RADIO GA-GA

[Smartyradiopants]

Why is local radio so blah? Is there anybody left with an ounce of creativity? All the stations in Jackson are boring and homogenous. Safe playlists, bland personalities, and lame promotions. Froggy 104 is unlistenable with it's stupid "frog" puns that wouldn't even appeal to a 6 year old, WYN 106.9 is boring and predictable, Star 107.7 will literally put you to sleep, Rock 92.3 continues to pound the same 400 songs over and over (Skynyrd anyone?).
There isn't any personality left in radio. Jocks read the same liner cards verbatim over & over. I suspect that there may be some good talent in the area, but the corporate radio mentality keeps them in restraints. (I remember a time when Richard Schoedell was very entertaining to listen to. You never knew what he was going to say next. But now he has been declawed and forced to read liner cards and play Celene Dion music) The only station in the area that has a hint of personality and originality is NewsTalk 101.5. Bill Way is easily the most interesting radio personality in the market.
There used to be a time when listeners were passionate about their favorite stations. That time is over as radio has become more & more just background noise. Radio wallpaper. There is no compelling reason to listen anymore.
C'mon GM's. Do something interesting with your radio stations.

 

[Gregg Rivers]

Wow, you know what? I think you may be on to something. So I'll be the first to chime in and say "whats your plan?" How can one take a "blan market" and make it just like you want it? Are you in radio? Maybe you SHOULD be. We could ALL use a guy or gal like you to boost ratings and profits. I say get off the keybaord and get in here and let's do something TODAY! I'm with you!

 

[Meepster]

Now Gregg...you don't pick on Bill. He has a right to his opinion. :
I detected a touch of sarcasm in your invitation, but maybe he could call Mr. Elliott (2 "L's" and 2 "T's")
I hear he's looking for some "Part-Time Announcers"
I'm sure that's what he'll get what with all the time and efforts he takes to screen possible applicants.
Sadly enough, Bill has a point in some cases...and it's certainly NOT just Jackson radio.
Anybody listened to Memphis lately?

 

[lash]

This isn't just here in West Tennessee, its everywhere. This is what happens with we allow large companies to own dozens, hundreds and thousands of stations.

I ran the first Froggy in the country, and have always been amazed at its growth. However, I'd like to see one fail. Perhaps it will be in Jackson.

And I have to agree on 101.5 being the only station in the market with some personality. Sad!

 

[Jockamo]

Smarty has some valid points. A lot of the management doesn't want to "make waves." They'll program what they think their advertisers want to hear, therefore, the "time, temp and bland, lifeless liner." That way, their a** is covered. I remember a friend told me about a time he worked at a certain radio station. The one big thing the GM told him was "just keep me out of court." He was given pretty much free rein to do what he wanted to and, from hearing his old airchecks, he did mighty well. Years went by, though, and now he's with a station that doesn't want to "make waves." It's a terrible waste of a very talented human being and it's going on all over. I used to work in Jackson ('81) and it was pretty bland back then as well. How I long for the old days of the old 62WRJZ, home of Coach Billy Joe Tom Bob Parker of the Clyde Clod University Fighting Possums, and other great "take no prisoners" radio.

 

[radiofan4life]

I know a little bit about the Jackson market and less about the Memphis market but here's my two cents worth. I agree to some extent that local radio has become somewhat bland but it's hard for me to figure out where the blame lies. I don't believe it is from a lack of talent in the market. There are a lot of talented air personalities out there besides Bill Way. We obviously lost a great one with the retirement of Conrad but I would certainly qualify others such as Steve Bowers, Greg Rivers, Harvey Boyd (even though I can't stand the Froggy stuff), Gerald Hunt, Stevie Ray Hemann as well as a few others as being very good to excellent on air personalities. Most on air personalities are forced these days to wear multiple hats. They no longer are able to devote 4 hours to show prep because they are also doing production, running news stories, running to remotes and even sales as well as whatever else has to be done (including taking out the garbage and cleaning the toilets). So you certainly can't blame these guys and gals.
So then you look at management/ownership. These folks aren't necessarily trying to cut costs to pocket the bucks. Most are trying to cut costs to pay the light bills, license fees, repair and maintenance bills (tubes are running in excess of $1500 these days) and pay for as much local talent as possible to avoid sounding like a juke box or just another network affiliate. They try to survive until they can sell the station/stations to finally make money.
So where does the blame lie? My take (for what it's worth) is GEORGE BUSH (just kidding). Seriously, the economy has forced a domino effect in radio. Local business' try to survive the tough times by cutting expenses and advertising is probably one of the first things they look at cutting (which makes no sense but it's true). When advertisers cut expenses radio stations are forced to see where they can save a buck or two. They combine job duties. Thus the sacrifice in on air content and show prep.
I'd like to hear anyone else's take on this.

