Comments on: Radio Rantings http://www.sundriesshack.com/2004/08/11/radio-rantings/ Delivering the Best of the New Media Since 2004. Mon, 14 May 2012 14:27:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jimmiehttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2004/08/11/radio-rantings/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Jimmie Thu, 12 Aug 2004 08:35:30 +0000 /?p=571#comment-51 Jon, I have worked in a radio station. It's hell having to play the same stuff over and over again. And I know that radio programming is pretty much an automatic science. You pick the format and you get the whole package down to the minute of airtime. It's been gone over by marketing guys and radio managers until pretty much every ounce of "real" is pretty much gone. I just don't know that it has to be that way. Sometimes it isn't. That's where the talk format has been so successful, I think. It's not prepackaged pap, for the most part, and people like that. We have a relatively good market here in DC and I know my complaints could easily be said in just about every other market. That's part of the problem though, isn't it? You could get a format change, perhaps, but those almost never happen outside of the circumstances I mentioned before. It's the inertia of the "radio station machine" that keeps it really from happening. As long as the station gets some ratings, it won't go anywhere. Jon, I have worked in a radio station. It's hell having to play the same stuff over and over again. And I know that radio programming is pretty much an automatic science. You pick the format and you get the whole package down to the minute of airtime. It's been gone over by marketing guys and radio managers until pretty much every ounce of "real" is pretty much gone. I just don't know that it has to be that way. Sometimes it isn't. That's where the talk format has been so successful, I think. It's not prepackaged pap, for the most part, and people like that.

We have a relatively good market here in DC and I know my complaints could easily be said in just about every other market. That's part of the problem though, isn't it? You could get a format change, perhaps, but those almost never happen outside of the circumstances I mentioned before. It's the inertia of the "radio station machine" that keeps it really from happening. As long as the station gets some ratings, it won't go anywhere.

]]> By: Jon Henkehttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2004/08/11/radio-rantings/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Jon Henke Thu, 12 Aug 2004 06:06:40 +0000 /?p=571#comment-50 A station that plays what you want to hear? Well, since there aren't 280 million radio stations in the US--and that's what it would take--you'll have to settle for one of two things: 1: The middle-of-the-road stuff available. 2: CDs. The latter, of course, is a "station" that always plays exactly what you want to hear. :) Seriously, I know it's frustrating, but it's frustrating for the radio stations, too. You think you're tired of those same old songs? Imagine working there. Oddly, people everywhere think radio stinks in there town, but it's great elsewhere. I think HFS and DC101 are pretty great stations, for example. I'd love to have that many news/talk stations. I'm in Richmond. It's probably pretty similar down here, but downsized a bit for the smaller market. A station that plays what you want to hear? Well, since there aren't 280 million radio stations in the US–and that's what it would take–you'll have to settle for one of two things:

1: The middle-of-the-road stuff available.

2: CDs.

The latter, of course, is a "station" that always plays exactly what you want to hear. :)

Seriously, I know it's frustrating, but it's frustrating for the radio stations, too. You think you're tired of those same old songs? Imagine working there.

Oddly, people everywhere think radio stinks in there town, but it's great elsewhere. I think HFS and DC101 are pretty great stations, for example. I'd love to have that many news/talk stations.

I'm in Richmond. It's probably pretty similar down here, but downsized a bit for the smaller market.

]]> By: Jimmiehttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2004/08/11/radio-rantings/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Jimmie Wed, 11 Aug 2004 22:14:54 +0000 /?p=571#comment-49 Oh no, I understand that, Jon. I spent a litle time in my youth at a small AM station here locally and I got my fill, even at that level, of market studies and ratings and all sorts of format surveys and such. I suppose what I'm after is a station that plays what I want to hear. I can't imagine I'm the only person who feels that way, though I admit it's possible. Format shifts don't happen very often. The only times I can recall them happening, at least in this area, is if the ratings are completely in the tank or if the station changes owners. Neither of those things are very likely in my particular market (especially given that Clear Channel owns a few and isn't intent on giving them up), so I'm pretty much stuck with what's there. Oh no, I understand that, Jon. I spent a litle time in my youth at a small AM station here locally and I got my fill, even at that level, of market studies and ratings and all sorts of format surveys and such.

I suppose what I'm after is a station that plays what I want to hear. I can't imagine I'm the only person who feels that way, though I admit it's possible. Format shifts don't happen very often. The only times I can recall them happening, at least in this area, is if the ratings are completely in the tank or if the station changes owners. Neither of those things are very likely in my particular market (especially given that Clear Channel owns a few and isn't intent on giving them up), so I'm pretty much stuck with what's there.

]]> By: QandOhttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2004/08/11/radio-rantings/comment-page-1/#comment-48 QandO Wed, 11 Aug 2004 18:54:50 +0000 /?p=571#comment-48 <strong>Quick Hits</strong> A few assorted things kicking around..... *** Is everybody checking the right-hand sidebar? We've installed four things over there.... A link to the Weekly QandO Roundup of our best posts - (really, it's very good stuff, if you like this... Quick Hits
A few assorted things kicking around….. *** Is everybody checking the right-hand sidebar? We’ve installed four things over there…. A link to the Weekly QandO Roundup of our best posts – (really, it’s very good stuff, if you like this…

]]> By: Jon Henkehttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2004/08/11/radio-rantings/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Jon Henke Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:25:49 +0000 /?p=571#comment-47 Rest assured, Jimmie, you're not suggesting anything they haven't thought of already. Fact is, radio is a business just like any other, and they exist to make money. If the kind of stations--or format shifts--you suggest would make more money, they'd be on them like a Lite station on Celine Dion. They don't. Or, at least, they don't do so in a provable, consistent fashion. Radio stations aren't run by morons. Those little annoying quirks--playlists too small, out-of-era music, etc--those are all heavily researched, and designed to appeal to the stations core listeners. Listeners always think they understand something the radio station doesn't, but radio does't spend millions of dollars on research to help out their brother-in-law at "The Brother-In-Law Research Firm". Still, I understand why it's annoying to listeners, though. Rest assured, Jimmie, you're not suggesting anything they haven't thought of already. Fact is, radio is a business just like any other, and they exist to make money. If the kind of stations–or format shifts–you suggest would make more money, they'd be on them like a Lite station on Celine Dion.

They don't. Or, at least, they don't do so in a provable, consistent fashion.

Radio stations aren't run by morons. Those little annoying quirks–playlists too small, out-of-era music, etc–those are all heavily researched, and designed to appeal to the stations core listeners.

Listeners always think they understand something the radio station doesn't, but radio does't spend millions of dollars on research to help out their brother-in-law at "The Brother-In-Law Research Firm".

Still, I understand why it's annoying to listeners, though.

]]> By: Jimmiehttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2004/08/11/radio-rantings/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Jimmie Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:05:27 +0000 /?p=571#comment-46 And when are the Voodoo Priests keeping Cerph alive going to fail and let that man moulder into dust, finally? And when are the Voodoo Priests keeping Cerph alive going to fail and let that man moulder into dust, finally?

]]> By: Victorhttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2004/08/11/radio-rantings/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Victor Wed, 11 Aug 2004 12:50:31 +0000 /?p=571#comment-45 Dude, you forgot to mention the local "classic" rock station (WARW) that plays stuff from the eighties! "Flock of Seagulls" is NOT classic rock! They need to find the old DC101 and WCXR playlists and play those! Dude, you forgot to mention the local "classic" rock station (WARW) that plays stuff from the eighties! "Flock of Seagulls" is NOT classic rock! They need to find the old DC101 and WCXR playlists and play those!

]]>