Ryan Seacrest "Microcosm of What's Wrong With Radio"

[TheBigA]

They use the radio as background entertainment. And they get counted by PPM.

OK - well, then why pay anyone to do anything? Why should we then not just let the automation run dead segues and go cold into spots?

That's what thousands of stations have been doing for 50 years. It was funny back when formats were on reel to reel tapes and the tape broke, and no one was around. Whoops.

Back to the subject of this thread: Seacrest at least is live and his show has a staff that monitors the content.

 

[MarkW]

Seacrest's nationally syndicated show is NOT live. It's produced in much the same fashion as John Tesh's syndicated show.

At least in Atlanta, you guys have a choice. Don't like Seacrest in middays at Star? The solution is simple. Listen to Q100 instead. Both stations have similar playlists these days anyway.

 

[lapland]

In reference to the initial post - I agree %100 with the assessment of Ryan Seacrest's show. When it was announced that he would hit the airwaves in our market, I anticipated great content and I was ready to be impressed with the top market talent. What I hear everyday is the same entertainment material that can be found on any entertainment website - with no new spin or new information. The interviews are simply promo's made up entirely of fluff. It is lack-luster content. I switch back in forth between Seacrest and a local jock on another "hits" station, she has the same material and actually delivers it with more fun. Plus, he's got to quit promoting his "RSP" shows.

 

[TheBigA]

What I hear everyday is the same entertainment material that can be found on any entertainment website - with no new spin or new information.
[/quote]

Doesn't matter. What's important today isn't the information, but the source. Is it a trusted source? Is it a friend? If so, that's enough. A lot of talk shows talk about the same issues everyone talks about. But listeners choose a trusted source to get their information. For 34 million people, RS is a trusted source.

 

[whit979]

What are you anyway, a Premiere salesperson? "For 34 million people, RS is a trusted source." Sorry, but I missed that news flash. Ryan Seacrest is a celebrity and is perceived as one by listeners. Anyone in Atlanta who views him as a "friend" (outside of actual friends he may have here) is not in touch with reality. The media is saturated with Seacrest and similar celebrities at the moment. I would seriously discount his impact being on the level that you claim it will be. Lapland makes a great point: His content is easily retrievable by any radio host, is used regularly on other shows, and can be heard by other hosts in Atlanta--that can deliver it along with local content and less of the "stop-down" style that Seacrest employs on his show. The last part is key: Local information, local contests, local website stuff, is how you topple Seacrest. Game, set, match. Star loses in 12-3p.

 

[AnimatronicAbeLincoln]

Quote from: AnimatronicAbeLincoln on Yesterday at 08:36:12 pm
Quote
They use the radio as background entertainment. And they get counted by PPM.

OK - well, then why pay anyone to do anything? Why should we then not just let the automation run dead segues and go cold into spots?


That's what thousands of stations have been doing for 50 years. It was funny back when formats were on reel to reel tapes and the tape broke, and no one was around. Whoops.

Back to the subject of this thread: Seacrest at least is live and his show has a staff that monitors the content.

Oops! We are on the subject of this thread. We're talking about someone being splattered over hundreds of radio stations who does nothing memorable, interesting, compelling, or funny, and the effect that will have on all of radio.

If radio is going to cater to people who use the radio as background noise, why even have a Ryan Seacrest? Why not just let the automation run dead segues and go cold into spots because that costs *nothing,* since Ryan Seacrest does nothing that can't be readily found on eonline.com.

Let's put stuff between the songs that make people remember that the radio is pretty cool, and they need to remember to come back to it. Because radio cannot compete with on-demand sources like eonline and their ipods. We need to give them something unique that gives them a reason to come back or else they won't. Even if it's a person voicetracking from out of the market, if it's a guy or gal who's engaging or funny or unique, we should be thrilled to have that person on the air.

Jesus Christ, there's a bunch of people on this thread who seem to want Ryan Seacrest plugged in all over the place, taking local on-air people's jobs away and then as an added bonus we can ensure that radio becomes even more homogenized and background and the Persons Using Radio can drop *even more.* I don't get what's up with that?

