I agree generally, but let’s face it radio use is declining. Times change. More options for media keep opening up. Plus more working from home is bound to cut into drive time radio. I don’t think the medium is going away but I do think radio listenership will continue to decline. If you are a 19 year old wanting to get into radio like I was in 1978, be very wary.
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What if a station targeted a *really* old audience?
- Thread starter tall_guy1
- Start date
Once again, the question is what do you mean by "radio?" If you strictly mean the traditional device, OK. Statistically there aren't as many of those devices are there may have been 40 years ago. Those devices aren't as important, and the stations aren't as revered.
By the same token, statistically a lot of people still hear the programming. The programming is influencing music decisions and buying decisions, and political actions. We can see this clearly in lots of ways. It may not be in the same why or by the same device, but it's happening. Actions speak louder than stereotypes. So do you understand my distinction?
And yet, there still are lots of 19 year olds who want to get into radio. I occasionally meet them. They realize the business is changing. If you saw the living resumes I receive, you'd be shocked. They send employers to a web site where they show a broad range of talent, from audio production to web construction to social media to interviewing to video production. That is the future of radio, broadening the platform to other media and other devices.
No, you are correct. The skill set has changed. All I needed in '78 was a good voice, a somewhat knowledge of contemporary music, and a somewhat decent apprearance. Got me to a major Seattle station in late '79. Yes, they were different times!
I should mention that I was hired at KING AM in Seattle at age 20. Never got a full time shift but due to some union rules my pay was impressive. Later those same rules applied at KIXI-FM. Those union rules are pretty nonexistent today. But in those days the pay was nice. Probably equating to 75k today!
I agree. I have a bachelor's degree in communications with an emphasis on broadcasting. Guess where I work? A warehouse. (I enjoy it enough to not look another time.) Back in 2016-17 after college, I couldn't get anything else.
Keep looking. Persistence pays off. Broadcasting jobs aren't as easy to get as warehouse jobs.
That's good. I've had my warehouse job close to five years now. I wonder if that ruins my chances at any future radio opportunities though?
It's possible to do two things at once. You need to get started. Part time. On the internet. Something. You need to demonstrate interest and commitment. They're not going to send you a printed invitation. When you're not at the warehouse, you need to be building a portfolio of stuff to show. Pick a goal and aim for it.
A few comments: 1) Sometimes college doesn't prepare you with enough "real world" experience to get the job you may be seeking. The title on your degree may say one thing, but when perspective employers look at your resume or ask if you've done XYZ tasks, they're looking for specific experience or skillsets. If you don't have them, they're most likely not going to pick you up as in many cases they're looking for someone who's ready and qualified to fill a position, rather than someone they'd need to hire and then train, especially in the on-air broadcasting and production fields. 2) Broadcasting is one of those fields where, in many cases it's more about what you've done and the actual experience you've got rather than a degree. It's also one of those industries where networking and "knowing people" is important.
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not to be an ahole here, but someone should have told you that that degree field was a bad choice, and that you should have double majored or minored in another field that you could fall back on when the broadcasting gig (if you ever got one) ended after a few years, either by your choice ( wanting a normal life) or theirs.
Maybe Womyns Studies or Ancient Egyptian Languages as a minor? At this point there are more jobs in those fields than there are opportunities for right out of school Broadcasting or Communications majors.
I have family members in their 20's, niece graded from Purdue as a Mechanical Engineer, nephew from UNC with a degree in Material Sciences. 4 years and 3 years out of school they were making 100K
Cripes if you want to be a Union Bus Driver in Boston with full government employee bennies ( they are not what they used to be but still better than the private sector) I can get you hired and in 4 years you'll be making 70K and more OT than you could ever want...
Maybe Womyns Studies or Ancient Egyptian Languages as a minor? At this point there are more jobs in those fields than there are opportunities for right out of school Broadcasting or Communications majors.
I have family members in their 20's, niece graded from Purdue as a Mechanical Engineer, nephew from UNC with a degree in Material Sciences. 4 years and 3 years out of school they were making 100K
Cripes if you want to be a Union Bus Driver in Boston with full government employee bennies ( they are not what they used to be but still better than the private sector) I can get you hired and in 4 years you'll be making 70K and more OT than you could ever want...
