A Toast....

It's hard to believe that another year has passed. The old adage is true...the older you are, the faster they come and go. I didn't want to let this year end without wishing all of my friends who visit this blog a Merry Christmas (yes...I said it! How politically incorrect...but who cares) and a Happy New Year to you all. If, by chance, you're not a Christian then a Happy Holiday Season to you too.
It's sad that we have to be so 'careful'. We're all people...sharing the same sphere...traveling this uncharted course together. It's so unfortunate that we can't all be there for each other. Instead...we argue and fight over the silliest of things...race, religion, societal status...power. You have to wonder what God thinks of all this.
Let's hope that 2008 will be better.

As a matter of fact...I propose a toast....(You may now raise a glass filled with your beverage of choice..)

...To 2008...

...may it bring peace, health and prosperity to us all...

...may enemies become friends....

....may evil be overcome by good....

....may God find a permanent place in everyone's heart...and life...

....may only good things come to those that you love....

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR.

See you in 2008...God Willing.

Radio Is Out of Sync!!

Many of you know that my background is radio broadcasting. I spent years working at some of the greatest radio stations in the country. It's been an incredible ride. I'll never forget the first time I slid behind the microphone at the 50,000 watt flame thrower, WBZ in Boston. My heart was in my throat.
I kept thinking....
"Can I do this? Am I going to choke and destroy this amazing radio station?"
Well...I didn't. I rose to the occasion and the rest is history.
And how about my first night on WCBS-FM...talking to the number one radio market in the country...on the number one oldies station in the world. What a trip.
I love radio. It's been good to me and my family.
The sad thing is that many in today's radio don't seem to have these types of unforgettable memories. The stories that I hear or read in the trades are about people who 'want out'. They've been burned and abused by the industry and they just want to move on.
Radio shouldn't be that way and it doesn't have to be.
Over the past fifteen years or so, the business has cast creativity aside in favor of the quick and easy buck.
Management has invested millions in technology and little in people.
Usually the first thing to go, after stations technically upgraded, were the people and that should never have happened.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all in favor making money and I love technology. Heck...I have three computers in my studio and two in my office. I'd be lost without them.
But, in my opinion, the industry went too far and now it's 'out of whack'... unbalanced and out of sync.
Radio can't achieve it's full potential until it regains that balance.
And when it does, there will be no holding it back.
Industry pundents talk of radio's dim future...
"The internet and ipods are going to kill it."
I disagree.
They said the same thing about the business when television debuted...and after an adjustment, it grew even stronger.
Radio can and will do the same again, once it regains that balance that I was talking about.
Radio can go only so far when it's emphasis is simply technology and dollars. When all is said and done it's still people and their input that make the 'difference'...that make it 'work'.

So...Where Was I?

Time flies when you're having fun. I didn't mean to be away from my blog for as long as I've been...but there's this thing called 'life' and, well...you know how it goes.

But I'm back and there's much to talk about.

First...is anyone sick of the presidential campaign yet?

I know I am. And we're not even into the 'meat' of the race yet. Yikes!! Do we ever really get what we're promised by these people? I mean think about it. Since the days of Washington we've been pledged one thing or another and usually we get bupkus!

"Vote for me and there will be a Chicken in every pot." Yah....right. Their motto should be

"Vote for me and when I'm elected I'll forget that you exist!"

You would think that 'no brainer' things would be taken care of right away.

Border protection....done.

Revision of the tax system and maybe a flat tax...implemented.

A fair and fully functional health care system....in place.

A revamp of the immigration system so that it streamlines legal immigration and discourages illegal immigration....no problem.

A "Manhattan Project" approach to the national fuel problem so that the problem is fixed in two years and not twenty...absolutely.

Become the world leader and example for a cleaner and healthier environment....why not.?

A full frontal assault on the worlds deadliest diseases...we're on it.