 

[TheBigA]

We're talking about someone being splattered over hundreds of radio stations who does nothing memorable, interesting, compelling, or funny, and the effect that will have on all of radio.

In your most humble opinion. The proper effect is if a competitor perceives weakness, if any exists, and go after it. Star has made their move. It's up to others to respond.

If radio is going to cater to people who use the radio as background noise, why even have a Ryan Seacrest? Why not just let the automation run dead segues and go cold into spots because that costs *nothing,* since Ryan Seacrest does nothing that can't be readily found on eonline.com.

You're making a fake connection. Clearly some people find him entertaining. Otherwise he wouldn't be doing so well in LA. Otherwise he wouldn't have already built an audience through AI, his TV show, and AT40. How many other people have as many media outlets? He beats Howard Stern in his prime. As for your comment about eonline, you assume everyone in his audience has the time to surf the web for gossip. Just because something can be found elsewhere doesn't mean one can't serve an audience by delivering it to them. You can get traffic and weather information online too. So does that mean radio should stop doing traffic and weather? Also, Ryan is an employee of E!, so he furthers the core brand, and likely has insight and access that those who simply use the consumer product don't have.

Let's put stuff between the songs that make people remember that the radio is pretty cool, and they need to remember to come back to it.

I say let's let the public make that decision, and not some gatekeeper or some message board critic like you.

Jesus Christ, there's a bunch of people on this thread who seem to want Ryan Seacrest plugged in all over the place, taking local on-air people's jobs away and then as an added bonus we can ensure that radio becomes even more homogenized and background and the Persons Using Radio can drop *even more.* I don't get what's up with that?

I don't care if Seacrest gets plugged in anywhere. I just feel he should get a fair shake, and not have a bunch of reactionaries lynch him because he's successful. Radio needs successful people, not just a bunch of nameless faceless bodies. Say what you will about RS, everyone knows who he is. One can't make that claim about the majority of people in radio. You're assuming he will cause radio usage to drop without any facts to back you up. You're not even giving him one ratings book to demonstrate his abilities. You don't like him, and assume everyone agrees, therefore you, in your infinite wisdom, feels that anyone who likes him is a mindless idiot who is destroying radio. That's a stupid and selfish argument.

 

[TheBigA]

What are you anyway, a Premiere salesperson?

Absolutely not. But if someone made the kind of attacks on you that have been made in this thread, without the benefit of one ratings book, I think you'd call foul. Give him a ratings book. Let the public decide. How hard is that?

If a poll was taken by the people of Atlanta, I bet he'd beat almost everyone on radio for name recognition. This isn't about winning the Pulitzer Prize. It's about getting ratings. Someone with name recognition has a shot at getting ratings, don't you think? Isn't that a sellable commodity?

His content is easily retrievable by any radio host, is used regularly on other shows, and can be heard by other hosts in Atlanta

Doesn't matter. As I said, weather & traffic can be accessed by other hosts. Does that mean they shouldn't do it? Who said content needs to be original to be of value to the public. If all I listen to is Star, then I have no idea that hosts on other stations are telling the same stories. There is a very short list of subjects the public is interested in at any one time.

The last part is key: Local information, local contests, local website stuff, is how you topple Seacrest. Game, set, match. Star loses in 12-3p.

Star has all that in other dayparts. Their web site is one of the most comprehensive of any music station in Atlanta. The audience from 12-3 is listening at work. They don't want too many distractions. I say Ryan will improve over the previous host, simply from the controversy.

 

[AnimatronicAbeLincoln]

He beats Howard Stern in his prime.

OK, one of two things is going on, here, either you think we're all idiots, or this has gotten to a point where you have to reach so far to win this argument you don't care if you look like one.

I'm out of here, life it just too short for this.

 

[whit979]

Whatever you say, BigA...I've just never heard such a glowing review of such a mediocre radio personality. Frankly, it's surprising to read this coming from someone outside of Premiere's sales department.

You seriously underestimate the talent found in Atlanta--and you especially underestimate the excellent talent that Seacrest-in-a-can replaced. We'll see about your 'give him a book' thinking. Too bad Tripp West won't be around to gloat.

