Things that stations do that drive you crazy etc...

[Robert Bass]

And when those tubes fail, the engineer will get the blame...

RE operating without someone actually in the studio, is legal. If you do it right, most listeners won't even realize it. But anything that is automated, should be programmed by the station itself, with no voice tracking from outside staff members.

RE Sweepers: Depending on the kind you use, they can work for you. The sweepers need to say more than just "now back to the music" or "getting back to the music faster" etc. An effective sweeper is one that says who you are and what you do.

R

Operating on auto-pilot may be "legal" in practice and for lack of enforcement, but it severely violates the spirit of the license of the station. You cannot serve a community if you are NOT THERE. I would just as soon call up a business that is closed and listen to their answering machine, as listen to a voice-tracked shift.

How about in lieu of a sweeper, which arguably is nothing more than audio clutter, you use a LIVE PERSON to say "who you are."

I dont need the station to tell me "what you do," because I'm not an idiot. As soon as I tune them in, I know "what they do," and I either like it or not.

If you want to save money, fire an overpaid executive or two. Tell them you're "voice-tracking" their jobs. You can pay three of me for what you spend on them. I add tremendous value to your product and inspire listener and client LOYALTY. The suits---??? You wont miss them.

WOW, what an attitude!

You completely missed my point that if you utilize automation CORRECTLY, most listeners won't even notice. I'm talking correctly as in, do it in a way that continues what you do the rest of the day. Want an actual example? Tune to 88.5 FM.

And while you as a regular listener already knows what the station does, new listeners may not.

I don't disagree that technically operating without someone present in the studio is not in true spirit of what broadcasting is all about, but the fact remains this is where the industry is as a whole. If you need a scapegoat, the actual stations should be the last on your list.

R

Hi Robert,

I disagree with your assumption that the listenters (whether new or old) will notice the difference if a station is voice tracked. I travel pretty often, having a chance to listen to other areas than my own, and I can tell pretty quick if a station is voice tracked. No request lines, or any interaction with the listeners is a pretty big give away. It all sounds too contrived when the station is voice tracked, the DJ always says everything right with no mistakes in his/her dialogue. I'd rather listen to Mel Tillis stuttering while DJ'ing a station than some of the smooth sounding VTs that are passed off to us listeners.

BTW a pet peeve of mine is a station comparing them self to another station. You're just giving them free air time. Example KMAS (fictional) 101.7 plays 20 fewer commercials than KCKA (Fictional). Hello.... Free air time.

Poops

I can tell you first hand that we've had calls from listeners at all times of the day or night, thinking someone was actually at the studio, when in fact that wasn't the case.

Also, there is a difference between "voice tracking" and "automation". Our form of "automation" parallels what we do when there are people actually on duty. The thing is, we strive to sound professional, at all times.

That's not to say there are a few dead-giveaways, but for the most part what we broadcast at night, is also what we broadcast during the day. Everything we air is produced locally, except for the short syndicated shows here and there.

R

 

[czechmate]

The use of the word "New", even though the station signed on a few years ago.

Ditto. Who started that anyway?

 

[FOZZIE BEAR]

KLLI 105.3. I cringe whenever they run a promo for an appearance by a host/"producer", etc. All of their promos are worded exactly the same, just insert name of "talent," sponsor, location, etc. For example:

"Hi, I'm Eric from The Pugs and Kelly show, and I want you to join me Monday night at.......I'l have free Live 105.3 t-shirts......."

The problem is, every spot takes the same format. The other day I heard three promos in a row with same wording for three different
sponsors, except for the "insert your name here" part. Three identical promos in a row. Have they just given up on putting any effort into their product at all?

If you were a sponsor, would you want to be the third promo of the three with the same copy? I've asked before and I'll
ask again, how does Gavin Spittle keep his job?

Another thing to fit this topic: Jagger's show may be good, I don't know. It's hard to tell with four people talking over each other
all the time. Their numbers stink so I can't be the only one bothered by that.

