Radio's Past and an idea!

[NoItAll88]

After reading many posts from "ghosts of radio's past," it makes me feel very sad to see how a business can make people so bitter. I come here to for interesting discussion on the CURRENT state of radio. [EDIT]

Can we all agree that 95% of the time, ANY CHANGE to a radio station or heaven forbid NEW IDEA is shot down and demonized before it even has a chance to succeed?

VETERANS: Much respect for what you accomplished in THE PAST. What should we do for the future?

If this thread stays alive, I would like to see each person, bitter or not or employed or not, suggest a way to keep this medium we all love going strong.


[EDIT-disruption]

[Turnpike Tuner]

VETERANS: Much respect for what you accomplished in THE PAST. What should we do for the future?

If this thread stays alive, I would like to see each person, bitter or not or employed or not, suggest a way to keep this medium we all love going strong.

Personally, I'd like to see better use of social networking and web presence from radio stations. Maybe hold jock meetings where the interactive/web department can show how to use the stations Facebook/Twitter/jock blogs as effective tools for connecting and communicating with listeners rather than "HEY LISTEN TO WIN AT 7:20 FOR RANDOM PRIZE." Forming (two way) connections with listeners on air & online is what makes us different from a iPod, and strengthening that can only make the station stronger and a more appealing brand to advertisers.

The other thing that seems to be lacking is marketing. Throwing up a couple billboards on Rt.9 and hoping it will work is NOT an effective way to get someone to know you exist. Work out a deal with Comcast or Cablevision to run ads on cable channels (see if they are willing to trade!), have the commercial produced in house, and make a go of it. Trade out ads in the newspaper - work it out so you run a daily ad of what articles are in that days paper (or online), interview a columnist during the morning show, and BOOM, full or half page ads with minimal cash outlay.

Top 40 station? High school football season is here - why not talk to local schools and send the promotions team out to the game..hell..if you have a jock who knows how to call a game, have be a guest commentator for the game. Gets the station involved a bit with the community, and helps get the station in front of young ears...ones that will be the coveted twentysomething spenders in a few years.

[Tom Wells]

I think radio has done enough of calling attention to other forms of media.

Never could understand why they would run ads for TV shows, or anything that detracts form TSL.

"Hey! Don't listen to Joe Jock this evening on K---, watch this show on ABC, here a plug for some other media!"

Now suggest they spend time on Twitter instead of listening?

How about spots that say "Forget US, just surf the internet...Nothing's gonna be happening HERE!"

[Kevin TRC]

I think I'm in that same boat.  Social media is a good thing, but too much of a good thing isn't a good thing anymore.  There's nothing wrong with being the 10th caller IMHO.

[gr8oldies]

You cannot pretend that other media does not exist and claim to be in touch with your audience, who does watch TV, hang out on Twitter, go to movies, take walks, etc. Two way conversations on social media is essential...even to truly find out what's going on now.

[kewgardens]

Yes all this is great (social netorking, outside promotions) pre-supposing your station or cluster still has the people and promotional dollars to pull it off.  My experience over the last three to four years is that both of those factors have diminished at a steep and steady rate.  There are few people left at many facilities to do RADIO properly let alone find the time to engage in social networking.  Marketing dollars?  Forget about it!

[bturner]

I had a boss who said nothing is as important as what we (the radio station) does.  Calling attention to those competitors for media consumption is saying what you do on your station is not as good or worthy to the listener.  That boss said we didn't have to think everything else (TV/Internet/Newspaper, etc), but we had to be the most compelling and interesting.  I believe this.  Other media options are good...very good.  What are you doing on the air to be more compelling?

I feel radio, for the most part, is lacking in an emotional bond with the listener.  The listener must like you, find you interesting and feel they have something in common with the radio station, regardless of format.  How many talk radio listeners really tune in the national talk shows because they want a daily dose of politics and want to feel frustrated.  I think most listen because they 'like' or 'identify' with the hosts because an emotional connection has been made between the listener and the radio station.

Bill

[Sam Lit]

I think I'm in that same boat.  Social media is a good thing, but too much of a good thing isn't a good thing anymore.  There's nothing wrong with being the 10th caller IMHO.

Yes there is. That's the problem with radio. The 10th caller. When will radio wake up and make it the 11 caller? 

[DominiqueRadio]

No matter how hard you try radio is a sinking ship.

The future is.... INTERNET RADIO!

Watch, when wifi becomes standard in all cars internet radio is going to take over.  How you may ask?  Towers, repairs, station vehicles, large staff are all expensive to maintain.  With internet radio you get a far wider range of potential listeners (global) and for far less cost.  Literally a station could be a one man operation.

Like it or not this IS going to happen.

[MedianJ]

I think I'm in that same boat.  Social media is a good thing, but too much of a good thing isn't a good thing anymore.  There's nothing wrong with being the 10th caller IMHO.

Yes there is. That's the problem with radio. The 10th caller. When will radio wake up and make it the 11 caller? 

Sam Lit is correct again, shake things up.  An example of what good radio sounds like was heard today by Jersey radio icon Big Jay who moved up and out of Trenton to the #1 market and the #1 Oldies station in the country. Some times it's just listening to the older pros that can take radio into it's future.

Radio is a business, not a hobby.