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Tik Tick Tick...

Do you know what TikTok is? It’s 30 second clips not long form. The whole idea is short attention spans.
Your TikTok is short form becuase you have taught it to be short form. Most of the content I look at is 3 minutes plus political content generated by (generally) adults. TikTok is quite good at sending you more of what you already engage with- if you think it is 30 second hits, then you probably like 30 second hits. Which is fine, but doesn't represent all user experiences.

I have had the chance to check out the beta version of TT Radio, and it is full length songs and a lot of interaction w social media by the on-air hosts.
 
And this will get younger people to listen to radio... how?
If this is successful, I can see this moving beyond the HD subchannels, and onto to the main signal.

The HD subchannels are just bonuses. The primary distribution path will be the iHeart (and possibly TikTok) apps.


In Chicago, we've had this on the air since February on 107.5 WGCI-HD2. I discovered this on February 3.
That was not the full-fledged version of the station. Just filler placeholder to get the brand in place. Tomorrow is the full launch
 
I have to remind people that radio companies aren't in the device business. It's not like when RCA and GE owned radio stations and also sold radios. That connection ended in the 1980s. Radio companies today create content. That's it. So the device doesn't matter. We create content that can be heard on any device, whether it's a phone or laptop or smart speaker or car radio.

I remember telling my grandmother that I worked in radio. So she wanted me to fix her table radio. When I told her I didn't know how to do that, she was very disappointed. She couldn't grasp that there were jobs in radio that didn't have to do with that device in her kitchen.
 
I have to remind people that radio companies aren't in the device business.
Perhaps it should've been. Maybe, then, digital radios would've been prominently promoted, and the average listener would have been far better educated on what these "stations between the stations" was/are all about. All the money spent to upgrade facilities to digital broadcasting capabilities, and for what? After all this time, the net result is an emphatic 🤷 from the general listening audience.
Radio companies today create content. That's it. So the device doesn't matter.
Are we talking about mom & pop small market radio here? If so, we agree. The big conglomerates in the large markets aren't "creating content", instead, simply broadcasting other people's content so as to give them an OTA outlet for their product. A simple read of a predetermined liner card from 1,000 miles away is not creating original content, at least in the spirit of what those before us made a career of providing.
We create content that can be heard on any device, whether it's a phone or laptop or smart speaker or car radio.
You do, huh? When was the last time you sat in from of a hot mic, fielded a phone call from an area resident, and went about providing a few minutes of genuine, heartfelt community-oriented banter for your target audience? That's all a regular part of the daily equation down here in small town America. Don't undersell what we do on this end. It takes a charismatic personality who can consistently sell themselves on air, in order to capture a loyal audience and remain successful in the business. That's a big reason why a station like ours has lasted some 60 continuous years, and the corporately-controlled stations rise and fall like a roller coaster, until one day they just blow it all up and start over from scratch.
I remember telling my grandmother that I worked in radio. So she wanted me to fix her table radio. When I told her I didn't know how to do that, she was very disappointed. She ccouldn't grasp that there were jobs in radio that didn't have to do with that device in her kitchen.
Now, on this, we are in perfect harmony. My grandparents found out where my personal journey was taking me, in my younger years, and basically said that they were mighty thankful that I'd no longer be wearing the knob out on their Curtis Matches console from the constant twisting and being perfectly satisfied listening to various amounts of static, while always in search of those far away signals from Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, etc. They had absolutely no understanding of the bug we all share, at all.

They really did believe I was going to wear their stereo cabinet smooth out. 🤣
 
The big conglomerates in the large markets aren't "creating content", instead, simply broadcasting other people's content so as to give them an OTA outlet for their product. A simple read of a predetermined liner card from 1,000 miles away is not creating original content, at least in the spirit of what those before us made a career of providing.

That's not true. There are no "liner card readers." That ended in the 80s. There are no liner cards either. Have you ever listened to talk or sports radio? It's all locally produced. These big radio companies OWN the content. Radio companies don't own music. They pay to play music. But talk hosts are company employees. Even the ones on national shows. iHeart owns a syndication company. So does Audacy and Cumulus.

You do, huh? When was the last time you sat in from of a hot mic, fielded a phone call from an area resident, and went about providing a few minutes of genuine, heartfelt community-oriented banter for your target audience?

Once again. this is false. There are LOTS of jobs in radio that don't involve sitting in front of a hot mic. But someone does it. Lots of local talent in radio today. In fact, the Academy of Country Music just announced a list of award nominees, most of whom are at local radio stations.


Look at the call letters and cities. Do you listen to any of them? Lots of small markets there too. Radio isn't all just national hosts or liner card readers.

This thread is on the New York City board. I worked in NYC. It's a union town. AFTRA has rules about using outside hosts.
 
It's pretty much a CHR, which says a lot about how much of an impact TikTok has had on contemporary pop as a format.

Why? Because Tik Tok is generated by users. The users create the content, not programmers or radio companies. It's like opening the radio station to the public, and letting them play what they want, and present it themselves, instead of having it done for them. The amazing part is the users get paid for creating the content. The generation that was raised on reality TV, from Survivor to American Idol to The Voice, wants to create content. This is how they do it, and put it out for everyone to see. That's why it's so popular. What iHeart is doing is tapping into that energy.
 
So TikTokers are replacing professional DJ's the way Podcasters are replacing professional interviewers. That's scary.

The next step will be Bots replacing both. 😒
 
So TikTokers are replacing professional DJ's the way Podcasters are replacing professional interviewers. That's scary.

The next step will be Bots replacing both. 😒

It's not about "replacing." It's about "in addition to..."

We can cook our own food. Some people get the same thrill in cooking food that TikTokers get from making videos. But they didn't put restaurants out of business. Because there are still a lot of people who DON'T want to cook food or make their own videos. For them, there are restaurants and radio.

The result is choice. You can either have it done for you, or do it yourself. It's not one or the other,

The mistake some broadcasters make is viewing social media as "competition." It can be a partner if you use it in that way, and that's what iHeart is doing.
 
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We can cook our own food. Some people get the same thrill in cooking food that TikTokers get from making videos. But they didn't put restaurants out of business.
Restaurants and bars actually are complaining that Gen Z don't eat out and drink as much as previous generations, saying that if this trend continues, they'll go out of business:
 
Restaurants and bars actually are complaining that Gen Z don't eat out and drink as much as previous generations, saying that if this trend continues, they'll go out of business:


That sounds like his specific problem. If he catered more to that generation, like some other places, he might attract their business.

64% of Gen Z diners eat out at least once a week, with 35% doing so several times a week.


I eat out a lot, and I see a lot of Gen Z when I go out. It can be hard to find a table or even a seat at the bar because it's so crowded.
 
Restaurants and bars actually are complaining that Gen Z don't eat out and drink as much as previous generations, saying that if this trend continues, they'll go out of business:

That sounds like his specific problem. If he catered more to that generation, like some other places, he might attract their business.

It is the same problem that exists with any business. The public's tastes change, or progress makes something that had been ubiquitous obsolete, or any other change in the general circumstances.

If Gen Z aren't coming to the venues operated by you, the complainer, but they do frequent other establishments, the problem isn't them but you. Does your business still operate in a way that is attractive to them? Or are you unreasonably expecting that everyone should just accept what you provide even if it doesn't suit their needs?

Simply put: If I want a burrito, why would I go to a restaurant that serves Thai food?

And -- to make my point about this not just being a generational issue -- what's the demand for buggy whips these days?
 


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