What Talent-Shows do you miss in Seattle? What talnet should come to Seattle?

[AQH]

AQH -

Based on what's going on with radio these days, what's wrong with living in the past? I generally agree with your attitude and don't like the oldsters who seem to think everything was better in the past. But I don't think you can disagree that at least for those of us in the business, radio WAS better back in the day. And I'm talking 5-10 years back, not 1978.

In general, here's what I speaking to. On this board there's incessant bickering about a need to get rid of the old (Kent & Alan, Ichabod Caine, and even Bob Rivers to a lesser degree). The fact of the matter is that those are successful shows, they bring in money and are great anchors to their respective stations (are they all my cup of tea? No.).

While the bottom-line driven realities of today's radio are hurting the overall product, that's hardly a reason to bring back talent that, for one reason or another, aren't on the radio any more. Believe me, if there was money or ratings to be made by bringing someone back, don't you think that in this "greedy, corporate" radio world someone would have already?

Face it, shticks get old after awhile. People eventually got tired of Regis and Who Wants to Be A Millionaire 10 years ago. 20 years ago, people got tired of Andrew Dice Clay's routine. And after awhile, hearing John Maynard do Roy Otis gets old. Even Rick Dees coming back to the L.A. airwaves was greeted with a big yawn.

If you want to live in the past and recall the memories of what once was, be my guest. Just don't feel it's the answer to issues in today's radio.


Now, as for the argument about radio being better than 5-10 years ago, I don't think there's very much difference. If you want to go back 25 years, then yes.

But operating a radio station IS a lot different than it was 5-10 years ago. If there's an upside to the current downturn in the economy, it's forcing broadcasters to look at unconventional opportunities. And there's a slow and steady revelation in radio about this thing called the internet, a couple other NTR and social networking opportunities (Long overdue, in my opinion).

However, none of that stuff is quite as appealing as hearing someone talk up to the post in a funny way, so today's radio reality will hardly ever get either understood or accepted here.

Chet was one of the very best news guys to ever sit behind a mic.

You're talking about Chet Rogers, not the aforementioned Chet Buchanan. Welcome to Seattle.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Radio in 70's & early 80's (and before): Mix of small-scope owners & corporate owners. Corporate was not that different from today, EXCEPT they actually let people call shots at corporate level who knew product and industry. Corporate happy to sit back and deal with deposit slips.

Radio late 80's & Early 90's: Telecomm got pushed thru so corporate could go hog-wild. Wasn't a prudent strategy .. but like ol' Madoff, if you kept the momentum going without letting the foundation crumble the game would work fine. Started to see EXCEPTIONS to this ... like Larry Wilson who ran Citadel and did both good radio, treated people well, and corporation benefit. TODAY they make news because their stock is literally trading at .01, they have taken the mighty ABC networks & O&O's into the toilet, and treat their people like crap. Why? because they put another investment "know-it-all" at the helm after radio man Larry Wilson retired.

Radio Today: Bottom fell out on the "acquire all you can at whatever price necessary". Didn't bother to learn from the Internet business crash that there were MANY business parallels. Corporation culture trumps all .... even product ... and the company values tank, people who make strategic decisions do so based on the COMPANY mindset and not a STRATEGIC one. That combination is a "scramble for a lifeboat" strategy.

The exception to this (kind of)? The people who didn't get caught up in the "buy more" strategy of the 80's ... never inherited debt ... kept focus on their product ... kept serving their community ... still have advertising ... still make some money (enough to be in black); and their biggest challenge is how to deal with competition from alternative media. As a result of that focus THEY tend to be the ones doing the online innovating and taking the most forward-momentum risks.

So for some of us who REMEMBER the lessons of the past .... it just MIGHT be more than longing to hear Pat do "Granny Peters" every day in Drive time!

 

[WKomm]

AQH - Actually I've lived in the area a long time. It's also been a long time since Chet Rogers graced local airwaves and that really just bolsters your post about how hard it is to go back.

