You want to see what a standards station can do, listen to AM740 at night, or am740.ca on the 'net. CHWO, a flamethrower out of Toronto, that does it right. Live during the day, possibly during the evening (but they told me some shows are VT) and automated overnight.
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What you are talking about are things of your youth..and there's nothing wrong with that. Except that time has marched on, and the "feel" & the "vibe" don't have to come back. Today's youth couldn't care less about it. For the most part they're not even interested in traditional radio. One of the reasons that so many air people aged 45-60 are now out of the business is that they refused to see that things had changed. They dug in their heels and said "it can't work this way". Well, it did. Maybe it's better, maybe it's not. But this is the way things are today. And it's NOT going back. Hey, I'd rather be able to go to the car dealer's showroom and buy a 1971 RoadRunner 440+6 anyday instead of what passes for cars today. But I can't. So, what am I going to do? Walk?? Or buy what's offered??? I'm too old to walk. And I don't spend my days wondering when WARM or WABC or WLS or CKLW will be back. Might just as well enjoy what's available today, even though it's not my RoadRunner. 'Cause I'm never going to be able to buy one again.waunderlust said:Nice point Mack, BUT that "feel", that "vibe" has to come back. Remember BIG station events at local amusement parks? I was more a BAX listener in the mid-late 70's, but I still have a prescratched album from some unknown artist that I got at one of those events. (Cold Chicago's Got Me-Andy Bown ring a bell to anyone?) Radio needs to do this NOW. To serve the listener. To talk to them and still be bigger than life. If it's not, just go to your ipod or mp3 player. Believe it or not, people listen to the radio for more than just the music or the background noise. Whether subconsciously or not, they LIKE to hear "neat" stuff between the records. Or.. I could be wrong.
They dug in their heels and said "it can't work this way". Well, it did.
I'm not sure that it did work. Realizing that there is no stopping an idea whose time has come, my strong sense is that radio simply is not as important to people, young or old, as it once was. That is the long and short of it. Regardless of format, radio isn't an integral part of our daily lives these days, and it hasn't been for a long, long time.
Yes, I worked at WARM right before it fell from its long standing as the dominant #1 in this market. Even then, however, I knew that the Sensational Seven and all that happy crap were long gone and never coming back. There were those who were convinced that if WARM could only go back and do what it did in 1962, the numbers would once again be enormous. I didn't buy it then, I don't buy it now.
Has anyone here been to any BIG station events locally? The crowds are a little thin. TV stations once drew huge crowds. No more. Anyone see the "throngs" that turned out to watch Snedeker peddle by? From where I sat, there were no throngs. And he's perhaps the most popular radio/TV personality in roughly one-third of Pennsylvania. It's a whole different world out there.
You say today's youth aren't interested in traditional radio. I'll go you one better; they're not interested in radio period.
We were interested in radio because (a) that's where the music was and (b) that's where the personalities were.
The personalities who talked to us, who knew the area and what was going on, were gradually replaced by vt's from wherever. Radio generally no longer talks to us, at least in that sense. We can bounce it around as to whether the younger set would still listen if live jocks 6a-midnight still talked to them.
Right now, radio seems to be competing with music delivery systems that do it a lot better. But they're sterile and lacking the human touch which I think people still want. No, we can't go back to my days; they're gone. But we can learn from them and see why they worked. It wasn't the music; it was the local jocks talking to the local people and I think it can still work -- but it has to be fine-tuned for today.
The personalities who talked to us, who knew the area and what was going on, were gradually replaced by vt's from wherever. Radio generally no longer talks to us, at least in that sense. We can bounce it around as to whether the younger set would still listen if live jocks 6a-midnight still talked to them.
Right now, radio seems to be competing with music delivery systems that do it a lot better. But they're sterile and lacking the human touch which I think people still want. No, we can't go back to my days; they're gone. But we can learn from them and see why they worked. It wasn't the music; it was the local jocks talking to the local people and I think it can still work -- but it has to be fine-tuned for today.
