Most of us have seen the demise of what were once great radio stations. Announcers that had both talent and personality have given way to voice-tracking and syndication. Even the great Howard Stern finds that the grass isn't greener on the other side as he continues his pathetic rant over why his terrestrial radio audience hasn’t followed him to satellite en-masse. Originality is being stifled by people, who themselves never had an ounce of talent, yet are placed in positions of power within a broadcasting organization. I don’t want to sound like a prophet of doom and gloom, but unless major chances are made, radio as some of us remember it, will be gone within five years. The baby-boomers who have survived these troubling times will be retiring or finding better paying jobs. And since the talent pool has a thimbleful of water left, there won’t be any reason for people to listen. Communication majors are not interested in radio as a career because they know there are no careers left in radio. And these corporations which have devoured masses of radio properties; as Hitler did Europe in 1940, have no desire to make improvements as long as they make their monthly monetary goals. General Managers who earn thousands of dollars in bonuses for each rating point increase are not about to loosen the corporate purse strings to attract talent by offering decent salaries. Five years ladies and gentlemen, five years is what I give radio before it becomes as useful of an entertainment and informational tool as the 78rpm vinyl record.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
The End of the Beginning
- Thread starter RipNRead
- Start date
"....Five years ladies and gentlemen, five years is what I give
radio before it becomes as useful of an entertainment and informational
tool as the 78rpm vinyl record.."
everywhere, on this board, among peeps in the biz, etc..
that was said "ten years ago..." and is continued to be said...
<>
I personally feel its already happened..and the
best of the best already hung up the earphones..
Savor the last of the last..
However, it is some thing that never goes away..
and as long as their is competition, and a few
peeps that really how to do radio right, there is hope.
radio before it becomes as useful of an entertainment and informational
tool as the 78rpm vinyl record.."
everywhere, on this board, among peeps in the biz, etc..
that was said "ten years ago..." and is continued to be said...
<>
I personally feel its already happened..and the
best of the best already hung up the earphones..
Savor the last of the last..
However, it is some thing that never goes away..
and as long as their is competition, and a few
peeps that really how to do radio right, there is hope.
M
mike704
Guest
Good points. Let me add the formula for really great radio has been lost. Think of it, the programmers and talent of today and tomorrow are listening to and being influenced by the radio of today. Hardly fertile ground of creativity.
Pay and job security is of course an issue but a certain amount of blame should be shared by the talent. There are stories of the headaches caused by the immature but highly enflated egos of some radio personalities. I'm not saying everyone but the high profile select few have made it difficult for the rest. I suspect there are not many managers out there for example who have the skills needed to deal with someone like Howard Stern. It's my guess that Stern would be able to eat most managers alive.
I once saw a program director single handedly take apart a very popular morning show. These guys were great, and still are. The problem was a clash of egos where the PD wanted to be the big dog. The great thing is the duo left for another station and they are still in the market 21 years later with one of the top rated shows. They are also syndicated in many other markets via satellite. The big dog P.D. sank into much deserved obscurity.
Personality radio if you can find it is often just in morning drive. There was a time where topical creative radio was done 24 hours a day. The formula is lost but it could be rediscovered.
Pay and job security is of course an issue but a certain amount of blame should be shared by the talent. There are stories of the headaches caused by the immature but highly enflated egos of some radio personalities. I'm not saying everyone but the high profile select few have made it difficult for the rest. I suspect there are not many managers out there for example who have the skills needed to deal with someone like Howard Stern. It's my guess that Stern would be able to eat most managers alive.
I once saw a program director single handedly take apart a very popular morning show. These guys were great, and still are. The problem was a clash of egos where the PD wanted to be the big dog. The great thing is the duo left for another station and they are still in the market 21 years later with one of the top rated shows. They are also syndicated in many other markets via satellite. The big dog P.D. sank into much deserved obscurity.
Personality radio if you can find it is often just in morning drive. There was a time where topical creative radio was done 24 hours a day. The formula is lost but it could be rediscovered.
