The handwriting is on the wall. HD radio is dead, AM is dying, FM may be next.

[Mike Walker]

Carmine5, while I appreciate your point on hiring first a good sales manager, then a webmaster...and fully agree that a strong web presence is vital, MY first two hires would be the sales mgr. AND a truly creative programmer. Without great programming, your sales manager has nothing to sell (not to mention no listeners to sell to), and your webmaster has nothing of value to promote, link to, or offer as a stream.

We shouldn't forget, to paraphrase James Carville in the '92 election, "IT'S THE PROGRAMMING, STUPID". Radio stations are basically factories. We produce audio, for consumption by our listeners. Along the way each department adds their contribution to the finished product (commercials from production/sales, program elements and shows from programming, a great signal from engineering, contests and promotions from that dept, games and scores from sports, etc.)...all adding up to the finished PRODUCT. But once that product is produced, there's still no guarantee it will be consumed. It must be SOLD! It's all about the PRODUCT! THAT is what salespeople sell! THAT is what webmasters base their creations on. THAT IS WHAT WE PRODUCE, how we're known, and who we are!

Radio has fallen on hard times BECAUSE SO MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN THIS LESSON! But the great thing about our industry is that it has ALWAYS adapted to changing conditions and competitive pressures. And it will again.

 

[Carmine5]

Re: The handwriting is on the wall. HD radio is dead, AM is dying, FM may be nex

Carmine5, while I appreciate your point on hiring first a good sales manager, then a webmaster...and fully agree that a strong web presence is vital, MY first two hires would be the sales mgr. AND a truly creative programmer. Without great programming, your sales manager has nothing to sell (not to mention no listeners to sell to), and your webmaster has nothing of value to promote, link to, or offer as a stream.

We shouldn't forget, to paraphrase James Carville in the '92 election, "IT'S THE PROGRAMMING, STUPID". Radio stations are basically factories. We produce audio, for consumption by our listeners. Along the way each department adds their contribution to the finished product (commercials from production/sales, program elements and shows from programming, a great signal from engineering, contests and promotions from that dept, games and scores from sports, etc.)...all adding up to the finished PRODUCT. But once that product is produced, there's still no guarantee it will be consumed. It must be SOLD! It's all about the PRODUCT! THAT is what salespeople sell! THAT is what webmasters base their creations on. THAT IS WHAT WE PRODUCE, how we're known, and who we are!

Radio has fallen on hard times BECAUSE SO MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN THIS LESSON! But the great thing about our industry is that it has ALWAYS adapted to changing conditions and competitive pressures. And it will again.

Point taken, Mike. Of course, you're right. A station's product IS its programming and so a good programmer (or for a small station, a good programmer plus) is a very important hire.

As is true with most stations, I'm figuring this one will be a combo of live and local, sat fed and VT. It's a very small market unlimited AM.

No HD Radio (I'm just not convinced that it works well on AM or makes sense economically in a small market) but I would like to dust off C-QuAM and make it the best sounding analog that I can.

Like you, I happen to believe in radio's future and that includes AM. It can adapt and change if those in the industry are open to learning about and exploring new trends.

C5