Lee Abrams

[The Sigon]

I'm sure no one here needs me to tell you who Lee Abrams is. You probably also know he's left XM for a new job, Chief Innovations Officer for Tribune Media in Chicago.

Regardless...checking his blog, an interesting observation.

"There’s a new Rock Station in NYC. Hope it does well. the fact that there really isn't a rock station in NYC is symbolic of how radio has helped unwind music appreciation in America. Rock radio in particular has shot itself in the foot. Bowing to “laws of programming” that are insane. New CD by major artist comes out---you hear “the single”. Cool new sound comes out—Uh Oh…can’t play it because it didn’t “test well”. Let’s ‘trick’ listeners with marketing slogans about how we “really rock”! I sure still get a lot of heat for over sciencing radio…but when I was a consultant, it was really more about common sense than the “police-state” radio that exists now…plus there were always alternatives. I look around at how vanilla and junk culture it is now, and it’s sad…then again, it’s opened up the floodgates to amazing new technologies like satellite radio, Internet and I-Pods. BUT---in a hundred years, no doubt that radio’s creative death will be part of the study of American cultural downfall. I blame MANY (though of course not all) of the people running the stations. Sheep. McDonalds radio? No—McDonalds always innovates intelligently...most doesn't. Hell, they don't even WANT to."

Love the guy or blame him for what we have today, he keeps on moving up and doesn't look back except to shake his head in his own wake.

[Nokmo True]

Lee Abrams:

"...Rock radio in particular has shot itself in the foot. Bowing to “laws of programming” that are insane. New CD by major artist comes out---you hear “the single”. Cool new sound comes out—Uh Oh…can’t play it because it didn’t “test well”. Let’s ‘trick’ listeners with marketing slogans about how we “really rock”!

...in a hundred years, no doubt that radio’s creative death will be part of the study of American cultural downfall. I blame MANY (though of course not all) of the people running the stations. Sheep."

Well if that's not hitting the nail on the head I don't know what is. How many PD's or GM's (rock or otherwise) can read this and look themselves in the mirror? If only they knew that we know too...and have known all along that they are just as full of s _ _ t as anyone else in the business, good (or in many cases lucky) at one thing, maneuvering themselves into an office.

And on we will continue until the very last penny has been wrung from it all. Then we'll try something else...will it be commonsense and instinct? Haven't seen that in a long time. And it'll probably be too late. Bastards, all of you.