I HATE when a station runs a promo about a JOCK being somewhere. Let the JOCKS who are on-air take care of that. Also, I HATE it when a station feels the need to slap a SWEEPER in a SPOT BLOCK telling me that they will be back in 60 seconds. What REALLY is the point of that? If I am waiting thru your spot block... then I don't need to be told that you'll be back. It's not like I was wondering IF you would be returning! Also, if I am someone who bails as soon as I hear a spot block... then your stupid sweeper is pointless.... cuz I'm not there ANYMORE to hear it. Also, DON'T run a 30 or 60 sec promo in the MIDDLE OF MUSIC to promote your freaking morningshow. Here I am "ROCK'N and ROLL'N" (you know how it is, Sandy!) and you bring EVERYTHING to a hault to promote something. Save that for the spot block. Matter of fact... make it the VERY FIRST THING in your next spot block. Chances are... I will hear it before I decide to bail.

Once again... these are just my pet peeves.

 

[Robert Bass]

Hmmm... I'm surprised no one has said "I don't like it when jocks talk over the intros of songs" already. ;D

Speaking of which, here's a really bad example of walking over a song. The jock goes on the air and announces the station is giving away insert-some-glamorous-item-here and then says be caller #x at 555..., then the jock starts the next song. Then about halfway through the song, he pots it down and says "Thanks for all the calls... we have a winner" and then fades the song back up.

Jeez, and he did that during MY favorite song!!!

R

 

[poops]

Hi Robert,

Granted, there are folks out there who couldn't tell if their station is automated, VT'd or live, and maybe I've just been around too long and have seen the better days of radio. But since I've been following these forums, one thing that I've noticed is how much the people here share many of the feelings that I have about radio. In the past, the stations and their parent companies programmed in such a manner as to entertain and inform. Most of the stations which are owned by the big corporations don't appear to be concerned with the entertain part. It appears to me as the listener that their interests are in making a buck and shoving what a focus group has decided is best for us, down our throat. Do I really want to hear an automated/VT'd station with a 200 song playlist? No. Do I have to listen to automated/Vt'd stations? Yes I do because that's what the major radio corporations have decided I need to listen to. Is there interaction between the DJ & listeners(with the exception of mornings and evenings)? In most instances no.

What ever happened to calling in and making a request or dedication. Man.... I can remember listening to numerous radio stations over the years that it didn't matter what time of the day or night, you could get a request or dedication in.

I do respect your point of view, but as a listener, that type of radio is driving me away. Give me real radio with real people, and I'll be one of your best listeners.

 

[poops]

The use of the word "New", even though the station signed on a few years ago.

Ditto. Who started that anyway?

I think that's a standard word for most Cox stations. It seems in my neck of the woods we have a few that are new, even though they've had the format for several years (and they are Cox stations).

 

[C414B]

The use of the word "New", even though the station signed on a few years ago.

I second that....

 

[Robert Bass]

Hi Robert,

Granted, there are folks out there who couldn't tell if their station is automated, VT'd or live, and maybe I've just been around too long and have seen the better days of radio. But since I've been following these forums, one thing that I've noticed is how much the people here share many of the feelings that I have about radio. In the past, the stations and their parent companies programmed in such a manner as to entertain and inform. Most of the stations which are owned by the big corporations don't appear to be concerned with the entertain part. It appears to me as the listener that their interests are in making a buck and shoving what a focus group has decided is best for us, down our throat. Do I really want to hear an automated/VT'd station with a 200 song playlist? No. Do I have to listen to automated/Vt'd stations? Yes I do because that's what the major radio corporations have decided I need to listen to. Is there interaction between the DJ & listeners(with the exception of mornings and evenings)? In most instances no.

What ever happened to calling in and making a request or dedication. Man.... I can remember listening to numerous radio stations over the years that it didn't matter what time of the day or night, you could get a request or dedication in.