I could go on and on. These seem to make so much sense. Don't you ever wonder why a man becomes the President of the United States and then turns his back on these common sense issues? Would any of the current Presidential contenders be any different or are they all full of hot air?

I guess I've become cynical in my old age. I've been around the block and I've seen the neighborhood. I've been promised so much by contenders and winners alike and I've received so little for my support. Taxes are as they were when I was a kid, inflation has devalued my dollar, health care is a devastating problem, we're fighting the same diseases and my car still relies on oil from people who would rather see me dead!

And the Congress is useless. I mean they spend more time rebuking a talk show host then they do addressing the real issues; the ones that affect us all. It's so frustrating. What kind of world will my grand-children inherit? Isn't it our job to improve our world before we pass it on?

Forget complaining about all the things that George Bush did or didn't do. Basically he's history. What was done can't be changed. What can be addressed is who will sit in the Oval Office when George is an ex-President. And for Heavens sake don't elect a president because he or she would be 'neat' to have in office. Really examine the issues and their positions on areas of concern that affect you.

Our greatest Presidents would never have been elected today. I mean do you really think that Abe Lincoln would have been TV friendly....I don't think so. Franklin Roosevelt hid his paralysis for most of his political career. You couldn't do that today. We seem to vote for our President based on how they look on the boob tube...isn't that rather superficial? I think so.

We have got to wake up as a society and vote for honest and true people who will 'wage the good fight'. If we don't...then we'll have no one to blame but ourselves for what we get.

The Randomness of Life!!

In my last post, I talked about my incredible adventure in France. It truly was an amazing trip. But something happened yesterday that has left me in a bit of a daze. I think that you'll find this incredible too.

The first part of our 'tour de France' was spent visiting one of the most amazing places I've ever seen...the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette. It's a religious site that is nestled high in the French Alps. It's so high up that you're sure that it's Heaven's next door neighbor. It's beautiful... picturesque...breathtaking. It's a place of solitude...serenity and peace. The road to this holy place is narrow and winding. At some points along the way you find yourself wondering why you would risk your life to see this place. But then you remind yourself that your driver and guide are experienced and that they've done this many times before.

What could possibly happen?

What happened yesterday, on that very same road...coming from that very same place...was disastrous. Twenty-six Polish tourist were killed and many others were injured when their bus...which might have been the same one I traveled on...missed a hard ninety degree turn and careened off the road; bursting into flames and dropping nearly one hundred feet to a river bed below. I remember that turn because, on the way down the mountain, I sat behind the driver and marveled at how nonchalantly he maneuvered the vehicle down the steep grade and around the many twists and turns. And the one where the accident took place stood out because, in a ride filled with extremes, it was the most extreme. It was a turn that was unforgiving...you handle it the wrong way and you're done for. It's that simple. But yet, on our trip it was just another twist in the road. We slowed, turned and continued on our way. For yesterday's victims...well...it was the end of the road.

You can't help but wonder 'why them'? We made it...others made it...why didn't they make it? We'll never get an answer to that question...not in this world. But it makes you realize just how unpredictable life really is. When you think that you have it all figured out and you've planned for every possibility...life throws you a curve ball.

I don't know if it was our tour bus. It could have been our driver and guide. I do know that if it was them then they're gone now...part of the twenty-six who perished. I pray for them all. They were only doing what I did a few days earlier.

You have to wonder about the randomness of life.

I'M BACK!!!

My apologies for being gone so long. I have never been to Europe...but I can no longer say that. I had the good fortune to spend the better part of two weeks in, of all places, France. And it was not a trip that was limited to one part of the country. I traveled to Lyon and then on to the glorious French Alps. There we visited the shrine of La Salette, which is situated near the very top of a mountain. We moved on to Paray Le Monial, which is a stereotypical French village. If I were shooting a World War II movie, I would use this town as a location.