Again, I agree Tom... The one thig you can't get from an Ipod, Satellite Transmission, or CD is personality... and that's the one thing that's been removed from the radio! I can get any song instantly on the net in digital stereo.. I can get the time and tempeature from my dashboard or internet in a hearbeat... but these things can't provide me with personality... a one on one "I'm in your area.. did you hear about..." DJ. Who are the one's in this market who have a real impact? The ones who connect with their listeners.. not the "10-in-a-row" commercial free stations! If you're telling me that I'm going to give you an AM station with a now limited signal, canned news, AM quality music and a jock who is playing to a mass audience and not NE PA, then you've doomed your product! I'm not asking we bring back the Old WARM.. I asking we stop plugging in automation to solve the problem and put personality back in local radio.
The one thig you can't get from an Ipod, Satellite Transmission, or CD is personality... and that's the one thing that's been removed from the radio!
Did listeners abandon radio because the personality approach faded away...or did they abandon radio because they tired of the personality approach?
It's a "chicken or egg" discussion which likely will never end.
However, take a look in the history book, and remember why and how the popularity of FM rose and rose and rose through the 70s and early 80s. "Less Talk - More Music."
The exception would seem to be AM Drive; people still want to hear something other than music during morning shows, but even that has its limits.
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yonkstur
Guest
Here's my take, the mystique of radio, broadcasting is gone for today's youth and even people in their mid 30s. With 24 hour news, any song you want at your command, any toy available to keep up with the Jones, people don't need or want to feel part of something bigger like a Snedecker bike run. When Bill Kelly did his walk in 1972, people came out to see him. Now, they don't care because they have other options. Charitable oganizations have even got the hint that the days of "the big event" are over.
Tom and Master G are right, it's gone but I believe its because communications and media, once great mysteries in a box to us all, are now readily available any time, any place. And when the next Ipod or Iphone is developed, the consumer won't wonder and marvel at the inventiveness of it, but simply paraphrase an old Peggy Lee song (1969) "is that all there is?"
Yonkstur
Tom and Master G are right, it's gone but I believe its because communications and media, once great mysteries in a box to us all, are now readily available any time, any place. And when the next Ipod or Iphone is developed, the consumer won't wonder and marvel at the inventiveness of it, but simply paraphrase an old Peggy Lee song (1969) "is that all there is?"
Yonkstur
As is usually the case, David has a firm grip on the reality of the situation. Personally, I think the bloom's been off the rose for a long time, like 30 years, maybe more. Kelly's '72 walk may have been one of the last "big events" that was an unqualified success. Seems to me that WARM did some jock-in-a-car-on-a-crane thing about 15 or so years ago - no one paid much attention.
By 1975, local television had replaced radio celebrity-wise. Where once The WARM Flagship turned heads when it rolled through neighborhoods, it became a Newswatch 16 live truck that did the same. Now, a TV station being in anyone's neighborhood is ho-hum, unless something has happened that directly affects you.
Yonk is also on target about "big events" becoming passe with non-profits; very few do them anymore because the return on the time and energy expended isn't worth it.
I hope folks will find the following of interest. I think it's connected to this present discussion. Within the last 10 years, a local TV station did an extensive research project, which is not the least bit uncommon. What was uncommon was one of the more startling findings of the project.
What really rocked management back on their heels was that the overwhelming majority of viewers didn't want to see their favorite TV talent in person! Seriously, people were on record as saying that they liked their personalities larger than life, and keeping them inside that electronic box perpetuated the larger than life myth. Seeing them at The Bloomsburg Fair, or speaking to their Rotary, or riding a bike past their house destroyed the mythical image, and viewers did not like having that bubble burst.
By 1975, local television had replaced radio celebrity-wise. Where once The WARM Flagship turned heads when it rolled through neighborhoods, it became a Newswatch 16 live truck that did the same. Now, a TV station being in anyone's neighborhood is ho-hum, unless something has happened that directly affects you.
