The Unemployed

[EricaKay]

I was required to do labor market research yesterday at one of the state's unemployment offices and realized why many people end up straying from the radio field. Annually, the salary range (nationally) is $17,100 to $74,400. However, this was the shocker----A question was posted---How many jobs are available annually in your occupation nationally and state wide. For on-air personalities, nationally there is an average of 1,720 positions to be filled. In the state of Massachusetts---TWENTY jobs are available annually as announcers in the state. TWENTY. Just some state/nation research I thought I would share. If I had to guess why people are not able to get jobs in radio, is most of the positions present a requirement of relocation, which many cannot afford. I'm interested for those that were unemployed at some point in the radio field, what occupations they ended up working in outside of radio.

 

[reelyreal]

Went back into healthcare, I'm a patient care coordinator at a psychiatric hospital, and I'm currently finishing my Doctor of Pharmacy degree after 7 years of announcing and programming in New England commercial radio full time. I still do part-time work to satisfy my radio urges, but I know that it'll never be a viable full time career for me again. I don't want to move around, I want a decent wage (you know, more than $28,000 a year) and job security. Unfortunately to have those things, I can't work in radio. I've accepted that.

Relocation isn't much of an option, at least in my experience. Most stations aren't interested in a jock that has to relocate when there's a local option... unfortunately, there's a lot of out of work talent everywhere, definitely a surplus.

 

[EricaKay]

Doctor Of Pharmacy? WAY TO GO! that takes courage, alot of work and customers griping about co-pays. Sounds like you put a great deal of hard work and it will pay off!

 

[TheBigA]

Most stations aren't interested in a jock that has to relocate when there's a local option... unfortunately, there's a lot of out of work talent everywhere, definitely a surplus.

Exactly. Supply and demand. And just about everyone thinks they can be on the radio. Back in the 70s, the growth of those DJ systems was the begining of the end. Then the ability to program your own internet station or iPod finished it. Everybody's in show biz. The third thing that hurts those looking for radio work is all the recording artists and celebrities who've gotten into radio. They bring a known name and a fan base. Tough to compete with that when you're just a guy with a good voice. My suggestion when I speak at colleges is to either get into radio support (someone has to do all the work behind the scenes), or sales & marketing, with an eye to start a broadcast service company like Metro Traffic or something like that. Once you get an advertiser, it's easy to get on the radio.

 

[Runrigger]

After 15 years in radio I wasn't unemployed when I got out, but was becoming obsessed with what I would have to do if I found myself out of work. I am totally unwilling to relocate. I did know changes were coming at the station I worked at & while I might not have ended up on the beach, at the very least I would probably have found myself in a role I didn't care for. I found work at a media center in a large corporation. I have to admit at first with lifestyle changes I lost total interest in radio & within a year I couldn't even tell you who was on the air & where. This was a total turnaround for me who lived, ate, & breathed radio. What got me interested again (at least as an onlooker) was learning about this board from a friend in the business. I've had opportunities to at least weekend since then, but I just don't have the interest. I have to say I wish I were still doing it, but on the other hand I don't think I'd be happy in radio as it is today. In music radio, morning drive is the only on-air place to be to tap your creativity & I'm too in love with my bed to leave it at 4AM.

 

[Skynet74]

It's not only Radio. Any job in showbiz is tough. In Hollywood most actors have to make a career out of auditioning. No money in that. This is why most work at night as waiters and waitresses. I absolutely loved radio when I began. I quickly soured on it when I couldn't get that next job. A Rock station in Vermont wanted me to work overnights. They offered me $150 to relocate and an office floor to sleep on in the meantime. Unfortunately that $150 and the floor wasn't going to be enough. I was already having car problems as it was. I'm not even sure that hunk of junk would have made it to their comfortable floor. Then a station in Putnam Connecticut offered me weekends. Bad commute and bad pay. I was quickly losing my motivation for the business. I remember how depressing it was for me. I had my first fulltime radio job at 19. I had completed Broadcast school and already had a fulltime gig when most kids my age had just barely started college. I was proud of myself and thought things were going great. I was ahead of everybody. However after a great start, I ended up way behind. Just crappy job offers and most times I didn't even get a call back. I ended up being on the opposite side of the fence I started on. It's very competitive and one of the least secure jobs in the world. You could have one or two radio jobs today, but find yourself with none by next week. It really soured me on the whole industry. I already have anxiety issues as it is. Worrying about losing my job every day wouldn't help me.