> Most of us have seen the demise of what were once great
> radio stations. Announcers that had both talent and
> personality have given way to voice-tracking and
> syndication. Even the great Howard Stern finds that the
> grass isn't greener on the other side as he continues his
> pathetic rant over why his terrestrial radio audience hasn’t
> followed him to satellite en-masse. Originality is being
> stifled by people, who themselves never had an ounce of
> talent, yet are placed in positions of power within a
> broadcasting organization. I don’t want to sound like a
> prophet of doom and gloom, but unless major chances are
> made, radio as some of us remember it, will be gone within
> five years. The baby-boomers who have survived these
> troubling times will be retiring or finding better paying
> jobs. And since the talent pool has a thimbleful of water
> left, there won’t be any reason for people to listen.
> Communication majors are not interested in radio as a career
> because they know there are no careers left in radio. And
> these corporations which have devoured masses of radio
> properties; as Hitler did Europe in 1940, have no desire to
> make improvements as long as they make their monthly
> monetary goals. General Managers who earn thousands of
> dollars in bonuses for each rating point increase are not
> about to loosen the corporate purse strings to attract
> talent by offering decent salaries. Five years ladies and
> gentlemen, five years is what I give radio before it becomes
> as useful of an entertainment and informational tool as the
> 78rpm vinyl record.
>
GEEZE...You have just made my day...and given me something to smile about!!!
I'm so glad to hear that you think it will take that long!!! May I ask...but just what exactly is it that you are smoking in that bong of yours that must be creating such a "rose-colored smoke", (that, incidently, the rest of us can't see) that makes such a swell and optimistic picture for you!!! It's Okay...you can share...I'm not a narc...you won't get busted!!! I promise???
> radio stations. Announcers that had both talent and
> personality have given way to voice-tracking and
> syndication. Even the great Howard Stern finds that the
> grass isn't greener on the other side as he continues his
> pathetic rant over why his terrestrial radio audience hasn’t
> followed him to satellite en-masse. Originality is being
> stifled by people, who themselves never had an ounce of
> talent, yet are placed in positions of power within a
> broadcasting organization. I don’t want to sound like a
> prophet of doom and gloom, but unless major chances are
> made, radio as some of us remember it, will be gone within
> five years. The baby-boomers who have survived these
> troubling times will be retiring or finding better paying
> jobs. And since the talent pool has a thimbleful of water
> left, there won’t be any reason for people to listen.
> Communication majors are not interested in radio as a career
> because they know there are no careers left in radio. And
> these corporations which have devoured masses of radio
> properties; as Hitler did Europe in 1940, have no desire to
> make improvements as long as they make their monthly
> monetary goals. General Managers who earn thousands of
> dollars in bonuses for each rating point increase are not
> about to loosen the corporate purse strings to attract
> talent by offering decent salaries. Five years ladies and
> gentlemen, five years is what I give radio before it becomes
> as useful of an entertainment and informational tool as the
> 78rpm vinyl record.
>
GEEZE...You have just made my day...and given me something to smile about!!!
I'm so glad to hear that you think it will take that long!!! May I ask...but just what exactly is it that you are smoking in that bong of yours that must be creating such a "rose-colored smoke", (that, incidently, the rest of us can't see) that makes such a swell and optimistic picture for you!!! It's Okay...you can share...I'm not a narc...you won't get busted!!! I promise???
Certainly what you forsee is possible and, more troubling, plausible. However, I see a different direction. One where we realize that the only "old media" that can compete with the internet is radio because of it's immediacy (when done properly). I know that they make no impact around Buffalo, but down where I am now in Philly is a group called Delmarva Broadcasting. They have embraced the new medium and assimilated it. Their news talker, WDEL, is the first radio station to be nominated for an Emmy Award because of their website. Their management is proactive and probably most important, private. It's the publically traded companies that are killing this industry.
> However, it is some thing that never goes away..
> and as long as their is competition, and a few
> peeps that really how to do radio right, there is hope.
>
Vote Wired for mornings on WKSE! Woo hoo!
Not ready Wired? ok, overnights...keep them live so wired can do overnights til he ready for mornings.