Our adventure continued to another quaint village called Ars, then back to Lyon on then on to Toulouse. From there we traveled by bus to the Holy Shrine of Lourdes. This is an amazing place. If you find that you've lost your faith, whatever faith that is, then you should visit Lourdes. Without going into a long dissertation let me simply say that something wonderful happens in this town. Every day there are tens of thousands of people visiting the grotto of Lourdes and many, like myself, bath in it's miraculous waters. I sat next to Mohammed...a Muslim from Algeria. He too bathed in the cool mountain waters that believers will tell you were sanctified by the Blessed Mother (or as my Muslim friend called her, St. Mary). You don't have to believe this but I will tell you this as fact...something wonderful happens to your soul when you immerse your body in that water and it affects you for the rest of your life.

After spending three days there, we flew back to Paris and spent several days investigating the city and the neighboring area of Normandy (an area my dad got to know intimately during the Second World War as a forward observer...not one of your safer Army specialties). I was a lecturer at the Basilica of St. Theresa, in a town called Lisieux. St Theresa was also known as The Little Flower and a truly wonderful soul. I sailed the Seine, saw the Arc de Triumph, the sparkling Eiffel Tower (they light it up at night), drove down the Champs-Élysées and touched the pillars of Notre Dame Cathedral.

And, to my amazement, I loved the French people. They were warm and considerate....the complete opposite of what I had expected. I could go on...and I probably will in another blog...but I will tell you that it was a fabulous trip...one that I would recommend to everyone.

So...that's where I've been. I hope you'll forgive me for not blogging while I was away...but I was a bit preoccupied...and I think that you would have been too.

The Suits Have Trashed The Business....

I found myself daydreaming over my cup of coffee this morning; thinking back on my roller-coaster career. What put me in this melancholy mood was a blog that I had just read, which talked about the current condition of radio and Top 40, in particular. The author had suggested that maybe Top 40 programmers should consider eliminating the announcer from the programming mix altogether, because Gen Y could care less about the human element. I found myself feeling bad for those young listeners.

He did go on to say that today's Oldies formatted stations are, for the most part, missing the boat. Instead of attempting to be contemporary in their presentation, they should offer programming that mirrors the music era, which was more personality intensive. I agree with his premise. Today's Oldies stations stink. They've minimized everything. They offer a ridiculously short music list and they bind and gag their announcers. And they'll put just about anybody in the studio. Once you had to grow you skills to advance to a bigger, better market. Today...you have to be breathing...and it goes without saying that you have to work for minimum. The suits have trashed the business.

Personality radio gave us more than music. It offered companionship. The guy on the air became your buddy and he went with you everywhere. When he left the station, you felt the loss. Today...announcers come and go and the audience never knows. Being a talent on the air back then was something to be proud off...a true career accomplishment. Today...not so much.

Unfortunately, Generation Y will never experience the great radio of the sixties and seventies. They'll never get a chance to hear the legendary sounds of WABC, WRKO, WLS, WCBS-FM, WFIL, KHJ, CKLW, WDRC, WKBW. They'll never know who the "Good Guys' were or what a "Million Dollar Weekend" was all about. They'll never enjoy fun radio...and I feel bad for them.

I need another cup of coffee.

Hey radio...'carpe diem'!

Have you noticed that there's a lot of talk about new media versus traditional media? It's causing some consternation in the radio business. Let's face it, many people simply don't know what to make of this thing called 'new media'. It's an interloper; an uninvited guest at the media table. First it was ignored; maybe it would go away. Then there was a rudimentary acknowledgment; stations started building simple, almost obligatory websites (some were pretty bad...some still are), now...many think that they've 'arrived' because they're streaming their station. I think they're kidding themselves.

Why is new media so attractive?
Why has it become the golden boy of the marketing industry?

I think it's because it gives the user the feeling that they're getting something valuable for free. Of course it's an illusion but a well executed one? Look at Google...what a story they have to tell. That company has truly partnered with their patrons. Every time you go to their search engine you feel like they're giving you something; be it quick and easy answers, information at you fingertips, marketing opportunities and even powerful free software. The average Joe is so enamored with Google, the brand name has become a part of our lexicon...like Kleenex. How many times have you heard someone say..."Well then why don't you 'Google' it and see what you find"?

