Radio Names

[TheBigA]

But you still know three different people who use the name Johnny Dark.

I should clarify that at least two of them are now dead. Not sure about the third.

 

[gr8oldies]

Exactly right. Growing up in L.A. as a listener of rock radio, I could identify at least 25-30 different air talents by voice alone.( probably more). My sibling and I played a game where we would record air checks on a little cassette recorder, then play them back and ask each other to guess the voice. We almost always guessed correctly - and that included newscasters, sportscasters, and weathermen on all L.A. rock stations. ( Yes, it's stupid game for bored teens). But station managers, who are in the business of only producing revenue for the bottom line and have no idea of the relationship between listeners and air talent, are clueless about this. And often the air talent is equally clueless.

The p.d. figures that if some air talent known as "Scott Shannon" leaves one week, then the next week, the p.d. will hire a new person, name him "Scott Shannon", and stick him in the same time slot as the old "Scott Shannon", then what difference does it make?

It's like naming exotic dancers. If one girl is known as Ruby Diamond, and another girl is known as Golden Sunset, then....so what? After all, it's a business like anything else, and if a glamorous tinseltown name increases ratings, then who cares? The fact is, that the listeners care because they understand that they're being misled by the deception.

That would assume average listeners would notice while they're doing office work, changing oil or cutting hair. In my experience, not really.

 

[michael hagerty]

It's also worth remembering that when this was a thing, there were many jocks who chose their own assumed air names for their own reasons----personal privacy (especially in the days when you had to pay extra for an unlisted phone number), the desire to have a more memorable name than their own, or one that was better for the jingle singers.

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

That would assume average listeners would notice while they're doing office work, changing oil or cutting hair. In my experience, not really.

You're right in terms of radio voices in the 2020's, where the voices only announce the station, or the name of the artist, because everything is pre-recorded or automated. They are just disjointed voices who speak for only a few seconds, and people at work will not recognize them. I certainly wouldn't. A station can even use a computer-generated voice and save money that way.

It's different for a station with distinctive personalities who work live, in-studio, with listeners who tune in at the same time each day, to hear that personality. If I'm a listener in the L.A. market of the 60's -- 90's , then my ear knows the difference between rock jocks because of their delivery, their inflection, and their voice quality. In the L.A. rock market, listeners can easily distinguish between, say, Robert W. Morgan - Al Lohman - Wink Martindale - Mucho Morales - Jimmy O'Neill -- Johnny Magnus - etc., even while doing office work or cutting hair. P.D.'s may assume that they cannot, so it doesn't matter. But it does to the listener.

I like this message board, and it's fascinating ! I'm sorry for belaboring the topic. But, I wanted to give input as a radio fan and a steady listener. Most everyone here is/ was in station management. My perspective as a listener is a little different. -- Daryl

 

[davideduardo]

It's also worth remembering that when this was a thing, there were many jocks who chose their own assumed air names for their own reasons----personal privacy (especially in the days when you had to pay extra for an unlisted phone number), the desire to have a more memorable name than their own, or one that was better for the jingle singers.

In contrast, in Spanish language radio... including all of Latin America... adopting "radio names" is particularly uncommon. About the most extreme I have seen is a jock in Miami and Puerto Rico using her more common and "easy" maternal last name rather than the paternal one.

The exception is with "DeeJays" who all invent ultra-clever and novel names, no matter if they speak English, Spanish or Tagalog. That means that Hispanic jocks, whether in English or Spanish, playing hip hop or reggaetón, are likely to create a name that is similar to those preferred by the artists they play.

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

It's also worth remembering that when this was a thing, there were many jocks who chose their own assumed air names for their own reasons----personal privacy (especially in the days when you had to pay extra for an unlisted phone number), the desire to have a more memorable name than their own, or one that was better for the jingle singers.

True, Michael, and your point is well taken.

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

In contrast, in Spanish language radio... including all of Latin America... adopting "radio names" is particularly uncommon. About the most extreme I have seen is a jock in Miami and Puerto Rico using her more common and "easy" maternal last name rather than the paternal one.

The exception is with "DeeJays" who all invent ultra-clever and novel names, no matter if they speak English, Spanish or Tagalog. That means that Hispanic jocks, whether in English or Spanish, playing hip hop or reggaetón, are likely to create a name that is similar to those preferred by the artists they play.

Yes -- and this is a good point also.

 

[gr8oldies]

It's also worth remembering that when this was a thing, there were many jocks who chose their own assumed air names for their own reasons----personal privacy (especially in the days when you had to pay extra for an unlisted phone number), the desire to have a more memorable name than their own, or one that was better for the jingle singers.

I'm guessing women who are on the air don't want fans showing up at their homes.

 

[gr8oldies]

You're right in terms of radio voices in the 2020's, where the voices only announce the station, or the name of the artist, because everything is pre-recorded or automated. They are just disjointed voices who speak for only a few seconds, and people at work will not recognize them. I certainly wouldn't. A station can even use a computer-generated voice and save money that way.

