There is a Difference

[doctorcomputer3]

Between "Numbers" and actual "Popularity". Can any salespeople see the difference? Does anyone here agree that sales, over the past couple of decades, has had too much influence over programming? Numbers and research has taken place of the good "old fashioned" getting to know people and their businesses. A good Disk Jockey should be "known" enough and smart enough to give the sales people a lot of connections.

 

[BobRoss]

Many jocks are told to talk as little as possible and just play the music. OK, but the problem is that the few chances they do get to talk, it's usually a pitch for some sort of station promotion or an upcoming remote... something that involves mentioning sponsors. People pick up on that... they know that almost every time the mic opens, it's time for a commercial.

Look at the recent history of remotes. When someone was doing a remote 10 years ago, they were truly broadcasting live from a location, doing their entire show there. When jocks do remotes today, they're on the air 2, maybe 3 times an hour, and it's just a glorified live commercial. And again, people pick up on that. Most listeners don't show up to remotes because they know the station is just the "bait" for the car dealers, cell phone sales people, or whoever, to reel you in. In some cases, the station or client might be offering a giveaway that makes it worth stopping by and getting harassed by salespeople, but usually no. I think it's also the fact that if you're a listener and you stop by, it's not too exciting to see a jock go on the air twice an hour to give a sales pitch. Doing an entire show, that's different. People might come down to see that.

Bottom line, most jocks rarely get to show their true talent these days. If it's not a sales pitch, it's either the weather, or it's because the intro into the next song is so short, you've only got enough time to say the name of the station. That turns off the listeners... and it's probably also making it harder for jocks to establish being "known" like you mentioned.

 

[therealjm12]

When I first started in the biz (four decades ago!!!) the program director was the king of the station. Everything revolved around him. There was very little contact with the sales dept. except to have beers etc. The link between sales and programing was strictly the G. M. and as a jock you would rarely see him. When the p.d. walked down the hall the walls shook. The sales dept sold the programing of the station. If it didn't work the p.d. and probably & the format was gone. This was pretty much the way it was in medium and large markets where the stations had a solid format such as top 40, m.o.r. country or beautiful music. Of course, at smaller stations in these markets or in just in small markets it was different. The owner might be the p.d., g.m. and s.m. so everything did go thru sales one way or another.

 

[SirRoxalot]

A Difference Indeed

You might be interested in the following discussion on the Programming board:

http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,85387.0.html

 

[doctorcomputer3]

I think there is a catch 22 when it comes to this problem and it started many years ago. But what it boils down to is Jocks being "the type of people" that dont relate well on a face to face basis with other humans. Even in the early 80's, co-workers moaned about having to do a live broadcast rather than sit and smoke in their studios when getting out in public has always been a very good sales idea. These days a "live broadcast" is even easier with the internet. For example, you could have a music director send 5 hours of music and traffic and broadcast it live, quite easily, right from your computer, and no one would hear the difference. Now put that in the most popular gatherings in the area, combined with a few characters serving hamburgers free to passers by, I would bet over time you would get a good bunch of locals who remember, and like you.
The people in radio need to get off their duffs and get listeners interested in who they are and what they're playing again. The jock would have to have a lot of control and the ability to say "no" which keeps the sales force from ruining his/her home life.
One of you said the money was less back then, and thats true in an "Hourly" sense. But it was the quick couple hundred "tip" that you're forgetting about. Thats gone for the most part these days and ill tell you, I enjoyed having a few bucks cash at the end of the weekend. If the jock is getting a few cash tips, and overall there are plenty more commercial sales, under the table cash should be looked at like the jock is "liked". Thats another rule thats hurting capitalism and honestly, I think it could be easily overlooked as no big deal.
The request is another good example of the removal of listener from us. That started in 1965 and has become the obvious thing it is today.
Cant anyone find 4 or 5 jocks that can get big numbers without a daily music rotation? With decent voices that can talk naturally to people without making everyone tune out? Is this a dream station?