But wait...they're a company...they're worth billions...how can they give away all of this 'free' stuff? Like I said before...it's an illusion. Google is one gigantic advertising machine. There are paid announcements all over their site. And the good thing about the Internet is that they get paid up front. They've got your credit card and you've given then authorization to charge their fees to that piece of plastic. There's no waiting thirty to ninety days for their money. Their cash flow is excellent.

So what is radio to do? How does it compete against this attractive newcomer? You don't fight it...you embrace it. It's not an adversary, it's an opportunity. You can incorporate and blend the two medias. Instead of your station's website being an afterthought, it can be an integral part of your operation. And make it immediate and alive, just like your radio station. Include cross-promotional contests; sometimes they can win by going to your site and other times to the station. Make your radio clients want to be a part of your web presence. Give your listeners a chance to download, for free, certain station promotions and features; work out a licensing deal with a software company and give it away on your site. Stick a camera in your studio and 'and make your talent TV stars'.

And don't charge 'club' membership fees. Maybe certain programs and personalities can get away with this, but you want to make it as easy as possible for your listeners to access and use your site...fees are an obstacle and a turn-0ff. However, make it attractive for advertisers and potential advertisers to use their credit cards to buy advertising packages and opportunities online; get in on some of that instant cash flow. Right now you make your money by having your salespeople market advertising opportunities on the air; you can do the same here. And you can track your growth almost instantly; the more people who visit your website, the more you can charge.

Hey radio...'carpe diem'! 'Seize the day!' You have a terrific opportunity here.

What's Happened to Radio?

There was a time, not too long ago, when creativity was encouraged; when programming ingenuity was valued. It was a time when there was a balance between sales and programming. Radio air talent were admired for their originality. I can assure you that that time has passed. These days radio stations are run like fast food franchises. Air talent are considered a necessary nuisance and their numbers are kept to a minimum.

Now the upper echelon of the industry are wondering what is happening to the business? Audiences are shrinking! Why? Maybe it's because, for at least a decade, radio has ignored the 'product'. Back in 'the day' cutting edge programming was essential...now it's hard to find. Conglomerates have homogenized the system and curtailed creative growth. Once there were places where fresh young talent could go to make their mistakes, hone their skills and move on. Once there was a time when struggling stations took creative chances.

Radio has lost a lot of it's 'fire' and it sounds like it. Back in the seventies, when I had the good fortune to work at great stations such as WDRC, WBZ and WCBS-FM, the industry was 'alive' with new ideas. Stations took pride in the 'product'. Today the environment is different and radio has no one to blame but itself.

Back in the fifties, radio blamed TV for an industry wide depression. It's doing the same thing today when it points the finger at New Media. Trust me, New Media isn't the culprit. If you must blame someone then blame ownership or radio's high level decision makers. They've eliminated air staff and cut back on the product for years. They underestimated their audience; figuring that the listeners would settle for what they give them and never catch on. Local programming became bland and predictable.

Imagine, if you will, a car company that is run by people who don't know what it takes to actually make a car; run by a management team top heavy with sales types and lacking in automotive engineers. Chrysler was that way, and it almost disappeared from the automotive landscape, until a former engineer named Lee Iaccoca took control of the company. Japan made it's biggest inroads in the US car market during the eighties when General Motors was more concerned with quantity than quality; more interested in sales than service. All Honda, Toyota and Nissan had to do was fill that void. New Media is giving listeners creative programming options. It's a hard thing to have to say but there are very few truly creative people in radio today. Most programmers follow the tail of some other programmer who, in turn follows the tail of the programmer in front of him. An original thought or idea is a rare thing in today's radio.

