Radio's Past and an idea!

[NoItAll88]

After reading many posts from "ghosts of radio's past," it makes me feel very sad to see how a business can make people so bitter. I come here to for interesting discussion on the CURRENT state of radio. [EDIT]

Can we all agree that 95% of the time, ANY CHANGE to a radio station or heaven forbid NEW IDEA is shot down and demonized before it even has a chance to succeed?

VETERANS: Much respect for what you accomplished in THE PAST. What should we do for the future?

If this thread stays alive, I would like to see each person, bitter or not or employed or not, suggest a way to keep this medium we all love going strong.


[EDIT-disruption]

 

[bigtom101]

VETERANS: Much respect for what you accomplished in THE PAST. What should we do for the future?

If this thread stays alive, I would like to see each person, bitter or not or employed or not, suggest a way to keep this medium we all love going strong.

Personally, I'd like to see better use of social networking and web presence from radio stations. Maybe hold jock meetings where the interactive/web department can show how to use the stations Facebook/Twitter/jock blogs as effective tools for connecting and communicating with listeners rather than "HEY LISTEN TO WIN AT 7:20 FOR RANDOM PRIZE." Forming (two way) connections with listeners on air & online is what makes us different from a iPod, and strengthening that can only make the station stronger and a more appealing brand to advertisers.

The other thing that seems to be lacking is marketing. Throwing up a couple billboards on Rt.9 and hoping it will work is NOT an effective way to get someone to know you exist. Work out a deal with Comcast or Cablevision to run ads on cable channels (see if they are willing to trade!), have the commercial produced in house, and make a go of it. Trade out ads in the newspaper - work it out so you run a daily ad of what articles are in that days paper (or online), interview a columnist during the morning show, and BOOM, full or half page ads with minimal cash outlay.

Top 40 station? High school football season is here - why not talk to local schools and send the promotions team out to the game..hell..if you have a jock who knows how to call a game, have be a guest commentator for the game. Gets the station involved a bit with the community, and helps get the station in front of young ears...ones that will be the coveted twentysomething spenders in a few years.

 

[Tom Wells]

I think radio has done enough of calling attention to other forms of media.

Never could understand why they would run ads for TV shows, or anything that detracts form TSL.

"Hey! Don't listen to Joe Jock this evening on K---, watch this show on ABC, here a plug for some other media!"

Now suggest they spend time on Twitter instead of listening?

How about spots that say "Forget US, just surf the internet...Nothing's gonna be happening HERE!"

 

[Kevin TRC]

I think I'm in that same boat. Social media is a good thing, but too much of a good thing isn't a good thing anymore. There's nothing wrong with being the 10th caller IMHO.

 

[gr8oldies]

You cannot pretend that other media does not exist and claim to be in touch with your audience, who does watch TV, hang out on Twitter, go to movies, take walks, etc. Two way conversations on social media is essential...even to truly find out what's going on now.

 

[kewgardens]

Yes all this is great (social netorking, outside promotions) pre-supposing your station or cluster still has the people and promotional dollars to pull it off. My experience over the last three to four years is that both of those factors have diminished at a steep and steady rate. There are few people left at many facilities to do RADIO properly let alone find the time to engage in social networking. Marketing dollars? Forget about it!

 

[bturner]

I had a boss who said nothing is as important as what we (the radio station) does. Calling attention to those competitors for media consumption is saying what you do on your station is not as good or worthy to the listener. That boss said we didn't have to think everything else (TV/Internet/Newspaper, etc), but we had to be the most compelling and interesting. I believe this. Other media options are good...very good. What are you doing on the air to be more compelling?

I feel radio, for the most part, is lacking in an emotional bond with the listener. The listener must like you, find you interesting and feel they have something in common with the radio station, regardless of format. How many talk radio listeners really tune in the national talk shows because they want a daily dose of politics and want to feel frustrated. I think most listen because they 'like' or 'identify' with the hosts because an emotional connection has been made between the listener and the radio station.

Bill

 

[qtpieislit]

I think I'm in that same boat. Social media is a good thing, but too much of a good thing isn't a good thing anymore. There's nothing wrong with being the 10th caller IMHO.

