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What format would you suggest for small AM stations in 2010?
- Thread starter MissAM
- Start date
Live and local. local. local. Look at WINY right down the road in Putnam, CT as an example. For a daytime AM (with a bit of night power) they do quite well.
Keep track of every PENNY of your expenses. Don't be cheap, but don't be extravagant either. Keep a rainy day fund for the unexpected things that WILL happen (like the bolt of ligntning on an almost perfectly clear day that hits your tower and causes 1000 dollars worth of damage).
Be the station that the locals turn to when it snows, when they see a fire or there's a traffic accident. Go to every Lion's Club meeting. Join some fundraising boards. KNOW as many of the business people in your town on a first name basis. When you sell, provide SOLUTIONS to their sales problems.
That's how to be sucessfull today.
Finally, don't begin to believe that AM radio can make you rich today.
It can't.
What it CAN do is provide you and a few employees with a decent living and also provide a stable small business for you that modestly can grow in equity.
Good luck.
Keep track of every PENNY of your expenses. Don't be cheap, but don't be extravagant either. Keep a rainy day fund for the unexpected things that WILL happen (like the bolt of ligntning on an almost perfectly clear day that hits your tower and causes 1000 dollars worth of damage).
Be the station that the locals turn to when it snows, when they see a fire or there's a traffic accident. Go to every Lion's Club meeting. Join some fundraising boards. KNOW as many of the business people in your town on a first name basis. When you sell, provide SOLUTIONS to their sales problems.
That's how to be sucessfull today.
Finally, don't begin to believe that AM radio can make you rich today.
It can't.
What it CAN do is provide you and a few employees with a decent living and also provide a stable small business for you that modestly can grow in equity.
Good luck.
In this day and age, it seems AM is in dire need of help. Just the fixed costs of land and multiple numbers of towers for directional arrays puts you at a competitive disadvantage to FM.
Not to mention how much noisier (electrically speaking) our world has become......not an AM friendly thing...computers...dimmers...flourescent lighting...LED traffic lights...the list goes on and on...
Plus...on top of all that...folks under 40 hardly listen to radio at all anymore, let alone what some have called 'ancient modulation'.
Don't get me wrong...there is, and always will be a warm, fuzzy place in my heart for AM......but it's getting tougher and tougher to love.
As for a format......as much as I've enjoyed taking my potshots at WALE...at least they seem to be trying, as opposed to 790 and 920 just 'phoning it in'...
Not to mention how much noisier (electrically speaking) our world has become......not an AM friendly thing...computers...dimmers...flourescent lighting...LED traffic lights...the list goes on and on...
Plus...on top of all that...folks under 40 hardly listen to radio at all anymore, let alone what some have called 'ancient modulation'.
Don't get me wrong...there is, and always will be a warm, fuzzy place in my heart for AM......but it's getting tougher and tougher to love.
As for a format......as much as I've enjoyed taking my potshots at WALE...at least they seem to be trying, as opposed to 790 and 920 just 'phoning it in'...
MissAM said:Lots of criticism, which can be fun, but any constructive suggestions for what someone should do with a little AM station these days? I may be coming into some money...
Do something that Nobody else is doing. It will set you apart. Push the limits. Be creative, Get Crazy. Make people talk!
Hire wackos who have no shortage of opinions on things. I don't care if they are homeless. I don't care if they just got out of mental institutions. Get them on the air as fast as possible! If one station has Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh on the air. But a different station down the dial has on a crazy Loon mumbling about insane things, guess which one I'm going to tune into? My radio will be tuned into the NUT! Do you know why? Because people like a train wreck. Might be sad, but it still doesn't change the fact that it's true. People like odd. People like different. It might not help your station become credible. You might not be the classiest station on the dial. But this is where the important decision comes in. Would you rather be classy (or) would you rather have ratings?
MissAM said:Lots of criticism, which can be fun, but any constructive suggestions for what someone should do with a little AM station these days? I may be coming into some money...
Who are you and are you posting this question.Kind of wierd that Chris Dipaola is supposed to taking over 1230 in Westerly and a poster I have never seen posts this question.
I gave him my advice already.Fire everyone indcluding me.Get a satelite talk service.Sell local available spots.Just like what they did with WJZS.
I've done variations of a "full service" format for a couple of other owners.
(Unfortunately, I don't earn enough to be able to finance a purchase on my own.)
I've sent you a PM to share some ideas. LA-Guy is right on track. I'm just adding a couple of programming ideas
that have helped pull stations back from the brink of "silent."
(Unfortunately, I don't earn enough to be able to finance a purchase on my own.)
I've sent you a PM to share some ideas. LA-Guy is right on track. I'm just adding a couple of programming ideas
that have helped pull stations back from the brink of "silent."
Wrong wrong wrong... WHAS in Louisville had John Ziegler for a couple years until he started berating another local lady in the media, and lawsuits ensued.Skynet74 said:MissAM said:Lots of criticism, which can be fun, but any constructive suggestions for what someone should do with a little AM station these days? I may be coming into some money...
Do something that Nobody else is doing. It will set you apart. Push the limits. Be creative, Get Crazy. Make people talk!
Hire wackos who have no shortage of opinions on things. I don't care if they are homeless. I don't care if they just got out of mental institutions. Get them on the air as fast as possible! If one station has Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh on the air. But a different station down the dial has on a crazy Loon mumbling about insane things, guess which one I'm going to tune into? My radio will be tuned into the NUT! Do you know why? Because people like a train wreck. Might be sad, but it still doesn't change the fact that it's true. People like odd. People like different. It might not help your station become credible. You might not be the classiest station on the dial. But this is where the important decision comes in. Would you rather be classy (or) would you rather have ratings?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ziegler_(talk_show_host)
KyDXIn said:Wrong wrong wrong... WHAS in Louisville had John Ziegler for a couple years until he started berating another local lady in the media, and lawsuits ensued.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ziegler_(talk_show_host)
What part is wrong wrong wrong? Radio hosts berating others. Isn't that what every talk show host on the air does every day?