> and as long as their is competition, and a few
> peeps that really how to do radio right, there is hope.
>
Vote Wired for mornings on WKSE! Woo hoo!
Not ready Wired? ok, overnights...keep them live so wired can do overnights til he ready for mornings.
A Happier Ending
> Most of us have seen the demise of what were once great
> radio stations. Announcers that had both talent and
> personality have given way to voice-tracking and
> syndication. Even the great Howard Stern finds that the
> grass isn't greener on the other side as he continues his
> pathetic rant over why his terrestrial radio audience hasn’t
> followed him to satellite en-masse.
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="660033">
Poor Howard. Getting a dose of reality, even though he's making a bazillion dollars more than all of us. It's almost worth it to hear him whine and b!itch about the listeners who truly DON'T BUY HIS ACT on Sirius. Howard EXPOSED.</font>
> Originality is being
> stifled by people, who themselves never had an ounce of
> talent, yet are placed in positions of power within a
> broadcasting organization. I don’t want to sound like a
> prophet of doom and gloom, but unless major chances are
> made, radio as some of us remember it, will be gone within
> five years.
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="660033">
It's not so much doom and gloom as it is reality. Yet, the situation may not be as dire as projected. Perhaps I'm being optimistic, even sanguine, but I feel "something's gotta give." This, coming from the guy who's been assailed as the board pessimist. Maybe it's the paint thinner. We've been working with shellac this week. Although you make a good point here, the "five years" prediction is dire and dour. BTW, I think "Dire and Dour" were a morning team in Scranton years ago.</font>
> The baby-boomers who have survived these
> troubling times will be retiring or finding better paying
> jobs. And since the talent pool has a thimbleful of water
> left, there won’t be any reason for people to listen.
> Communication majors are not interested in radio as a career
> because they know there are no careers left in radio. And
> these corporations which have devoured masses of radio
> properties; as Hitler did Europe in 1940, have no desire to
> make improvements as long as they make their monthly
> monetary goals.
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="660033">
Woof! Just a style note here. The "Hitler" analogy is too strong. You killed a fly with a bazooka. Your message would be just as forceful had you written something like, "...as Germany ravaged Europe." Friggin' Hitler.
The baby boomers may be the last of a generation that really KNOWS radio and appreciates entertainment, production, delivery, articulation and the whole radio package. They do a four hour airshift and production, read live spots with ease and do news too. They came up the ranks wanting to become BROADCASTERS and as such, took pride in their craft. Good bits, good writing, sharp delivery, wordplay, tight production, good levels, though whole nine yards.
Ever hear some of the mooks doing podcasts? Rancid! They sure as hell, for the most part, aren't BROADCASTERS.
Communications majors go on to do PR at ad agencies and other such things. Radio? Pffffft! However, as Howard Stern is proving with listeners NOT paying to hear his act, it's not satellite that threatens radio as much as what you stated. It's more complex because it's not likely to be any ONE alternative, but the combination of many alternatives. The stagnation and stifling of individual creativity outside of morning drive sure doesn't help matters.</font>
> General Managers who earn thousands of
> dollars in bonuses for each rating point increase are not
> about to loosen the corporate purse strings to attract
> talent by offering decent salaries. Five years ladies and
> gentlemen, five years is what I give radio before it becomes
> as useful of an entertainment and informational tool as the
> 78rpm vinyl record.
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="660033">
Nice analogy with the 78 rpm thing. Could have made a reference to 8-tracks too, I suppose. But it's not ratings that GM's get paid or bonused on, it's billing, margins, market share of revenue, quarter to quarter and annual comparison. So yeah, your point is correct, even though the methodology is shaky.
I give radio a little more credit. Maybe it's easier cuz I'm on the outside lookin' in Little Anthony and The Imperials.) Oh sure, I'm still a pain in the a$$ critic who goes off the deep end at times, but I feel it's all gonna come into focus. But it's not HD that's gonna save radio, it's the product on the MAIN channel. I've talked to three engineers who view HD as a ruse, "Somewhere down the line, HD could become the "Quad" of FM." Bushwah!
