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Relevant or Fluff?

T

toddohio

This is from Phil from Gotee Records – pretty insightful, I thought:


What does Christian Radio need to do in order to break through to a mass audience on a more consistent basis?

Be honest, be relevant and do things well. I think people from all backgrounds see through fluffy positioning that seems as though us Christians are happy and everything is perfect. People are searching. Whether they are believers with a firm grasp on things or "seekers," we are all hurting and need sincerity, and something to hold on to. That's where the real thing comes in.

Relevance is definitely needed to expand the audience out there. I know everyone has a targeted audience, but whatever that audience is…they deserve the best sounding music, imaging, and jocks that they can get with their resources. Radio stations need to use what they have and make sure that every detail is the best it can be. I think striving to sound good and be culturally relevant is key for audience expansion. The people who are in church every time the doors are open are likely to already listen to Christian Radio, and it's easy to sound like that's the only audience that your station is trying to reach. I hope to see more stations having a sound that doesn't make the other listeners not feel part of the club.
 
Phil Conner

Phil's interview in All Access was one of the best I've read.

e<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
Re: Phil Conner

Content: Content: Content…..An excellent article.
In a mountain community where we can get 3 KLOVE’s and 2 FISHE’s, but the predominate genre listened to is country, I started a Part 15 with ALTERNATIVE Christian music. Country, bluegrass, blues, celtic, and a little traditional southern gospel, with an emphasis on the Gospel Message.
With a covered population of aprox 300-400, there are about 20 known regular listeners, and only God knows how many occasional listeners. Comments have been overwhelmingly positive, and I am now in the early planning stages of getting organized to apply for a LPFM next round. That should cover a population of aprox 5000.
I chose this path, because these are the sounds that the LOCAL listeners want, and have had people tune in and hear the Gospel message before they realized it. You have to reach people where they are. A country or “new age” listener won’t be tuning in the Fish.
Cookie cutter programming to the lowest common denominator is easy, and low risk. Sometimes you have to step out of the boat and test the waters.

Tim
Gospel Life Broadcasting

<P ID="signature">______________
Gospel Life Broadcasting</P>
 
RE: on "cookie cutter" comment

I'm really glad you are programming a format you really feel passionate about.

I'm also glad to hear about a station with such a great variety of genres and sounds that is showing a measured success in your community.

I personally love bluegrass & country. And, it's great to hear the heartbeat of passionate programmers.

I don't know how the thread always seems to go here (UGH)...

But...

It's just so very upsetting when post after post, thread after thread on this board, AC Programming gets so slammed. Maybe that isn't the intention of the above post, but when you comment on KLOVE & then THE FISH and follow it up with "cookie cutter programming to the lowest common denominator is easy" the impression given is an insult to those striving hard to offer their listeners (their local listeners also) the music they want.

well... it's NOT easy. And there IS risk involved in any format. And it's not the lowest common denominator.

And some of us, enjoy the programming these stations offer. There ought to be something said for the mass appeal found in order for these stations to grow as they do. MASSES and MASSES of people who prefer it, perhaps?

thanks,
e

<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
Re: Phil Conner (re: e)

> I believe that he is referring to programming your station according to your specific area and their tastes. The two networks mentioned program their stations according to what they have found to be a safe overall programming for everyone, then it is sent out to other areas - thus the mention of cookie cutter programming. I don't think it is meant to be a slam, it is the truth in a sense. Salem and Klove can't specifically change their programming to an area that loves Southern Gospel or Urban in contrast to their A/C programming. They can't throw in some music that might be a favorite for that area only. Their programming is set in their home state and satellited elsewhere. The local stations can pick up the slack in programming.
I might add if mass appeal love the type of programming these satellite stations come up with, why is there so much griping and complaining about them in the areas they are located? Do they put up with them because it is in many cases, its all they have or they have the larger signals, or do they really like what they are hearing and just like to gripe about anything? Just wondering and not meant to be a "slam" in any way.
 
Re: RE: on "cookie cutter" comment

"cookie cutter programming to the lowest common denominator is easy" >>>>>>>>>>>>


Even the listeners who say they hate the Christian "cookie cutter stations" will still listen - even though they want more rock - they're still the vocal minoirty. Look at everyone who makes comments about these stations - they have to be listening somewhat closely to form their opinions.

I love the stories of communities without any Christian radio for years, and now they have 3 or 4 choices instead of listening exclusively to mainstream radio.
 
