TOM KENT on B101

[Kenny Atkinson]

Long day yesterday 5/19 driving home from work stuck on 95 south in Attleborro for 1/2 hour 45 minutes in the 11pm hour I was listening to Tom Kent.

One WORD.....

Horrible

Out dated viocetracking from April.

One intro. forgot song-

"It's Passover week" or something like that.


Another intro at about 11;40 over a Stevie Wonder Song.

Tom..."Uncle Sam wants you,April 15th is right around the corner.."(parahrased) huh...My Calander said May 19th.

What the Hell is this? has this hour been running Night after Night for the past month like this.

Does anybody look at the computer to make sure current programming is running if not WWBB's end his end.

 

[Skynet74]

Remember all the times we goofed on WALE for sounding like they were running off an ipod? I noticed that lots of other radio stations these days don't sound much better. You found one such station last night on your trip home.

 

[Tee Man 82]

Only thing worse than lazy radio is sloppy lazy radio.

 

[onair]

I was listening on Sunday night for a few minutes to his 70s show and he mentioned "March Madness under way" and Tiger Woods getting back into golf...

 

[Skynet74]

This is the problem with radio. Just because you have an air shift on a station, it doesn't mean that you have a *show*. A show is something where there is a performance. Something that takes some effort and some talent. At the very least something interesting will take place. These days you don't hear many *SHOWS*. Instead you hear a bunch of hacks behind a mic who inserted recorded clips into a computer 6 hours ago. I'm wondering WHERE IS THE SHOW? The excitement in this market has flatlined. It's just Dead. Always hoping for something new and after waiting several years I realize that we are all still waiting. On the bright side.... this market would be a piece of cake to get ratings in if some radio station had the ballls to actually hire a creative type.

 

[ScottBurns]

For Providence-area people who like the Classic Hits format, luckily Cool 102 is right up the dial. While reception is not great everywhere, the station is better-programmed musically than B101. It is also live and local for much of the day. Finally, Cool's reception seems to improve with the warm weather.

 

[ScottBurns]

Well-said, Skynet. Outside of morning drive, using your definition of "show," the only one left on Providence FM radio (99.7's WPRO simulcast notwithstanding) is Charles' on WHJY.

This is the problem with radio. Just because you have an air shift on a station, it doesn't mean that you have a *show*. A show is something where there is a performance. Something that takes some effort and some talent. At the very least something interesting will take place. These days you don't hear many *SHOWS*. Instead you hear a bunch of hacks behind a mic who inserted recorded clips into a computer 6 hours ago. I'm wondering WHERE IS THE SHOW? The excitement in this market has flatlined. It's just Dead. Always hoping for something new and after waiting several years I realize that we are all still waiting. On the bright side.... this market would be a piece of cake to get ratings in if some radio station had the ballls to actually hire a creative type.

 

[mistermicrophone]

This is the problem with radio. Just because you have an air shift on a station, it doesn't mean that you have a *show*. A show is something where there is a performance. Something that takes some effort and some talent. At the very least something interesting will take place. These days you don't hear many *SHOWS*. Instead you hear a bunch of hacks behind a mic who inserted recorded clips into a computer 6 hours ago. I'm wondering WHERE IS THE SHOW? The excitement in this market has flatlined. It's just Dead. Always hoping for something new and after waiting several years I realize that we are all still waiting. On the bright side.... this market would be a piece of cake to get ratings in if some radio station had the ballls to actually hire a creative type.

Uhhh... I like Two and a Half Men, which is, I think, a show...and that's recorded weeks, maybe months, in advance. Just because something is voicetracked doesn't mean it can't be entertaining. If I hear a funny one-liner or learn something about an artist in a 9 second ramp, it doesn't matter if it is live or not and I am entertained - to me, that takes more talent than having minutes at a time to get from point A to point B. As for you calling those who are on hacks, BOLD statement from someone who, by all accounts, never has had a SHOW (or been a hack) in the market.

Running breaks from MONTHS ago, now that, I agree, is bad, bad, bad!!

 

[Skynet74]

Uhhh... I like Two and a Half Men, which is, I think, a show...and that's recorded weeks, maybe months, in advance. Just because something is voicetracked doesn't mean it can't be entertaining. If I hear a funny one-liner or learn something about an artist in a 9 second ramp, it doesn't matter if it is live or not and I am entertained - to me, that takes more talent than having minutes at a time to get from point A to point B. As for you calling those who are on hacks, BOLD statement from someone who, by all accounts, never has had a SHOW (or been a hack) in the market.

