Talk Radio Scoreboard for Major Markets: October 2014

[davideduardo]

By Gregg's definition above, Ballance would be considered "hot talk"

The term "hot talk" came out of the talk formats in the mid-90's that tried to combine Howard Stern or a pseudo-Stern equivalent in mornings with lifestyle talk the rest of the day. The difference here was that the format was, like Stern, targeting 18-34 males. And that was not then any more than it is now, the target of traditional talk stations.

When Stern left terrestrial radio, those few stations that had achieved success in the format were unable to sustain the ratings. The further experiment by CBS to create Sternless hot talkers was a failure.

While we point to Trenton and Orlando as present day hot talkers, they really are not... they are just less political talk stations that have rather similar demographics as other more conventional talkers. WKXW is 10th in 18-34 but #1 in 35-64.

Bill Ballance typically delivered 25-54 women going back to the early KGBS days. That is not the "Hot Talk" target.

 

[FredLeonard]

Sitcoms about radio seem to be about 15 years behind, sometimes reflecting when the writers worked in radio. WKRP in Cincinnati reflects Quixie in Dixie in the early 60s. Frasier reflects KABC in the 70s (and most other major market talk stations). A funny guy in morning drive. A sports guy. A shrink/advice person. A food/shopping/consumer affairs person. A ranting right-winger. And a liberal. And they did interviews.

The Phil Boyce decided to purge talk radio of all but the ranting right-wingers (and of interviews). And the decline of talk radio began to the small, geriatric shares composed of angry old White guys.

The people (or the kind of people) who used to listen to full service news/talk are most likely now listening to public radio news and information. Commercial and non-commercial talkers did compete for audience and non-commercial won.

 

[davideduardo]

Sitcoms about radio seem to be about 15 years behind, sometimes reflecting when the writers worked in radio. WKRP in Cincinnati reflects Quixie in Dixie in the early 60s.

Most of the WKRP material that reflects anything that actually happened in radio was based on the personal experience of both the show's story consultant who was at the time the manager of WQXI and of the show's lead writer who had been an assistant to the morning show at WQXI in the late 60's.

Most of the radio stories and stereotypes that were part of the show reflected the early to mid 70's and ranged from the sales manager's suits to the KENR Houston Turkey Drop. The music was, of course, reflective of the late 70's run of the sitcom. So the base was far much more 70's than 60's.

While the Wikepedia article calls the station "Quixie in Dixie" note that the calls date back to the late 40's and the "Dixie" reference was dropped early in the format's history.

 

[FredLeonard]

While the Wikepedia article calls the station "Quixie in Dixie" note that the calls date back to the late 40's and the "Dixie" reference was dropped early in the format's history.

My roommate senior year was from Atlanta and he always called in "Quixie in Dixie."

 

[davideduardo]

My roommate senior year was from Atlanta and he always called in "Quixie in Dixie."

But that usage was pretty much gone by the early 70's when Mr. Blum became manager.

 

[boombox4]

While Michael Jackson did take calls, I'd consider his show "interview based" on the same station back in the day as Pyne.

Pyne's syndicated show during this period was "interview based," as was Barry Gray's. The Mutual overnight show (Jepko, Nebel, King) also took calls but relied heavily on interviews during most hours. Outside of New York and LA, pre-Rush, most local talk shows were also largely interview-based. And lest we forget, NPR's Talk of the Nation was interview based (but also took calls).

I miss those days -- the big interview oriented talk shows. The only talk shows today I can think of that do extensive interviews (on commercial radio) are Jim Bohannon, Coast To Coast, and John Batchelor. John Batchelor doesn't take calls, though.

I suppose the fact those shows exist and can be heard every night on AM shows that there still is viability to the talk show / interview show medium. But I have no idea what sort of ratings those shows pull.

 

[Ravens]

John Batchelor doesn't take calls, though.

Considering the kind of guests he has, it's for the better.