The good news is that radio woke up back in the late fifties and early sixties; it rolled up its sleeves and went to work and by the mid-sixties it was in the midst of the 'second' golden age of radio. It can do it again, but has to think outside of its very limited box; it has to stop thinking like bankers and get back to thinking like 'creative' broadcasters.

Really...The Proposed Immigration Law Is Bad ...

Would someone tell me how illegal immigration is a good thing for our country?

I know...I've heard all the arguments...

"You can't displace all those undocumented workers!"

Wait...when did illegal immigrants become undocumented workers?

Hey folks it's advertising...they're telling you a duck is a swan! No, no....undocumented workers are illegals. They're breaking the LAW! The duck is a duck.

"But they're doing jobs that Americans won't do."

Who says? Where the heck did that come from? Maybe they won't do it for buttons and beads...but if you paid the legal minimum, I'll bet that you wouldn't have a problem finding American workers.

"Well heck...the legal minimum....you can't be serious."

Why have a legal minimum wage if everyone isn't required to pay it? Why have labor laws if you can circumvent them at your own discretion? Why have a border if you don't protect it?

I had a small business. There were times when my employees got paid and I went home with nothing. That happened because I had labor laws that I had to follow. There were legal requirements that I had to adhere to. Why is it okay for employers of illegals to break the law?
The answer...it isn't.

This terrible immigration law is wrong. Not because I'm against immigration. I'm strongly in favor of immigration. Like many of you, my ancestors were immigrants....legal immigrants. They followed the rules and spent time in places like Ellis Island. They studied the customs and became Americans.

If there was a long line waiting to get into a restaurant or concert, would it be okay for people who can't afford to pay to jump the fence and take empty seats? Hell know. There are people who are following the process, doing all that is required, with the hope of becoming a legal citizen. Some have waited for years. Is illegal immigration fair to them? I don't think so.

I do think that the road to legal immigration needs to be streamlined. But illegal immigration can not be condoned.

"Well...you can't just ship 12 million people back to their country."

Oh yah...why not? I'll bet that the cost of sending people back to their home country via first class air fair would be much cheaper than what it's going to cost to give them what this horrendous immigration bill proposes. And yes...I did say first class air fare. We wouldn't be sending them to prison. We'd be delivering them back to their home country.

We have to stop trying to normalize illegal immigration. It's against the law, it will hurt our country and it's wrong. Our politicians in Washington have got to vote down this proposal.

Proposed Immigration Law Bad All Around...

Would someone tell me how illegal immigration is a good thing for our country?

I know...I've heard all the arguments...

"They're doing jobs that Americans won't do."

Who says? Where the heck did that come from? Maybe they won't do it for buttons and beads...but if you paid the legal minimum, I'll bet that you wouldn't have a problem finding American workers.

"Well heck...the legal minimum....you can't be serious."

Why have a legal minimum wage if everyone isn't required to pay it? Why have labor laws if you can circumvent them at your own discretion? Why have a border if you don't protect it?

I had a small business. There were times when my employees got paid and I went home with nothing. That happened because I had labor laws that I had to follow. There were legal requirements that I had to adhere to. Why is it okay for employers of illegals to break the law?
The answer...it isn't.

This terrible immigration law is wrong. Not because I'm against immigration. I'm strongly in favor of immigration. Like many of you, my ancestors were immigrants....legal immigrants. They followed the rules and spent time in places like Ellis Island. They studied the customs and became Americans.

If there was a long line waiting to get into a restaurant or concert, would it be okay for people who can't afford to pay to jump the fence and take empty seats? Hell know. There are people who are following the process, doing all that is required, with the hope of becoming a legal citizen. Some have waited for years. Is illegal immigration fair to them? I don't think so.

I do think that the road to legal immigration needs to be streamlined. But illegal immigration can not be condoned.

"Well...you can't just ship 12 million people back to their country."