Anything that is scripted shows effort by a team of people who actually had to be creative enough to come up with a funny script. Actors had to learn those lines and then perform. So I agree, There is no doubt that "Two and a Half Men" is a SHOW. If Radio talent put that same effort into a broadcast they would have a SHOW too. That's my point.

I was a hack when I worked at WSAR. I went into work and read song titles for four hours every night. It certainly didn't take any amount of talent. I'm not dillusional enough to think that I was doing brain surgery. Any 5th grader who could read and push a few butttons could of done my job. I played up the fact that I had a SHOW. But that was then and this is now. What kind of show was that? No show prep, no effort, I read song titles and gave temperature checks. A circus clown has more creativity. At least he can juggle.

When I use the word HACK, I mean that any HACK could do the same damn thing that I was doing. I attempted to interject humor into my Air shift. However I was severly limited by the format. WSAR didn't give me the opportunity to have a SHOW. Each time I approached management about expanding my music program into a REAL SHOW, they would respond that they wanted me to just play music. That's fine. That was their choice. But I am not going to fool myself into thinking that I did anything that a hack couldn't do. The Local DJ down at the Karaoke Bar reads labels and plays music too. That makes him just as much a DJ as someone who works on the radio. He's doing the same damn thing. I guess he has a show too!

In my mind a SHOW is something with creativity involved. I'm not hearing anything terribly creative in the market these days. ARE YOU? Please enlighten us all if you are. I would love to know what it is. This market is full of DJ's. That much is true. But being a human iPod isn't much of a SHOW. You are essentially a breathing jukebox. Big deal!

 

[Skynet74]

Here is the short version of my post. Perhaps this makes my point better than the diatribe above.

A "SHOW" is a demonstration of unique talent and performance. The ability to entertain and to be interesting. So certain DJ's do fall under that definition. However most don't. I think that is the point I am trying to make. Keep in mind that these are my personal viewpoints. They come from the mind of a mental patient. So take them with a grain of salt. Thank you.

 

[Tee Man 82]

Don't expect much in the way of content after morning drive in Providence in the future. Charles still does his thing and I'm sure HJY is waiting to see what PPM has to say about his show. Everything after mornings is in-one-ear-and-out-the-other, but if nothing else that kind of radio isn't a tune-out and that's what stations have to worry about. Jocks who can deliver entertainment without any sacrifice to the music are few and far between. I wouldn't call radio people who keep doing the same act they've always done hacks if they're not chasing listeners away. Hacks are tired personalities who won't change their routine even though their listeners are dwindling. I will say however that the success of any given airshift isn't always that dependent on the personality after morning drive. Keep in mind some of the more talented people in Providence radio found themselves in the unemployment line over the last couple of years. What does that say about what stations want?

 

[Skynet74]

Hacks are tired personalities who won't change their routine even though their listeners are dwindling.

Unfortunately I think this describes 95 percent of what remains on the radio. I hate sounding like a pessimist. I honestly hate it with a passion. It doesn't make me happy to have all these negative emotions about radio. However I can't come here and lie either. I really wish that I had more positive things to say. But I'm just not hearing it. Every time I turn on the radio it just sounds so tired and boring now. This market is like a car that has run out of gas. It still has the potential to be a nice car if somebody would put something into it and give it energy. It's time to hire some new people with some new ideas and get creative!

 

[Power Of Radio]

Does Clear Channel give Tom Kent the keys & let him say/do what he wants?? Seriously?? Does he have to answer to anyone with regards
to his shows content? If he is running breaks that are way over the limit. This needs to get addressed. Or are the folks on both the local/national level just don't give two cents, about the product airing on their station(s)??


Cool 102 runs Tom Kent Saturday nights(in place of Ron Dwyer) very bad decision in my opinion..

103.3 WODS, got rid of TK. Might Mike is back. A very good decision in my opinion..

 

[mistermicrophone]

Here is the short version of my post. Perhaps this makes my point better than the diatribe above.

A "SHOW" is a demonstration of unique talent and performance. The ability to entertain and to be interesting. So certain DJ's do fall under that definition. However most don't. I think that is the point I am trying to make. Keep in mind that these are my personal viewpoints. They come from the mind of a mental patient. So take them with a grain of salt. Thank you.

Maybe what YOU find entertaining is not for everyone. Look at Seacrest. From previous posts, I'd say you're not a fan of his...but...for a pop culture junkie who reads US Weekly, People, etc, his show is entertaining and he does create a bond. He provides an entertaining show for his demo.

I'm not sure if your unhappy with the so-called hacks or that you can't be one of those hacks yourself.

 

[Skynet74]

I'm not sure if your unhappy with the so-called hacks or that you can't be one of those hacks yourself.

