You're the PD

[Dr. o Fun]

"The Blast From The Past!" Rock-N-Roll Station,,,,KOOK-FM,,,"We Remember what You've Forgotten!"
Format: Rock-N-Roll (1964-1979) "The Deep Album Cuts"

Consider this... you're jammin' on your deep cuts when...

One day, the GM pops in and asks about a song from last night....

"I was out to dinner with my wife, who is a big fan of your station, and she was surprised by a song she didn't know...what was it?"

You happily answer, thinking that you'll help him impress his wife with the creativity and musical acumen of the station, but instead you get the speech on familiarity and the "if my wife doesn't know it, we shouldn't play it" dictate.

Not surprisingly, a day or two later comes the call from the Group VP/Programming or the Consultant...who will ask:

"What's with this group of strange titles you're playing?"

And you respond: "These are some depth tracks that I've popped in for spice in special features"

Consultant: "I see....did we test them?"

PD: "Well, no...but these are great tracks this market will respond to"

Consultant: "How do you know that?"

PD: "My jocks tell me that the phones are hot for this stuff or I played them in (market) at my last gig."

Consultant: "I see. So, you're willing to gamble the $40,000 a year the company gives you for research against the word of your jocks for a few untested, unproven, unknowable titles?....OK...it's your career."

End of depth discussion.

dr

 

[scottythecynic]

Your scenario is all well and good, my friend. But where is the maverick nature of people anymore? That's why people are fleeing to other mediums.

 

[Dr. o Fun]

Honestly, I do have the maverick spirit. I just copied and pasted someone else's answer regarding a deep cuts format after I posted a similar message -- http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,106251.30.html

The problem lies with too many chiefs and not letting a creative PD do his job. From consultants to the GM's wife, everybody has their hand at programming.

I spoke with the PD of KSLX/Phoenix last Wednesday and, after talking business, I told him that, every time I travel to Arizona, I look forward to listening to his station because, invariably, each time I tune in I can count on saying, "Damn, I haven't heard that song in years!" It's the perfect mix of Classic Rock tunes we all know and love mixed in with a sprinkling a deep cuts.

It's the only place I know of where you can hear Eddie Money's "Two Tickets to Paradise" followed by Billy Thorpe's "Children of the Sun" and The Cars' "Good Time Roll" (as played this morning at 1:15 A.M. MST).

Are you listening, KZPS?

dr

 

[scottythecynic]

I hear you, Dr and I agree. Creativity has been replaced by cookie cutter programming. That is the epitome of boring. That's why I like what The Bone is doing right now.

 

[ChainSmirker]

An even crazier idea:

Devote some time to playing music by local artists that nobody has heard of (yet). I don't mean established nationally-famous chart-toppers who happen to have lived in the metroplex once upon a time.

I know, I know... nowadays artists aren't "discovered", they're manufactured. But even the Beatles were an unknown local act once.

 

[ButtnPushr]

An even crazier idea:

Devote some time to playing music by local artists that nobody has heard of (yet). I don't mean established nationally-famous chart-toppers who happen to have lived in the metroplex once upon a time.

I know, I know... nowadays artists aren't "discovered", they're manufactured. But even the Beatles were an unknown local act once.

Oh, you mean like 95.9 The Ranch is doing??

 

[DownYonder]

"The Blast From The Past!" Rock-N-Roll Station,,,,KOOK-FM,,,"We Remember what You've Forgotten!"
Format: Rock-N-Roll (1964-1979) "The Deep Album Cuts"

Consider this... you're jammin' on your deep cuts when...

One day, the GM pops in and asks about a song from last night....

"I was out to dinner with my wife, who is a big fan of your station, and she was surprised by a song she didn't know...what was it?"

You happily answer, thinking that you'll help him impress his wife with the creativity and musical acumen of the station, but instead you get the speech on familiarity and the "if my wife doesn't know it, we shouldn't play it" dictate.

Not surprisingly, a day or two later comes the call from the Group VP/Programming or the Consultant...who will ask:

"What's with this group of strange titles you're playing?"

And you respond: "These are some depth tracks that I've popped in for spice in special features"

Consultant: "I see....did we test them?"

PD: "Well, no...but these are great tracks this market will respond to"

Consultant: "How do you know that?"

PD: "My jocks tell me that the phones are hot for this stuff or I played them in (market) at my last gig."

Consultant: "I see. So, you're willing to gamble the $40,000 a year the company gives you for research against the word of your jocks for a few untested, unproven, unknowable titles?....OK...it's your career."

End of depth discussion.

dr

I swear you've been around the same people I have.

The Mr or Mrs. "I Know everything there is to know about this market and it's listeners." "I know I've only been here six months and you've been here your entire life and worked this market 10 plus years, but do you see this sign on my door. It translates to "I know everything and your input does not matter." Now excuse me, I take this phone. It's very important. The person on the other end wants me to explain to them just how important I am. Get back to playing 10 songs and occasional gold. We'll be fine. Remember, I mentored Marconi.