Song segues...how do they do it?

[TheBigA]

And once again, I'd agree. But a performer needs a venue. Radio by and large isn't really a venue for performers anymore.

I don't think you can generalize that way. It depends on the format, the daypart, and the market.

You pretty much can't be a performer cracking the mic open a couple times an hour to talk about at $1000 nationwide contest in a pre-determined music rotation.

You realize that there are 16,000 radio stations, and only 800 are owned by iHeart. Try and see things with a larger view.

KQV in Pittsburgh plays beautiful music. That doesn't mean it's reflective of what the industry is doing.

That's exactly my point. The "industry" is not doing one thing. It may seem that way, but it's not. The Academy of Country Music just announced its radio personality awards for 2025. They're all unique personalities who are doing very creative things. That's how they won.

Academy of Country Music Unveils 2025 Radio Award Winners

The Academy of Country Music announced its 2025 ACM Radio Award winners today. In the National Daily Personality category, Compass

radioinsight.com

 

[AMRadioGuy]

You realize that there are 16,000 radio stations, and only 800 are owned by iHeart. Try and see things with a larger view.

I do realize only 800 of the 16,000 stations in the US are owned by iHeart. I wasn't talking about them specifically. We can toss a couple of the other big conglomerates in there. I was talking about large market radio. There aren't many "local" owners in that part of the business. You were advocating in another thread for ownership limits to be further relaxed so that the conglomerates can buy up more stations in the big markets because nobody else would buy them. Not to mention, those 800 signals iHeart owns by and large cover a lot better than your average mom and pop station. It's not like those 16,000 signals are equal.

I don't think you can generalize that way. It depends on the format, the daypart, and the market.

If I'm understanding correctly, you're suggesting that there are ample opportunities for a DJ to pick music and whatnot on major market stations in the US in 2025?
Is it really that much of a stretch to say that DJs have very limited opportunities to perform on major market stations? I wasn't talking about a little 500-watt family owned AM. I'm talking major market stations here.

 

[tbolt909]

Most stations are voice tracked. There are almost no DJs picking the music during their air shift. The only exceptions I can think of are a few AAA non commercial stations. Specialty shows that air late at night or weekends may be the others. The days of Jim Ladd and others like him are gone. Segues in a night club setting vs a Radio station aren't comparable anyway...

 

[AMRadioGuy]

Most stations are voice tracked. There are almost no DJs picking the music during their air shift. The only exceptions I can think of are a few AAA non commercial stations. Specialty shows that air late at night or weekends may be the others. The days of Jim Ladd and others like him are gone. Segues in a night club setting vs a Radio station aren't comparable anyway...

Thank you. This is part of what I'm trying to say...

 

[TheBigA]

If I'm understanding correctly, you're suggesting that there are ample opportunities for a DJ to pick music and whatnot on major market stations in the US in 2025?

Did I say that anywhere? No. You want a job where there are "ample opportunities?" Sell insurance. Radio is very competitive. You want a job like DJ Silver? Then that's what you should do. Be a live event DJ. I'm not saying that every radio DJ could do what he does. He is a specialist.

What Silver is doing is a specialty show. He's not the only one doing it.

Is it really that much of a stretch to say that DJs have very limited opportunities to perform on major market stations? I wasn't talking about a little 500-watt family owned AM. I'm talking major market stations here.

You don't start in major markets. Bobby Bones was slaving away at an alternative station in Arkansas when he was picked to host iHeart's national country show. Yes there are very limited opportunities. That doesn't mean there are none.

 

[TheBigA]

The days of Jim Ladd and others like him are gone.

The days of Jim Ladd were gone 40 years ago. Even he realized that.

 

[AMRadioGuy]

Did I say that anywhere? No. You want a job where there are "ample opportunities?" Sell insurance. Radio is very competitive. You want a job like DJ Silver? Then that's what you should do. Be a live event DJ. I'm not saying that every radio DJ could do what he does. He is a specialist.

Hey, you're the one who said radio DJs should take more cues from DJ Silver and others like him. What I've been trying to say this entire thread is that the problem is, it's not up to the radio DJs to do that, by and large. There aren't opportunities like that in the business by and large (unless at a small market station somewhere in the middle of nowhere).