T
Telefunken
Guest
independent music
Telefunken said:independent music
Independent music as in indie rock or indie anything? On AM? People looking for eclectic stuff aren't even going to try to find it on AM.
To the original question I'd have to ask what area this small AM station would be in? If it's a small AM trying to serve a medium market it's one thing and a lot of localization isn't going to work. The potential listeners aren't into it on that level. Local means statewide. If it's a small market or one of the fringe areas locally like Woonsocket (where it's rumored some people born there have never left the city in their lifetimes) then local is key because residents have that mindset.
I actually like the variety concept WALE is using but there's a risk of it turning into a freakshow, which is what WALE is bordering on.
McRadio said:I actually like the variety concept WALE is using but there's a risk of it turning into a freakshow, which is what WALE is bordering on.
You've hit the nail right on the head!
I think the Variety concept is a good one myself. What remains to be seen, however, is how well (or badly) it gets implemented by this "Ownership/Management". To me, what I'm hearing right now on 990 is not so much a real attempt at "Variety", but more a trial and error "throwing stuff on the wall", to see what sticks and what doesn't.
The one thing this "Ownership/Management" may not want to hear (but NEED to)...is that, like any other start-up format (or start-up ANYTHING)...They're going to have to sink some money into it and be patient with it if they want this thing to catch on. Simply put...I would be more optimistic about this if the place were in different hands...
And...YES...that means sinking some money into fixing the technical problems too...LOL.
And the final thing is:......Is this latest revival "for real"...or just an attempt to "spiff up the place"...in an effort to finally $SELL$.
Like with any other good Soap Opera....We'll just have to keep tuning in....LOL
Didn't you read the part "LAWSUITS ENSUED"? Check out the link and you will see those lawsuits are still ongoing after more than 3 years.Skynet74 said:What part is wrong wrong wrong? Radio hosts berating others. Isn't that what every talk show host on the air does every day?KyDXIn said:Wrong wrong wrong... WHAS in Louisville had John Ziegler for a couple years until he started berating another local lady in the media, and lawsuits ensued.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ziegler_(talk_show_host)
All good points from various perspectives.
I think AM radio can serve a community and entertain if done in a fun interesting way. Create an environment on air which attracts local businesses and has a good variety of hosts who can bring in interesting guests and callers. The dish stations are only in it for money, which is fine. But what about using the airwaves to really bring about positive change in a community... and better still, in communities in the listening area... Focusing too much on any one subject is like the Chinese water torture and results in tuning out fast.
I personally cannot wait for the naked lesbian's show on WALE... IF I can hear it from here that is. Perhaps she should do a guest shot with JO JO when the power is up?
I think AM radio can serve a community and entertain if done in a fun interesting way. Create an environment on air which attracts local businesses and has a good variety of hosts who can bring in interesting guests and callers. The dish stations are only in it for money, which is fine. But what about using the airwaves to really bring about positive change in a community... and better still, in communities in the listening area... Focusing too much on any one subject is like the Chinese water torture and results in tuning out fast.
I personally cannot wait for the naked lesbian's show on WALE... IF I can hear it from here that is. Perhaps she should do a guest shot with JO JO when the power is up?
MissAM said:I personally cannot wait for the naked lesbian's show on WALE... IF I can hear it from here that is.
Me too. I'm all for anything to do with Naked lesbians. If they can do the show from my apartment I would like it even better.
KyDXIn said:Didn't you read the part "LAWSUITS ENSUED"? Check out the link and you will see those lawsuits are still ongoing after more than 3 years.
I couldn't read anything. The link you enclosed led to a bunch of nothing. Anyway... people can sue for anything. Big deal. Most cases go nowhere. If someone sued me for nonsense I would counter sue and make them pay for being an idiot who wastes my time. I'll probably add emotional distress and assorted other things to my suit as well. I actually think I would be traumatized by their stupidity. I probably could make some good money off that.
Anyway.... you even said it yourself. These lawsuits are still ongoing after 3 years. What a waste of everyones time. This minge can't handle some guy having an opinion about her. So she's going to dedicate her life to suing the guy. People need to grow a thick skin. Especially if they work in a career where they are going to be scrutinized by everyone. You simply do not work in the media if you can not handle people talking about you. End of story. This world is full of Dopes!
Variety on a small station is fine... but there must be a unifying quality or philosophy which benefits the community in order to get the support needed to keep on the air.
Unless of course, one is rich enough to just buy a station and keep it afloat, and hire all her friends and just have a 24/7 ongoing party!
Personally I think community service is the higher way to go in these days of people perceiving the need for more services. After all, who provides services but businesses who will pay to let people know where they can get services?
Unless of course, one is rich enough to just buy a station and keep it afloat, and hire all her friends and just have a 24/7 ongoing party!
Personally I think community service is the higher way to go in these days of people perceiving the need for more services. After all, who provides services but businesses who will pay to let people know where they can get services?
MissAM said:Unless of course, one is rich enough to just buy a station and keep it afloat, and hire all her friends and just have a 24/7 ongoing party!
Not a totally bad idea! That sure could be some interesting radio. This is the type of thing we need. "PARTY STATIONS". I would listen!
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