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Radio Hurting and Dying

P

PortlandMainer

This is being posted on the Northern New England board because I live in Maine. I'm no expert, having been out of the media business for a number of years, but I do keep up as a hobby. One of the most disturbing things I have been observing was confirmed in an article at R&R Online. Scott Royster of Radio One says in it that radio is hurting badly. My thought on that is Duh.

Why do I say this? All I have to do is look at my high school age son and his friends and their habits. I can tell you that they hardly listen to radio at all. They find new music from tv, the internet and their friends. Instead of listening to the car radio, they listen to mp3 players loaded with music from various music sources on the internet.

I think this bodes ill for the future of radio thier listening habits will be carried with them into adulthood as mine did. I was an avid radio listener and still am. My friends and I had our transitor radios glued to our ears growing up. Many trips in the car have been enhanced from the hum of the radio. Today the kids have mp3 players and DVDs to keep them entertained.

My point is that radio as we have known it is quickly becoming a thing of the past like record albums when CDs came out. I do not know what can be done to save it.
 
What can be done is doing something different on the radio or doing something better than it has been done.

I think main way (there are several) to put a band aid on commercial radio is to give people something to listen to. Not just some voice intro'ing and outro'ing songs.

It falls on the the people who run radio stations to give jocks the freedom to do something or say something on the radio that's better to some kid than an IPOD.

But as soon as your PD gives you the ball man, you better score a freakin' touchdown but that's what's going to save us.
 
Constant format changes, cookie-cutter formats, liner-card jocks, bloated spotloads, value-added clutter, over-leveraged owners...Radio made it's own bed.

PTR
> What can be done is doing something different on the radio
> or doing something better than it has been done.
>
> I think main way (there are several) to put a band aid on
> commercial radio is to give people something to listen to.
> Not just some voice intro'ing and outro'ing songs.
>
> It falls on the the people who run radio stations to give
> jocks the freedom to do something or say something on the
> radio that's better to some kid than an IPOD.
>
> But as soon as your PD gives you the ball man, you better
> score a freakin' touchdown but that's what's going to save
> us.
>
 
> Constant format changes, cookie-cutter formats, liner-card
> jocks, bloated spotloads, value-added clutter,
> over-leveraged owners...Radio made it's own bed.
>
> PTR
> > What can be done is doing something different on the radio
>
> > or doing something better than it has been done.
> >
> > I think main way (there are several) to put a band aid on
> > commercial radio is to give people something to listen to.
>
> > Not just some voice intro'ing and outro'ing songs.
> >
> > It falls on the the people who run radio stations to give
> > jocks the freedom to do something or say something on the
> > radio that's better to some kid than an IPOD.
> >
> > But as soon as your PD gives you the ball man, you better
> > score a freakin' touchdown but that's what's going to save
>
> > us.
> >
>

Good points. In many ways, that is why I love doing what I am doing at WKXL. With seven hours of local news and tons of relevant local content, we have created an oasis for the listener who wants to be informed, not yelled at, and not talked down to. :)
<P ID="signature">______________
Best,
Anthony Schinella
Program Director/News/A&E
WKXL 1450 AM/Concord, NH
http://www.wkxl1450.com
http://politizine.blogspot.com</P>
 
> Constant format changes, cookie-cutter formats, liner-card
> jocks, bloated spotloads, value-added clutter,
> over-leveraged owners...Radio made it's own bed.
>

What, pray tell is a "cookie cutter" format? While I'm out of the biz now, I worked in it for over 20 years and never once heard an owner say "let's make this station sound just like every other (insert format here) station in the country". It only makes sense to take what works elsewhere and implement it on your station though instead of constantly trying to re-invent the wheel.

Yes, radio is a lot more corporate these days, but what aspect of our life isn't isn't? Look at the housing developments that are springing up like mushrooms...houses that all look alike. Cars all look alike today. Retail strip-mall sprawl with all the same chains. Why should radio be immune from this?

I think one the big problems is one of too many stations. It started in the 80s with all those 80-90 drop ins leading to most markets having more stations than the market could possibly support. Add in the dial clutter caused by generally useless LPFMs, repeaters and just about every AM getting some sort of night authorization and/or power upgrade and you've cluttered the dial so much you can't hear much of anyone.
 
I don't have the answers but I see the problem about the same as you do.

As I do not listen to Top-40 radio now, I wouldn't have a clue what to do to that format to solve "the problem".

When I was a young(er) fellow I was fascinated by radio. Shortwave, ham radio, AM clear channel stations, local FM stations - it all interested me and I thought it was exciting. The excitement of it was the big draw for me. At that time it was technology in my hands. Now, it's not that way for young people.

Radio no longer seems exciting - it's all predictable sounding stuff as I hear it. I suppose today's youth find that excitement using the computer, and radio seems like something off to the side.