Yonk is also on target about "big events" becoming passe with non-profits; very few do them anymore because the return on the time and energy expended isn't worth it.
I hope folks will find the following of interest. I think it's connected to this present discussion. Within the last 10 years, a local TV station did an extensive research project, which is not the least bit uncommon. What was uncommon was one of the more startling findings of the project.
What really rocked management back on their heels was that the overwhelming majority of viewers didn't want to see their favorite TV talent in person! Seriously, people were on record as saying that they liked their personalities larger than life, and keeping them inside that electronic box perpetuated the larger than life myth. Seeing them at The Bloomsburg Fair, or speaking to their Rotary, or riding a bike past their house destroyed the mythical image, and viewers did not like having that bubble burst.
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yonkstur
Guest
What really rocked management back on their heels was that the overwhelming majority of viewers didn't want to see their favorite TV talent in person! Seriously, people were on record as saying that they liked their personalities larger than life, and keeping them inside that electronic box perpetuated the larger than life myth. Seeing them at The Bloomsburg Fair, or speaking to their Rotary, or riding a bike past their house destroyed the mythical image, and viewers did not like having that bubble burst.
Anecdotal but true. A friend's kid loved one of the WNEP TV female anchors. He also loved Trish Stratus from the WWE. Used to be the WWF. The dad took the kid to the WNEP open house. Thought his kid was going to have a ***er right in line. But then he met the woman and that was that. The illusion was gone. A few weeks later, they take the kid to the Arena. Second row tickets. He sees Trish and her breasts. He gets to shake her hand, after that, as B.B. King used to sing, "The Thrill Is Gone".
I was interviewed by a reporter from a local TV station when the Yankee gift store opened up. Thought she was one of the best they had. While she was interviewing me, I was looking at the lint on her jacket collar and thinking, "what the heck", .
I worked with a young lady in the 1980s for a social service organization. Since she was a little girl she adored a certain personality. On the day we went up to WARM to meet him, she was literally shaking. After meeting the guy as he scrafed down his post show repaste of coffee and an egg sandwich, sans napkin, (he didn't use his shirt sleeves) she came away less than impressed. I go on about Geena Davis. My wife knows that if I meet the big lug, the obcession of all things Davis will subside. (I was even caught watching a Stuart Little movie!! THat's how pathetic it got!!!)
Yonkstur
Anecdotal but true. A friend's kid loved one of the WNEP TV female anchors. He also loved Trish Stratus from the WWE. Used to be the WWF. The dad took the kid to the WNEP open house. Thought his kid was going to have a ***er right in line. But then he met the woman and that was that. The illusion was gone. A few weeks later, they take the kid to the Arena. Second row tickets. He sees Trish and her breasts. He gets to shake her hand, after that, as B.B. King used to sing, "The Thrill Is Gone".
I was interviewed by a reporter from a local TV station when the Yankee gift store opened up. Thought she was one of the best they had. While she was interviewing me, I was looking at the lint on her jacket collar and thinking, "what the heck", .
I worked with a young lady in the 1980s for a social service organization. Since she was a little girl she adored a certain personality. On the day we went up to WARM to meet him, she was literally shaking. After meeting the guy as he scrafed down his post show repaste of coffee and an egg sandwich, sans napkin, (he didn't use his shirt sleeves) she came away less than impressed. I go on about Geena Davis. My wife knows that if I meet the big lug, the obcession of all things Davis will subside. (I was even caught watching a Stuart Little movie!! THat's how pathetic it got!!!)
Yonkstur
A
Aramondo
Guest
The only TV people I like to meet are the beautiful women. I'll give you some names. Flora Posteraro. Whoa.
Stacey Weaver, not classic, but smokin' in a "not 100% out of the question" kind of way. Kerry Shahen? Forget it. The winner.
And Yonk, far as Geena goes, are you saying you'd turn down a chance to meet her because your fantasy would be over, the illusion shattered? If I told you I was related to her and she visits NEPA twice a year I mean? Prefer to worship from afar?
