Re: Getting "real" about radio.
>
> Radio stations do not research audience groups that are not
> productive. 55+ listenership will not produce much, if any,
> revenue. Radio stations definitely focus on the listener,
> but only on those listeners that advertisers are interested
> in.
We kind of noticed. the only problem is there are a lot of
people like me who are in our mid 40's that want to hear that
music. Infact I know a lot of people in the 20's and 30's that
want to hear that music too. We all like the music and are
right in that target zone.
It will be interesting to watch WMJI's arbitrons, they fell
to 3rd in both the Cleveland and Akron markets.
> I just explained why this, today, will not happen. Nearly no
> bank will lend to single, stand-alone radio stations. Banks
> have consolidated, too.
I'm glad you said "Nearly" and I think in another message you
said "Most". Each situation is going to be unique and individual.
There are many things that go into deciding a loan, so each one
even if the same station is different. I asked someone I know
who is a bank VP and he emphasied that to me, but he did say
that they had arranged loans and financing in the past.
Now granted, the larger corporates have a better chance than a
small corporation or single station will have.
And you don't have to remind me about bank consolidation. I sat
and watchedmy bank (which happened to be The Firestone Bank)
become BancOne and then (I think) Chase. I don't like it anymore
than I do radio.
> Even the larger banks will do one of two things... not lend
> at all (95% of them) or lend to groups. Practically none
> will lend to a single market station or cluster, unless the
> buyer has other assets to guarantee with.
>
> I am involved with stations in dozens of markets, and
> several countries. Financing is nearly impossible. I have
> had personally tried to buy, with no doable deals... and I
> have a reasonably good background.
95%, even if that figure is accurate that still would leave 5%
One thing about smaller banks is that they are more interested
in investing in the local community.
>
> As I said, consultants try to create winning stations using
> the local staff, local research and vast experience. Radio
> is far more competitive and fragmented, and there are more
> non-radio alternatives.
Non radio alternatives? Hmm haven't I been saying that?
Let the local staff do their jobs without micro managing them
might help.
>
> It will not happen. As I said, there is always someoen who
> thinks they have a better idea. Sometimes they are right,
> too.
This change won't come just because someone's business collapses.
It will be that and broadcasters arranging it, along with the
FCC. If some stations go dark that will free up bandspace for
full time IBOC.
>
> Docket 80-90 drove quality down, as the existing market
> revenue had to suport new statins and move ins and upgrades
> that were not previously possible. It all goes back tot he
> Bonita Springs case.
>
> Consolidation is only 8 years old in the US. Any real issues
> predated consolidation and were, in fact, the reason for
> consolidation.
I think 80-90 played a part of it but it can't be blamed for
the whole mess.
Didn't you say in a previos message that consolidation had
been going on for 50 years? I'll have to find that one.
> "Kiss" is a name for many formats and stations, all
> different, all locally researched. In fact, the issue with
> common names is caused by the internet, which makes service
> mark clearance very hard. So companies use the names they
> have registered all over, for different formats.
Sorry but Kiss is not a name for many formats. It's one format
and mahy stations. Owned by one entity and used at many statins.
>
> That is no more cookie cutter than 200 SRP stations using
> the same voice tracking in the 70´s or 150 Drake Chennault
> AC stations using the same voice tracking int he same era...
> etc.
If your playing the same songs and have the same DJ and it is
not syndicated that is a cookie cutter.
>
> The stations are still locally programmed, using voices from
> other places.
>
programed from corporate offices.
>
> No difference.
Big difference. Business in latin countries is not run the
same as here in the states.
>
> What is arrogant is to say, "I know the music." You don´t.
> The listener does.
No David saying I know the music is not arrogant. I DO know
this music better than you ever will and yet not as well as
some of my friends. My knowledge is of one who is a collector
and lover of it. Not an office person.
And what you forget David is that I AM one of the listeners.
I can not devote whole shows to obsure stuff (at least not often).