It's different for a station with distinctive personalities who work live, in-studio, with listeners who tune in at the same time each day, to hear that personality. If I'm a listener in the L.A. market of the 60's -- 90's , then my ear knows the difference between rock jocks because of their delivery, their inflection, and their voice quality. In the L.A. rock market, listeners can easily distinguish between, say, Robert W. Morgan - Al Lohman - Wink Martindale - Mucho Morales - Jimmy O'Neill -- Johnny Magnus - etc., even while doing office work or cutting hair. P.D.'s may assume that they cannot, so it doesn't matter. But it does to the listener.

I like this message board, and it's fascinating ! I'm sorry for belaboring the topic. But, I wanted to give input as a radio fan and a steady listener. Most everyone here is/ was in station management. My perspective as a listener is a little different. -- Daryl

No, I'm talking the 60s, 70s and 80s. I've mentioned the shock of working in an office with the radio on the top rated top 40 station.....all with live jocks, who were on the mic live, and nobody really noticed what the jocks said or who they were. I think most of the kids who went to the pool where CKLW was playing would have been hard-pressed to come up with the names of the daytime jock lineup.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I'm guessing women who are on the air don't want fans showing up at their homes.

I still remember working at a CHR station. They had a female jock working overnights who wasn't very good. This is the days before VT was common. Her PD ranked her work. It was terrible. In the end, he had to terminate her. She then yelled throughout the building: "This is FINE! I'll just find another PD that I can F@#$ for a job like I did you!!!". There was nervous and uncomfortable chuckling. Then there was realization of what she said. Then there was reality that set in. Then there was silence. That PD was gone within a month.

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

I still remember working at a CHR station. They had a female jock working overnights who wasn't very good. This is the days before VT was common. Her PD ranked her work. It was terrible. In the end, he had to terminate her. She then yelled throughout the building: "This is FINE! I'll just find another PD that I can F@#$ for a job like I did you!!!". There was nervous and uncomfortable chuckling. Then there was realization of what she said. Then there was reality that set in. Then there was silence. That PD was gone within a month.

Oh my goodness. I'm sorry.......but what is VT?

 

[Mikey Radio]

Oh my goodness. I'm sorry.......but what is VT?

Voice Tracking. And she was just in it for, um "notoriety.. Don't apologize. Both she and the PD both got what they wanted. She got an overnight air shift and he got.......... He got.......Uh...Um.... Uh..... Well...Um........

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

No, I'm talking the 60s, 70s and 80s. I've mentioned the shock of working in an office with the radio on the top rated top 40 station.....all with live jocks, who were on the mic live, and nobody really noticed what the jocks said or who they were. I think most of the kids who went to the pool where CKLW was playing would have been hard-pressed to come up with the names of the daytime jock lineup.

That's interesting. Must be a different situation in different parts of North America. In Los Angeles, in the 60's -70's-80's, most young listeners, say ages 13 - 30 who loved music, could name the staff line-up at at least 2 or 3 of the major rock stations. When kids gathered at the pool, or in the car, or at a party, there would be a discussion as to which station to listen to, because of strong preference for stations and on-air personalities. It was not unusual to be able to distinguish easily 20 jocks by voice.

When my friends signed my school yearbooks, they used to write their station preferences, i.e. "KYYY forever", or "KZZZ rules", etc. I have signatures that say, "I'm glad we're friends, even though you're KYYY and I'm KZZZ", etc. This must have been a regional thing, then. Maybe it was unique to Los Angeles, where there were numerous rock stations, both AM and FM.

Not today, however, when there's nothing but a 3 second voice that says the name of the singer -- if even that.
The teens and pre-teens in my family tell me they listen "on the app", meaning i-heart ( I think). Or they set up their own playlist on their phone. Or they have a blue-tooth device, like Alexa, who plays songs on command.

Radio as we knew it in the 60's - 90's really doesn't exist any more. It's sad.

 

[CTListener]

In contrast, in Spanish language radio... including all of Latin America... adopting "radio names" is particularly uncommon. About the most extreme I have seen is a jock in Miami and Puerto Rico using her more common and "easy" maternal last name rather than the paternal one.

I assume this is true in Puerto Rico because Spanish surnames are generally easy to pronounce and, because the island isn't the international melting pot that the mainland is, there are few if any Papadopouloses, Kowalskis and Goldsteins needing to become Lopezes or Hernandezes on air. But what about air talent in Mexico, where many families still have Aztec-derived surnames, or all the Germans and Italians in Argentina? Do the Benedettis and Heinrichs who get into broadcasting there change their names?

 

[CTListener]

That's interesting. Must be a different situation in different parts of North America. In Los Angeles, in the 60's -70's-80's, most young listeners, say ages 13 - 30 who loved music, could name the staff line-up at at least 2 or 3 of the major rock stations. When kids gathered at the pool, or in the car, or at a party, there would be a discussion as to which station to listen to, because of strong preference for stations and on-air personalities. It was not unusual to be able to distinguish easily 20 jocks by voice.

