Re-inventing Atlanta Radio

[Surfer]

If I'm repeating a topic (and I probably am so please re-direct me if you know), I was considering the idea of re-inventing Atlanta radio (or radio in general).

Here's the scenerio. Most of us would agree that radio as a medium is struggling. We would also agree that, for the most part, there is a serious lack of talent, creativity and sales. So, rather than bring up the same tired answers again (find creative air talent, lose commercial time, get rid of Clear Channel, etc.), how would you repair a medium that has the potential to motivate human beings to do just about anything (think Orsen Wells' "War of the Worlds" broadcast, pranks on unsuspecting listeners/victims and the like).

I believe each answer should address several important criteria that, in today's market cannot be ignored.

1) Make your sales and make the Wall Street investors/owners happy. (If you can't do this and make money to do the rest, why bother.

2) Be innovative. Come up with something that would return listeners to the airwaves and move them away from computers, ipod's, etc. UNLESSS, of course, you can find a way to have them download your station to an IPOD to listen to and mix their own music, complete with a DJ and throw in one or two ads to pay for the service (because nothing's free).

3) Be creative. If you're going to find "new talent", describe how that talent would enhance the medium.

I'll go first (since it's my thread anyway). I would like to see major corporate ownership out of the business. The idea that CC, Cox, Citadel, CBS and others control 5, 6 or even 7 stations in a market is a major mark against the business. Why compete with yourself? While there are many people who would complain against it, Kicks and Eagle did fairly well for many years keeping most of the other country music stations out of the market by simply working together, branding the stations as a "combo buy" and staying on top "together". Separately, not so much but that's just my opinion so please stick to the topic. Limit an owner to one station per market per band (AM/FM or HD)

Second, since our society is so electronically advanced, find ways to get your station into that realm. As I said earlier, if people are downloading music, why not get them to download the music they want, the jock they want to hear, and any other station stuff (news, weather, contests...YES, there's got to be a way to do it, we just haven't thought of it yet) folks would like to hear.

Keep it local. Skew it towards the Atlanta market. Bring in our valued Southern heritage. I think people would love to listen to radio again if they had a better reason than time, temps, traffic and tunes.

Finally, make it profitable. If it doesn't sell, don't bother. Yes, I'm repeating this one because I believe it's that important. Maybe there is a way to place a commercial or two in a podcast or other download. Who knows?

Anyway, that's the idea. I am looking forward to seeing how creative you all are out there because, and I truly believe this, radio will continue to see declining sales and listenership unless something dramatic is done (not DRASTIC, as that does not involve must thought and I'd like to see some thinking on this one).

Sorry for taking so long. Good luck and I await your responses.

 

[taylorengineer]

Break up the radio groups. Like you said, take it back to 1 station AM/FM/TV per market. Limit 7 stations per band. They were making tons of money back in those days even though the lying bastards would have you think they weren't.
Consolidation is the single most destructive thing which has happened to American media. But it can also be argued that if the demand for better programming was there the market would respond. Look at all the people who post on this board gushing over the Regular Guys, Bert, Steve & Vickie et.al. This is radio- twinkyism....but many of you guys seem to be happy with it.
The market always supplies what the people want.
What people want. Go figure.......

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Excellent kick-off for a topic. I will be back later with some specific contributions.

For a period of one year I lived in a city and while there attended the church pastored by a very unique minister. Only one of his sermons sticks in my mind, and only one quote:

"The absence of weeds does not a garden make."

Contributions saying we need to get rid of this, get rid of that, break up corporate radio, are just weeding the garden.

We need contributions on "what to plant".

 

[taylorengineer]

If you don't weed the garden then there is no room for flowers to grow. Weeds choke off the nutrients and sunlight flowers need.
The biggest sacks of weed seeds comes from our favorite companies.....who happen to own most of the garden space.
So to begin to raise flowers you must eliminate the sower of weed seeds.
As I stated before.....most are quite satisfied with the present offerings on radio. Some weeds are pretty to look at.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

So to begin to raise flowers you must eliminate the sower of weed seeds.
As I stated before.....most are quite satisfied with the present offerings on radio. Some weeds are pretty to look at.