Re: RE: on "cookie cutter" comment

> Even the listeners who say they hate the Christian "cookie
> cutter stations" will still listen - even though they want
> more rock - they're still the vocal minoirty. Look at
> everyone who makes comments about these stations - they have
> to be listening somewhat closely to form their opinions.
>
> I love the stories of communities without any Christian
> radio for years, and now they have 3 or 4 choices instead of
> listening exclusively to mainstream radio.
>

I listen to the local Chrisitan AC station from time to time, which is painful to listen to! (they run more commericials an hour than the local CC Cluster) but I still listen even though I dont like the Commericals and I don't like AC music typically ( I perfer CHR/Rock/Hip Hop) <P ID="signature">______________
Lenks
Program Director/Music Director
X Music Online
The X
Today's Best Music
http://www.xmusiconline.com/</P>
 
Re: "cookie cutter programming"

whatzthat wrote:
"The two networks mentioned program their stations according to what they have found to be a safe overall programming for everyone, then it is sent out to other areas... Salem and Klove can't specifically change their programming to an area that loves Southern Gospel or Urban in contrast to their A/C programming. They can't throw in some music that might be a favorite for that area only. Their programming is set in their home state and satellited elsewhere."


"Not every Fish is from satellite. And targeting programming based on geography has some merit, but there is still a nationwide pulse that programmers follow in any format (AC, Country, Urban, Top40, etc).


"...why is there so much griping and complaining about them in the areas they are located?"

Ar you talking about listener griping? Actual complaints from the core in the heart of the demo? Or just the opinions expressed on radio boards?

I'm not convinced it's a case of people just putting up with it. People simply won't tolerate a taste they don't like. The masses don't flock to a format just because it's there. Maybe it's not the "preference" with 18-54 year old males, but there is a definite audience.

It's pretty easy to knock out critism about any station. "Everyone wants to be a PD" an old boss of mine once said.

e

<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
Re: RE: on "cookie cutter" comment

> "cookie cutter programming to the lowest common denominator
> is easy" >>>>>>>>>>>>
>
>
> Even the listeners who say they hate the Christian "cookie
> cutter stations" will still listen - even though they want
> more rock - they're still the vocal minoirty. Look at
> everyone who makes comments about these stations - they have
> to be listening somewhat closely to form their opinions.
>
> I love the stories of communities without any Christian
> radio for years, and now they have 3 or 4 choices instead of
> listening exclusively to mainstream radio.
>


Of course they listen when they don't have much choice, which is so often the case in many cities even when there are 3 or 4 stations. The same problem that affects secular radio is one that afflicts Christian oriented radio too. Lack of variety. <P ID="signature">______________
~Always leave a hole when you go.
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.MarkLaRoi.Blogspot.com>Say What Now?</a></P>
 
Re: RE: on "cookie cutter" comment

> Of course they listen when they don't have much choice,
> Lack of variety.>


Variety cannot attract BROAD appeal. People say they want variety - but they really don't. They want the best songs. Plus, what may be variety to you may NOT be variety to someone else.

The mainstream stations who say: "We're Variety" or "The Best Mix" are really playing considerably less songs than most Christian stations play. It's all about packaging.

The new Jack formats are probably some of the most tested and researched stations around now...they're really NOT playing whatever they want or the MOST variety. It's the image and packaging of the concept within the parameters of a very small playlist.
 
Re: "cookie cutter programming"

> "Everyone wants to be a PD" an old boss of mine once said.


...or, at least, the fun parts!
 
Re: RE: on "cookie cutter" comment

> > Of course they listen when they don't have much choice,
> > Lack of variety.>
>
>
> Variety cannot attract BROAD appeal. People say they want
> variety - but they really don't. They want the best songs.
> Plus, what may be variety to you may NOT be variety to
> someone else.
>
> The mainstream stations who say: "We're Variety" or "The
> Best Mix" are really playing considerably less songs than
> most Christian stations play. It's all about packaging.
>
> The new Jack formats are probably some of the most tested
> and researched stations around now...they're really NOT
> playing whatever they want or the MOST variety. It's the
> image and packaging of the concept within the parameters of
> a very small playlist.
>



I can accept that and agree with you. However, most Christian oriented stations STILL have a very small playlist that could easily be expanded. The problem is, and I don't say this as an insult, merely a statement of fact, most programmers don't have the ear to widen the playlist. <P ID="signature">______________
~Always leave a hole when you go.
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.MarkLaRoi.Blogspot.com>Say What Now?</a></P>
 
Re: RE: on "cookie cutter" comment

It's like every other format. People don't stay tuned for what they don't know and don't like.

I don't know how it gets any more cookie cutter than our 3 local Christian stations, all 50kW signals with one of them operating translators all over the state..pretty much all the same programs and music, maybe in a different order. WSonder how many times you can hear FoF, Tony Evans, Chuck Swindoll, etc. on the dial around here.