Radio certainly doesn't fit the "give me what I want when I want it" mentality that people are used too now.

I would expect the trend to continue toward people creating their own programming with portable players, and also satellite radio. People still tune in for local news in a lot of places but I thing younger people are less and less interested in traditional local news delivery.

This is reinforced to me regularly, at least where I live. Young people (20's, early 30's age) often cannot name local and federal politicians that represent them, often have no clear understanding of local important issues, and frequently change the channel when the newscasts come on (as I have been told).

I've also asked young people if they are interested in the weather. Usually the answer is no unless some major weather event is coming.

Life for a lot of young people is similar to a TV sitcom - just one joke after another and you see that sort of thing reflected in behavior like wanting entertainment and information packaged very tightly and given on demand.

What can radio do to be better? I don't know and for a large part, I guess I don't care. I work with a Classic Hits format and I think making the radio sound like it did in the 1960's and 1970's in enjoyable to a lot of people. But, what appeals to me is not going to appeal to "tomorrow's radio listener."

My contribution to this thread probably did nothing toward addressing the problem. :)

> This is being posted on the Northern New England board
> because I live in Maine. I'm no expert, having been out of
> the media business for a number of years, but I do keep up
> as a hobby. One of the most disturbing things I have been
> observing was confirmed in an article at R&R Online. Scott
> Royster of Radio One says in it that radio is hurting badly.
> My thought on that is Duh.
>
> Why do I say this? All I have to do is look at my high
> school age son and his friends and their habits. I can tell
> you that they hardly listen to radio at all. They find new
> music from tv, the internet and their friends. Instead of
> listening to the car radio, they listen to mp3 players
> loaded with music from various music sources on the
> internet.
>
> I think this bodes ill for the future of radio thier
> listening habits will be carried with them into adulthood as
> mine did. I was an avid radio listener and still am. My
> friends and I had our transitor radios glued to our ears
> growing up. Many trips in the car have been enhanced from
> the hum of the radio. Today the kids have mp3 players and
> DVDs to keep them entertained.
>
> My point is that radio as we have known it is quickly
> becoming a thing of the past like record albums when CDs
> came out. I do not know what can be done to save it.
>
 
What I have to come to notice in my opinion, is that most people outside of highschool still listen to radio up in the nek (northeast kingdom) relying on TOS 105.1 magic 97.7 99.9 the buzz where tos doesn't come in and Impuse wwlr 91.5 and a few other stations like 106.3 etc. From what I see in lyndonville vt is only few have ipods. most college students can't even afford Ipods some not even cd's. Allthough most can afford cd's they don't have many. many people still listen to the radio. most things are family run who still listen to the radio up here from observations I have seen. thae ones that don't listen to the radio are corprate chains like mcdonals which has satellite radio.
I am curious to know does anyone else see this up in the NEK? I am thinking that the nek is cut-off from the rest of new englad because people do not like change. This is one reason while I like being a college radio dj up here. Everyone is loyal. (I like being able to go somewhere and somebody will be like hey OZ or one time "holy S*** its the oz! of course at the same time have people who hate my radio show but not too many)
you guys can totally disagree with what I say this is just what I have seen compared to when I am home in ct during the summer. whats your take on this. do you totally disagree or agree?

Dj OZ
> This is being posted on the Northern New England board
> because I live in Maine. I'm no expert, having been out of
> the media business for a number of years, but I do keep up
> as a hobby. One of the most disturbing things I have been
> observing was confirmed in an article at R&R Online. Scott
> Royster of Radio One says in it that radio is hurting badly.
> My thought on that is Duh.
>
> Why do I say this? All I have to do is look at my high
> school age son and his friends and their habits. I can tell
> you that they hardly listen to radio at all. They find new
> music from tv, the internet and their friends. Instead of
> listening to the car radio, they listen to mp3 players
> loaded with music from various music sources on the
> internet.
>
> I think this bodes ill for the future of radio thier
> listening habits will be carried with them into adulthood as
> mine did. I was an avid radio listener and still am. My
> friends and I had our transitor radios glued to our ears
> growing up. Many trips in the car have been enhanced from
> the hum of the radio. Today the kids have mp3 players and
> DVDs to keep them entertained.
>
> My point is that radio as we have known it is quickly
> becoming a thing of the past like record albums when CDs
> came out. I do not know what can be done to save it.
>
 
> What, pray tell is a "cookie cutter" format? While I'm out
> of the biz now, I worked in it for over 20 years and never
> once heard an owner say "let's make this station sound just
> like every other (insert format here) station in the
> country". It only makes sense to take what works elsewhere
> and implement it on your station though instead of
> constantly trying to re-invent the wheel.