I do respect your point of view, but as a listener, that type of radio is driving me away. Give me real radio with real people, and I'll be one of your best listeners.

I personally share many of the same feelings, and I do agree jock / listener interaction is missing. The Telecom act of 96 started all of this mess we call radio today, and that's a real shame.

R

 

[Robert Bass]

The use of the word "New", even though the station signed on a few years ago.

I second that....

I'll third it! How long has KDMX been saying "The New Mix 1029" anyway? Almost a decade?

R

 

[Lancer]

One thing that is really annoying are some of the traffic copters on the AM dial.

They do a great job but really sound screechy, especially when I'm hardly awake yet. Anybody heard of EQ or better mic windscreens to cut some of the extra noise? Of course having to yell over the chopper noise doesn't help matters much.

I like hearing the reports from the studio, I don't have to hear someone say "we're sitting directly above a car-b-q" to know it's there. Just give me a location.

End of rant, thanks for playing.

 

[tomservo]

Do I really want to hear an automated/VT'd station with a 200 song playlist? No. Do I have to listen to automated/Vt'd stations? Yes I do because that's what the major radio corporations have decided I need to listen to. Is there interaction between the DJ & listeners(with the exception of mornings and evenings)? In most instances no.

To a degree, it depends on the format whether or not I want any live DJ interaction. I enjoy classic rock, and would rather not have someone talking up a Moody Blues song; in fact, I don't need a jock telling me what song is playing if it's one of just 200 in rotation. CHR on the other hand really needs that live and local presentation.

Somewhere there has to be a happy medium, between the jockless jukebox of XM's Top Tracks channel and the screamin' babble-fest of their 60's channel. :

 

[poops]

Do I really want to hear an automated/VT'd station with a 200 song playlist? No. Do I have to listen to automated/Vt'd stations? Yes I do because that's what the major radio corporations have decided I need to listen to. Is there interaction between the DJ & listeners(with the exception of mornings and evenings)? In most instances no.

To a degree, it depends on the format whether or not I want any live DJ interaction. I enjoy classic rock, and would rather not have someone talking up a Moody Blues song; in fact, I don't need a jock telling me what song is playing if it's one of just 200 in rotation. CHR on the other hand really needs that live and local presentation.

Somewhere there has to be a happy medium, between the jockless jukebox of XM's Top Tracks channel and the screamin' babble-fest of their 60's channel. :

Hi Zach,

I see what you are saying and agree to a degree, however, many of the listeners want the happy medium, but the corporate moguls aren't listening (and of course, they don't read or choose to listen to the comments on forums such as these). There's a lot of great talent out there who have the formula to entertain us. Let's hope somebody wakes up and changes directions before those folks give up and find work elsewhere.

Thanks for your perspective.

Here's a link to one of those folks that I'm talking about. Click on the Jackson Armstrong video
http://www.retroradiotop40.com/

BTW-I think he commits a few of the peeves expressed in earlier posts in this thread 8)

 

[jdean]

Tell you one thing I always liked.

Back in the (semi) old days - especially on stations such as Z97 - when they'd pitch a deejay appearance, and tag it with the line "jocks are compensated."

I always liked that. Come to think of it...I still do.

 

[NHRadio]

With all due respect, you're in a dream world. Your claims of various illegalities are ridiculous and show a blatant ignorance of FCC law. When done properly (and many stations do it badly), you can't tell a voicetracked jock from a live one. Nowhere in a license does it say "no voicetracking". A station can "serve its community" if it presents programs people wish, whether or not there are people in the building. As to your outrageous "falsifying documents" claim, that's 110% wrong. An operator can handle as many stations as he/she needs to as long as all transmitter readings are taken correctly and he/she is able to turn the transmitter off if needed. If you get to own a station someday, you'll see how fast your tune changes.


quote author=its time w (your name) link=topic=85103.msg636085#msg636085 date=1194611925]
VOICETRACKING. No radio station that voice-tracks is following the terms of its license. Why has no one folllowed up on this legally? You cannot serve a community if you are NOT THERE. You also are falsifying your documents if you are working in one studio and signing a log in another. You certainly arent doing any good by your advertisers shoveling out canned radio. The public does become hip to the fact that you arent really there, or they just lose interest as you drone on about "50 minutes of your favorites with fewer commercials and the station we can all agree on..." blah blah blah blah blah ----Puke! One studio- one operator. And someone needs to be able to talk, or else you arent there and your station is running ILLEGALLY.