When I turn on my radio and hear crap, it has nothing at all to do with my abilities. I don't care for Seacrest, but I wouldn't call him a hack. He's one of the hardest working guys in show biz. I don't think the guy even stops! In my book that is not a hack. I would describe a hack as some local yokel who walks into work at 11:55 PM for his midnight shift and in a monotone voice reads song titles for 5 hours and then leaves. That is a hack. Nobody in their right mind desires to be a hack. Not even a lunatic like myself.

 

[mistermicrophone]

I'm not sure if your unhappy with the so-called hacks or that you can't be one of those hacks yourself.

When I turn on my radio and hear crap, it has nothing at all to do with my abilities. I don't care for Seacrest, but I wouldn't call him a hack. He's one of the hardest working guys in show biz. I don't think the guy even stops! In my book that is not a hack. I would describe a hack as some local yokel who walks into work at 11:55 PM for his midnight shift and in a monotone voice reads song titles for 5 hours and then leaves. That is a hack. Nobody in their right mind desires to be a hack. Not even a lunatic like myself.

How the heck do you know what others are doing? Do you clock them in or out? Do you track the browser history to know how much time they spend prepping? Do you know if any of these so-called hacks have other duties at the station?

As for minimal interruption and a "stay out of the way" mentality when putting a show together, you should read up/study PPM methodology AND the results it yields, you'd be amazed how well some of those local yokels who backsell and frontsell do vs. some "shows".

 

[Skynet74]

How the heck do you know what others are doing? Do you clock them in or out? Do you track the browser history to know how much time they spend prepping? Do you know if any of these so-called hacks have other duties at the station?

Prepping? Prepping for WHAT?

It's 7:32 in the evening. That was The Beatles with a Hard days Night. Coming up is Tom Petty and a classic from the Monkees. It's 78 degreees outside tonight and tomorrow looks like another sunny day!

Again I ask...... Prepping for WHAT? You need Prep for THAT?

I am not talking about other duties at the station. I'm not talking about duties at home. I'm not talking about ANYTHING ELSE other than on air performance. That is the only thing I am judging anybody on. It's a simple point I am making which you are trying to complicate. Some on air personalities put effort into their shows. Other personalities DON'T. You can turn on the radio and quickly tell who does and who doesn't put effort into their program.

 

[mistermicrophone]

How the heck do you know what others are doing? Do you clock them in or out? Do you track the browser history to know how much time they spend prepping? Do you know if any of these so-called hacks have other duties at the station?

Prepping? Prepping for WHAT?

It's 7:32 in the evening. That was The Beatles with a Hard days Night. Coming up is Tom Petty and a classic from the Monkees. It's 78 degreees outside tonight and tomorrow looks like another sunny day!

Again I ask...... Prepping for WHAT? You need Prep for THAT?

I am not talking about other duties at the station. I'm not talking about duties at home. I'm not talking about ANYTHING ELSE other than on air performance. That is the only thing I am judging anybody on. It's a simple point I am making which you are trying to complicate. Some on air personalities put effort into their shows. Other personalities DON'T. You can turn on the radio and quickly tell who does and who doesn't put effort into their program.

Once again, put the above break up against your so called "show" in the PPM world and you'll be amazed how well it stands up. I'm not saying that the above is the answer to radio's problems, but it isn't hurting ratings either. Here's a shocker, not EVERY listener hangs on EVERY word that comes out of your mouth, "show" or not. Morning drive and handful of jocks in other dayparts can get away with longer breaks - as long as they're compelling.

And, not every break from every jock in the market is like that either. There are times for personality and there are times for brevity and staying out of the way of the music.

 

[Skynet74]

When people turn on the radio these days expectations are a lot lower. I just wish there was more effort and more personality on the dial like there used to be. Wolfman Jack just played music, but at least the guy had a personality. Casey Kasem just played music, but he was unique and he had a personality. Dick Clark was another. These days it's difficult to find such a talent that is even half as interesting. That is all I am trying to say.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

When people turn on the radio these days expectations are a lot lower. I just wish there was more effort and more personality on the dial like there used to be. Wolfman Jack just played music, but at least the guy had a personality. Casey Kasem just played music, but he was unique and he had a personality. Dick Clark was another. These days it's difficult to find such a talent that is even half as interesting. That is all I am trying to say.

Like him or not the only one that you put in that catagory in todays world is Ryan Seacrest.Both Casey Casem and Dick Clark hired him to replace them in thier respected shows.Yes he is not close but if Casey and Dick both handed him over the gigs that made them both famous then the guy has to have something.

For those of you under 30....

Casey Casems AT40 and

Dick Clark's Rockin News years eve

are the shows I am refering too.