I know it is just a 12+ trend, but I noticed that WSM 650 is below a 2.
Wouldn't that be the lowest rating in the history of the 650 frequency?
Wouldn't that be the lowest rating in the history of the 650 frequency?
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
WSM Trend
- Thread starter briancraig
- Start date
It's really a shame that the public has this bias against listening to music on AM. WSM is a great sounding station and the pride of the AM band. Everyone (including non-radio people) longs for the "good old days" of radio the way "it used to be." Well WSM is the perfect example of it but it won't be around much longer if it doesn't get more support.
J
jimnmidtn
Guest
I thought the same thing when I saw the 12+ rating. I still believe you can play music on AM, it just has to be the right music. The Problem with WSM-AM right now is the music mix is the worst I've heard it since I moved to Middle Tennessee. They're almost playing too many recurrents and new songs right now. It just sounds off.
when i think wsm, i think of what i heard years ago with an old transister radio late at night..guess i was about 12 at the time..i distinctly remember bobby lord singing life can have meaning..so that will date it..this was just before i discoverd the beatles and WLS and i never listened to country again..but..to me the aura of wsm is the original country station..i don't think i would play anything past 1980...primarily 1960 to 1980..with a couple of flashbacks to the fifties each hour..WSM has become the last bastien of country oldies..and just like the slow demise of rock oldies nationwide, the audience for WSM is slowly dieing off..in another 20 years, if that long, artists like bobby lord, portor,lefty,etc will nothing more than a page in country history..billy walker , chet, and several other opry stars used to be customers at the music store i managed back in the 80's and even then they were very concerned about he future of wsm, the opry, and the legacy of real country music. they fully realized that as the old standard opry stars and artists passed away...would future artists be able to carry the country torch forward in the same classic vein as past stars did..todays artists are manufactured to a certain degree and aimed at the young demographic much in the same way rock artists were back the 60's/70's..IE: here's the next big thing..a couple of hits...on to the next big thing..there are several that have managed to hang around for many years..but many more that have had their flash in the pan..then gone..as i've aged, i now much more appreciate the classic country stars of the 50's/60's/70's..and would much prefer to hear them than the this weeks next big thing..
T
Tenn Radio Boy
Guest
One word-management. The PD never has programmed country before much less AM. The GM is a former sales manger at Cumulus. Gaylord corporation as a radio company is a joke. Maybe they will sell it to someone who appreciates the heritage, but hopefully not one of the current companies in Nashville.
S
scottwmro
Guest
1250WTAE said:
That's because Gaylord let Cumulus have control of not only the sales, but the programming as well. but in the 12 plus range, WSM-AM will never go beyond that. The masses have found out over the past 30 years that there is more out there to get thier music besides AM.
Perhaps it's time for one or more country music legends who are still with us to step up and make a profound investment in the preservation of this genre. And what better way than to make an offer to buy 'SM and ensure its status as a "classic country" beacon. (not unlike Willie Nelson acquiring the rights to the old "Show Biz" syndie library) Then, make sure the PD, right down to the jocks and sales staff, have a passion for the music.
Reading of the station's low ratings and music issues breaks my heart. I can't say that I'm overly fond of modern-day country (ohhh, okay - "strongly dislike") - but I love the old stuff. The "radio romantic" in me loves punching over to 650 if on a nighttime trip. Yes! MUSIC still on the AM dial!
Radio is a business and about making a profit. Gaylord, Cumulus, etc. are in it for the spot sets. Yet, a Willie Nelson might have a different angle toward the station .... thinking long-term about a format that's important to American musical history. If one of them owned it, after all, it would be as much about the music as the sponsors. In the long run, keeping the classic country pumping from that (beautiful) Blaw-Knox tower will keep their music heard - for old ears, and for new ones. Result: album sales - money from royalties, etc. And for each new ear, more ratings for the station.
(Who's playing the fife? And why do I feel like Oliver Douglas giving one of his speeches in Sam Drucker's store?)