In one particular market I worked, I walked on water. Did very, very well. Naturally that drew attenion my way and I was wooed to go to another market. After a few years, a GM from the old market begged me to come back - and I did. But it wasn't the same. My numbers were ok but not eye-popping like they hoped. I'd show up at appearances - stores, clubs, car lots - and it wasn't anything near what it was. And I was only gone about 2 years. It really is hard to go back home. It can be done but generally I think expectations need to be lowered. To change the subject just a bit, this is what bothers me about Griffey's return to the A's at 39 yrs old.

 

[cruiser95fm]

The "Newbies" of 2000 and newer are a dying breed. It's not radio's fault. Most kids today have headphones plugged into IPODs and are listening to the latest tunes downloaded on the Net, not from radio. So yes, radio was "better" back in the 80's. It survived M-tv, but not MP-3's. Unless you can bring back the human element to give people a reason to listen to radio, it's dead. No-brainer automation, because it's so cheap (cost effective to shareholders..) seems to be the generic garbage broadcast today, and any kid with a computer can duplicate that, so what's the use?? Why did Clear Channel sell off so many stations? It's time things come back full circle and sell radio for what MP-3 can't do.. Live and entertaining personality, or is it really too late??

 

[Bongwater]

OK, so I'm living in the past. But you know what? Reading these threads, it seems like everybody was having a hell of a better time in this biz back then than NOW.

Not everything was perfect - not by a long damn shot. But it worked. It was exciting and it was GREAT radio.

Today, you're sweated over EVERYTHING. At least back then, when jocks had enough, they could could go across town to the competitor. Now what was ONCE the cross town (or sometimes even cross country) competitor is now owned (and programmed) by the same people you couldn't stand in the first place.

The old school jocks/PDs have a lot of mileage and skill still left in them. They know what works and what doesn't a thousand times better than a lot of what I hear today. Most of what I hear today is just BORING. There are some newer folks with some glimmers of what could be a FANTASTIC talent. But they sound very stifled, afraid to really let themselves shine......and it shows.

But this is 2009 and the way to save radio is throwing the well seasoned captains off the plank and rearranging the deck chairs on this sinking ship......and while the radio room would be the first place to put out an SOS distress call, it's too busy running Ryan Seacrest now....

So here we are......

 

[diva chick]

I love you, Bongwater! Radio needs to recapture its FUN and community in a way that comes through the speakers. Yes, if you're a music station, great and consistent music is important. But there is so much more, or could be, or used to be and SHOULD be.

 

[Bongwater]

I love you, Bongwater! Radio needs to recapture its FUN and community in a way that comes through the speakers. Yes, if you're a music station, great and consistent music is important. But there is so much more, or could be, or used to be and SHOULD be.

Thanks diva. It's ironic every "expert" up here is tearing their hair out wondering why everything they do isn't working and the whole industry is falling apart, yet criticize everybody for being NOSTALGIC.

Could it be we KNOW something they never will?.......

Yes, I'm just a washed up, know nothing has-been. But I'm still gonna let my freak flag fly......

 

[Lonely Summer]

Great points, Bongwater. The experts don't care what we have to say, yet they are constantly bemoaning the state of radio today. Go figure.

 

[Bongwater]

Great points, Bongwater. The experts don't care what we have to say, yet they are constantly bemoaning the state of radio today. Go figure.

Because they're "experts" (and I use that LOOSELY.) These "experts" today are people who simply have absolutely no imagination whatsoever. And it SHOWS. And if they think advertisers and listeners are too stupid to know this game, they had better check the balance sheets one more time....

Every creative idea people throw up here on this board gets shot down because it's "Impractical", "ridiculous", "won't work", etc. etc. Because we ALL want to BREAK some molds here. Because the same ones aren't working anymore and it's SHOWING and the writing's on the wall.

It's time for a MASSIVE CHANGE. Not MASSIVE LAYOFFS. Because one thing's for damn sure, it ain't these poor people that need to be tossed out on their butts. It's these forked tongues that are calling the shots on every level that need to be sent packing.

And if MASSIVE CHANGE means bringing back Slaton too while we're at it, then that's what MASSIVE CHANGE means also. Because he should NEVER have been fired. Just righting some wrongs is MASSIVE CHANGE itself.