YOU'VE JUST PROVIDED THE PERFECT REASON WHY MOST RADIO STATIONS HAVE BECOME SO PREDICATABLE AND HAVE COMPLETELY STAGNATED! THE ISSUE OF 'WHAT WORKS IN ONE MARKET SO IT'LL WORK HERE' HAS BECOME THE COP-OUT SOLUTION FOR ATTEMPTING ANYTHING NEW...OR IMPROVING AN EXISTING FORMAT! BY ADOPTING THIS PHILOSOPHY, A GM, PD, GSM, AE (or all 4) CAN EASILY STOP TRYING! MAYBE THIS IS THE REASON SO MUCH OF THE "LOCAL RADIO PRODUCT" SOUNDS SO CRAPPY? [THERE ARE STILL A FEW DINOSAURS THAT STILL USE THE SAME 'CANNED, CRAPPY, SLUG-LINES' DESCRIBING THEIR FORMATS....BUT I DIGRESS].
>
> Yes, radio is a lot more corporate these days, but what
> aspect of our life isn't isn't? Look at the housing
> developments that are springing up like mushrooms...houses
> that all look alike. Cars all look alike today. Retail
> strip-mall sprawl with all the same chains. Why should
> radio be immune from this?

AND THIS IS THE REASON FOREIGN CARS SELL BETTER THAN AMERICAN. IT'S EASIER TO "GIVE IN AND GIVE UP" THAN TO TRY TO MAKE YOUR PRODUCT BETTER!


> I think one the big problems is one of too many stations.
> It started in the 80s with all those 80-90 drop ins leading
> to most markets having more stations than the market could
> possibly support. Add in the dial clutter caused by
> generally useless LPFMs, repeaters and just about every AM
> getting some sort of night authorization and/or power
> upgrade and you've cluttered the dial so much you can't hear
> much of anyone.

A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF THE CLUTTER IS CAUSED BY 'CHEAPER CANNED CONTENT!' IF A RADIO STATION ISN'T PROPERLY PROMOTED (AND NOT THROUGH TIRED SLUG-LINES), HOW IS AN AUDIENCE SUPPOSED TO FIND IT?

THERE ARE SOME VERY TALENTED BROADCAST-COMMUNICATORS (NOT RIP 'N' READERS) WHO WILL NEVER BE HEARD BECAUSE THEIR RADIO PROMOTION DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS ARE STILL UNDER THE DELUSION THAT "THE LISTENERS WILL FIND US!"

I SUPPOSE IF A PD 'BUYS INTO THIS THEORY'---HE'S GETTING ABOUT AS MUCH OUT OF THE RADIO STATION HE WORKS FOR...PARALLEL TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE'S INVESTING IN PROMOTING IT???

argytunes
 
>Yeah now all you need at KXL is some listeners. sorry man but it ain't happening!
 
I agree very much. Let it be known, as most of you already know, radio is choking themselves. I know there has to be ways to fix the issue, but the big cheese's in most radio stations refuse to give a damn about the stations, and they don't have passion for it. Wrong job to be in- you sorry skunks. It's true, they do stink. I know myself, and many others on this board would love to program a station our own way, and do a damn good job of it. Radio today has these "professionals" who avoid standing in the unemployment line 8 hours a day simply because they have somekind of degree in communications, but don't have the love and passion for the business like myself and many of you have.

I will give one station credit. The Bay in Dover deserves the award they recieved from NHAB. They sound great, and you know the funny thing, I used to hate them.....though I think they can do away with Delilah still.

For those loyal to radio, and love the biz for real, CHEERS! For those who only program a station to collect a pay check, and quite frankly don't give a damn about the passion of the business, CLICK HERE!!

That's my crystal ball of you sorry ass programmers.

Lenny
 
> I agree very much. Let it be known, as most of you already
> know, radio is choking themselves. I know there has to be
> ways to fix the issue, but the big cheese's in most radio
> stations refuse to give a damn about the stations, and they
> don't have passion for it. Wrong job to be in- you sorry
> skunks. It's true, they do stink. I know myself, and many
> others on this board would love to program a station our own
> way, and do a damn good job of it. Radio today has these
> "professionals" who avoid standing in the unemployment line
> 8 hours a day simply because they have somekind of degree in
> communications, but don't have the love and passion for the
> business like myself and many of you have.
>
> I will give one station credit. The Bay in Dover deserves
> the award they recieved from NHAB. They sound great, and you
> know the funny thing, I used to hate them.....though I think
> they can do away with Delilah still.
>
> For those loyal to radio, and love the biz for real, CHEERS!
> For those who only program a station to collect a pay check,
> and quite frankly don't give a damn about the passion of the
> business, CLICK HERE!!
>
> That's my crystal ball of you sorry ass programmers.
>
> Lenny
>


Here, Here! Down with the yes men!
 
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