--Russell W.
Savannah, Ga.
Reading of the station's low ratings and music issues breaks my heart. I can't say that I'm overly fond of modern-day country (ohhh, okay - "strongly dislike") - but I love the old stuff. The "radio romantic" in me loves punching over to 650 if on a nighttime trip. Yes! MUSIC still on the AM dial!
Radio is a business and about making a profit. Gaylord, Cumulus, etc. are in it for the spot sets. Yet, a Willie Nelson might have a different angle toward the station .... thinking long-term about a format that's important to American musical history. If one of them owned it, after all, it would be as much about the music as the sponsors. In the long run, keeping the classic country pumping from that (beautiful) Blaw-Knox tower will keep their music heard - for old ears, and for new ones. Result: album sales - money from royalties, etc. And for each new ear, more ratings for the station.
(Who's playing the fife? And why do I feel like Oliver Douglas giving one of his speeches in Sam Drucker's store?)
--Russell W.
Savannah, Ga.
S
scottwmro
Guest
Russell W. said:
Russell,
As much as I agree with your comments, and wished that the AM Band would stay the same, tecchnology is not going to let that happen. Stations like WSM, KWKH, etc will fade into the sunset as AM dies.
As we grow older and the younger generation (teens to 30) take over, AM will be almost gone. I'm a 44 year old owner/operator of a 1000 watt AM daytime only station that still plays music. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones because I play what I want. My station's format is Hot AC. While all the other AM stations in this area are news/talk, sports, classic country, religion, or oldies, WMRO is the ONLY station that dares to be different, playing an FM format on AM.
I have 3 gentlemen that are on this board that live in my town that barked at me when I changed the WMRO's format from Oldies to Hot AC. As far as I'm concerned, they need to retire and play thier old music on thier cassette or CD players and leave me alone! They think back to the past when Nashville and surrounding towns were smaller, and the AM station(s) were either country or oldies. This trend seems to hold 90% true, but there are a few left like me who dare to be different.
Now as these smaller towns have grown with Nashville, they have become the suburbs and the small town FM's, and even some of the small town AM's, moved into the metro, giving more of a variety on the FM dial. The once small town AM's now serve an ethnic audience in the metro.
As much as I hate to tell ya, Green Acres and Petticoat Junction have been replaced with Alternative Rock and Progressive Country that crosses over to the CHR and Hot AC charts. Nobody in thier right minds names their girls, Betty Jo, Bobby Jo, or Billie Jo. It's just not Alternative enough, but I must admit, I do like those old shows, but we can not turn back the hands of time and AM radio headed down the same road. Soon the engineer of the cannonball will hang up his hat for satellite radio and Mr. Drucker will be selling HD radios.
S
SwissVol
Guest
scottwmro said:
Does that mean that they finally bar B Q Arnold the pig?
S
scottwmro
Guest
They probably already have! Ow well, I keep hearing about wireless internet radios where you can receive any internet broadcasting station in the world. Anybody know when this will be distributed to the masses?
This means anybody and his brother can have a radio station WITHOUT an FCC license!
This means anybody and his brother can have a radio station WITHOUT an FCC license!
I'm sure it's not easy to run...or program a station like WSM-AM. Granted, a trend is just a trend...it's not a book, but that trend would certainly send me to the drug store for some Pepto. Yes, AM radio seems to be headed to the scrapheap eventually...but...a radio station with the timeless heritage of 'SM (and a 50,000 watt signal) should do better than it is.
I realize (having been a visitor to Music Row a time or two since 1975) that the politics of the music business in Nashville is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Which makes WSM's job even trickier.
All that having been said, though...you guys that are saying the music is off have a point. Let me you walk you through this...
I'm sitting here with a 5 hour "snapshot" monitor of WSM-AM. OK, it's not a 7 day Mediabase run, it's just a sample. But, I see some problems. Now, I'm not going to name specific song titles (to protect the innocent), but here's what I see:
A typical hour in this monitor contains 4 to 6 songs that I would call..."classics".