 

[Smartyradiopants]

I agree with radiofan4life's comments. There are some good jocks in Jackson but they're a)too busy doing multiple jobs and b)not allowed to be themselves on the air. Greg Rivers has the best voice in the market and can be very funny but he's given too many jobs to really concentrate on his air shift. Harvey was great when he was doing mornings on WLSZ (especially with Buzz) but now he's been put into the "Froggy" box and has become a mere shadow of his former radio personality. I liked Stu Smoke and A.J. Martin when they did mornings on 92 several years ago. (what happened to those folks?) I also agree that Jackson lost one of it's few real "personalities" with the retirement of Conrad. (The market also lost a great one when Rusty Mack passed away a couple of years ago). Local radio needs more "real" people like Conrad and Bill Way and less of the automatonic voice trackers that currently populate the airwaves. Where does the blame lie? Certainly not with the air talents who would love to be able to express themselves. Most certainly it lies with management who are afraid to take chances. This is why more and more listeners are migrating to satellite radio, ipods, internet etc. to get their entertainment and news fix.

 

[Jockamo]

Having been away from Jackson for some 25 years, I admit I don't know much about the market. And I was only there for four months and, at 21, getting homesick so I headed on back to East Tennessee. I'm sure the radio market got a lot better (most of them do), but back in '81, there was no real recognizable personality in the market. I worked at WKIR (now Froggy) and didn't listen to too much radio in the Jackson market. Our lineup was Rob Ryan (6-10A), Jessica James (10A-2P), John Schofield (2-3P), me from 3-7P...I was known as D.C. Scott then...and John Mount from 7-Midnight. I miss the place, because I knew one day Jackson would be booming.

 

[Meepster]

Your "talented" list is interesting...
Moving right along....

Basically, I think I can sum a lot of this up in a few sentences.
This is the best one to start with.

De-regulation has all but killed local, live radio!

It's not about providing good local radio anymore. It's about making your station-and the others in your group- successful enough dollar-wise to get purchased be a larger group. Period.
Even in markets as small or smaller than Jackson..this happens every day.

Occasionally, a larger group will sell off an under performing cluster to a smaller group.
Both sides win.
The large group dumps a property they've given up on so they claim victory.
The smaller group bought out the big boys, so THEY claim victory.
They're both right.

Things like dedication to your job performance, loyalty to the station, experience and overall knowledge have very little merit anymore. It's ALL formulatic. It's all numbers.
"Our stations in Anytown are numbers 1 and 2 in this demo, and we do it like this there. That's how we'll do it here."
People are interchangable-like auto parts to these groups.
If these people (sales AND programming) don't fit into the formula...it'll be easy to bring in or hire people that do.
Besides...screw 'em. We'll get old Ed in Scranton to voice track that shift!

If it looks good on a cocktail napkin at Baudo's (or, insert your trendy eating establishment here) during dinner and drinks...that's what they'll do starting next Monday.

Years of actual radio experience in several market sizes bring me to these conclusions.
I've watched it happen many times and been involved a few.

Just an opinion...

Meep!

 

[radiofan4life]

Meep, obviously you disagree with my list but that's OK we all know what opinions are like and we've all got one. That's what makes for great discussion. I agree with you totally on the formula for success in radio. The money is not there for on-air, production, programming or even management these days. The money is made upon selling the stations. That is the bottom line. That is also why many of the top talents have left radio. There are two types left in radio a) those who are absolutely passionate about it and love it regardless of the income and b) those who had rather do the radio gig than work at a more physically demanding profession. We've obviously got both in the market. The folks I listed seem to fit into group (a) but don't get me wrong there are others in that group. These folks make you feel better when you listen to them than you did before you tuned them in. Could they be better? Absolutely. They would even tell you that. Just give them the time to prep their shows. It's kinda hard to do show prep when you get off the air at 9am only to start doing the next days traffic logs. I don't get the comments about it's all "the man's" fault for holding down people's creativity though. Most managers I know welcome fresh content and ideas. Anything to stimulate the phone lines and get the numbers. I don't think we have any Howard Stern's out here who would subject you to hefty FCC fines. Again, my 2 cents worth.