And yet on this same board, when confronted on the decline of radio. the lack of advertising, the very reason WHY people are turning off the radio and turning on something else - like the internet. Or satellite - ANYTHING else but the radio, these "experts" are like Wall Street fatcats. They blame everything and everyone else but THEMSELVES. And EXPECT their respective conglomerate to REWARD them for it.

Could it be they're SCARED that somebody other than themselves just may have the solution they never thought of themselves? The one they never even had the CAPACITY to think of themselves? And radio needs SOLUTIONS, not another "better mix of today's hits and yesterday's favorites" or "10 in a row" under another damn old tired copycat moniker heard in every market. They cannot INNOVATE and they know it. They have NO solutions. They don't even WANT a solution. How do I know? Because they won't let anyone else even OFFER one. All they know how to do is REGURGITATE the same stale formats over and over and over and over and again and again and again. And enough's enough.

And instead of taking a chance on saving radio, they'd rather save their own damn EGOS instead. Because in all honesty, the 'experts" can say anything they want about me personally but this is much is IRREFUTABLE: Right now, even a bigger fool than ME can do a hell of a better job than they are in turning this pig around. And maybe even for a lot CHEAPER.

I just wish somebody, ANYBODY, would come along and stick a fork in their asses and turn 'em over, they're DONE.

 

[AQH]

Every creative idea people throw up here on this board gets shot down because it's "Impractical", "ridiculous", "won't work", etc. etc. Because we ALL want to BREAK some molds here. Because the same ones aren't working anymore and it's SHOWING and the writing's on the wall.

Then why don't you start sending your brilliant ideas directly to General Managers? Most GMs are salespeople, they'll know a good pitch when they hear it.

Go be the hero and save radio Larry. Do it now.

Let us know what happens.

 

[Bongwater]

Why do I need to go and tell people that are already reading this?

 

[TVradioguru]

Why do I need to go and tell people that are already reading this?

Speaking on behalf of myself Bong, I'm not a local general manager so as AQH points out, unless you direct suggestions with substance, (there in lies the trick), to local GM's, you're merely screaming into a strong headwind by posting here.

Second of all it is unlikely anyone in the industry will take your comments with any weight if you continue with the same three points that have little or no relevance to operating a station as a business. Let's see if I can boil down your comments:

1. Hire, or hire back, older air talent from the hay-days of the local market. The term hay-days is up for debate. For example; some of the morning show duo's that posters on this board hold in such high regard, never did attain ratings success within the target demographic, and were in effect, money losers for the companies they worked for. In summary to this point, there are various reasons they're no longer on the air Bong. Just as with professional athletes, either their time was over, or the market changes made their shows no longer popular. As I've asked you on more than one instance, what would you pay them? What demographic would they appeal to? You simply can't have a conversation if you don't speak the language.

2. Play more independant music. I believe KEXP does a pretty good job of that, yet even as a public station, their appeal to their core audience 18-24 is not that great. So if a public station located in the heart of a major metropolitan city can't draw a large audience with independant music, then why would you assume a commercial station would? Oh that's right.. being successful doesn't matter. Neither does paying the bills apparently.

3. Do something fun! Exactly what does that mean? Fun to you? Frequently in one breath you and others on this board complain about what genre of music a particular station plays, or that they don't play enough music, blah blah. In the next breath you long for the old days when Gary Lockwood had a 10 minute police blotter, three minutes of it being the two hosts laughing. Is that your definition of fun?

Finally here's another piece of advice before pitching a GM with an idea- You'd better come to the party with something more than, "just make it fun!", or "make it sound like the old days", or you're just wasting their valuable time.

 

[AQH]

Why do I need to go and tell people that are already reading this?

Are you going to keep stalling and post rhetorical questions, or are you going to hit the pavement and pitch your brilliant idea?

 

[Bongwater]

Why do I need to go and tell people that are already reading this?

Are you going to keep stalling and post rhetorical questions, or are you going to hit the pavement and pitch your brilliant idea?

What did I just say AQH?

 

[AQH]

Why do I need to go and tell people that are already reading this?

Are you going to keep stalling and post rhetorical questions, or are you going to hit the pavement and pitch your brilliant idea?