I see across these 5 hours, songs from the 80's and 90's that were mid-chart or lower part of the Top 10. Some of these songs, I doubt the average listener would call "a classic". One song from the 90's the market leading station I worked for then played for about 6 weeks and dropped. I don't call that a classic, I call it a "stiff".
Even some of the songs they're playing by legitimate "legends" are questionable. (Let's face it: no matter how big an act is or was...certainly there are a few songs they released that today, they might wish they never released.)
It appears as though WSM has gone wide and deep with its' music. Wide...you can be. Too deep is trouble.
Just my opinion here, but if I were them, I'd concentrate on the songs that are truly country classics. If I'm gonna listen to a classic country station, I want to hear "Delta Dawn", "Stand By Your Man", "Fool Hearted Memory", "I Walk The Line", "Crazy", "Lukenbach Texas", along with "Mountain Music", "Seven Year Ache", "I Take A Lot Of Pride In Who I Am" and yes..."He Stopped Lovin' Her Today" and "She Thinks I Still Care" (just to name a few.)
Yes...I'll bet WSM plays these songs...but not enough. They should be concentrating on 500 to 700 (maybe) core songs. (And 700's probably a bit too high, but I'm leaving a fudge factor.)
Next: create a catagory I call "Nashville Proud". This would be a catagory of tightly controlled "Oh Wow" songs from the 50's and 60's and 70's that, may have been big hits in their time, but aren't truly "timeless". Play them twice an hour and emphasize that these are the songs that helped put "Nashville on the map as Music City U.S.A." This will allow them a little wiggle room with the legendary acts who are listeners to the station, to show them they are not forgotten.
Then, once an hour: do a "future legends" song. This is how you play your "Good Directions" by Billy Currington, or "Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. (Who certainly qualifies since she'll soon be an Opry member.)
And, I'm not done, yet. I would work a deal with the Opry to do an "Opry Classic" song maybe once or twice per shift. Air actual Opry performances by the true legends of years gone by...as well as the more recent acts from the 90's and today. It would allow some breathing room in the format and, could promote the Opry show coming up that weekend.
All of this would allow them the "illusion of depth" which a good Oldies station offers, without going so deep that you're playing songs only the artists that recorded them appreciate. The artists are certainly one part of the Nashville community, but there are tens of thousands of others who may be tuning in going, "what the heck is that song?"
And, I would also make sure WSM-AM is top notch at delivering news, traffic, weather and sports information. That's also what people listen to AM radio for. Yeah, full service is more expensive to run. But done right...it also gets better ratings. I say this because I saw a number of AM stations die in the 80's and 90's...the listeners went away when the AM stations tried to play FM's "more music" game, and lost. You need to give the listeners something to listen to that makes them want to put up with AM's crappy sound.
WSM-AM is the one of the few radio stations in America that I think could still pull it off.
I realize (having been a visitor to Music Row a time or two since 1975) that the politics of the music business in Nashville is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Which makes WSM's job even trickier.
All that having been said, though...you guys that are saying the music is off have a point. Let me you walk you through this...
I'm sitting here with a 5 hour "snapshot" monitor of WSM-AM. OK, it's not a 7 day Mediabase run, it's just a sample. But, I see some problems. Now, I'm not going to name specific song titles (to protect the innocent), but here's what I see:
A typical hour in this monitor contains 4 to 6 songs that I would call..."classics".
I see across these 5 hours, songs from the 80's and 90's that were mid-chart or lower part of the Top 10. Some of these songs, I doubt the average listener would call "a classic". One song from the 90's the market leading station I worked for then played for about 6 weeks and dropped. I don't call that a classic, I call it a "stiff".
Even some of the songs they're playing by legitimate "legends" are questionable. (Let's face it: no matter how big an act is or was...certainly there are a few songs they released that today, they might wish they never released.)