But I can bring a hand full of songs in and see what everyone
thinks.
Now what WOULD be arrogant would be for me to claim that I know
better than the listener. And I don't claim that.
>
> Which is why even the biggest companies have local and
> regional management, not standardized national policies.
Chain of command is too long and there is not enough control
at the local level.
> > like, and I take that into consideration. I do a request
> > show
> > after all.
>
> Arrrgh. No one uses requests as a primary indication.
> Callers are atypical listeners.
Well we have an atypical station. But we don't take it as a
primary indication. Look at what I said "take into consideration"
But at least we do listen to our listeners which is more than I
can say for most stations.
>
> You will get 1.000 if you listen to the listeners, not you
> own taste.
which we do and I do.
> >
> > Being a Cleveland boy let me remind you of
> Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
> > which
> > got a boost thanks to Ghoulardi. What NE Ohio oldies
> station
> >
> > wouldn't play that? (a CC station) and the same with
> Desert
> > Rat.
> > Or how about something from LA? Whittier Blvd. by Thee
> > Midnighters.
>
> 50% of the population of most major US markets did not grow
> up in that market. Unknown songs don´t research and are not
> appreciated.
I think you're a little skewed here, but the point is taken.
A good playlist is kind of like a cheese cake. It's good all
by it self. The extra songs like the above mentioned are like
the cherries, they just add to the wonderfulness of it.
Should they be in heavy rotation? of course not. Here Whittier
Blvd should be in light rotation. In LA (sepecially East LA)
it would be in a higher rotation, but never in a heavy rotation.
It's there to make the listener smile with a memory or say wow
I never heard that song before its great.
>
> Actually, a good programmer takes listener feedback and
> opinion and builds a creative station or an exciting station
> or a mood station based on the listener, not thier own
> opinion.
And bottom line the final decision is his to make.
> I see. NY, Miami, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Austin, San
> Antonio, LA, San Francisco, etc., are not US markets?
How many of those are Spanish and how many english?
>
> Actually, they spend millions to find out what their real
> listeners want. Day in, day out.
But they don't do anything then. they are leaving us adrift.
>
> None of which the bulk of listeners give a rat´s posterior
> about.
And that is where You're wrong. And it shows you have the
same corporate mentality as DD and the others.
You're one who always says the charts don't mean much. That
they were basically rigged. There are many songs that should
have been heard and we try to find them ahd give them some
air play so the listeners don't have to hear the same 450
songs over and over.
> I have researched over 3000 different titles for an LA
> oldies station. 75% do not make it. There are no hidden
> gems. If they are hidden, they are not playable.
3000? is that all? an Ipod has more than that. It's not
even a drop in the bucket of some casual listeners store
bought collection let alone mine.
And by the way, where did you get those 3000 songs? form
a hat? from a fairy godmother? or from the charts?
>
> Prices since consolidatin have followed the same multiples
> based on market revenues and billing as they did before. The
> fundamentals of making a profit on each station do not
> change.
prices have jumped since the roule changes not consolidation.
the one thing I can say about consolidation is they do take
a long term view.
>
> I see. The only LA Spanish and local news talk station,
> which is profitable and has good ratings, should go dark?
I don't know what the call leters were befor this were. But
I have no problem with letting a failing station go dark.
KTNQ itself is succeedign find and dandy. My complaints with
KTNQ and other stations similar are not the same.
>
> Too many to list. 70 stations, all mostly live and local.
I said American radio David not spanish rdio in the U.S.
>
> The same percentage of people use radio as in 1975. The PUR
> is only 2% below the level from that year, despite a myriad
> of alternative leisure time activities. Radio billing is
> growing, and the industry is mature. No one expects radio to
> grow in listening, and it probably will shrink over time.
> But it is not moribund.
> >
>
And we shall see how it fares in the future.
Mike Dane
WSTB-FM 88.9
www.SundayOldiesJukebox.com