What did I just say AQH?

Stop the stall and distraction tactics Larry, this is not about me. Go out and promote your sure-fire strategy that you've brought up countless times and prove your ideas are the way to cure today's radio ills.

 

[Bongwater]

Why do I need to go and tell people that are already reading this?

Are you going to keep stalling and post rhetorical questions, or are you going to hit the pavement and pitch your brilliant idea?

What did I just say AQH?

Stop the stall and distraction tactics Larry, this is not about me. Go out and promote your sure-fire strategy that you've brought up countless times and prove your ideas are the way to cure today's radio ills.

This isn't about me either. I already said my peace. If anyone's got something to say, they can say it here or PM me. But what I said is out there and anyone can read it and take the initiative themselves. Or not. I've got better things to do today than go around and around with you on this.

 

[TVradioguru]

Re: What Talent-Shows do you miss in Seattle? What talnet should come to Seattl

Ah yes, that's our Bong, or Larry, whatever. Once again bringing a water pistol to a gunfight. But what do I know, radio is doomed along with Urban CHR! :

 

[AQH]

Why do I need to go and tell people that are already reading this?

Are you going to keep stalling and post rhetorical questions, or are you going to hit the pavement and pitch your brilliant idea?

What did I just say AQH?

Stop the stall and distraction tactics Larry, this is not about me. Go out and promote your sure-fire strategy that you've brought up countless times and prove your ideas are the way to cure today's radio ills.

This isn't about me either. I already said my peace. If anyone's got something to say, they can say it here or PM me. But what I said is out there and anyone can read it and take the initiative themselves. Or not. I've got better things to do today than go around and around with you on this.

I didn't say this was about you Larry, it's not. I said it's all about your ideas for radio and how you are insistent that its' the answer to today's radio.

AGAIN, I am challenging you to take your ideas to General Managers. There are no corporate Program Directors or greedy consultants involved here. Like I said earlier, you'd be dealing with people whose backgrounds are in sales, people with little to no programming experience. Couldn't be a better channel of communication than the people who are looking to make a buck, right?

You've been unquestionably consistent on your disdain for corporate radio and offering your ideas. It's puzzling as to why in this depressed economy that you do not want to make a buck off your ideas.

If you don't even have the guts to pitch your own ideas, why should anyone believe what you profess to be the solutions to today's radio?

 

[SeattleRadioPro]

Re: An easy answer...

You've been unquestionably consistent on your disdain for corporate radio and offering your ideas. It's puzzling as to why in this depressed economy that you do not want to make a buck off your ideas.

If you don't even have the guts to pitch your own ideas, why should anyone believe what you profess to be the solutions to today's radio?

I've got an easy answer, AQH:

Those who can, do.
Those who can't bloviate on message boards about what's wrong with radio.

Simple as that.

 

[Bongwater]

Why do I need to go and tell people that are already reading this?

Are you going to keep stalling and post rhetorical questions, or are you going to hit the pavement and pitch your brilliant idea?

What did I just say AQH?

Stop the stall and distraction tactics Larry, this is not about me. Go out and promote your sure-fire strategy that you've brought up countless times and prove your ideas are the way to cure today's radio ills.

This isn't about me either. I already said my peace. If anyone's got something to say, they can say it here or PM me. But what I said is out there and anyone can read it and take the initiative themselves. Or not. I've got better things to do today than go around and around with you on this.

I didn't say this was about you Larry, it's not. I said it's all about your ideas for radio and how you are insistent that its' the answer to today's radio.

AGAIN, I am challenging you to take your ideas to General Managers. There are no corporate Program Directors or greedy consultants involved here. Like I said earlier, you'd be dealing with people whose backgrounds are in sales, people with little to no programming experience. Couldn't be a better channel of communication than the people who are looking to make a buck, right?

You've been unquestionably consistent on your disdain for corporate radio and offering your ideas. It's puzzling as to why in this depressed economy that you do not want to make a buck off your ideas.

If you don't even have the guts to pitch your own ideas, why should anyone believe what you profess to be the solutions to today's radio?

I'm not your babysitter AQH. Either you grow up and get it or you don't.

Period.