle of nowhere Saturday, went into a restaurant, and was surprised they were streaming an OTA station from Boston.

Are these so-called "240 million" listening to terrestrial radio as much as they did in the past? I don't think so.

They do. Arbitron picks up OTA radio listening regardless of the device. So people listening to Kicks on their desktop are counted as listeners to the station. The thing we notice is people don't just listen to one thing. They may listen to iPods while jogging and OTA while driving. The problem with iPod listening is every download costs money and takes time. Not the case with radio. And you have to know the song in order to download it. How do people find out about songs for download? Their traditional radio station. You see it when you go to concerts. Where did these people hear these new songs? They first heard them on the radio. Then they downloaded them.

What is interesting is how TUNE IN has affected this. I frequently listen to OTA stations from out of town based on format, like WBBM/Chicago for news, KHYI/DFW for Country and WBGO/Newark for Jazz, because they are more interesting to me that what we have here OTA.

 

[A- Game]

"You don't need to go through a farm system in small market radio when you have so many other ways to do radio today. There are still entry level jobs in large market stations. Traffic reporters, morning show sidekicks, promotions stunt boys, web content creators, and other ways to get into the business that never existed 20 years ago. Once you're in the door, it's up to you to make your breaks."

With all due respect, on what planet? 20 years ago was 1993, and then the same kinds of entry level opportunities were everywhere. Difference is that then you could reasonably expect to turn those hard paid dues into a real job if you worked hard enough with the right amount of persistence. (And by real job I mean making a decent living wage WITH benefits being a local radio personality with ONE show to focus all of your efforts and talents on.)The payoff today is the exciting prospect of ending up voice-tracking 4 shows a day while "wearing many hats" around the cluster. Promotions, sales assistant, production, etc. for about 10 bucks an hour with meager to no benefits. Yes friends the bar is that low. But I suppose it beats Taco Bell. My advice to anyone considering a career in this business would be to not try to catch a falling knife.

 

[TheBigA]

Promotions, sales assistant, production, etc. for about 10 bucks an hour with meager to no benefits.

I started at one quarter of that amount, no benefits, working overnights. At the time, I was told that radio isn't a place to go if you want to make money. That was never my motivation.

If people today want a job in radio, jobs are there. But those jobs will test their dedication. And that's the point. It's not supposed to be easy.

 

[snazzyjazzy]

My first paid job in radio was in 1996 at WCRV for $5.50/hr as a Saturday board operator from 4 PM - 12 midnight. I had done a semester of radio at the University of Memphis jazz station before that on a volunteer basis. Malvin Massey, who was at both WUMR and WCRV, was instrumental in getting my foot in the door there. I think we all know that radio isn't a place to go to make a lot of money. That weekend job I had in 1996 no longer exists because of automation. It's not as if you can build on a job like that to get anywhere because it doesn't exist. It wasn't as if the path to success was easy back then. It's not supposed to be easy. It never was easy, but it's harder today than it ever has been before.