Forget it. Off the table.
Just wondering.
Stacey Weaver, not classic, but smokin' in a "not 100% out of the question" kind of way. Kerry Shahen? Forget it. The winner.
And Yonk, far as Geena goes, are you saying you'd turn down a chance to meet her because your fantasy would be over, the illusion shattered? If I told you I was related to her and she visits NEPA twice a year I mean? Prefer to worship from afar?
Forget it. Off the table.
Just wondering.
Flora - an extremely attractive woman in person as well as on TV. Very warm, engaging, charming. Married to a "Hollywood Handsome" guy, she's been in a staple on Harrisburg TV for a long time.
Stacey - sexy as hell. As noted, not classically gorgeous, but has a sensuality about her that few women have. Married to a non-media type, she recently had a baby.
Kerry - one of the most desirable females to ever work this market. As lovely as the camera portrays her, in person she is simply unparalleled. And really nice on top of that.
Stacey - sexy as hell. As noted, not classically gorgeous, but has a sensuality about her that few women have. Married to a non-media type, she recently had a baby.
Kerry - one of the most desirable females to ever work this market. As lovely as the camera portrays her, in person she is simply unparalleled. And really nice on top of that.
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Nokmo True
Guest
Bingo, bingo, and bingo.
"What's that I said about knowing the market of which you speak? Not even close..."
OK fair enough...so what I gathered from the jocks I knew back then was, what, totally BS?...seeing people I knew with "personality" morph into the black sameness of a "global format" where everyone on the east coast sounded the same...and hearing the same music from NYC to Miami was an apperition?...maybe I got the name wrong or I misunderstood your comment. If not, help me out grasshopper.
OK fair enough...so what I gathered from the jocks I knew back then was, what, totally BS?...seeing people I knew with "personality" morph into the black sameness of a "global format" where everyone on the east coast sounded the same...and hearing the same music from NYC to Miami was an apperition?...maybe I got the name wrong or I misunderstood your comment. If not, help me out grasshopper.
Let me warn everybody that you're messing with one of the people who could bring life back to radio around here. You thing Graham is eclectic?
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yonkstur
Guest
And Yonk, far as Geena goes, are you saying you'd turn down a chance to meet her because your fantasy would be over, the illusion shattered? If I told you I was related to her and she visits NEPA twice a year I mean? Prefer to worship from afar?
[color=limegreen]No, I was speaking anecdotally. And NO, worshiping from afar SUCKS!!!! What do you mean off the table? No No. Serious, are you related? Are you pulling my chain? You can't be related, she's way too tall. Wait, wait, what's that about regressive genes that skip a generation. Oh My God, are you serious???? Okay, I'm getting short of breath but if you're not yanking or yonking my chain, ****ING CALL ME!!!Yonkstur[/color]
[color=limegreen]No, I was speaking anecdotally. And NO, worshiping from afar SUCKS!!!! What do you mean off the table? No No. Serious, are you related? Are you pulling my chain? You can't be related, she's way too tall. Wait, wait, what's that about regressive genes that skip a generation. Oh My God, are you serious???? Okay, I'm getting short of breath but if you're not yanking or yonking my chain, ****ING CALL ME!!!Yonkstur[/color]
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yonkstur
Guest
There is nothing that can kill a fantasy than fulfilling it. Been there - had me some bad ass fantasies - lived a few. It really is a matter of be careful what you wish for...And this all goes back to the mystique I spoke of a few posts ago. Remember the very first time you went to that one dream radio station? Or a radio station for the first time? You thought, this isn't what I imagined. Then you thought, hey I think I can do this. My first radio station I saw was WBRE in the old Hotel Sterling. Storefront window, neat, organized, guy on the air always had a tie on. Never saw the back of the board. Then I went to WPTS and saw that set up. After that, and this is with all due repect to the good people at MIdway Broadcasting................the fantasy about radio died down.
Yonkstur
Yonkstur
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