When my friends signed my school yearbooks, they used to write their station preferences, i.e. "KYYY forever", or "KZZZ rules", etc. I have signatures that say, "I'm glad we're friends, even though you're KYYY and I'm KZZZ", etc. This must have been a regional thing, then. Maybe it was unique to Los Angeles, where there were numerous rock stations, both AM and FM.

Not today, however, when there's nothing but a 3 second voice that says the name of the singer -- if even that.
The teens and pre-teens in my family tell me they listen "on the app", meaning i-heart ( I think). Or they set up their own playlist on their phone. Or they have a blue-tooth device, like Alexa, who plays songs on command.

Radio as we knew it in the 60's - 90's really doesn't exist any more. It's sad.

For you. For the current users, or even potential users, who only know the radio you recall so fondly as something their parents or grandparents talk about, that kind of radio holds no particular appeal.

 

[davideduardo]

I assume this is true in Puerto Rico because Spanish surnames are generally easy to pronounce and, because the island isn't the international melting pot that the mainland is, there are few if any Papadopouloses, Kowalskis and Goldsteins needing to become Lopezes or Hernandezes on air. But what about air talent in Mexico, where many families still have Aztec-derived surnames, or all the Germans and Italians in Argentina? Do the Benedettis and Heinrichs who get into broadcasting there change their names?

My morning person and PD at my first manager's job in Puerto Rico was Alfred D. Herger and the news anchor was Luis Antonio Cosme. The island is full of names that come from migrants from the Mediterranean and also from European turmoil. Many French names as well, such as TV star Giselle Blondet and Miss Puerto Rico Marisol Malaret. And, of course, there are plenty of mainland US names of people born there like Joaquin Phoenix. Or the head of the PR Olympic Committee, Germán Rieckehoff. Or ex-menudo René Farrait.

Mexico does not have that many Aztec derived last names, as during the first several centuries after the conquest, there was enormous adoption of Spanish (Castilian) surnames. Only recently has it become a more common practice to use Nahuatl first names like Xochitl and the like.

In Argentina, on the #1 station in the Americas, the morning guy was Pablo Bricker, and there were or are folks like Bebe Contepomi, Alejandra Higa, Aldo Sinovy, Carina Deferrari, Alejandro Scarso and more. On the AM, the lead morning news commentator was Daniel Hadad. Since people of Spanish origin are a distinct minority there, there's a great acceptance for all sorts of names.

 

[michael hagerty]

In the L.A. rock market, listeners can easily distinguish between, say, Robert W. Morgan - Al Lohman - Wink Martindale - Mucho Morales - Jimmy O'Neill -- Johnny Magnus - etc., even while doing office work or cutting hair. P.D.'s may assume that they cannot, so it doesn't matter. But it does to the listener.

Daryl, I'm going to correct this.

"Listeners could easily distinguish..."

You're talking about a different era, both in terms of the people on the radio and the people listening to it.

 

[michael hagerty]

I'm guessing women who are on the air don't want fans showing up at their homes.

Yes, and the women in radio and TV have a huge problem with stalkers.

 

[michael hagerty]

That's interesting. Must be a different situation in different parts of North America. In Los Angeles, in the 60's -70's-80's, most young listeners, say ages 13 - 30 who loved music, could name the staff line-up at at least 2 or 3 of the major rock stations. When kids gathered at the pool, or in the car, or at a party, there would be a discussion as to which station to listen to, because of strong preference for stations and on-air personalities. It was not unusual to be able to distinguish easily 20 jocks by voice.

When my friends signed my school yearbooks, they used to write their station preferences, i.e. "KYYY forever", or "KZZZ rules", etc. I have signatures that say, "I'm glad we're friends, even though you're KYYY and I'm KZZZ", etc. This must have been a regional thing, then. Maybe it was unique to Los Angeles, where there were numerous rock stations, both AM and FM.

Daryl:

Los Angeles was a very media-aware town. I'm from there, too. It's not typical, even among major markets. And even in L.A., there were far more people who didn't know or care who the jock was as long as they liked the song that was playing at that moment. If they could find a station playing better music with fewer interruptions, they'd go there.

Always worth remembering...a 40 share of the audience (think BMR, The Real Don Steele) was huge. But it meant 60 percent of the audience was listening to something else.

 

[gr8oldies]

For you. For the current users, or even potential users, who only know the radio you recall so fondly as something their parents or grandparents talk about, that kind of radio holds no particular appeal.

Drake designed his stations to have a uniform sound, where the sound of the station always trumped the individual jocks. That doesn't mean personality wasn't important, but jocks didn't ramble on about nothing, and other that Morgan and Steele in the prime slots, other than radio geeks one might be hard-pressed to know who was on.