The Sound's A to Z Labor Day Countdown

[calguy]

It's a mystery to me as well. Lots of good talent want in & can't get back in.

possibly because they've seen "the man behind the curtain"...

Yeah, the man behind the curtain has no heart and may need a brain as well.

 

[radioman148]

Which man and which curtain?

 

[LKellerIII]

one thing for sure...he sounds better than a few "air personalities' on that station. I know this because I work there. I do agree on one thing you mentioned.....the L.A. market doesn't sound anything like it used to...."casper milktoast" and all the other lightweight clones that are working these days....would still be calling bingo numbers at a ramada inn...I remember when we were called "air talent"...because you had to have it...before you earned the right to work in L.A..

I
That's because there's no money in radio anymore. The really good talent that we used to hear is for the most part, on the beach.

If the "really good talent" is "on the beach", why can't they accept pay cuts? Isn't that better than not having a job?

Actually a lot of the great talent on the beach can't get arrested. If no one wants you, doesn't matter that you'll take less money. Can't explain why good people can't get hired, it's today's radio mystery.

I'd guess that a lot of the "really good talent" isn't on the beach -they've found new careers with greater job security and probably more money.

One of the better Bay Area radio talents of the last few years was Gil Alexander. He was let go from his morning gig on our troubled country station "The Wolf" (now defunct) about a year ago. I've noticed that Southern California Edison's spokesperson has the same name. I'm betting it's the same Gil Alexander.

There's been a trend in the Bay Area the last few years for public agencies to hire former air talent as spokespersons - though most of them have been general assignment TV reporters, But there have also been a couple from radio.

 

[calguy]

one thing for sure...he sounds better than a few "air personalities' on that station. I know this because I work there. I do agree on one thing you mentioned.....the L.A. market doesn't sound anything like it used to...."casper milktoast" and all the other lightweight clones that are working these days....would still be calling bingo numbers at a ramada inn...I remember when we were called "air talent"...because you had to have it...before you earned the right to work in L.A..

I
That's because there's no money in radio anymore. The really good talent that we used to hear is for the most part, on the beach.

If the "really good talent" is "on the beach", why can't they accept pay cuts? Isn't that better than not having a job?

Actually a lot of the great talent on the beach can't get arrested. If no one wants you, doesn't matter that you'll take less money. Can't explain why good people can't get hired, it's today's radio mystery.

I'd guess that a lot of the "really good talent" isn't on the beach -they've found new careers with greater job security and probably more money.

One of the better Bay Area radio talents of the last few years was Gil Alexander. He was let go from his morning gig on our troubled country station "The Wolf" (now defunct) about a year ago. I've noticed that Southern California Edison's spokesperson has the same name. I'm betting it's the same Gil Alexander.

There's been a trend in the Bay Area the last few years for public agencies to hire former air talent as spokespersons - though most of them have been general assignment TV reporters, But there have also been a couple from radio.

I would say that you're partially correct. Problem is, there are only so many of those PR jobs to go around, so I stand by my original statement as I know lots of talented people who cannot find work.

 

[culero]

I agree with calguy. Some day a programmer will have the huevos to make radio intersting again...but until then...we'll just jocks will keep whispering usless dribble...But I kinda feel sorry for the new "air personalities" ...because they didn't get to listen to THE MASTERS as they worked their craft. It's sad...

 

[LKellerIII]

I agree with calguy. Some day a programmer will have the huevos to make radio intersting again...but until then...we'll just jocks will keep whispering usless dribble...But I kinda feel sorry for the new "air personalities" ...because they didn't get to listen to THE MASTERS as they worked their craft. It's sad...

I wasn't arguing Calguy's point at all - I'm sure he's right. I was just saying that there are other careers out there for talented and smart people. I never got into radio (lack of talent probably the main reason), but it was the lack of job security and the seemingly required nomadic lifestyle that scared me out of even trying.

But I have two childhood friends who got into radio, and have enjoyed very successful careers only after giving up regular radio work (on air and off) and going into other lines of work. And this was in the "good old days" of the 70s and 80s, before radio allegedly began its long slide downhill. Being baby boomers like me, they did get to "listen to the masters" and emulate them. Nevertheless, they found long-lasting success in radio to be elusive.

 

[Robnoxious]

What was the last song? U2's "Zoo Radio"?

Did The Sound pull the Scorpions' "The Zoo" off of the shelf? If so, that might be the hardest song they have ever played.

 

[Uncle Rob]

As for the A to Z I actually had to hit my recall button a few times to see what station it was. I thought I had KLOS in my presets by mistake. And come to think of it, The Sound is starting to "sound" like KLOS. Too bad. As for the old radio talent, let me ask a question ...... If your boss came into your workspace and said he was going to cut your salary from .... let's say $50,000 a year down to minimum wage, would you accept that? Or tell him "Screw you." ?

 

[flyonthewall]

To answer Robnoxious' question, The last two songs on The Sound's A to Z countdown: Last song was U2-- Zooropa, second to last, it was The Zoo, and 5th to last, Judas Priest, You've got another thing coming.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Yeah, ever since the KMET day a few years ago, the station dropped all pretense of being even remotely a AAA station and didn't shy away from any heavy metal tracks.

There was a transition period of about six months or so leading up to that period where they would play heavy metal artists, but the less hard tracks from them (example: "Goin' to California" by Led Zep) . Then they took the last step and and added Judas Priest to the playlist in fairly heavy rotation, bragged about it, and that was it. The transition to full classic rock including classic metal had been complete.

 

[pjc1961]

The Sound's A to Z list for August-September 2011 - link here: http://thesoundla.com/images/pdf/a-z-2011/atoz-list.pdf