 

[Meepster]

Discussion is wonderful.
First...I didn't say I disagreed with your list...I only said "interesting". In fact, some of it I agree with totally.

Most middle management these days relate okay with the "crew", but make no mistake where their loyalty lies.
It is their goal to make "Upper Management" and to keep that resume looking good for another group in case the current gig goes sour. The guys in these local cluster management positions, while relating to many of the surfs in the kingdom, will also step on their heads when and if necessary to move on up.
Radio may have been a passion at one time for them, and they may be more than adequate "on-the-air", but their goals and ideals have changed.

Department heads...(like Pd's. PM's, Prod. and the like) find themselves with their heads up these middle managers behinds, whose heads are up Upper management behinds, whose lips are permanently embedded upon the arses of Senior Management and Ownership.

These department heads are often wonderful folks that still relate completely to the surfs (surfs being the ones that actually contribute to the on-air product-like jocks, and production), but are caught in a trap.
If these department heads don't "toe-the-line" they know how easily replaced they can be in management's eye. All they need is a gung-ho jock, give him/her a little title and a $25 a week raise, and WHAM!, you've got yourself a new MD or Production Director or whatever.

It is all a cancer that has effectively destroyed most of the really good old radio we all fell in love with.
There are a few, and I mean a few, stations and jocks that try their best to do a good job on the air despite all the political horse manure going on every day.

Gregg Rivers is a good example of that. If he weren't having to wear so many hats (like many have to in order to keep labor costs down and management bonuses up), I believe he'd be really good with an on-air shift. He's a great voice guy, despite my giving him crap in the past-his production is top-notch when he has time.
(A lot better than mine) You can listen to the spots and tell which ones he had time to get creative with and which were assembly line spots. (Unfortunately, more of the latter recently) The best thing they could do to let Gregg be more productive is to leave him alone. They won't though.

I focus on Rock 92.3 here only because it is the station I listen to most often when the CD player is not going in the Jeep. I catch a little John-Boy in the morning on the way to work, and some of gregg's shift in the afternoon when I do my running. I, like most listeners (whether us old radio heads like to admit it or not), listen because of the music. It's more "Classic Rock" than 98.1, and I never have to hear some New song I hate.

I have not been able to stomach the "Froggy" station for my own reasons, but I tried a few minutes.
The format can be done better than what I heard. I enjoy the oldies station on occasion (CANNOT listen to it in the morning, though...the way that morning guy there makes the whole station liner one word (Cool103goodtimesgreatoldies) just kills me. He talks so fast even I cannot understand him. I've made my wife turn it off while she gets ready!( I bought her off with the 70's station on the cable.)

While I try not to listen for all the old radio crap...it creeps in anyhow. Years of big time PD's, OM's and consultants teaching me to listen for stuff prevents me from just listening TO stuff.

Anyway..that's two more cents from me...Gosh, I'm like up to 4 or 6 cents' worth just today!
just an opinion.

Meep!

 

[radiofan4life]

Meepster, I've got to give it to ya. I agree 100% with ya on the last post. By the way, did ya notice Gregg was off sick today. The whisperer stepped in and did his usual bang up job. I can't quite pin point it but this guy absolutely drives me nuts. His style is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. The odd part is if he were female and talked like that we would all want to syndicate his program but being a guy he is just creepy. GET WELL SOON GREGG!!!

 

[radiofan4life]

Oh yeah, and he kept pushing the show theme "Shut up and Rock". I wanted to reach into the speakers and grab him by his little whispering throat and say "Shut up and play the music idiot".

 

[Meepster]

Didn't catch it today! Too much working at the desk. I couldn't have listened too long anyway if "Whisperin' Bill" was sittin' in.
Ha! So it's not just me?!
He sounds fine doing the news, and then slips into some God-Awful parody radio character when he does a shift. Maybe that's what it is. He's just doing a shift-long parody every time he's on.

They really must be hurting for "part-time announcers."

Shoot...everybody...send 'em a resume and 90 sec. MP3 aircheck!
Maybe MR. ELLIOTT (2 L's and 2 T's) will grace you with a listen to your stuff.
If he likes it, he'll get back to you.
Remember...he's one of those "middle management" guys that are always in deep doo.
He's probably programming six stations in the cluster for the price of one.
But, by God...he's "Mr. Elliott" (2 L's and 2 T's), and can curtly ask you to get him a resume and 90 sec. MP3!