 

[TheBigA]

You two guys are making stuff up. I never said he was good. Just that everybody knows him. And that means a lot in ad-supported media. I'm not looking to win an argument...just to be fair.

I've been saying the same thing five times, and you still don't get it: Let the public decide. Let's see a few ratings books. Then you can gloat. Unless you lose.

 

[whit979]

Unless I lose? I didn't realize this was a competition. The only people who lose here are Atlanta radio listeners. Yet another show in a can. You can be a fan of Seacrest all day long but his show does nothing to strengthen radio, and that's what is at issue here.

 

[TheBigA]

Unless I lose? I didn't realize this was a competition.

The ratings are a competition. You win or lose. The people of Atlanta have lots of choices. Give them the chance to choose. Don't make that choice for them.

You can be a fan of Seacrest all day long but his show does nothing to strengthen radio, and that's what is at issue here.

I'm not a fan of Seacrest, and have not said one word about his show. I'm a fan of giving the people the chance to decide. That's been my one and only point. If the people are attracted to his show, it will strengthen radio.

 

[whit979]

You haven't said one word about his show? So...all this time you've been just obsessing over Ryan Seacrest?

The people will absolutely have their chance to decide. What I'm saying to you is that your man-crush on Ryan Seacrest seems pretty silly when one of the best radio talents in Atlanta lost his job to make room for him, and Atlanta radio listeners lost 3 more local hours to canned gossip-talk.

 

[TheBigA]

You haven't said one word about his show? So...all this time you've been just obsessing over Ryan Seacrest?

No. Read what I wrote. I have no obsession over anyone. My obsession is that a show be given a chance.

It's clear to me and everyone else that you're obsessed with something else.

 

[burksy]

What I'm saying to you is that your man-crush on Ryan Seacrest seems pretty silly when one of the best radio talents in Atlanta lost his job to make room for him, and Atlanta radio listeners lost 3 more local hours to canned gossip-talk.

One of the best radio talents in Atlanta? Maybe your man crush is biasing you a little much now. Tripp's a great guy and a solid jock, but that's getting a little out of hand.

Let's look at it from this standpoint: Since PPM has been out, Star isn't even close to Q in their target demo. Q is slaughtering them. There's no way around that. Now let's look at Star's on-air talents:

TMM: Certainly not doing well against Bert but Star is likely committed, whether it's the right move or not, to stick with them for now.
Cindy and Ray: Q holds their own here as well, but C&R still won't go anywhere
Daric: This is the one show where Star actually tends to lead Q in PPM, all be it not by a lot, but they do well at night.

That leaves Tripp, one of the slots where Q leads Star by quite a bit. Obviously they felt some kind of change needed to be made because Q doubles and even triples them in TSL week after week.

I don't like Ryan at all, but I know quite a few Moms who watch American Idol, and Star is trying to get them to listen in there instead of Q. And of course in a time where it's harder and harder to sell commercials, it's nice to save a few bucks too. But to act like a change is uncalled for is idiotic, Tripp was just the unlucky one who got the boot because of it.

 

[whit979]

My obsession is concern for the degradation of the Atlanta radio market thanks to canned programming. Anybody who thinks that syndicated filler material (such as On-Air with Ryan Seacrest) passes for responsible radio programming is severely mistaken. Tripp West has a good delivery for middays on a Hot AC or Adult CHR station. No obsession there, just fact. The reason Q100 is beating them in middays is because of Q's Hot AC music mix. Star is a lot hotter than Q100 now and that is why Daric wins at night. The audience profile changes dramatically from day to night when, as I said earlier, younger people participating in PPM are presumably not within audible range of any radio signal during midday hours. That skews daytime listening toward older adults, and vice-versa at night. Star wanted to go younger by tossing Steve and Vikki, and now Tripp. Star is paying the price. A canned program is not the answer. While Seacrest is talking to celebrity guests in 3-minute-long breaks, Q100 will be pistol-whipping him with local giveaways and information.

My stance is with the people who lost their jobs due to budget cuts. It could be anybody...even you (if you actually are in radio). Try telling them that Ryan Seacrest is 'what the people want' and you'll probably get spit on, for thinking that canned radio programming is the answer on a midday slot in market #8.