> > > Of course they listen when they don't have much choice,
> > > Lack of variety.>
> >
> >
> > Variety cannot attract BROAD appeal. People say they want
>
> > variety - but they really don't. They want the best
> songs.
> > Plus, what may be variety to you may NOT be variety to
> > someone else.
> >
> > The mainstream stations who say: "We're Variety" or "The
> > Best Mix" are really playing considerably less songs than
> > most Christian stations play. It's all about packaging.
>
> >
> > The new Jack formats are probably some of the most tested
> > and researched stations around now...they're really NOT
> > playing whatever they want or the MOST variety. It's the
> > image and packaging of the concept within the parameters
> of
> > a very small playlist.
> >
>
>
>
> I can accept that and agree with you. However, most
> Christian oriented stations STILL have a very small playlist
> that could easily be expanded. The problem is, and I don't
> say this as an insult, merely a statement of fact, most
> programmers don't have the ear to widen the playlist.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
I'll get back to you when I think of a cute quote</P>
 
Re: RE: on "cookie cutter" comment

<<<<
pretty much all the same programs and music, maybe in a different order.>>>


Sure....if we're talking station vs. station - yes...those Christian radio stations need to offer something different. I agree. Be different and you'll be better.

But, if we're talking "within one station" a small researched playlist still wins. Less is more.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by toddohio on 06/23/05 03:12 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: RE: on "cookie cutter" comment

The problem is, and I don't
>
> > say this as an insult, merely a statement of fact, most
> > programmers don't have the ear to widen the playlist.

Amen! Amen!
> >
>
 
here comes the flying rocks(ducking)

> I'm really glad you are programming a format you really feel
> passionate about.
>
> I'm also glad to hear about a station with such a great
> variety of genres and sounds that is showing a measured
> success in your community.
>
> I personally love bluegrass & country. And, it's great to
> hear the heartbeat of passionate programmers.
>
> I don't know how the thread always seems to go here (UGH)...
>
>
> But...
>
> It's just so very upsetting when post after post, thread
> after thread on this board, AC Programming gets so slammed.
> Maybe that isn't the intention of the above post, but when
> you comment on KLOVE & then THE FISH and follow it up with
> "cookie cutter programming to the lowest common denominator
> is easy" the impression given is an insult to those striving
> hard to offer their listeners (their local listeners also)
> the music they want.
>
> well... it's NOT easy. And there IS risk involved in any
> format. And it's not the lowest common denominator.
>
> And some of us, enjoy the programming these stations offer.
> There ought to be something said for the mass appeal found
> in order for these stations to grow as they do. MASSES and
> MASSES of people who prefer it, perhaps?
>
> thanks,
> e
>
i have been a slammer of ac radio on this board. i have very wide musical tastes. i listen to everything from ashton becker dentee to slayer...klove is coming to this area. maybe tomorrow. i have been listning for about 2 weeks now on the net. i have the 64k stream. how did i get it? suprise i decided to support the station!! klove is not as bad as the radio folks on this board make it out to be. it is programmed very well. they actually dont play some of the songs that i dont like on other stations. maybe research does work. maybe they found out people like me dont like certain songs so they decided not to play them. give klove a chance. its better than a lot of stations out there. i can also listen to air 1 for free with the same code. its actually to alternative for me. i like klove better!! maybe its because i am a metalhead from 1987 and i just flat out dont like alternative music. or maybe its because klove is just better...and now an apology. to anyone on here in ac that i have offended in the past i apologize if i offended you. forgive me. <P ID="signature">______________
deep tracks xm 40 for those who arent single minded</P>
 
about jack fm

> > Of course they listen when they don't have much choice,
> > Lack of variety.>
>
>
> Variety cannot attract BROAD appeal. People say they want
> variety - but they really don't. They want the best songs.
> Plus, what may be variety to you may NOT be variety to
> someone else.
>
> The mainstream stations who say: "We're Variety" or "The
> Best Mix" are really playing considerably less songs than
> most Christian stations play. It's all about packaging.
>
> The new Jack formats are probably some of the most tested
> and researched stations around now...they're really NOT
> playing whatever they want or the MOST variety. It's the
> image and packaging of the concept within the parameters of
> a very small playlist.
>

wait a minute. jack does repeat but they also have heavy medium and light rotation. that light rotation is where the whatever comes in. thats whaen you will here dwight twilly, martin brilley or nick gilder. once or twice an hour they will play something diffrent thats doesnt get played all the time. jack is diffrent. really diffrent. or at least it is where i am from..and that playlist is much wider than most ac stations (secular)
<P ID="signature">______________
deep tracks xm 40 for those who arent single minded</P>
 
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