I, and people like Richard Schodell (sp), and many others-even in Jackson have probably forgotten more about real radio than people like 'Mr. Elliott" (that's 2 L's and 2 T's) will ever know.
It makes me glad I didn't go back after the Entercom thing...I've seen WAY TOO MUCH radio talent go to waste.They either get out and stay out...hit a plateau in some company and get stuck right there...or get blown out and move from group to group. Incredible jocks I know personally that did great jobs in great markets are toiling away for miniscule paychecks within large groups or those teeny ones that think they're getting big.

I Jones for it from time to time...but life gives me little reminders (Mr. Elliott- 2 L's and 2 T's) that keep my head on straight and keep me away. I'll find a station someday, like I did with Solid Gold Sunday on WRVR for years before going full-time with Sinclair, and have fun, make decent part-time wages, and keep my real job so I can tell 'em to kiss my arse if need be.
Until then..."Shut up and Rock!"

Meep!

 

[lash]

Did I see someone post "Gerald Hunt" as a good jock? Please! Both his AM and FM could be so much more. Try picking up the morning show on 100.9 The Farm.

 

[Meepster]

Not me...I have no idea who Gerald Hunt is. :
You're proud to own a "Full-Service" AM!?
Define "full-service" AM for me.
There are still small town AM's (and FM's) that broadcast high school sports, river stages, obituaries and the like. Is that what you are calling "full-service?"
I hope those kind of stations NEVER go away!
I hope they are always there to serve their small towns AND to provide local youth with an opportunity to experience broadcasting. I and tons of others started in stations just like I described.
We had two huge belt-driven turntables that nearly needed a clutch pedal to shift gears )from 33.0 to 45 and even 78 RPM's)
The FM had 2 mics so your voice could hit both channels, and you had to "patch" Sunday morning taped programs from other control rooms and production rooms into the main board because they started one right after another and there certainly weren't 2 reel-to-reels in any spot!
Anybody else experience that sort of thing?

 

[lash]

That's exactly what I mean by full service. Yet at the same time, this station could be positioned in a major market. We take great pride in what we do. www.am930.net

 

[Meepster]

Ha! Man, I bet you're having a blast with that!
I checked out the site for a moment. I bookmarked it and will look at it more later.
How's the coverage map?
Where is waynesboro?
It looks like fun and I see that you went to Waynesboro from Huntingdon.
Were you in radio there?
In my travels, I worked in Huntingdon, too, for a while.
I worked at "PBE 101" it was owned by Pug Vickers, I guess.
Anyway, I worked with Gary Powley, Will Luther, and Marshall Carter (hair) That was sometime in the very early 80's. Any of those names ring a bell?

 

[lash]

Waynesboro is 85 miles southeast of Nashville, 30 miles north of the Alabama state line. Indeed was in Huntingdon! Your old station is now called 100.9 The Farm.

 

[radiofan4life]

Didn't catch it today! Too much working at the desk. I couldn't have listened too long anyway if "Whisperin' Bill" was sittin' in.
Ha! So it's not just me?!
He sounds fine doing the news, and then slips into some God-Awful parody radio character when he does a shift. Maybe that's what it is. He's just doing a shift-long parody every time he's on.

They really must be hurting for "part-time announcers."

Shoot...everybody...send 'em a resume and 90 sec. MP3 aircheck!
Maybe MR. ELLIOTT (2 L's and 2 T's) will grace you with a listen to your stuff.
If he likes it, he'll get back to you.
Remember...he's one of those "middle management" guys that are always in deep doo.
He's probably programming six stations in the cluster for the price of one.
But, by God...he's "Mr. Elliott" (2 L's and 2 T's), and can curtly ask you to get him a resume and 90 sec. MP3!

I, and people like Richard Schodell (sp), and many others-even in Jackson have probably forgotten more about real radio than people like 'Mr. Elliott" (that's 2 L's and 2 T's) will ever know.
It makes me glad I didn't go back after the Entercom thing...I've seen WAY TOO MUCH radio talent go to waste.They either get out and stay out...hit a plateau in some company and get stuck right there...or get blown out and move from group to group. Incredible jocks I know personally that did great jobs in great markets are toiling away for miniscule paychecks within large groups or those teeny ones that think they're getting big.

(I Jones for it from time to time...but life gives me little reminders (Mr. Elliott- 2 L's and 2 T's) that keep my head on straight and keep me away. I'll find a station someday, like I did with Solid Gold Sunday on WRVR for years before going full-time with Sinclair, and have fun, make decent part-time wages, and keep my real job so I can tell 'em to kiss my arse if need be.)

Until then..."Shut up and Rock!"

Meep!