It appears as though WSM has gone wide and deep with its' music. Wide...you can be. Too deep is trouble.
Just my opinion here, but if I were them, I'd concentrate on the songs that are truly country classics. If I'm gonna listen to a classic country station, I want to hear "Delta Dawn", "Stand By Your Man", "Fool Hearted Memory", "I Walk The Line", "Crazy", "Lukenbach Texas", along with "Mountain Music", "Seven Year Ache", "I Take A Lot Of Pride In Who I Am" and yes..."He Stopped Lovin' Her Today" and "She Thinks I Still Care" (just to name a few.)
Yes...I'll bet WSM plays these songs...but not enough. They should be concentrating on 500 to 700 (maybe) core songs. (And 700's probably a bit too high, but I'm leaving a fudge factor.)
Next: create a catagory I call "Nashville Proud". This would be a catagory of tightly controlled "Oh Wow" songs from the 50's and 60's and 70's that, may have been big hits in their time, but aren't truly "timeless". Play them twice an hour and emphasize that these are the songs that helped put "Nashville on the map as Music City U.S.A." This will allow them a little wiggle room with the legendary acts who are listeners to the station, to show them they are not forgotten.
Then, once an hour: do a "future legends" song. This is how you play your "Good Directions" by Billy Currington, or "Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. (Who certainly qualifies since she'll soon be an Opry member.)
And, I'm not done, yet. I would work a deal with the Opry to do an "Opry Classic" song maybe once or twice per shift. Air actual Opry performances by the true legends of years gone by...as well as the more recent acts from the 90's and today. It would allow some breathing room in the format and, could promote the Opry show coming up that weekend.
All of this would allow them the "illusion of depth" which a good Oldies station offers, without going so deep that you're playing songs only the artists that recorded them appreciate. The artists are certainly one part of the Nashville community, but there are tens of thousands of others who may be tuning in going, "what the heck is that song?"
And, I would also make sure WSM-AM is top notch at delivering news, traffic, weather and sports information. That's also what people listen to AM radio for. Yeah, full service is more expensive to run. But done right...it also gets better ratings. I say this because I saw a number of AM stations die in the 80's and 90's...the listeners went away when the AM stations tried to play FM's "more music" game, and lost. You need to give the listeners something to listen to that makes them want to put up with AM's crappy sound.
WSM-AM is the one of the few radio stations in America that I think could still pull it off.
I
intheair
Guest
here, here! it is very said that a legend like WSM could be diying. unfotunately, in 2008, the best way to keep a legend alive is to turn it into a News/Talk.
J
jimnmidtn
Guest
Jason, I think your on to something. I also agree they need to beef up their news staff. If they put an emphasis on News and Weather and promoted it, they could go a long way. The News/Talk hole in Nashville is already filled up. But if they go back to Full Service, they have a chance.
E
Evangelist
Guest
I'd like WSM to have more local news. I'd also like for WLAC to as well.
For many years, the station had a large news staff. Many of them were dismissed several years ago in a "budget" move. When WSM made an agreement to have Metro Networks provide their news, they began cutting back on the number of newscasts daily. They could have had the same number of newscasts, etc. under Metro but it was their choice to cut back. If WSM at the time had wanted that much local news, it could have arranged for its newspeople simply to become Metro employees, as has been done successfully in other cities.
For many years, the station had a large news staff. Many of them were dismissed several years ago in a "budget" move. When WSM made an agreement to have Metro Networks provide their news, they began cutting back on the number of newscasts daily. They could have had the same number of newscasts, etc. under Metro but it was their choice to cut back. If WSM at the time had wanted that much local news, it could have arranged for its newspeople simply to become Metro employees, as has been done successfully in other cities.