So what did I do? I learned that the best security in life is working for yourself. You can't be fired that way. I got involved in the telecommunications industry. I worked 900 number phone lines when they were big. I owned one of those Psychic lines and didn't feel so bad about not working in radio anymore when I made $8,000 in a weekend while I slept. Maybe my radio dreams were dead, but decent sized checks made the pain go away. Then suprisingly that whole business went down the tubes when most of the callers decided to not pay their phone bills. The phone companies got sick of dealing with it and the whole 900# business collapsed. There went my nice checks right out the window.

That is when I decided to start doing voiceovers from home a while back. I got back to doing something I loved, but on my own terms this time. Definitely not easy and Definitely not something I could have afforded to do unless I had saved a lot of money from the telecommunications business I had. But I did get work and it's still something I'm able to do. If it wern't for the internet I don't know what would happen to me. It has opened up opportunities for so many. I was reading about a 12 year old with his own youtube channel who made $3,000 in the past two months. Not bad for making goofy videos in your pajamas. I'm aware of people on youtube who make two and three times more than that. If I told you what kind of videos they produce that pull in that kind of cash you would not even believe me. So for various reasons this is the path I ended up on and I believe there is a very good reason for it. The internet has been a lot kinder to me than radio ever was.

 

[aaronread]

I find it more than a little amusing that when I first started in radio 15 years ago, a lot of people told me that getting a job in commercial radio would be tough, but working in non-commercial radio was a mug's game. Few jobs, low pay, lousy hours, no benefits, etc etc etc.

Turns out to be the exact opposite. What little job security I see, I usually see in public radio. The benefits aren't always great, but they're a hell of a lot better than most commercial outfits, especially if the job's based at a college (be it for college or public radio). The pay is admittedly not always stellar...especially compared to certain commercial radio roles (namely sales) but overall I'd say it's equal or better.

The real irony is that "the norm" for non-comm radio has always been people who wear multiple hats...and these days if you can't do engineering, sales, production, web design, social media, promotions AND talent, then you'll never get hired in commercial radio, either.

FWIW, I was always more focused on engineering/computers and that's been very, very helpful to my career in broadcasting. Good tech skills are almost always marketable somewhere.

 

[Skynet74]

I think that is part of the problem. Most people who get into radio want to work on air and that is it. They don't want to wear 12 different hats. I can't blame them. I didn't want to do it either. My focus was being on the air. I had no interest in sales, engineering, promotions, etc. I didn't go to school for anything other than to learn how to operate that board and learn how to put on a good show. It's very different these days. I could adapt to the social media part. That part is fine. But my main goal would be to bring in ratings. Let me focus on that while you take care of everything else. Radio stations need to let people pursue their passion. Once you try to make employees do everyone elses job, you are going to end up with employees who don't even want to be there anymore.

 

[TheBigA]

Once you try to make employees do everyone elses job, you are going to end up with employees who don't even want to be there anymore.

It depends. I was running the board when I was a teenager. To do that for the rest of my life wasn't too appealing to me, so I retired from on air at age 24. Then I looked around for other hills to climb, and found lots of them. My goal was to be a broadcaster, and I discovered that involves many other things besides on air. I've never been bored, and I've never been out of work. In fact, I've often had several jobs at multiple places. There's always someone who needs help, and something for me to do. Today, I know how to do everyone's job. I don't actually do it, because it's easier to delegate. But having that knowledge sure is helpful.