 

[Radiogre]

If you get to own a station someday, you'll see how fast your tune changes.

For the most part, the days of an actual singular person owning a radio station are over.

 

[VERITAS DE VOCE]

Also, I HATE it when a station feels the need to slap a SWEEPER in a SPOT BLOCK telling me that they will be back in 60 seconds. What REALLY is the point of that? If I am waiting thru your spot block... then I don't need to be told that you'll be back. It's not like I was wondering IF you would be returning!

Yeah, but there is always the infinitesimal chance that I am that one dedicated listener (because you know KLLI ties ball and chain to its five listeners anyway) who sniffs a stop set and splits... but knowing how much the P&K or RMS has whet my appetite for more auditory molestation... I will set my egg timer and surf back at the right time, just making it to hear the Handel's Messiah stinger, "And we'll be back in 60 seconds."

WHEW! As I wipe my beaded brow, I can go back to driving through traffic with a clear conscience.

But then again, maybe that is just me. ;D

 

[TheRover]

Directing people to OTHER MEDIA!

Running ads for TV shows, stations, tells them to ignore your station when they get home.
Why not just tell them to quit listening or give them a reason to turn on the radio and continue listening once at home?

I know the TV station is paying good money but assisting the competition is madness.
In most cases, the radio station can only lose.
Now maybe if the were a swap 30 seconds for 30 seconds, a promo for radio on the TV would seem fair.
But I think the ad rates make this impossible. So when did radio stations first start carrying TV station promos?
Not multi-group same owner properties...I mean competing outlets.

Yes, that irks me the most..... I am going to rock radio to "escape" the world, and to then remind me of TV shows with adds is crossing a line. It is. There are lines that should not be crossed. Same at the movie theater... I especially do not want to see any adds for any TV shows whilst I'm trying to esacpe at the movies !

HOrrible Taste ! The Lowest of the Low Life..

 

[tomservo]

This may be delving a bit into the world of nitpicketyness (that's an old word I just made up), but I don't like hearing a station say they're #1 anymore now that I know how many ways the ratings can be sliced and diced to get the results they want:

(seek button)
"We're the number one rock station in the city!"
(seek button)
"Number one for two years running!"
(seek button)
"We're the most listened to station at work and on the go!"
(seek button)
"Your number one country station for country music from country artists!"
(seek button)
"Number one... With men in clown suits in crawl spaces!" (with apologies to Don & Mike ca. 1994)

Speaking of Don & Mike, another bad slogan they lampoon: "It's the station everyone can listen to, even the boss!" I can't tell you how many times I used to hear that or a variation thereof while travelling.

Last and certainly not least... The Jack-FM™ slogan: "We play what we want." O rly? If you played what I want, I might actually have reason to listen to your commercial laden over-researched jukebox station. :

Sorry to vent, but it's 4:30am and I can't sleep. :-[

 

[the undork]

And when those tubes fail, the engineer will get the blame...

RE operating without someone actually in the studio, is legal. If you do it right, most listeners won't even realize it. But anything that is automated, should be programmed by the station itself, with no voice tracking from outside staff members.

RE Sweepers: Depending on the kind you use, they can work for you. The sweepers need to say more than just "now back to the music" or "getting back to the music faster" etc. An effective sweeper is one that says who you are and what you do.

R

Operating on auto-pilot may be "legal" in practice and for lack of enforcement, but it severely violates the spirit of the license of the station. You cannot serve a community if you are NOT THERE. I would just as soon call up a business that is closed and listen to their answering machine, as listen to a voice-tracked shift.