Quote: If WSM at the time had wanted that much local news, it could have arranged for its newspeople simply to become Metro employees, as has been done successfully in other cities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul,
That was never an option. $$ was why we were let go, and Gaylord had no power to arrange for us to become Metro employees. With our salaries and benefits, which were the best in town at the time for radio news people, we weren't even asked because Metro wouldn't pay that. Jerry Dahman had been fighting for years to keep Metro out. (Plus, I had been there long enough to retire and had a great severence package and didn't have to work for the rest of 2002.) A part timer was kept. period. Metro asked me to send an air check and resume if I were interested. (after nearly 22 years) Don't guess they were familiar with our work. I never responded
At that time we had 3 people and a part timer in news and Jerry Dahman, who by then was not officially in news, was available for us to send out on a story when needed.
By the way....for radio history buffs....that will be 6 years ago this week.
Back before Gaylord, when I first went to work there, they already were looking at ways to "young down" the Opry to get a younger audience. They were aware of what was happening. They are very bright people over there. Carrie Underwood was just added to the cast and they continue to try and make it entertaining. It, in my opinion, is a little like a museum and you have to get local people in as well as those who come for the historical event each weekend. You wouldn't believe how many people used to come just to pose and have their picture made in front of the building next to the call letters.
It was after Gaylord went public the interest shifted from Radio and TV networks to hotels which went along with the background of the guy they brought in. The people in the Wendell building who were there before were all being eased out.
A side note; during my years there, anniversaries were a big deal, whether an opry star or wsm or opry birthday. I found it interesting that in 2005, 20 years after the General Jackson made the trip to town, not a note or celebration of any kind.
Radio ain't what it was (that's for my friends who don't speak and write the good englishl) don't look for the Opry and WSM to die off anytime soon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul,
That was never an option. $$ was why we were let go, and Gaylord had no power to arrange for us to become Metro employees. With our salaries and benefits, which were the best in town at the time for radio news people, we weren't even asked because Metro wouldn't pay that. Jerry Dahman had been fighting for years to keep Metro out. (Plus, I had been there long enough to retire and had a great severence package and didn't have to work for the rest of 2002.) A part timer was kept. period. Metro asked me to send an air check and resume if I were interested. (after nearly 22 years) Don't guess they were familiar with our work. I never responded
At that time we had 3 people and a part timer in news and Jerry Dahman, who by then was not officially in news, was available for us to send out on a story when needed.
By the way....for radio history buffs....that will be 6 years ago this week.
Back before Gaylord, when I first went to work there, they already were looking at ways to "young down" the Opry to get a younger audience. They were aware of what was happening. They are very bright people over there. Carrie Underwood was just added to the cast and they continue to try and make it entertaining. It, in my opinion, is a little like a museum and you have to get local people in as well as those who come for the historical event each weekend. You wouldn't believe how many people used to come just to pose and have their picture made in front of the building next to the call letters.
It was after Gaylord went public the interest shifted from Radio and TV networks to hotels which went along with the background of the guy they brought in. The people in the Wendell building who were there before were all being eased out.
A side note; during my years there, anniversaries were a big deal, whether an opry star or wsm or opry birthday. I found it interesting that in 2005, 20 years after the General Jackson made the trip to town, not a note or celebration of any kind.
Radio ain't what it was (that's for my friends who don't speak and write the good englishl) don't look for the Opry and WSM to die off anytime soon.
olebud said:
Buddy:
I have a great deal of respect for you and all of the people who have spent their days working at a legendary radio station.
Unfortunately, the whole thing boils down to dollars and cents (as you know only too well). The problem is, though: should the trend continue, companies who look hard on a daily basis on the bottom line, will be under severe temptation to continue to make cuts. Eventually the radio station can be eviserated. Once it's obvious listeners are bailing, a format change can't be far behind.
Yes, WSM-AM survived one attempt to flip the format. However, in the climate radio is in today with declining revenues and serious pressure to make budget and add to the bottom line, I'd be very suprised if the station could survive if the slide continues. Now's the time for them to find out what the problem is...and fix it. The next time, complaints and petition campaigns from disgruntled listeners might not be enough. Not with the way radio companies are today. But, I would contend the news cutbacks are part of the problem. The biggest AM stations that survive are the ones that keep their news more or less intact. (Or at least they find a way to cover it adaquately.) The minute news loses to budget cutting, the ratings begin to drop.
