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Today's Radio - So Frustrating

J

JohnRadioFan

Guest
I continue to put my hands up in disgust. A few comments regarding events I've experienced over the past couple weeks.
I heard a sweeper on Kool (the latest..others have annoyed me too) that talks about music from the 60s and 70s. A music selection is heard to give examples of 60s and 70s. And so we hear, Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" - fine so far for the 60s. Then it's followed by what is supposed to be a 70s song and it was Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life" - a 60s song too. If the PD or whomever is approving what goes on the air can't take 1 minute to verify accuracy - then it shows total lack of care for the product. With Kool, I can go on and on. If they want to change formats to the greatest hits of all time, then just do it. Don't say you are one thing and do another. By the way, shortly after the sweeper, I heard "Celebration" by Cool and the Gang. Isn't that the 80s? Gees.
It doesn't stop with them. This past weekend, I heard an announcement on Eagle referring listeners to their website to find out what impact Hurricane Dennis would have on Jacksonville weather. What a disgrace. DUH. People tune into radio to hear the latest on the weather among other things. But when stations are jockless most of the time, where are listeners to get information if radio really is their information source, particularly on the road?
It seems that between 7 PM and 6AM, M-Fri and all weekend long, listeners are for the most part just SOL if they need information.
I spent July 4 week in South Florida and on the return trip up I-95 to Jacksonville last Friday, I was stuck in traffic for more than one hour driving through Daytona. Yes, there was construction but as I frantically went up and down the radio dial, all I heard was music and sweepers. It seemed no one was on live and there were no traffic reports. I hadn't a clue what was going on.
Prior to my trip down state, I got caught in a herendous afternoon storm in Jacksonville. It seems it is format no matter what. Apprently no jock has the authority to break music sweeps and discuss severe weather. I had to wait for the sweep to be over before there was a mention...nothing more..then the usual traffic report followed..all done in what seemed seconds.
Tell me what the point of license renewal is? Aren't radio stations supposed to serve the public? I wonder if station renewal can be challenged for stations that go automated most of the time?
All in all, the days of calling your local jock up and telling him/her about a traffic or weather event etc. so the information can be relayed does not really exist - especailly after 7PM or on weekends. Sorry for the wordiness - I'm just very upset about the state of radio.
 
> Excellent comments !! The sad thing is corporate radio doesn't give a damn what you've just said. The bad thing is what it'll take is a terrorist attack of majot proportions or major natural diaster before these bean counters pull their heads out their asses.

I continue to put my hands up in disgust. A few comments
> regarding events I've experienced over the past couple
> weeks.
> I heard a sweeper on Kool (the latest..others have annoyed
> me too) that talks about music from the 60s and 70s. A music
> selection is heard to give examples of 60s and 70s. And so
> we hear, Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" - fine so far for
> the 60s. Then it's followed by what is supposed to be a 70s
> song and it was Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life" - a
> 60s song too. If the PD or whomever is approving what goes
> on the air can't take 1 minute to verify accuracy - then it
> shows total lack of care for the product. With Kool, I can
> go on and on. If they want to change formats to the
> greatest hits of all time, then just do it. Don't say you
> are one thing and do another. By the way, shortly after the
> sweeper, I heard "Celebration" by Cool and the Gang. Isn't
> that the 80s? Gees.
> It doesn't stop with them. This past weekend, I heard an
> announcement on Eagle referring listeners to their website
> to find out what impact Hurricane Dennis would have on
> Jacksonville weather. What a disgrace. DUH. People tune
> into radio to hear the latest on the weather among other
> things. But when stations are jockless most of the time,
> where are listeners to get information if radio really is
> their information source, particularly on the road?
> It seems that between 7 PM and 6AM, M-Fri and all weekend
> long, listeners are for the most part just SOL if they need
> information.
> I spent July 4 week in South Florida and on the return trip
> up I-95 to Jacksonville last Friday, I was stuck in traffic
> for more than one hour driving through Daytona. Yes, there
> was construction but as I frantically went up and down the
> radio dial, all I heard was music and sweepers. It seemed
> no one was on live and there were no traffic reports. I
> hadn't a clue what was going on.
> Prior to my trip down state, I got caught in a herendous
> afternoon storm in Jacksonville. It seems it is format no
> matter what. Apprently no jock has the authority to break
> music sweeps and discuss severe weather. I had to wait for
> the sweep to be over before there was a mention...nothing
> more..then the usual traffic report followed..all done in
> what seemed seconds.
> Tell me what the point of license renewal is? Aren't radio
> stations supposed to serve the public? I wonder if station
> renewal can be challenged for stations that go automated
> most of the time?
> All in all, the days of calling your local jock up and
> telling him/her about a traffic or weather event etc. so the
> information can be relayed does not really exist -
> especailly after 7PM or on weekends. Sorry for the wordiness
> - I'm just very upset about the state of radio.
>
 
> Tell me what the point of license renewal is? Aren't radio
> stations supposed to serve the public? I wonder if station
> renewal can be challenged for stations that go automated
> most of the time?
> All in all, the days of calling your local jock up and
> telling him/her about a traffic or weather event etc. so the
> information can be relayed does not really exist -
> especailly after 7PM or on weekends. Sorry for the wordiness
> - I'm just very upset about the state of radio.
>


Welcome to the world of radio, circa 2005. Senator John McCain shares your frustration and is actually working to fix this problem, possibly by changing the consolidation rules so that stations can act a lot more in the public interest.

