The Universal "We Need New Format Ideas" Thread

[BenKarlow]

Ok, I did it for Jamie for WTOS, now I'm proud to present the "most stations are tired and old, we need to try new formats and new ideas" thread. When the emotion grabs you (Argytunes) please post your new format ideas and ways we can keep our stations and promos and spots from getting tired and old. Please keep your vague rants off the other threads.

 

[Underminer]

;D

 

[argytunes]

It's pretty obvious Ben Karlow is upset with me today.

As most current broadcasters already know, I'm very happy to talk about a few new format ideas with any serious radio programmer or radio station manager who asks me.

But having worked in broadcasting for close to 40 years, I know how easy it is for others (in and out of the business) to steal an idea..cheapen it..and call it their own!

Sorry, Ben...but I don't plan to show spill my guts on this board. :

If you seriously want to talk...I'll make myself available. Chuck Igo, Joe McMillan, and several ther broadcasters know how to reach me!

argytunes

 

[Chuckigo]

It's pretty obvious Ben Karlow is upset with me today.
(snip)

argytunes

argy -

no one's upset with you. it's a tongue-in-cheek thing in relationship to the diversion of topics. smile, okay?

but in keeping with the thread ...

dang - New England could use an Acid House Hispanic Punk Polka station... with a good old fashioned Yankee Swap Shop on the weekends! unless XM/Sirius has that covered. if so, a LOCALLY produced format along those lines would work. maybe.

or not.

 

[argytunes]

Hmmm...

An Acid House Hispanic Punk Polka Station ? The only thing you left out was an occasional aria sung by a 450-pound coloratura!

Now THAT would be a format! :

argytunes

 

[DudeWheresMyRadio]

With all the stress people have in their lives how about a format that features the calming sounds of the ocean, along with the occasional Zamfir track. The voice person could be a laid back, Shakespearean actor, preferably female. Instead of commercial stop sets, they could sell the whole thing to Geico, where every 15 minutes the voice person would say something like, "This 15 minutes of solitude was courtesy of Geico, 15 minutes can save you big bucks on car insurance. Now, more peaceful, calming sounds from Solitude 101.7", or, "We're glad we kept you from shooting the dumb sh*t who cut you off on the interstate, and so is Geico, ranked #1 in brand loyalty. Now relax and enjoy more Solitude 105.5".

If you've ever hit Boston's Southeast Expressway during rush hour I'm sure you see the potential for this.

Just a thought...

 

[CrankyYankee]

How about an "All sports in stereo" format?

Hockey in stereo...following the action going from one end of the rink to the other...
Tennis in stereo....back and forth...back and forth...back and forth...
Football in stereo.."He's going long-long, INTERCEPTED!!!! He's at the 30-25-20-15....."
Curling in stereo....O.k. there might be limits to this format.

But, when you have two talkingheads, one on the right and one on the left going at it...oh YEAH!

 

[MassMusicMan]

How about a rhythmic leaning Hot AC in Burlington? Give the older listeners a station that plays Justin Timberlake and Rihanna next to Colbie Caillat and Michael Buble without making them sit through Fleetwood Mac or Fall Out Boy. 30 is the new 20. The 35-year old single mom who works at Maple Leaf Salon (where I get my cuts) loves to hang out at Rasputin's/Second Floor. I don't see why Star doesn't use their blowtorch signal to make a harder run at Triple X instead of trying to be Kool 105 lite as they are now.

 

[nhradiochild]

Hmmm... they have advertisement-focused publications... do you think anyone would go for all-ads all the time? It could be formatted with 3-5 minute blocks featuring a certain type of advertiser. Advertising could be made real cheap, all you'd need to hire out for is production (that could save big on the budget) and they couldn't be annoying because that's the featured programming!

Question is, could that type of format still be considered a public service? I kinda think so, sort of like an expanded yellow pages, and who doesn't like that? :-\ Add a website that features the ads for cross-reference (extra revenue?) and there ya go!

I guess you could slap some news and weather in if you like.

 

[argytunes]

All ads all the time!

Aren't these commonly known as INFO-MERCIALS? ???

Personally, I think the producers of these should send each of us a check for every 30 minutes we waste watching bad actors (posing as real people) looking stupid!

argytunes

 

[Radiodeity]

...How about an "All sports in stereo" format?...

Well, if you are talking AM Stereo, here's how those pesky radio investors can rake in the hundreds...

Take Cranky's idea on AM - in Stereo - except put say, Hockey on the Left channel and put oh, maybe, High School Wrestling on the Right. Sell ads for both channels and let the consumer choose the programming they would like - just turn the L/R knob to the program of their choice.
Pretty good, huh? One frequency, double the income. Investors will , right?

Oh, sorry. Gotta go now... the drive-thru is getting a little backed up...

(Carry on...)

 

[12 In a Row]

Dude, me thinks you are on to something.

Geico spends a gazillion dollars a year in advertising on TV and Radio,
Lets say for just 3 million a year, they are the ONLY sponsor on the station.

Here's another money making idea taken/stolen from the sports world and auto racing.
NAMING RIGHTS!!

Everytime you open the mic, you give freq/calls and your one sponsor.
99.9-WZZZ, Geico Radio.