I'd doubt anything would happen to the Opry broadcast...(even if the station went talk, there's plenty of reason to keep it on the air.) But, the station is now hovering in the low 2's on a normal basis...(not counting the recent drop below a 2 share). A few years ago, it was still in the 4's. And you're totally correct about the "museum" feel about the Opry...but yes, they also needed to bring it into the 21st Century. I'm sorry to see it cutting some time for veterans and legends, but you have to go with what brings people to the party and into the seats.
I hope and pray the station gets a handle on things. Losing that one would be like tearing down the Washington Monument to make way for a parking lot...a situation far worse than losing any legendary AM rock and roll station.
E
Evangelist
Guest
olebud said:
Buddy--I was watching on the other end of things when Metro first tried to get WSM. This was several years before it actually happened. (Mid to late 90s--I remember the first time the bigwigs came marching into our suite at First American Center to work on this.) The corporate guys told us their plan was to provide WSM's news and make most (not all) of the news staff employees of Metro. This has been done in other cities and the Gaylord folks could've asked for that. Maybe they did not realize they could, but it has happened with other stations in other cities. It's unfortunate that the WSM news veterans were booted. I wish that had not happened. (The actual takeover happened between my tenures there.)
As for the pay issue, I am glad that WSM paid its newspeople well. So many stations, as you know, do not. You and so many others we could both name did good work there over the years. I know because I competed against you guys for a long time. When Jerry Dahmen came on my TV show to plug his first book, I said on-camera, "We used to hate this guy at awards time," which broke Jerry up.
Not to change the subject, but why did WSM have to jump through all Gaylord's personnel hoops just to interview and hire someone? A former management type at WSM told me once that "if God wanted a job here, He'd have to go through personnel." I ask because I got a couple of rejection letters telling me my experience was "not suited" for radio news positions. Never had trouble getting interviews and job offers from other stations--always thought the personnel gate-keepers were a bit much. I also got a rejection letter when Ralph Emery's TNN gig came open due to his retirement--and I didn't even apply for that job. ???
Paul,
I am uncomfortable talking about pay...but believe me...Metro would/could not match the pay/benefits Jerry and I had. I had more than 20 years and retirement funded and Jerry had 17 years. The other two, the late Jim Ellis and Katy I can't speak for as to whether Metro approached them. Kevin Batts, the best part-timer ever was approached by Metro and asked me if I would mind him continuing. His goal was to be able to work 20 years at WSM. Kevin had worked with us for 17 years, working over-nights every Friday and Saturday, almost never asking for time off and always had stories, with sound, he got every weekend. Did I mention that while working his full time job with the state and every weekend with us, he went to law school and got his law degree? He's an attorney with the state now. A real jewel and one of a kind.
As stated earlier, we knew about Metro from the first time they made an offer. Jerry had contacts and friends in high places at the Wendell building who liked what we did and how we did it and didnt want to, what they called, down-grade what we had built and were doing. (their words)
We appreciated what you call 'hoops' we had to jump through. When jobs were posted we frequently had cooks and room cleaners from the Opryland hotel apply for news jobs when they were posted on the Gaylord list. Personnel took care of checking out the folks so Jerry and I didn't have to. Those who had credentials were brought in for interviews and we sent personnel our choice. But having them there was great for us.
On the news department breakup, we saw that coming a couple of years earlier and when the final shoe fell, news was only a shell of what it had been. We were promised more people, even tried to cut corners. Were told if we'd drop the wire service another reporter would be added. Never Happened.