Points well taken. My assumption was, upon reading the opening message, that we might "design" through discussion, through arm-chair quarterbacking, what we think would be good radio for Atlanta. Then maybe we compare it to what we have under current conditions. We could learn that what you just said is true. Even if we had a clean slate to begin with we might invent radio that looks just like what we currently have. If that turns out to be true, what are we unhappy about? Are we ready to say the end product is great; the listeners including us are getting what they want? (...what they need?)

If that be the case, then it is not the product we are groaning and moaning about. The listeners are happy. At that point maybe we say: "Self, it's those who are IN radio that are unhappy. We want abundant jobs. We want working conditions where working broadcasters have happy careers. We want big companies out of the Weed Patch because they are screwing up the lives of broadcasters and would be broadcasters!"

If it is not the current product that is pouring out of speakers and headsets that we feel is in need of repair and improvement, then is the question on the floor this: "Can the product continue to be so satisfying to ears if we leave working conditions alone and the next generation chooses not to learn the trade and produce the satisfying product 20 years from now?"

 

[jimrichvo]

Taylor hit the nail on the head. Greedy groups bought up everything in sight. Now they're crying the blues about low profit margins. Get real. The fat cats are still smoking $100 cigars, and flying on their private jets to corporate owned condos in exotic places, while the talent stands in the unemployment line. Corporations don't care about the listener. Just the almighty dollar. I heard one conglomerate czar say a while back "it doesn't matter what we air...they're gonna keep listening...it's free and as long as it's free there is no alternative". Wish I could disclose this guy's name. Trust me he is very well known.

The FCC has been sleeping with the NAB and look at the children they spawned...gigantic corporate ownership. Whatever happened to the FCC edict "stations are licensed in the public interest". Today's philosophy is "public be damned". Face it....there are very few real "broadcasters" left in the business. And anyone who believes the FCC is going to find a way return the airwaves to independent broadcasters is sadly mistaken. Too many palms have been greased. I've talked with many small and medium market former owners who were glad to pocket the cash, but regret ever selling out. Many are saddened to see what these absentee owners have done with the facility they worked so hard to creat. While fishing off the Gulf Coast last year one of them former local station owner summed it up this way, "The rape of the public trust is rampant." Once upon a time broadcasters were local, took an active part in their community, made a difference, provided a valuable public service, generated significant sales for advertisers, COMMUNICATED with the listener, actually heard what the listener had to say and took it to heart, and made a boat load of money in the process.
Bring back the 1AM, 1FM, 1 TV per market or 7AM,7FM rule! That's the answer but radio has lost it's virginity.

 

[Chancethegardner]

As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden. In the garden growth has its seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring again.

 

[TheGreenskeeper]

As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden. In the garden growth has its seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring again.

You sound like a very serious gardener.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

The FCC has been sleeping with the NAB and look at the children they spawned...gigantic corporate ownership. Whatever happened to the FCC edict "stations are licensed in the public interest".

It really wasn't the FCC. It was the Telecommunications Act of 1996. It was congress that did it and a president who signed it.

 

[Surfer]

You know, while I like the discussion, I still haven't seen any real answers to my query. Any takers? ???

 

[Inside your head]

. Look at all the people who post on this board gushing over the Regular Guys, Bert, Steve & Vickie et.al. This is radio- twinkyism....but many of you guys seem to be happy with it.

no, not evvery1.


surfer seems like every station is being programmed by guys no clue what any1 under 40 lsiten to, get some of the college jocks on a major signal. like andy 88 get some1 in the age of who the station supposed to be going after to pl;ay what they want, forget the crprate bs and research, just let them play what they want and u get the listeners, thats what i think would work for 961 or dave. no 1 wants to listen to the reatrded giant or scratchy voice guy on dave.

