The first time I heard talent taking on a less-pronounced role would have been in the early 90’s in South Florida. A Cox station I’ve mentioned on occasion, WFLC, back then was a 70’s/80’s mix kind of station. When they launched, they promoted themselves as the station that never talks over the music – ever (or words to that effect.) The talk-up was on its way out.
I was always a boss-jock fan and I was all into personality radio because that’s all I knew. Maybe it was the music itself that called for a different approach. "The Coast" then was an adult hit music kind of station featuring Peter Frampton, John Mellencamp, Chicago, Elton John etc. To this listener, it sounded good. As I recall for a long time the station became killer in the ratings.
My other listening was oldies (WMXJ – Miami’s Magic) and the talks up and the personality-oriented sound seemed more a natural to that kind of music as back then almost everything was 50’s and early to mid 60’s. For a long time I believed active participation of the talent depended more on format.than anything else. Jazz formats were even more unique in I noticed the broadcasters would often go into long rap about an artist they were about to play or just played but they would never talk over the music.
Today, as we see the state of radio and how lots of talent is becoming an endangered species, an important question to be asked is does more music/less talk reflect public opinion or has this been an on-going, calculated business model to ensure profitability for an uncertain future? Or, is there is there some middle ground between total automation and a full roster of jocks?
Markets change and the public’s tastes change. This week, The Greaseman was added to the ever-growing displaced list. I never understood his humor but then I didn’t grow up here. It almost reflects 2 Jacksonville’s – one with resident longevity and the other not so much. It’s just my hunch but I would suspect those who dug the Greaseman were the ones who heard him on the APE way back when. Newcomers perhaps just didn’t get it. With the trend toward more music, I’m afraid Greaseman was just another victim of the changing times and not a reflection of his talents.
Today’s on air talent and those displaced with longevity bring something valuable to the table and that’s knowledge of the market. A diminished role in one area should give rise to participation elsewhere. I guess it all comes down to how you regard talent – an asset or a big expense that should just be eliminated.
I was always a boss-jock fan and I was all into personality radio because that’s all I knew. Maybe it was the music itself that called for a different approach. "The Coast" then was an adult hit music kind of station featuring Peter Frampton, John Mellencamp, Chicago, Elton John etc. To this listener, it sounded good. As I recall for a long time the station became killer in the ratings.
My other listening was oldies (WMXJ – Miami’s Magic) and the talks up and the personality-oriented sound seemed more a natural to that kind of music as back then almost everything was 50’s and early to mid 60’s. For a long time I believed active participation of the talent depended more on format.than anything else. Jazz formats were even more unique in I noticed the broadcasters would often go into long rap about an artist they were about to play or just played but they would never talk over the music.
Today, as we see the state of radio and how lots of talent is becoming an endangered species, an important question to be asked is does more music/less talk reflect public opinion or has this been an on-going, calculated business model to ensure profitability for an uncertain future? Or, is there is there some middle ground between total automation and a full roster of jocks?
Markets change and the public’s tastes change. This week, The Greaseman was added to the ever-growing displaced list. I never understood his humor but then I didn’t grow up here. It almost reflects 2 Jacksonville’s – one with resident longevity and the other not so much. It’s just my hunch but I would suspect those who dug the Greaseman were the ones who heard him on the APE way back when. Newcomers perhaps just didn’t get it. With the trend toward more music, I’m afraid Greaseman was just another victim of the changing times and not a reflection of his talents.
Today’s on air talent and those displaced with longevity bring something valuable to the table and that’s knowledge of the market. A diminished role in one area should give rise to participation elsewhere. I guess it all comes down to how you regard talent – an asset or a big expense that should just be eliminated.