All that's great! If their goal in life was to make 100K, then they're done. People have to decide what they want to do. If their goal is to make lots of money, I'd say don't go into broadcasting. Unless you're a part owner. There HAD to be a reason why TallGuy chose to major in broadcasting. He needs to remember why, and go for it. It doesn't have to be a full time gig. It can even be an online station or podcast. The medium itself doesn't matter. In my case, there was no plan B. Right now there are so many ways to do radio if that's what you want to do. All it takes is passion and persistence. You don't want to wake up one day with regrets for not trying.
Fun fact... if I drove a municipal bus in the nearest city two days a week (16 hrs), I'd make more money than my last radio job paid, because the hourly wage is almost triple.
do you read All Access? Any of the other online trade papers ?
I am AMAZED at the number of long time radio people, PD's, Morning Drive talent, etc etc etc who are "leaving for an opportunity outside of radio"
And those are the ones who are leaving by their own choice, many people didn't leave on their own and are now also looking for a job outside of radio.
Here is someone who got it right, Nikki is now out of radio, WHOM was her last stop. They still have her bio up, but if you read it notice she got a Masters in an unrelated field, and when WHOM sent her packing, she returned to Florida and hung out her shingle in her new field. She is someone I have a LOT of respect for because not only did she have the talent to make it in the business, she was smart enough to plan ahead.
949whom.com
20++ years later and this still rings true
I am AMAZED at the number of long time radio people, PD's, Morning Drive talent, etc etc etc who are "leaving for an opportunity outside of radio"
And those are the ones who are leaving by their own choice, many people didn't leave on their own and are now also looking for a job outside of radio.
Here is someone who got it right, Nikki is now out of radio, WHOM was her last stop. They still have her bio up, but if you read it notice she got a Masters in an unrelated field, and when WHOM sent her packing, she returned to Florida and hung out her shingle in her new field. She is someone I have a LOT of respect for because not only did she have the talent to make it in the business, she was smart enough to plan ahead.
Nikki Cruz | 94.9 HOM
I started my entertainment career in television as a teenager, growing up on a military base in Seoul, South Korea. I first appeared as a singer and dancer on a TV show called "Young Parade," and I hosted an evening rock show on AFN, where I fell in love with radio...
949whom.com
20++ years later and this still rings true
That's fantastic! People should do what they want to do. Not what they HAVE to do, If radio isn't your thing, quit! Get a job in a warehouse or something else. But for every one of them, I can show you pictures of grey-hairs still playing music on the radio. Those "long time radio people" are making way for millennials who will change the medium for the better. I see it as a good thing.
Does everyone think that no one left radio for better opportunities in the 60s and 70s? This isn't new, folks.
So these millennials changing radio for the better?
Are they bringing more of their generation to radio, as opposed to their modest audience, unsponsored "podcasts?"
Are they lowering the demos of talk radio? Looking squarely at you, Ben Shapiro, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton.
I wish them well in their careers, but what exactly are they changing? I'm not seeing widespread evidence that anything's changing except in the expansion of ever smaller sliced audiences across many platforms, most of which make little money for people who weren't well entrenched in the farm system/syndication beforehand - unless of course, you're Joe Rogan.
Are they bringing more of their generation to radio, as opposed to their modest audience, unsponsored "podcasts?"
Are they lowering the demos of talk radio? Looking squarely at you, Ben Shapiro, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton.
I wish them well in their careers, but what exactly are they changing? I'm not seeing widespread evidence that anything's changing except in the expansion of ever smaller sliced audiences across many platforms, most of which make little money for people who weren't well entrenched in the farm system/syndication beforehand - unless of course, you're Joe Rogan.
Right now you need an HD radio for the one station that goes after the audience. Oh, wait, they added a translator.
There is another they might be willing to listen to, but that station had to adjust to continue making money and the good music is on HD and the translator.
That's not exactly what I said. However, based on the resumes I've seen, these younger folks have a broader view of what radio is than their parents. Right now, not many millennials are in positions where they can actually change a lot. But their time will come.
Well, I decided to major in it in 2011. I was interested in radio in general, though not sure if I'd be suited for an on-air position. I was thinking more of being a producer or something like that. I'm not sure what to do now. Not really sure I'd want to do a podcast
Yes, way to make me feel great...
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