How about in lieu of a sweeper, which arguably is nothing more than audio clutter, you use a LIVE PERSON to say "who you are."

I dont need the station to tell me "what you do," because I'm not an idiot. As soon as I tune them in, I know "what they do," and I either like it or not.

If you want to save money, fire an overpaid executive or two. Tell them you're "voice-tracking" their jobs. You can pay three of me for what you spend on them. I add tremendous value to your product and inspire listener and client LOYALTY. The suits---??? You wont miss them.

WOW, what an attitude!

You completely missed my point that if you utilize automation CORRECTLY, most listeners won't even notice. I'm talking correctly as in, do it in a way that continues what you do the rest of the day. Want an actual example? Tune to 88.5 FM.

And while you as a regular listener already knows what the station does, new listeners may not.

I don't disagree that technically operating without someone present in the studio is not in true spirit of what broadcasting is all about, but the fact remains this is where the industry is as a whole. If you need a scapegoat, the actual stations should be the last on your list.

R

Hi Robert,

I disagree with your assumption that the listenters (whether new or old) will notice the difference if a station is voice tracked. I travel pretty often, having a chance to listen to other areas than my own, and I can tell pretty quick if a station is voice tracked. No request lines, or any interaction with the listeners is a pretty big give away. It all sounds too contrived when the station is voice tracked, the DJ always says everything right with no mistakes in his/her dialogue. I'd rather listen to Mel Tillis stuttering while DJ'ing a station than some of the smooth sounding VTs that are passed off to us listeners.

BTW a pet peeve of mine is a station comparing them self to another station. You're just giving them free air time. Example KMAS (fictional) 101.7 plays 20 fewer commercials than KCKA (Fictional). Hello.... Free air time.

Poops

I can tell you first hand that we've had calls from listeners at all times of the day or night, thinking someone was actually at the studio, when in fact that wasn't the case.

Also, there is a difference between "voice tracking" and "automation". Our form of "automation" parallels what we do when there are people actually on duty. The thing is, we strive to sound professional, at all times.

That's not to say there are a few dead-giveaways, but for the most part what we broadcast at night, is also what we broadcast during the day. Everything we air is produced locally, except for the short syndicated shows here and there.

R

Sooo..uh, who was there to take the call? ;D

 

[its time w (your name)]

With all due respect, you're in a dream world. Your claims of various illegalities are ridiculous and show a blatant ignorance of FCC law. When done properly (and many stations do it badly), you can't tell a voicetracked jock from a live one. Nowhere in a license does it say "no voicetracking". A station can "serve its community" if it presents programs people wish, whether or not there are people in the building. As to your outrageous "falsifying documents" claim, that's 110% wrong. An operator can handle as many stations as he/she needs to as long as all transmitter readings are taken correctly and he/she is able to turn the transmitter off if needed. If you get to own a station someday, you'll see how fast your tune changes.

Dont you think it a bit redundant to preface "with all due respect," before you begin insulting someone as "ignorant?" Save the wear on your keyboard. Either way, your opinion and 50 cents doesnt buy me a soda, so its not like I'm terribly upset. You're not a lawyer any more than I am, and goofy conclusions are interpreted all the time in our so-called justice system. If you remember, we used to have to have a license to work, in fact, we were called "operators." Perhaps the allowances and enforcements have changed, but the spirit of the rules is pretty much being raped. Get over it.

I'll pit my live, local, up-to-the-minute, happening now, pulse-of-the-city, interactive programming vision against your cheapskate CC, Walmart programming any day, any book, any market, any size. You dont run a business to save money, you run a business to MAKE money. But that's just me in my "dream world." Successful people have been called dreamers for as long as there has been invention.

Anything run by me will be live 24 hours. Real freakin people, and we'll let you know we're there. Good luck competing with me. Have a Coke and a smile.