 

[taylorengineer]

Well.....actually.....Andy IS on a major FM signal!(DAVE) But he's not the guy who decides what to play next.
Some of the people who locally program stations do really "get it." It's just too risky,career wise, to suggest blowing out the tried and true format to experiment with a "new idea."
The bean counters don't understand showbiz - they understand return on investment. Actuaries can assign numerical values to risk but only if the risk can be quantified. Entertainment value can not be assigned a number - it can't be quantified - it can only be recognized when seen. This"gut thing" will be a hard sell in the board room when you can't make your case with objective data......subjective is waaaay too risky.....it requires thought, intelligence, comprehension, and(that dirty word again)risk.
Surf wants an answer but there is none. People are pretty much getting what they want now. The evolution of radio will lead where? Who knows.......

 

[jhead]

I do agree with the 1am/1 fm/1tv or the 7-7 rule. I do agree with that step. will the FCC do that right away....fraid not. Will they if people are informed? Yes.

I am going to step out of line just a bit. Instead of veiwing the iPod as a threat, use it to a stations benefit. Many public radio stations use take thier most popular shows or stories and make them podcasts. Use the iPod as a way to promote the station. Whether apublic or commerical...am or fm...do a best of the week podcast. Do a bonus conteest. If some one is going to have an Ipod...let the station be in thier pocket too.

 

[TheRealOtherNeil]

Earlier someone wrote that the listeners are happy with the product. I hate to go all Plato on you but it's the "allegory of the cave" here. They are happy coz they don't know what is outside. More and more listeners are going to satellite, HD or mp3 players. I have the latter. Why should I listen to what some program director says I like when I know what I like and I can play it whenever I want.

Whomever said to break up the mega companies is correct. They have homogenized radio. If it plays in Indy it'll work in the ATL right? WRONG! Since 1967 when KMPX went Progressive, radio has become more and more fragmented. So the big corps (CC, COX, CBS, Radio One, Cumulus and Citadel) have found a way to pull it all together again. Make every market sound the same.

Yes, break them all up, limit them to 3 stations per market and cap the limit at 24 stations total. That will create more jobs too, Instead of one guy/gal programming the "lite" station for 45 markets, 45 different people will have to do it. Instead of syndicated one show in 105 markets, have 105 different morning shows. Wow, local radio, what a strange idea.

 

[burksy]

They are happy coz they don't know what is outside. More and more listeners are going to satellite, HD or mp3 players


Does anybody have numbers of that happening? I always hear people say people are switching and that stuff, but I don't actually see any proof of it. I don't know anyone with HD radio, and if anything, I see less Sirius and XM then I used to, especially now that they're merging because there wasn't enough of a market for two seperate companies.

 

[jhead]

Bursky...lmore and ore people are buying iPods. Just look on just about any street in Atlanta, look at any high school or college campus...more people have those ear plugs in thier earsthey they have radios. In fact people are finding ways to pulg an iPod in thier ar radio. You want the proof...there it is.

 

[RTibbs]

Bursky...lmore and ore people are buying iPods. Just look on just about any street in Atlanta, look at any high school or college campus...more people have those ear plugs in thier earsthey they have radios. In fact people are finding ways to pulg an iPod in thier ar radio. You want the proof...there it is.

Wow that some real statistical data you can sink your teeth into it. When they are on the street corner listening to their ipods are they simply replacing their time spent listening to the radio or are they supplementing it. When I go to the gym I bring my ipod but that does not come at the expense of time listening to radio it is just additional time listening to music or podcasts or whatever. The radio did not lose in this equation.

 

[DashRiprock]

I listen to my mp3 player almost every day and about half that time I’m listening to podcasts of radio shows - Sans commercials.

 

[jabba17]

I listen to my mp3 player almost every day and about half that time I’m listening to podcasts of radio shows - Sans commercials.

But did you see a banner ad in the email or on the website when you downloaded the podcast?