Groups are investing in HD because it's CAPEX (easily accounted for and justified according to the tax code.) By all appearances, companies are demonstrating that they'd prefer to fund HD than pay for and develop good, local talent.
Engineers please note, I'm not being a Ludite, I think technology is a good thing. You guys do a splendid job turning a sow's ear into a silk purse.
A few posts ago when writing about WECK, I was thinking about KB and the oldies format, contemplating why the station went awry. I concluded that it was the alignment of the stars... that and the egregious decisions made from the get-go. The PD, the approach, maybe even the wrong morning guy. I know that sounds like heresy. Neaverth is a genius and was at one time, one of the top five air personalities in America. But he seemed directionless and indulgent doing oldies at KB. The first week was a thrill and after that, Pfffft. We knew it was bad when WECK beat KB across the board.
The new KB isn't anything to write home about. Sure, it's good to have an alternative viewpoint, but the Left Channel won't do much more than the oldies format. When it's all said and done, Entercom Buffalo won't really care that much. They threw the Left Channel on KB to thwart WHLD and it worked. That's the only purpose it served. Kind of sad.
WECK going to classic country? Another "let's do it before they do it" format move.
Meanhwhile, WBEN stays healthy in a head-to-head comparison with other AM's and other news-talkers. It's the music stations that take a big bite out of WBEN: 97 Rock, WHTT, WJYE and WYRK, not the other AM's, most of which are owned by E'com.
Sorry 'bout the meandering nature of this post. I guess shellac really does require better ventillation.</font>
> Most of us have seen the demise of what were once great
> radio stations. Announcers that had both talent and
> personality have given way to voice-tracking and
> syndication. Even the great Howard Stern finds that the
> grass isn't greener on the other side as he continues his
> pathetic rant over why his terrestrial radio audience hasn’t
> followed him to satellite en-masse.
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="660033">
Poor Howard. Getting a dose of reality, even though he's making a bazillion dollars more than all of us. It's almost worth it to hear him whine and b!itch about the listeners who truly DON'T BUY HIS ACT on Sirius. Howard EXPOSED.</font>
> Originality is being
> stifled by people, who themselves never had an ounce of
> talent, yet are placed in positions of power within a
> broadcasting organization. I don’t want to sound like a
> prophet of doom and gloom, but unless major chances are
> made, radio as some of us remember it, will be gone within
> five years.
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="660033">
It's not so much doom and gloom as it is reality. Yet, the situation may not be as dire as projected. Perhaps I'm being optimistic, even sanguine, but I feel "something's gotta give." This, coming from the guy who's been assailed as the board pessimist. Maybe it's the paint thinner. We've been working with shellac this week. Although you make a good point here, the "five years" prediction is dire and dour. BTW, I think "Dire and Dour" were a morning team in Scranton years ago.</font>
> The baby-boomers who have survived these
> troubling times will be retiring or finding better paying
> jobs. And since the talent pool has a thimbleful of water
> left, there won’t be any reason for people to listen.
> Communication majors are not interested in radio as a career
> because they know there are no careers left in radio. And
> these corporations which have devoured masses of radio
> properties; as Hitler did Europe in 1940, have no desire to
> make improvements as long as they make their monthly
> monetary goals.
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="660033">
Woof! Just a style note here. The "Hitler" analogy is too strong. You killed a fly with a bazooka. Your message would be just as forceful had you written something like, "...as Germany ravaged Europe." Friggin' Hitler.
The baby boomers may be the last of a generation that really KNOWS radio and appreciates entertainment, production, delivery, articulation and the whole radio package. They do a four hour airshift and production, read live spots with ease and do news too. They came up the ranks wanting to become BROADCASTERS and as such, took pride in their craft. Good bits, good writing, sharp delivery, wordplay, tight production, good levels, though whole nine yards.
Ever hear some of the mooks doing podcasts? Rancid! They sure as hell, for the most part, aren't BROADCASTERS.