 

[Runrigger]

I think that is part of the problem. Most people who get into radio want to work on air and that is it. They don't want to wear 12 different hats. I can't blame them. I didn't want to do it either. My focus was being on the air. I had no interest in sales, engineering, promotions, etc. I didn't go to school for anything other than to learn how to operate that board and learn how to put on a good show. It's very different these days. I could adapt to the social media part. That part is fine. But my main goal would be to bring in ratings. Let me focus on that while you take care of everything else. Radio stations need to let people pursue their passion. Once you try to make employees do everyone elses job, you are going to end up with employees who don't even want to be there anymore.

John, in this day & age I doubt anyone getting into radio expects to do nothing but do a show, tweet, & interact on Facebook. Talk show hosts are probably an exception because of the amount of prep needed to do a show. 4 & the door stopped becoming the norm long ago. This isn't a slam, but trust me, you're better off being self-employed.

 

[Skynet74]

This isn't a slam, but trust me, you're better off being self-employed.

Oh I think these days that is the best option for lots of people. Especially me. I've seen where being loyal to radio executives gets DJ's these days. After 20 years they get shown the door. I'm being generous when I say 20. It usually doesn't even take that long. Even those who last a long time are usually very overworked and underpaid. There is a tremendous amount of instability in broadcasting. However 30 and 40 years ago people on the radio would get lots of respect. Even the best radio personalities don't see that kind of respect anymore. Not only has the business changed, but people have changed. Kudos to those who make it. I'll be the first to say never give up on your dreams. On the other hand, people new to broadcasting need to know what they are getting themselves into.

 

[TheBigA]

However 30 and 40 years ago people on the radio would get lots of respect.

Yep. Alan Freed got lots of respect.

 

[Skynet74]

Yep. Alan Freed got lots of respect.

You took one negative example and I noticed that you still remembered the name. How many people on the radio right now do you think people will remember in 40 years? What is the 2012 equivalent to Wolfman Jack, Bob Eubanks, Casey Kasem, Paul Harvey? Even on local radio we had people who stood out. I don't know how old you are, but I'm betting you could probably give me the names of about 15 DJ's who were on Providence radio in 1985. Seeing that you have 9000 posts on this board, I would think you could. Now off the top of your head without performing any internet searches, I bet that you can barely even name 5 DJ's who are on Providence radio Today. My whole point is that this business has turned to crap compared to what it used to be.

 

[TheBigA]

I bet that you can barely even name 5 DJ's who are on Providence radio Today. My whole point is that this business has turned to crap compared to what it used to be.

At one time, I'm sure there were a lot of blacksmith shops in Providence, available to shoe your horse at moments notice. The blacksmith was a respected part of the community. Not any more. Why? Because people drive cars. Times change.

 

[Skynet74]

At one time, I'm sure there were a lot of blacksmith shops in Providence, available to shoe your horse at moments notice. The blacksmith was a respected part of the community. Not any more. Why? Because people drive cars. Times change.

Agreed. That bnings us back full circle to the very first post on this topic. There are hardly any new radio jobs left.

The end.

 

[EricaKay]

Now that made me laugh

 

[reelyreal]

What is the 2012 equivalent to Wolfman Jack, Bob Eubanks, Casey Kasem, Paul Harvey?

Ryan Seacrest, Elvis Duran, Rush Limbaugh?

 

[BoredModerator]

Does anyone really do 4 and the door? I would love to only work 4 hours a day and get full time pay and benefits!

I could see Matty pulling it off, he has a full team show, but that's about it.

 

[Skynet74]

Does anyone really do 4 and the door? I would love to only work 4 hours a day and get full time pay and benefits!
I could see Matty pulling it off, he has a full team show, but that's about it.

If you are Stern or Imus you can pull it off. Limbaugh can do it and his door is in his own house in Palm Beach anyway. There are some very well paid personalities who can do 4 and the door. But 99.99 percent of radio broadcasters probably can't. You typically have to be a nationally syndicated personality to pull off such neat tricks.

 

[decepticon]

Charles does...3.5 and then out the door. VT....17.5 Hours=6 + Figures...How long will that last?..