It does suck. There's no doubt about it. But every year the big boys want more profits, more market share and the margins just keep getting bigger and bigger. The losers? The people that listen and the pros in the business that share that frustration because they can't effectively do their job.
 
The radio con-sultants will tell you nothing is wrong with radio and the ratings are great! But, after 15 years in this business I don’t remember a time like now when so many people inside and out are complaining about good old radio. It’s either we play too many commercials, radio is not local or programming isn’t worth much. And I cannot believe how much and how fast satellite radio is growing. You're right the corporate pigs don't care what you or the listeners think, all they care about is their wallets. They'll say they care, but they really don't! If it wasn't for management, listeners and clients radio would be fun. LOL





> Excellent comments !! The sad thing is corporate radio
> doesn't give a damn what you've just said. The bad thing is
> what it'll take is a terrorist attack of majot proportions
> or major natural diaster before these bean counters pull
> their heads out their asses.
>
> I continue to put my hands up in disgust. A few comments
> > regarding events I've experienced over the past couple
> > weeks.
> > I heard a sweeper on Kool (the latest..others have annoyed
>
> > me too) that talks about music from the 60s and 70s. A
> music
> > selection is heard to give examples of 60s and 70s. And
> so
> > we hear, Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" - fine so far
> for
> > the 60s. Then it's followed by what is supposed to be a
> 70s
> > song and it was Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life" - a
> > 60s song too. If the PD or whomever is approving what goes
>
> > on the air can't take 1 minute to verify accuracy - then
> it
> > shows total lack of care for the product. With Kool, I can
>
> > go on and on. If they want to change formats to the
> > greatest hits of all time, then just do it. Don't say you
>
> > are one thing and do another. By the way, shortly after
> the
> > sweeper, I heard "Celebration" by Cool and the Gang.
> Isn't
> > that the 80s? Gees.
> > It doesn't stop with them. This past weekend, I heard an
> > announcement on Eagle referring listeners to their website
>
> > to find out what impact Hurricane Dennis would have on
> > Jacksonville weather. What a disgrace. DUH. People tune
>
> > into radio to hear the latest on the weather among other
> > things. But when stations are jockless most of the time,
> > where are listeners to get information if radio really is
> > their information source, particularly on the road?
> > It seems that between 7 PM and 6AM, M-Fri and all weekend
> > long, listeners are for the most part just SOL if they
> need
> > information.
> > I spent July 4 week in South Florida and on the return
> trip
> > up I-95 to Jacksonville last Friday, I was stuck in
> traffic
> > for more than one hour driving through Daytona. Yes,
> there
> > was construction but as I frantically went up and down the
>
> > radio dial, all I heard was music and sweepers. It seemed
>
> > no one was on live and there were no traffic reports. I
> > hadn't a clue what was going on.
> > Prior to my trip down state, I got caught in a herendous
> > afternoon storm in Jacksonville. It seems it is format no
> > matter what. Apprently no jock has the authority to break
>
> > music sweeps and discuss severe weather. I had to wait
> for
> > the sweep to be over before there was a mention...nothing
> > more..then the usual traffic report followed..all done in
> > what seemed seconds.
> > Tell me what the point of license renewal is? Aren't radio
>
> > stations supposed to serve the public? I wonder if station
>
> > renewal can be challenged for stations that go automated
> > most of the time?
> > All in all, the days of calling your local jock up and
> > telling him/her about a traffic or weather event etc. so
> the
> > information can be relayed does not really exist -
> > especailly after 7PM or on weekends. Sorry for the
> wordiness
> > - I'm just very upset about the state of radio.
> >
>
 
> Welcome to the world of radio, circa 2005. Senator John
> McCain shares your frustration and is actually working to
> fix this problem, possibly by changing the consolidation
> rules so that stations can act a lot more in the public
> interest.
>
> It does suck. There's no doubt about it. But every year the
> big boys want more profits, more market share and the
> margins just keep getting bigger and bigger. The losers?
> The people that listen and the pros in the business that
> share that frustration because they can't effectively do
> their job.
>

How about the people who want to break into radio?
 
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