Yes there is. That's the problem with radio. The 10th caller. When will radio wake up and make it the 11 caller?

 

[DominiqueRadio]

No matter how hard you try radio is a sinking ship.

The future is.... INTERNET RADIO!

Watch, when wifi becomes standard in all cars internet radio is going to take over. How you may ask? Towers, repairs, station vehicles, large staff are all expensive to maintain. With internet radio you get a far wider range of potential listeners (global) and for far less cost. Literally a station could be a one man operation.

Like it or not this IS going to happen.

 

[MedianJ]

I think I'm in that same boat. Social media is a good thing, but too much of a good thing isn't a good thing anymore. There's nothing wrong with being the 10th caller IMHO.

Yes there is. That's the problem with radio. The 10th caller. When will radio wake up and make it the 11 caller?

Sam Lit is correct again, shake things up. An example of what good radio sounds like was heard today by Jersey radio icon Big Jay who moved up and out of Trenton to the #1 market and the #1 Oldies station in the country. Some times it's just listening to the older pros that can take radio into it's future.

Radio is a business, not a hobby.

 

[GeneSavage]

I'd argue your listeners can be on Twitter and / or Facebook AND be listening. Mine do it every afternoon.

The dialogue continues on the air as well as on the social media sites... comments about this song or that story, and I respond at that moment to the listener / surfer. If something's good enough, it makes it into the next break on the air. It's much faster and allows me to be much more responsive (more like a conversation) than just sending an email to the station.

People are starting to really enjoy this ability to "sit in the booth" with the DJ and jaw-jack about anything and everything. They in turn are generating content for my show, and feel plugged in while we sound plugged in, too.

Radio left the long-form stories behind when television came, and went to spinning hits 24/7. It does feel like radio should innovate again, but I've yet to figure out what that new style of radio is going to look like.

Will it be user-generated content 24/7? Some have suggested it, but I haven't heard any success stories yet.

Somebody's got The Next Big Thing for radio simmering in their brain right now. I wish it was me; I'd love to be rich!

 

[evolve991]

I thought I'd chime in as "just a listener". I agree that radio and new media can coexist and thrive from the interaction. Listeners can choose to participate online or the old way on the phone. Having the choice doesn't mean a fan HAS to go to a website but they CAN if they wish. I've always enjoyed the DJs stories and opinions rather than just the music. When FM started out no one was sure what the future held but they embraced it quickly. Radio needs to keep evolving to compete with MP3 players. Anyone can program a playlist these days so radio has to reach out and give listeners more than just music or news. The piped in corporate methods are what is causing FM to stall out,no one is interested,radio needs DJs who know the area and the people. And advertising clients need to see that without loyal listeners no one is hearing thier commercials. I'm sure there are innovative thinkers out there but the board room keep thier ideas stifled.
Loosen up those ties Mr Number Cruncher....it was not accountants and execs who invented radio. Let those with the talent and skill do thier job!!

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

After reading many posts from "ghosts of radio's past," it makes me feel very sad to see how a business can make people so bitter. I come here to for interesting discussion on the CURRENT state of radio.

Can we all agree that 95% of the time, ANY CHANGE to a radio station or heaven forbid NEW IDEA is shot down and demonized before it even has a chance to succeed?

VETERANS: Much respect for what you accomplished in THE PAST. What should we do for the future?

I share your frustration that our conversations sometimes get non-productive because we all have our own view of what is interesting, what is important, what needs to be done.

The radio pros sometimes wish the "groupies" would just read and not post.

The radio fans don't understand why the radio pros have so many complaints.

The young don't understand why the "seasoned adults" have such weird observations about radio and about life and about values.

I am told that military officers go back and study the battles of old... even back to the days of the Roman Empire and even further back, to understand strategy, planning and philosophy of warfare. Even in the age of nuclear missles there something to be learned from the guys who fought with swords and catapults. Rather than curse under your breath.... respond to some of the messages that irritate you with: "And in view of what you did in radio in 1948... how would you apply that principle in today's market, today's technology?