RI Radio in an age of idealism

[Runrigger]

A library talk: The Electronic Town Meeting: Rhode Island Radio in an Age of Idealism
Come hear about Salty Brine and Warren Walden, two personalities emblematic of a time when radio was the electronic town meeting. It goes on at the RI Historical Society Library, 121 Hope Street, Providence. No admission.
More here: http://www.rihs.org/

 

[McRadio]

You mean radio isn't in an age of idealism now? I mean, other than Holland.

 

[Holland Cooke]

But SERIOUSLY...

You mean radio isn't in an age of idealism now? I mean, other than Holland.

As Casey Kasem says, "Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars."

Unfortunately, some are steering-the-on-air conversation to a scary place:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/17/783621/-Will-Talk-Radios-Dog-Whistle-Spark-New-Violence

 

[Moonstruck]

I'd have to know more about the topic that's going to be discussed but this "radio as an electronic town meeting" seems to be something that worked when localism was key and stations had a local flavor. We've talked about that with discussions of how small AMers can survive or if they can. How did the small AMers survive back in the 70s and 80s? Stations in Warwick, West Warwick, Wickford, Woonsocket, etc. They never tried to get Providence audiences. They went for local people and local sponsors. They probably sold spots by blowing smoke because I doubt they could produce numbers. Ironically even thought I was young I do remember hearing some of these stations that played music and I have to say some sounded better than certain Providence stations do now.

 

[Holland Cooke]

"LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL"

They probably sold spots by blowing smoke because I doubt they could produce numbers.

Au contraire.

By "numbers," you seem to meet ratings.
Ratings are -- at best -- the-SECOND-most-important set-of-numbers a station deals with.

Most local direct retail advertisers never heard of Arbitron before careless Sales reps showed 'em rankers.
(Imagine going on a job interview, and bringing-along 9-other-peoples'-resumes?)

The numbers retailers live-and-die-by are their cash register.
Those once-local-sounding local stations sold advertising by getting results for advertisers.

Now-that-the-programming-is-less-local, it's less-special.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

How did the small AMers survive back in the 70s and 80s? Stations in Warwick, West Warwick, Wickford, Woonsocket, etc. They never tried to get Providence audiences. They went for local people and local sponsors.

EXACTLY!!! Another good example of this is from the 1980's, with the former WARA-1320. Being only 1KW at the time, the focus of the station was...obviously...on the Attleboros, and surrounding communities. During the ownership of Peter Ottmar, and with Dave Kane as Program Director, the station made sure it was heavily involved in community affairs, whether it be a charity or an event or whatever. And...staffed by primarily local people and backed by local businesses, the place had become a fixture of daily life for many in the area.

The timing might be a coincidence...(or maybe not)...but...in the late 1980's, when the power increase to 5KW took place, the station started losing its local focus, and instead tried rimshotting Providence, and began a slide from which it never recovered.

Well....that was a few owners ago....several formats ago....and a couple of call-letter changes ago.

It's very plain to see the sad, sorry mess that the current 1320-WARL has become.

You're right Holland....Now-that-the-programming-is-less-local, it's less-special.

 

[Runrigger]

Re: "LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL"

They probably sold spots by blowing smoke because I doubt they could produce numbers.

Au contraire.

By "numbers," you seem to meet ratings.
Ratings are -- at best -- the-SECOND-most-important set-of-numbers a station deals with.

Most local direct retail advertisers never heard of Arbitron before careless Sales reps showed 'em rankers.
(Imagine going on a job interview, and bringing-along 9-other-peoples'-resumes?)

The numbers retailers live-and-die-by are their cash register.
Those once-local-sounding local stations sold advertising by getting results for advertisers.

Now-that-the-programming-is-less-local, it's less-special.

I remember working at one of those small AM music stations and for some extra money, making phone calls to try to sell spots. I suck at sales but actually didn't do that badly. My boss told me many of them intend to advertise somewhere & can't afford Providence radio so whoever contacts them first gets the business. Some actually got off on the very idea that they were advertising on radio.

 

[MissAM]

The small stations cannot afford to subscribe to/use Arbitron.