I'm guessing, but I think...remember I dont remember like I used to...during the last five years, we didn't replace anyone who left. And it wasn't that they had anything against us. They didn't see news as a money maker and it was a management decision. I understand --- it's their business, they need to run it to make money, that's the name of the game. I didn't like it on the personal level, but hey, the Gaylords didn't take me to raise and I felt I earned what they payed me. They just chose not to pay me any more but they were very professional with their 'get out of here' package. They payed for some of us to attend a "career changing" class in Brentwood. Most of my fellow attendees there were CFOs, CEOs and upper management types. It was very educational and fun and Gaylord didn't have to do it, but they did. That's the kind of business people they were. And they were business people, and NOT radio people. I guess that's enough for me. I try not to bore folks with too many posts but seem to write forever when I do. Thank you for your time. BS
I am uncomfortable talking about pay...but believe me...Metro would/could not match the pay/benefits Jerry and I had. I had more than 20 years and retirement funded and Jerry had 17 years. The other two, the late Jim Ellis and Katy I can't speak for as to whether Metro approached them. Kevin Batts, the best part-timer ever was approached by Metro and asked me if I would mind him continuing. His goal was to be able to work 20 years at WSM. Kevin had worked with us for 17 years, working over-nights every Friday and Saturday, almost never asking for time off and always had stories, with sound, he got every weekend. Did I mention that while working his full time job with the state and every weekend with us, he went to law school and got his law degree? He's an attorney with the state now. A real jewel and one of a kind.
As stated earlier, we knew about Metro from the first time they made an offer. Jerry had contacts and friends in high places at the Wendell building who liked what we did and how we did it and didnt want to, what they called, down-grade what we had built and were doing. (their words)
We appreciated what you call 'hoops' we had to jump through. When jobs were posted we frequently had cooks and room cleaners from the Opryland hotel apply for news jobs when they were posted on the Gaylord list. Personnel took care of checking out the folks so Jerry and I didn't have to. Those who had credentials were brought in for interviews and we sent personnel our choice. But having them there was great for us.
On the news department breakup, we saw that coming a couple of years earlier and when the final shoe fell, news was only a shell of what it had been. We were promised more people, even tried to cut corners. Were told if we'd drop the wire service another reporter would be added. Never Happened.
I'm guessing, but I think...remember I dont remember like I used to...during the last five years, we didn't replace anyone who left. And it wasn't that they had anything against us. They didn't see news as a money maker and it was a management decision. I understand --- it's their business, they need to run it to make money, that's the name of the game. I didn't like it on the personal level, but hey, the Gaylords didn't take me to raise and I felt I earned what they payed me. They just chose not to pay me any more but they were very professional with their 'get out of here' package. They payed for some of us to attend a "career changing" class in Brentwood. Most of my fellow attendees there were CFOs, CEOs and upper management types. It was very educational and fun and Gaylord didn't have to do it, but they did. That's the kind of business people they were. And they were business people, and NOT radio people. I guess that's enough for me. I try not to bore folks with too many posts but seem to write forever when I do. Thank you for your time. BS
scottwmro said:
Hi, Scott--
I think my thrust behind this post was misunderstood ... I'm certainly not of the delusion that Hooterville lives on in 2008. I as much as anyone know -- generally speaking (!) -- that music on AM is nearly dead and not coming back. I just had this perception, naive as some might call it, that WSM-AM was and is a different case. That stations like WSM, with its nighttime signal, could still serve a higher purpose ... and still turn a buck or two.
I'm 43, and while teenagers (I have one myself) will never go near the band switch on any radio, I'd think there's still enough life left in a lot of us to keep AM alive - with tunes on a few of 'em - for another decade or two. My parents are in their mid 60s and grew up with AM, and with life expectancies what they are, they'll be around at least 15-20 years. Knock on wood.
Even with most stations practically telling anyone over 35 to shut up, take our Geritol and head to Branson, there's too much historical significance with WSM-AM. Or so I would think.
Or maybe that's the "romantic" in me taking over again.
For lunch, I'll have the #2 Arnold rib plate, with fries and a sweet tea.
--Russell W.
Savannah, Ga.
- Status