Remember when DJs were DJs?

[Steven Roy]

Remember when gas was 34 cents a gallon? When radio was only on AM?  When there were only a few thousand stations total?  When phones needed wires?  This thread is ridiculous.  Your childhood ain't comin' back.  Grow up!  It's time for social security.

Hey there one with TheBigA. Maybe you're too young to remember when radio didn't suck.

[TheBigA]

Every generation believes it grew up with the best music, the best radio, and the best culture.  I interviewed radio pioneer Hy Brown, who felt that local DJs ruined radio because they killed off radio drama and live music.  The boomers all think the era of big AM radio jocks was the best time in radio.  But it was killed off by Docket 80-90, personal music devices, and the consolidation of the music industry.  It's just a fact of life.  Things change.  And for some people, any kind of change sucks.  You learn how to accept it and deal with it.  Nothing remains the same as it ever was.

[calguy]

Every generation believes it grew up with the best music, the best radio, and the best culture.  I interviewed radio pioneer Hy Brown, who felt that local DJs ruined radio because they killed off radio drama and live music.  The boomers all think the era of big AM radio jocks was the best time in radio.  But it was killed off by Docket 80-90, personal music devices, and the consolidation of the music industry.  It's just a fact of life.  Things change.  And for some people, any kind of change sucks.  You learn how to accept it and deal with it.  Nothing remains the same as it ever was.

True, you're correct.  And since I'm not only a boomer, but a radio veteran "I" pine for those days because back then the jocks didn't sound like your neighbor's teenager. You had to have talent, a great voice (no matter what your age was) and an understanding of radio.  For almost 2 decades I've trained new jocks when they would arrive at my station and as time went on I found I needed to teach even the basics to these new hires.  They didn't know squat. Couldn't maintain a program log and lets not even speak of a transmitter log.  Deregulation and the abolishment of licensing opened up a whole new era of ignorance and ineptitude. Now, all you need to do is be young and work cheap to get to a major market.  And if that isn't bad enough, now the NAB is asking the FCC for more deregulation.  The idiots are now running every asylum... Change sucks the most when you can't get hired because the jobs have gone.  What's worse, in many cases they don't want you if you are polished and have too big of a voice. So much for having experience and a great track record, now you need to sound unprofessional. Not a problem there, just turn on the radio and you'll hear it.

By the way, TV killed off network radio. Not local dj's, and yes, if you worked in radio back in the AM radio jock days, it was the best time in radio...  I know, I "lived it" during it's waning days...  I don't have to like change, but I have adapted and dealt with it, that was taught to me by my radio teacher from day one.   

[TheBigA]

TV killed off network radio. Not local dj's,  

But local DJs playing recorded music provided a cheap alternative to live local bands.  That's why the musicians union sued to keep recorded music off the radio.  And local DJs meant the radio station kept all of the money, rather than sharing it with the radio network.  The quality of the content wasn't the deciding factor in the 50s, but the money.  Which is exactly the same motivation today.  Which is why I say, to all those who bemoan the end of local DJs, what goes around comes around.

[Engineer]

I grew up in Sacramento (I'm living on the east coast now) and I remember KWOD in all its incarnations of Top 40 until it went "progressive" - which I loved too. 22 years later, and yeah, I remember Willy B., Adam Smasher, Panama Jack, and lots of other names on that station. My Cub Scout group even toured the studios. I remember Mark S. Allen on FM102 living on a billboard and the station's "Video Van" with a big-screen TV bolted into the back, and giant boomboxes on a trailer at the state fair. I'd record songs on cassette from KWOD, KSFM, 97 KROY, KZAP, and 93 Rock and I'd call in to win. Arrow 108 brought the Arrow Camaro to my high school one day.

Yes, DJs were DJs. We may look back on it now and call it corny or overdone by today's standards but back then radio did its best to put on a show, and it was top-of-mind entertainment for lots of people. We're only part of a much broader media spectrum now, for sure, but maybe we have lost some of our DNA. 20 years from now, are you going to remember who was voice-tracking middays from out of town?

[TheBigA]

20 years from now, are you going to remember who was voice-tracking middays from out of town?

Not described that way.  You may not remember the person.  But you may remember what he did. 

[calguy]

TV killed off network radio. Not local dj's,  

But local DJs playing recorded music provided a cheap alternative to live local bands.  That's why the musicians union sued to keep recorded music off the radio.  And local DJs meant the radio station kept all of the money, rather than sharing it with the radio network.  The quality of the content wasn't the deciding factor in the 50s, but the money.  Which is exactly the same motivation today.  Which is why I say, to all those who bemoan the end of local DJs, what goes around comes around.

True as well, but I felt it was a minor part of the story.  Content quality or not, TV would eventually kill network radio anyway without help from the local air-talent.  Many of the most successful shows were moving to TV in the early 50's. Some transitioned by doing both for a while.  A great example is the Jack Benny show. It took a few more years to get Gunsmoke there, but it went to TV too. It's was the natural progression.  What is today's natural progression?  Probably the internet.

[Tom_KYA1260]

Remember these days, when DJs were actually DJs?  When the "Jock in the Box" didn't exist?  When radio stations practiced radio and weren't simply investment companies?

Yes.

http://www.youtube.com/RadioAirchecks

[Bossjocksforever]

[EDIT]
When you can play a 1:27 second song then take the 9th caller and get a winner,then edit it on a Reel to Reel and have it done in time for the 50 break,That is next,then come back and talk you're Digi crap. You  jox today have NO CLUE about being a live jock and doing a 4 hr balls to the wall shift. Thats right,NO 15 minute bathroom songs and YOU are actualy mixing the music and loading it all by yourself.Oh and lets not forget reading a log.(whats that right)the robot does everything.LMFAO that is untill it crashes and then the PD comes in and wonders if those cart machines are still wired up or the reel to reel is still in the control room for backup.People like you make me sick.Come back in 20 plus years if you want to talk real radio.[EDIT]


[EDIT-disruption]

[1069_KIFR]

I remember. Now they are called On-Air Personalities!