What corporate groups let PD's add music or programming?

[Groove1670]

I have heard that PD's in large station groups especially medium & small markets have no
say in adding music.

Are any of the smaller or medium groups such as Cox, CBS, Townsquare allowing PD's to make music decisions.

Also, if you have one daypart live, do you really need a PD. It seems the only purpose for one is to make sure commercials are scheduled, and voicetracks are placed in the right place on the log.

I guess the opportunities are slim for record reps and program consultants too.

Your comments.

 

[davideduardo]

I have heard that PD's in large station groups especially medium & small markets have no
say in adding music.

Are any of the smaller or medium groups such as Cox, CBS, Townsquare allowing PD's to make music decisions.

Also, if you have one daypart live, do you really need a PD. It seems the only purpose for one is to make sure commercials are scheduled, and voicetracks are placed in the right place on the log.

I guess the opportunities are slim for record reps and program consultants too.

Your comments.

While the "group decision" process, such as typified by Cumulus in some formats, has gotten much publicity, local-level music decisions are being made in most large company stations and, of course, smaller groups and stand-alones that are not taking a syndicated format.

The number of consultants and the opportunities for them has declined since consolodation. But the biggest hit came from the recession, which made stations cut out any discretionary expenses.

There is still a lot of local and regional research for library "or "gold") cuts and plenty of feedback available such as M Scores in PPM markets... all of which require interpretation and implementation.

While PD's don't, as a rule, have anything to do with scheduling commercials, they do schedule the music for each day and most spend an amount of time massaging each log.

Voicetracking does require supervision and attention to detail. And the talent that does the tracks still needs to be coached and guided. We are even moving to a point where "live" morning shows pre-prepare their bits, in order to place them in the most PPM friendly place in each hour.

For a station to be good, you need a PD. The duties have changed, and the amount of time spent on different chores and tasks has changed, there is still a need for a "director" even if it is for several stations.