Communications majors go on to do PR at ad agencies and other such things. Radio? Pffffft! However, as Howard Stern is proving with listeners NOT paying to hear his act, it's not satellite that threatens radio as much as what you stated. It's more complex because it's not likely to be any ONE alternative, but the combination of many alternatives. The stagnation and stifling of individual creativity outside of morning drive sure doesn't help matters.</font>
> General Managers who earn thousands of
> dollars in bonuses for each rating point increase are not
> about to loosen the corporate purse strings to attract
> talent by offering decent salaries. Five years ladies and
> gentlemen, five years is what I give radio before it becomes
> as useful of an entertainment and informational tool as the
> 78rpm vinyl record.
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="660033">
Nice analogy with the 78 rpm thing. Could have made a reference to 8-tracks too, I suppose. But it's not ratings that GM's get paid or bonused on, it's billing, margins, market share of revenue, quarter to quarter and annual comparison. So yeah, your point is correct, even though the methodology is shaky.
I give radio a little more credit. Maybe it's easier cuz I'm on the outside lookin' in Little Anthony and The Imperials.) Oh sure, I'm still a pain in the a$$ critic who goes off the deep end at times, but I feel it's all gonna come into focus. But it's not HD that's gonna save radio, it's the product on the MAIN channel. I've talked to three engineers who view HD as a ruse, "Somewhere down the line, HD could become the "Quad" of FM." Bushwah!
Groups are investing in HD because it's CAPEX (easily accounted for and justified according to the tax code.) By all appearances, companies are demonstrating that they'd prefer to fund HD than pay for and develop good, local talent.
Engineers please note, I'm not being a Ludite, I think technology is a good thing. You guys do a splendid job turning a sow's ear into a silk purse.
A few posts ago when writing about WECK, I was thinking about KB and the oldies format, contemplating why the station went awry. I concluded that it was the alignment of the stars... that and the egregious decisions made from the get-go. The PD, the approach, maybe even the wrong morning guy. I know that sounds like heresy. Neaverth is a genius and was at one time, one of the top five air personalities in America. But he seemed directionless and indulgent doing oldies at KB. The first week was a thrill and after that, Pfffft. We knew it was bad when WECK beat KB across the board.
The new KB isn't anything to write home about. Sure, it's good to have an alternative viewpoint, but the Left Channel won't do much more than the oldies format. When it's all said and done, Entercom Buffalo won't really care that much. They threw the Left Channel on KB to thwart WHLD and it worked. That's the only purpose it served. Kind of sad.
WECK going to classic country? Another "let's do it before they do it" format move.
Meanhwhile, WBEN stays healthy in a head-to-head comparison with other AM's and other news-talkers. It's the music stations that take a big bite out of WBEN: 97 Rock, WHTT, WJYE and WYRK, not the other AM's, most of which are owned by E'com.
Sorry 'bout the meandering nature of this post. I guess shellac really does require better ventillation.</font>
Response to: Radio Friend.
> >
> Vote Wired for mornings on WKSE!, or any station...
> Not ready Wired?
Wired writes back: "Noooo bleepin' way !"
Absolutely Not.
>Ok, overnights...keep them live so wired can do overnights
til he is ready for mornings.
>
Wired Totally SUCKS on the aire !!! Always has; Always will.
-Sincerely,
"Wired."
> >
> Vote Wired for mornings on WKSE!, or any station...
> Not ready Wired?
Wired writes back: "Noooo bleepin' way !"
Absolutely Not.
>Ok, overnights...keep them live so wired can do overnights
til he is ready for mornings.
>
Wired Totally SUCKS on the aire !!! Always has; Always will.
-Sincerely,
"Wired."
>>Personality radio if you can find it is often just in morning drive. There was a time where topical creative radio was done 24 hours a day. The formula is lost but it could be rediscovered.Not when your owner is clueless, and is always telling you to shut up..make it shorter..it's harder to get my personality out that way. We are head to head with another top 40, and they really don't have the personality factor, that's what sets us apart, and I think it makes the listener connect with the station more. Just try to tell that to the short sighted guy that never was a dj....and really, really hasn't a clue.
- Status