You don't start in major markets. Bobby Bones was slaving away at an alternative station in Arkansas when he was picked to host iHeart's national country show. Yes there are very limited opportunities. That doesn't mean there are none.

In fact, most people today who want to be personalities don't start out in any market. I'm in my 20s. I don't know anybody else my age who has any aspirations of doing radio work at all. People my age who want to be personalities are turning to Youtube and other platforms. Why? Because that's where the opportunities are. Not just the job opportunities. The opportunities to be a personality - a talent.

Even in the days when personalities and radio went together, you didn't start in major markets. You didn't get hired at WLS or WABC or CKLW or KQV or KRLA right off the bat. Most never did. Those who did often started doing overnights at some little AM stick in the middle of nowhere. Or weekends on a daytimer.

 

[TheBigA]

Hey, you're the one who said radio DJs should take more cues from DJ Silver and others like him. What I've been trying to say this entire thread is that the problem is, it's not up to the radio DJs to do that, by and large.

There are always things to learn from others, even if you can't duplicate everything they do. What I said is DJs could learn from watching him. Maybe they start a part-time business as an event DJ. Nothing wrong with that.

People my age who want to be personalities are turning to Youtube and other platforms. Why? Because that's where the opportunities are.

Fantastic. Then you too could emulate what DJ Silver does. Those opportunities didn't exist 20 years ago.

The thing about it is that those people are self-employed. The money they make is from the traffic they generate for Google. They don't get a salary with benefits.

 

[Delete My Account]

You don't start in major markets. Bobby Bones was slaving away at an alternative station in Arkansas when he was picked to host iHeart's national country show. Yes there are very limited opportunities. That doesn't mean there are none.

Bones started in CHR, KLAZ in Hot Springs, then Little Rock at Q100, then KLAL, then moved to Austin at KHFI. So with CHR background, country wasn't as big a jump. He had the freedom at KHFI to just choose his own co-host (Amy.)

This stuff is a combination of talent, timing, opportunities and also, yes, freedom. I've heard a number of shows where the 2nd chair is always forced in and talent has no say who they're paired with, and it often does NOT make for great radio.

And there's fewer on air opportunities yes. This leads to hordes of uncoached and mostly unlistened to podcasts. If you're a specialist in some sort of music, do something like Mixcloud or non-comm radio. Commercial radio in most cases isn't going to take the chance or try the new thing. Too much to lose (in their view) for uncertain gains.

Every year, the chances for the next Bones, Charlamagne, Stern or Kasem are fewer to develop on air at a local radio station. I saw one industry vet respond to an "AI DJ" with the remarks that many air talent now aren't that good anyways. Well, they're doing four jobs for less than one job's pay. No one's coaching them. So how are THEY on the air? Either they're good and you just don't like them, or they serve some purpose as cheap labor and their weak voice tracks are just a part of the duties.

 

[AMRadioGuy]

There are always things to learn from others, even if you can't duplicate everything they do. What I said is DJs could learn from watching him. Maybe they start a part-time business as an event DJ. Nothing wrong with that.

Funnily enough, I do actually run a part-time DJ business. It's very decent money and can be a lot of fun.

Here's the problem with your example there: a part-time DJ business on the side has pretty much nothing to do with a radio personality's job... Doing that on the side doesn't change what I am allowed to/not allowed to do on the air at work.

The thing about it is that those people are self-employed. The money they make is from the traffic they generate for Google. They don't get a salary with benefits.

Someone who runs a part-time DJ side business wouldn't get a salary or benefits, either.

And yes, someone doing that would be self-employed. But evidently, there are better opportunities going it alone that way over what radio has to offer.

 

[AMRadioGuy]

Every year, the chances for the next Bones, Charlamagne, Stern or Kasem are fewer to develop on air at a local radio station. I saw one industry vet respond to an "AI DJ" with the remarks that many air talent now aren't that good anyways. Well, they're doing four jobs for less than one job's pay. No one's coaching them. So how are THEY on the air? Either they're good and you just don't like them, or they serve some purpose as cheap labor and their weak voice tracks are just a part of the duties.