The Superbowl/oops/The Big Game is charging 2.7 million for a 30.
Pull just one ad and own a radio station for a year.


BRILLANT

 

[Ozman]

well we all know we are in trouble however I look at it as this...
I am only good with rock however I am good with top 40 as well....
for the 2 I would Suggest a No repeat work week ( not work day)
Broaden the playlist ( people are tired of hearing the same ****)
do commercial free blocks..
do what NYC does.. ( just a suggestion) quick 2-10 second adds...
another suggestion an underwriting type of add in between songs where the end of one song plays and then the start of one
Do special weekends ( a live weekend) All request weekend, 80's weekend, back-wall deeptracks weekend
Other quick one is funny liners between songs is always one that works
all you need to do is find stuff that keeps people attached to the radio

Things that throw people away more and more..
Overplayed adds... ( ok thereis nothing you can do here but hey figure I throw it in)
Overplayed songs to death.. focus on songs no one else plays as well as watching the playlist. this would keep people in tune to want to know what is next to play

this list is endless... I hope my suggestions help a bit and again these are just suggestions that I put out there. am I gonna get bashed for these suggestions... Sure! but hey I hope my input helps .

 

[MassMusicMan]

well we all know we are in trouble however I look at it as this...
I am only good with rock however I am good with top 40 as well....
for the 2 I would Suggest a No repeat work week ( not work day)

In Top 40? What?

Broaden the playlist ( people are tired of hearing the same ****)

Rock, maybe. Top 40? Same **** is the basis of the format.

do commercial free blocks..

All music sets are "commercial free."

do what NYC does.. ( just a suggestion) quick 2-10 second adds...

That's not what NYC does, that's what Clear Channel does. It works for national buys for established brands, but not at all ideal for a local advertiser who needs 30 (and in most cases, 60) seconds to tell the masses who they are and what they do.

another suggestion an underwriting type of add in between songs where the end of one song plays and then the start of one

???

Do special weekends ( a live weekend) All request weekend, 80's weekend, back-wall deeptracks weekend

That's not a new idea.

Other quick one is funny liners between songs is always one that works

That's not new either. Ever listen to a Jack station?

Things that throw people away more and more..
Overplayed adds... ( ok thereis nothing you can do here but hey figure I throw it in)

That's okay if the ads don't suck. Perrywinkles? Don't need to hear those ad nauseum. Geico? Always amusing.

Overplayed songs to death.. focus on songs no one else plays as well as watching the playlist. this would keep people in tune to want to know what is next to play

I agree that radio should have a bit more of an "oh, wow" factor (think Sirius Hits 1), but people like what's familiar. People would rather hear Flo Rida "Low" 5 times than hear an unfamiliar song.

 

[Ozman]

Basically have an add playing while the music still finishing in the background, or when the music is starting with new song

another suggestion an underwriting type of add in between songs where the end of one song plays and then the start of one
???

 

[MassMusicMan]

You mean that an advertisement should run as a sweeper? That would sound horrible.

 

[Oldbones]

for the 2 I would Suggest a No repeat work week ( not work day)
Broaden the playlist ( people are tired of hearing the same ****)
do commercial free blocks..
do what NYC does.. ( just a suggestion) quick 2-10 second adds...

Why stop there? How about a no repeat month? Year? Lifetime? The world's largest music library! All stiffs all the time! Maybe get the state funeral home association to broker time!

Ok I'll go away now.

 

[nhradiochild]

All ads all the time!

Aren't these commonly known as INFO-MERCIALS? ???

Personally, I think the producers of these should send each of us a check for every 30 minutes we waste watching bad actors (posing as real people) looking stupid!

argytunes

Well, no. Info-mercials are like you said, a half hour in length. I was thinking :30 or :60 spots with maybe a featurette spot of no more than 5 minutes. (Kinda like a pre-recorded remote... but at the station.)

However, c'mon! You can't say you don't enjoy that guy that does the variety of info-mercial type spots (can't remember his name) including Mighty Putty.com!

 

[argytunes]

Jamie...

Is it okay to add "screaming and yelling commercials" to your stopset list?

Given the fact that there are many individuals (like bad furniture salesmen, a few car dealers who are too cheap to hire professional announcers to sell what's on their lot, or shotgun announcers who insist upon cramming 60 seconds worth of copy into 15 seconds)...is it really that surprising that many radio and television ads just don't work?!

There are commercial spokespeople who know how to communicate. Likewise, there are obnoxious screamers who believe the only way they'll get our attention is to YELL at us!

And sadly...it's the advertiser(s) who usually end up holding the "short straw!" :-[

argytunes

 

[12 In a Row]

I use to think that way.

Who would buy from some annoying car dealer doing his own ad?
Why would anyone purchase the crap Billy Mays is YELLING at us to buy?

Why not hire a "professional" to do the ads.
Sadly, it works.

Listeners and viewers not only remember the car dealers, (Ernie Boch and Jolly John come to mind),
and Billy Mays has made millions and millions of dollars yelling at us.

When I would say, "Wow, that ad sucks" I was reminded, the customer not only remembered it, they are buying it.
Info-mercials and HSN are making millions.

Hey, maybe THIS is the answer to a new format. ALL ANNOYING-ALL DAY

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