The future of terrestrial radio will be local content (news/sports/talk/religion/locally strong ethnic demos), topical morning shows with local color and not generic gags pulled off of a fax machine, and formats geared to people who can't afford/won't buy satellite (teenybopper CHR+active rock+alt/urban/Latino/country/oldies/nostalgia) or will serve as background music (country/AC/urban/Latino). Highbrow/niche formats such as AAA, classical, Americana, classic country, deep-cut classic rock, real jazz, decade formats, etc. will be superserved by satellite and die on terrestrial.

A pessimist could look at this and say that nobody ever went broke underestimating the sophistication of the American public. An optimist could see this as an opportunity to tweak variations of the same formats and make variety out of nothing at all.

Breaking up the 5 C's will not change this environment. Money is money whether it is piled high or spread around. As I like to point out, at one point in the 80s Atlanta had 6 AC stations with 6 different owners. One of them is now oldies and owned by Citadel (True Oldies); one of them is now country and owned by CC (Bull), two of them are owned by Cox, one of which is classic hits (River), one of which is now owned by Lincoln Financial and is CHR (Star), and the last one is now owned by Cumulus and is CHR (Q100).

MP3 players generally don't break new songs or old stuff not in your collection, and most of the nonradio services out there that do are tethered to a computer (Pandora, last.fm, etc.). If you're a technogeek you may be streaming them throughout your house, and if you have the time to fool with it you could TotalRecord or SoundTaxi it into a DIY podcast. Kind of like the people who used to record Rush on their VCRs so they could listen to all 3 hours when they got home--it can be done, but it's a PITA.

Or you could just turn on the radio and be done with it.

 

[DashRiprock]

I listen to my mp3 player almost every day and about half that time I’m listening to podcasts of radio shows - Sans commercials.

But did you see a banner ad in the email or on the website when you downloaded the podcast?

The future of terrestrial radio will be local content (news/sports/talk/religion/locally strong ethnic demos), topical morning shows with local color and not generic gags pulled off of a fax machine, and formats geared to people who can't afford/won't buy satellite (teenybopper CHR+active rock+alt/urban/Latino/country/oldies/nostalgia) or will serve as background music (country/AC/urban/Latino). Highbrow/niche formats such as AAA, classical, Americana, classic country, deep-cut classic rock, real jazz, decade formats, etc. will be superserved by satellite and die on terrestrial.

A pessimist could look at this and say that nobody ever went broke underestimating the sophistication of the American public. An optimist could see this as an opportunity to tweak variations of the same formats and make variety out of nothing at all.

Breaking up the 5 C's will not change this environment. Money is money whether it is piled high or spread around. As I like to point out, at one point in the 80s Atlanta had 6 AC stations with 6 different owners. One of them is now oldies and owned by Citadel (True Oldies); one of them is now country and owned by CC (Bull), two of them are owned by Cox, one of which is classic hits (River), one of which is now owned by Lincoln Financial and is CHR (Star), and the last one is now owned by Cumulus and is CHR (Q100).

MP3 players generally don't break new songs or old stuff not in your collection, and most of the nonradio services out there that do are tethered to a computer (Pandora, last.fm, etc.). If you're a technogeek you may be streaming them throughout your house, and if you have the time to fool with it you could TotalRecord or SoundTaxi it into a DIY podcast. Kind of like the people who used to record Rush on their VCRs so they could listen to all 3 hours when they got home--it can be done, but it's a PITA.

Or you could just turn on the radio and be done with it.

Yes I do get banner ads on most sites. God bless the advertisers that pay the bills.

Radio is re-inventing itself by merging with the Internet. Right now, I’m listening to TRG online and watching the show live on Eric cam with a built-in chat client. This is local, multimedia, and highly interactive. I can’t hang around for the full show, so I’ll just download the bits later and listen to ‘em while I’m driving home. These are baby steps toward the future of radio. I believe that ultra niche and on-demand will be the norm and big corporations broadcasting a few generic formats for the masses will decline.

It’s true that right now you need a certain amount of geek skills, but new gadgets make it easier every day. It’s gonna be cool…Now, where’s that flying car they promised me in the 60’s?