This is really true. I'm incredibly fortunate to have a mentor who's a veteran in the business. He's been able to coach me and give valuable feedback. It's hard for talent to just coach themselves.

Heck, at the station group I work for, I think I'm the only one who even airchecks his shows anymore so I can listen and critique.

 

[TheBigA]

Here's the problem with your example there: a part-time DJ business on the side has pretty much nothing to do with a radio personality's job... Doing that on the side doesn't change what I am allowed to/not allowed to do on the air at work.

That may be in your case.

 

[Mike in Destin]

Remember those ads for ",The Connecticut School Of Broadcasting"? Do they still exist?

 

[AMRadioGuy]

That may be in your case.

Okay, so once again... would that change what someone at a station in a major market would be allowed to do on their show? Say, WCBS-FM?

 

[TheBigA]

Okay, so once again... would that change what someone at a station in a major market would be allowed to do on their show? Say, WCBS-FM?

What are they "allowed to do?" You're looking for a one-size-fits-all answer. I don't think there is one.

I listen to major market radio all the time. I hear a lot personality.

 

[davideduardo]

Okay, so once again... would that change what someone at a station in a major market would be allowed to do on their show? Say, WCBS-FM?

The only place where a "hired talent" could do their own music selection and mixes is in formats where the same music is commonly mixed at clubs, parties and the like. And that generally means formats based on highly up-tempo, dancable music.

 

[TheBigA]

The only place where a "hired talent" could do their own music selection and mixes is in formats where the same music is commonly mixed at clubs, parties and the like. And that generally means formats based on highly up-tempo, dancable music.

One example in a major market is WKTU. Listen to DJ Prostyle.

 

[AMRadioGuy]

The only place where a "hired talent" could do their own music selection and mixes is in formats where the same music is commonly mixed at clubs, parties and the like. And that generally means formats based on highly up-tempo, dancable music.

Exactly.

What are they "allowed to do?" You're looking for a one-size-fits-all answer. I don't think there is one.

I listen to major market radio all the time. I hear a lot personality.

I'm not looking for a one size fits all answer. But I am making a generalization. There are few one-size-fits-all answers in anything.

 

[CTListener]

Remember those ads for ",The Connecticut School Of Broadcasting"? Do they still exist?

The ads? Not sure. The school? Absolutely.

Hands-On Media Training - College Alternative - CSB Media Arts Center

Launch your media career with hands-on training in broadcasting, film, social media, and podcasting. No college debt. Online or at campuses in CT, NJ, & FL.

gocsb.com

Founded by WDRC's Dick Robinson way back in the '60s, it's still active, as is, remarkably, its founder! The excellent WDRC history site devotes three full pages to Dick and his lengthy career, which started in the '50s. Last updated this past January, it indicates that Dick now programs a station in Florida. (That mention is at the bottom of Page 3.)

WDRCOBG.COM: Dick Robinson (1/21/25)

A Profile of WDRC's Dick Robinson. WDRCOBG.COM is an inside look at the history and people of WDRC Radio in Hartford, Connecticut. This web site is maintained by Ed Brouder

www.wdrcobg.com

 

[Mike in Destin]

The ads? Not sure. The school? Absolutely.

Hands-On Media Training - College Alternative - CSB Media Arts Center

Launch your media career with hands-on training in broadcasting, film, social media, and podcasting. No college debt. Online or at campuses in CT, NJ, & FL.

gocsb.com

Founded by WDRC's Dick Robinson way back in the '60s, it's still active, as is, remarkably, its founder! The excellent WDRC history site devotes three full pages to Dick and his lengthy career, which started in the '50s. Last updated this past January, it indicates that Dick now programs a station in Florida. (That mention is at the bottom of Page 3.)

WDRCOBG.COM: Dick Robinson (1/21/25)

A Profile of WDRC's Dick Robinson. WDRCOBG.COM is an inside look at the history and people of WDRC Radio in Hartford, Connecticut. This web site is maintained by Ed Brouder

www.wdrcobg.com

There were radio ads for them years ago. Like in the 80s. Thanks for your answer.