Radio Killed the Radio Star

[Mike Sheridan]

Thank the "Buggles" for the subject title.

I heard something today that sounded very odd. Actually it was brought up here but I can't find the message. One of the other family members had Magic 98.9 on in Spartanburg today. Following a boatload of commercials the music started and after each song even when the jock came on there was always a little automated female voice that gave the song title and artist.

I just found out they are called Songtags. This is also being done in Philly at B101. They explain it here:

http://www.b101radio.com/static/songtags.asp

Will the last jock leaving the building please turn out the lights?

 

[eacalhoun1]

While only the currents were typically announced, didn't automated music reels (with announcer) pave the way for "Songtags" back in the 70s? Drake-Chenault, Century 21, TM Century, etc.

Also, wasn't it an episode of WKRP in Cincinatti where some DJ was looking for a job at WKRP because he had been replaced by a machine?

 

[ncradioeng]

You could get Drake Chenault formats in either announced or unannounced. For a interesting read check out:

http://www.drakechenault.org/textpg.html

 

[Kent Dorsey]

I remember well some of the songtags with Drake, "You heard 'We Just Disagree' by Dave Mason"...boom, right into the next song.

I heard SPA's songtags last week and they sound trendy and, ...awful.

 

[JimA]

D/C was ok back then - SO WAY WORTH $600 A MONTH trust me But a lot better than any the pretend D/C Jones Krap - that sucks! Give me another SMC auto system any day over there "live canned" stuff. D/C I miss but the guys retired and sold out

 

[ncradioeng]

Billy Moore
http://billymoore.com/billy-audio_archive.htm
was the announcer for D-C's Hit Parade (WRAL, Raleigh and WFBC, Greenville, SC), Solid Gold (WSLQ, Roanoke), Oldies (WJLC, South Boston, VA) - stations I could receive in the early '70s. Some call signs have changed since.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I heard SPA's songtags last week and they sound trendy and, ...awful.

It sounded very odd to me, just out of place. I mean these days stations have canned liner voices pounding home the radio station positioning statements and now this. There's no room (or need) for the actual jock.

The automation announcers were a different era. Days when AM still had the majority of the audience and the FM automated operation ran in the back room....

 

[LaidBackJack]

...and if the screaming AM jock somehow "forgot" to rewind the tapes on the FM, we enjoyed hours of silence!

 

[Mike Sheridan]

...and if the screaming AM jock somehow "forgot" to rewind the tapes on the FM, we enjoyed hours of silence!

You should see how it looks with bits of tape scattered all over the floor! The reels would somtimes just start flapping as the tapes ran out. Funny to listen to as well. The automation desparately searching for something to play. Ah the good old days!

 

[eacalhoun1]

...and if the screaming AM jock somehow "forgot" to rewind the tapes on the FM, we enjoyed hours of silence!

You should see how it looks with bits of tape scattered all over the floor! The reels would somtimes just start flapping as the tapes ran out. Funny to listen to as well. The automation desparately searching for something to play. Ah the good old days!

....or the automation (in the case of an SMC, maybe others) was playing multiple sources at the same time. Also at WMNC in Morganton all of these lights were rigged up: one for silent sense (w/ accompanying alarm); one for reel down (finished and auto-rewound); one for AM live; one for FM live; one to record a network feed. Sadly, I stayed constipated there because there was no "It's time to ****" light ;D And lest I forget, there was a light and/or alarm to remind us to change power on the AM. Yes, those were the days!! I really do cherish those days...great memories.

Eric

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Eric could you bet talking about the IGM Instacart? It was the successor to the carousel. The Instacart had 48 trays with 48 heads. You could call on any cart at any time because there was no tray in and tray out. It seemed like a good idea but.....
The heads would get a little dirty or become misaligned which caused a cart to skip it's cue then there were two carts on the air at once sometimes more than two! It was a great idea but a real mess if not maintained closely.