Slam! Take that Frank!

[ray ting]

Whoops, Radiodeity.  If I owe you an apology, please accept it.  It wasn't my intention to appear that I was bashing your opinions or questions.  Very sorry if my last post made it seem that way, because you said nothing "bashable".  You bring up some excellent thoughts.

And further, your observations about radio now vis a vis the 1960's are very astute. 

[Radiodeity]

Whoops, Radiodeity.  If I owe you an apology, please accept it.  It wasn't my intention to appear that I was bashing your opinions or questions.  Very sorry if my last post made it seem that way, because you said nothing "bashable".  You bring up some excellent thoughts.

And further, your observations about radio now vis a vis the 1960's are very astute.  

No offence taken. I was agreeing that I too wasn't trying to bash any stations per se just that sometimes things get heated and there are those who feel it's their duty to come to the rescue of their workplace. My thoughts indicated that sometimes it’s for naught since in some cases if they wait a few months they will be working for the company who owns the station across the street. That’s why I don’t bother to try “protecting” any station getting beat up since it seems like the loyalty you show gets rewarded with long hours, low pay and a pink slip after a few years anyway. So why bother. Come to work, do your job, go home – that’s it. No use getting all twisted up inside over a few tenths of a ratings point.

It’s pointless.

Get it? Pointless… AHAHAhahah….  Ahem…

Sorry, that was pretty bad. Must be out of practice from reading all those liner cards.   

[Mark Decker]

So BLM is still in their A to Z? And they're only on the "R" songs? OMG! That means they're playing obscure songs that the majority of their listeners don't even know...just so they can show everyone "We've got a big library." Forget the fact that most of their listeners don't really care.

Ask yourself this, would I rather have the opportunity to win $100 an hour weekdays 9 to 5, and a chance to win $10,000 or hear "Lunatic Fringe" by Red Rider. I'll bet the average listener will go with the money.

It's been a long time since I've replied to anything on this site, the first since they made the changeover, but I feel a need to comment on this.

I don't see the logic of arguing what listeners would like more.  In this case, and in this day and age, I think it would be split right down the middle, at best.  Many listeners are not swayed by this small contest of "win a $100".  From my perspective, it excites only the adolescent crowd, and the typically poor or homeless (which would not be any station's target audience because there would be little-to-no profit generated for the advertiser from their money spent on ads).  It is likened to purchasing scratch-off tickets, only scratch-off tickets are more enticing because you aren't required to be the "correct caller" or listening for your chance to win, and you can gratify your urge as soon as you go to your convenience store of choice.  Further, national call-in contests have continued to cloud the chances and many people are aware of this. 

So, I would say that the value of the programming is going to override the contests set forth, unless it's something big.  That being said, I'm not sure I enjoy listening to an audio alphabetical listing of a music library.  To me, that would sound pretty disjointed.  Frank might have the right idea of keeping it simple, and may be entertaining enough for the average listener to say "Hey, I've heard that song before, but I think it's cool to hear it next to an artist of a similar name."   While Blimp overpowers them in their catalog, which is admirable, it runs the risk of becoming "oh my gawd, they aren't done YET??"

My opinion has always been, rotate hits in with obscure music so as to keep listeners from thinking the station is the same old thing all the time.

[Radiodeity]

My opinion has always been, rotate hits in with obscure music so as to keep listeners from thinking the station is the same old thing all the time.

That's one of the best things I've "heard" here in a long time. Keep running the "cookie-cutter" programmed format but throw in an obscure song once or twice an hour for flavor. Kind of like... I like a really good steak cooked to perfection. The aroma, visual impact and then the ummmm taste. But you know what? If I were to have a perfect steak every evening - I'd get pretty damn sick of that really fast.

But of course, radio is different than a good meal. Most people have been "programmed" to today's terrestial radio - cookie cutter, boring, predictable. But it's easy.... Click a switch and it's there to fill a room with "noise" so it doesn't seem so lonely. (Ever try shopping in a big grocery store when the Muzak isn't playing? It's a really weird feeling, a bit spooky.)

But I'm getting off track, so I'll stop now. 

[Mark Decker]

I think that's a compliment, so I'll take it as such.  The best I can hope for, I think.  LOL, but seriously, I'd like to know more of your view on the "same steak" scenario. 

I will agree with you on one thing.  Creating a station that is completely diverse, and yet flows is not easy, it's pretty difficult,  and mainstream radio today doesn't support that kind of talent or dedication financially.  While LPFM's hack away at it to some degree of success, they don't have the budget to really fine-tune it like it could be.  So the euphoric sounds that could come to be, never come to pass because that sort of talent is hard to find (for someone that CAN recognize it), which equals more expensive to obtain, and therefore passed over.

That hasn't stopped me from conceptualizing all the time, however.  But all I can do right now is dream. 

[Mark Decker]

This isn’t the 1960’s when listeners would want to hear what you had to say because it was informative, news worthy or entertaining. But when you are now relegated to reading liner cards and repeating the “brand” between every song – you aren’t that person we used to know and love back then. You have no creative control which, I believe, is why radio today seems so cookie cutter and boring. Sorry guys – you could be replaced by a computer and no one would be the wiser - or even care.

I agree, deity, and it's a damn shame.  I'd love to see that kind of personality shine through again.  And I, such as yourself, see there being no imminent change in the way stations are operated to support that, which is why I'm no longer in radio.  Yet, I never give up the dream.

[argytunes]

 

nhradiochild...

NOBODY should give up on the dream of formulating a "great radio station!"

But the days of trying to be "the one station all listeners can depend on" are history! There's no station that can satisfy all tastes and age groups...even though several claim that they do!

I guess if each of us had an unlimited amount of cash...and we weren't concerned about 'numbers' (the way a lot of radio stations seem to be)...we could offer ANY type of programming? 

Does anybody reading this thread remember the 'punk country' format?   One of the bigger hits was: "I wanna whip your cow....come on and show me how?"   

argytunes