Steven Curtis Chapman on Christian AC stations

[ToddStach]

I received this e-mail from John Frost....

CRW has asked me to write my start-the-new year thoughts on the biggest challenge facing our industry:

The greatest programming challenge for the Christian radio industry as a whole in 2007 will continue to be the general reluctance to adopt more sophisticated radio programming techniques that other formats have utilized for decades; strategic planning, music research, talent development and targeted marketing.

This reluctance, or even ambivalence, on the part of many in the Christian radio industry has resulted in a format with the most number of stations in America and the fewest number of listeners.

Perhaps this reluctance is based upon being spooked by the unknown, lack of knowledge of the benefits, or a belief that individual stations can’t be as good as our mainstream counterparts. I find it ironic that a format that has BELIEF as a foundation often doesn’t BELIEVE it can be better.

I’m proud to work with numerous Christian radio stations that are now market leaders, powerfully connecting with the listeners’ values, using excellence as the standard, and bringing people of faith together for the common good.

John Frost
Goodratings Strategic Services

 

[smashedcd]

I received this e-mail from John Frost....

CRW has asked me to write my start-the-new year thoughts on the biggest challenge facing our industry:

The greatest programming challenge for the Christian radio industry as a whole in 2007 will continue to be the general reluctance to adopt more sophisticated radio programming techniques that other formats have utilized for decades; strategic planning, music research, talent development and targeted marketing.

This reluctance, or even ambivalence, on the part of many in the Christian radio industry has resulted in a format with the most number of stations in America and the fewest number of listeners.

Perhaps this reluctance is based upon being spooked by the unknown, lack of knowledge of the benefits, or a belief that individual stations can’t be as good as our mainstream counterparts. I find it ironic that a format that has BELIEF as a foundation often doesn’t BELIEVE it can be better.

I’m proud to work with numerous Christian radio stations that are now market leaders, powerfully connecting with the listeners’ values, using excellence as the standard, and bringing people of faith together for the common good.

John Frost
Goodratings Strategic Services

:

 

[neutralobserver]

The emoticon response meaning.....?

 

[smashedcd]

The emoticon response meaning.....?

another CONsultant wanting some business..

 

[neutralobserver]

The emoticon response meaning.....?

another CONsultant wanting some business..

You mean like how radio stations provide an enjoyable experience to attract new listeners and your place of employment provides a valuable product or service to attract new customers?

Why, yes! Just like that!

 

[smashedcd]

The emoticon response meaning.....?

another CONsultant wanting some business..

You mean like how radio stations provide an enjoyable experience to attract new listeners and your place of employment provides a valuable product or service to attract new customers?

Why, yes! Just like that!

ps before i offend you even futher. my dislike of the way this industry has gone started sometime around 2000. thats when i got the internet and found out now that every single radio station in this country now sounds the same. there is no life in it anymore. i once loved this industry around 1992 bc..(before clear channel) but now all has changed. rock, country, ac, christian, talk ..its all the same everywhere. some suit in sacremento telling you what mom A wants to hear or in the case of rock radio BOB 30 at the local sports bar..i am taking it you are over 35. if so remember the episode of wkrp when the consultant from out of town came in and tried to tell andy what to play? and who to get rid of? well isnt that what a consultant is? a friiend of mine who is still in radio said that wkrp;s first year was based on actual radio. that thats how radio actually works. and i call them CONsultants because they are CONING pds and mds into believing what they have been preaching.

 

[radioelizabeth]

ps before i offend you even futher. my dislike of the way this industry has gone started sometime around 2000. thats when i got the internet and found out now that every single radio station in this country now sounds the same. there is no life in it anymore. i once loved this industry around 1992 bc..(before clear channel) but now all has changed. rock, country, ac, christian, talk ..its all the same everywhere. some suit in sacremento telling you what mom A wants to hear or in the case of rock radio BOB 30 at the local sports bar..i am taking it you are over 35. if so remember the episode of wkrp when the consultant from out of town came in and tried to tell andy what to play? and who to get rid of? well isnt that what a consultant is? a friiend of mine who is still in radio said that wkrp;s first year was based on actual radio. that thats how radio actually works. and i call them CONsultants because they are CONING pds and mds into believing what they have been preaching.

Smashed, I think you are letting your love of a sitcom cloud your perspective here.

Consultants have records you know. They prove themselves. If a consultant comes into a station, advises on programming, and strategy, and then that station sees no positive results or sees negative ones...how long do you think this consultant's perspective will last?

Certainly PDs and GMs are still running their stations, but having an objective, educated ear is a good thing. And just as these stations must know who to hire, who to fire, and how to do the day to day, they also must be wise in the council they receive and who they receive it from.

I think you give consultants both not enough credit and too much credit all at once...

Hope that makes some sense.

 

[smashedcd]

ps before i offend you even futher. my dislike of the way this industry has gone started sometime around 2000. thats when i got the internet and found out now that every single radio station in this country now sounds the same. there is no life in it anymore. i once loved this industry around 1992 bc..(before clear channel) but now all has changed. rock, country, ac, christian, talk ..its all the same everywhere. some suit in sacremento telling you what mom A wants to hear or in the case of rock radio BOB 30 at the local sports bar..i am taking it you are over 35. if so remember the episode of wkrp when the consultant from out of town came in and tried to tell andy what to play? and who to get rid of? well isnt that what a consultant is? a friiend of mine who is still in radio said that wkrp;s first year was based on actual radio. that thats how radio actually works. and i call them CONsultants because they are CONING pds and mds into believing what they have been preaching.

Smashed, I think you are letting your love of a sitcom cloud your perspective here.

Consultants have records you know. They prove themselves. If a consultant comes into a station, advises on programming, and strategy, and then that station sees no positive results or sees negative ones...how long do you think this consultant's perspective will last?

Certainly PDs and GMs are still running their stations, but having an objective, educated ear is a good thing. And just as these stations must know who to hire, who to fire, and how to do the day to day, they also must be wise in the council they receive and who they receive it from.

I think you give consultants both not enough credit and too much credit all at once...

Hope that makes some sense.

e..first off thanks for not slamming me second. maybe so but i once loved this industry. until i found out the industry doesnt care about me because i am the wrong sex and age . hey i hear you every day..on sirius ;D

 

[GaryTheThompson]

The emoticon response meaning.....?

another CONsultant wanting some business..

John Frost has increased ratings and revenue for stations nationwide for years. Do you know the man? Have you sat down and had lunch with him and heard his heart? I doubt it. Frost is a great person. He has a true heart for the format and if you sit down and talk with him like so many of us have, you'll see that is evident.

When I was a PD at a struggling CCM station years ago, John Offered me free advice on a regular basis and never asked for anything in return.

Maybe not everyone agrees with Frost's (or any consultants) philosophies, but don't judge him without knowing him.