Oh yah...why not? I'll bet that the cost of sending people back to their home country via first class air fair would be much cheaper than what it's going to cost to give them what this horrendous immigration bill proposes. And yes...I did say first class air fare. We wouldn't be sending them to prison. We'd be delivering them back to their home country.

We have to stop trying to normalize illegal immigration. It's against the law, it will hurt our country and it's wrong. Our politicians in Washington have got to vote down this proposal.

A Few Words On Memorial Day.

It's Memorial Day Weekend, here in the United States, and it's a time to pay tribute to those who have sacrificed so much, so that the people of this great land can live in peace and freedom. It's a time for parades, patriotic concerts and pontificating politicians.

And it's a time to think about where we are right now as a people...and as a nation.

I just finished watching what can only be described as a 'hit piece' aimed at the current United States administration and it's policy regarding Iraq. It aired on 60 Minutes and was supposed to be an impartial look at the Iowa National Guard...a fine group of patriots who have been serving in that war torn land for a year and who have had their tour of duty extended through August.

I hate seeing the media use our fighting men and women, and their family's, to sell it's own political agenda. That's what 60 Minutes did tonight. No one wants to see these fine men and women spend one unnecessary day in that country. But that's where the bad guys are right now. Sworn enemies of our way of life are waging an on going battle against our troops and their allies. No matter how we got there, we're there now and so is our enemy.

If 60 Minutes and television news coverage was around after the Battle of Gettysburg, what would have been their position? If they had correspondents on the beaches at Normandy, would we have pulled our troops in the summer of '44 and would that have given Hitler and his cohorts a second wind and the opportunity to win that war?

Do we pack up and leave because it's difficult? Have we as a country lost our backbone? Are we such a 'fast food' society that we no longer have the stamina to withstand a long fight? If that's what we've become then we're doomed as a nation.

No decent human being wants war. War is obscene. War is mankind at it's worse...and it's best. The butchers who set off car bombs, decapitate innocents and who fly airplanes into buildings are the worst. Men and women like the the Iowa National Guard and their families are the best. They deserve our thanks, our prayers and our support as a nation. They don't deserve to be exploited for political purposes by an agenda driven news media.

Are your listening CBS?

This war can't go on forever. But wars aren't scripted. They end when one side gives up. For the sake of our country's future, we can't allow that to be us.

And to the service men and women past and present...thank you.

A Few Words On Memorial Day.

It's Memorial Day Weekend, here in the United States, and it's a time to pay tribute to those who have sacrificed so much, so that the people of this great land can live in peace and freedom. It's a time for parades, patriotic concerts and pontificating politicians.

And it's a time to think about where we are right now as a people...and as a nation.

I just finished watching what can only be described as a 'hit piece' aimed at the current United States administration and it's policy regarding Iraq. It aired on 60 Minutes and was supposed to be an impartial look at the Iowa National Guard...a fine group of patriots who have been serving in that war torn land for a year and who have had their tour of duty extended through August.

I hate seeing the media use our fighting men and women, and their family's, to sell it's own political agenda. That's what 60 Minutes did tonight. No one wants to see these fine men and women spend one unnecessary day in that country. But that's where the bad guys are right now. Sworn enemies of our way of life are waging an on going battle against our troops and their allies. No matter how we got there, we're there now and so is our enemy.

If 60 Minutes and television news coverage was around after the Battle of Gettysburg, what would have been their position? If they had correspondents on the beaches at Normandy, would we have pulled our troops in the summer of '44 and would that have given Hitler and his cohorts a second wind and the opportunity to win that war?

Do we pack up and leave because it's difficult? Have we as a country lost our backbone? Are we such a 'fast food' society that we no longer have the stamina to withstand a long fight? If that's what we've become then we're doomed as a nation.

No decent human being wants war. War is obscene. War is mankind at it's worse...and it's best. The butchers who set off car bombs, decapitate innocents and who fly airplanes into buildings are the worst. Men and women like the the Iowa National Guard and their families are the best. They deserve our thanks, our prayers and our support as a nation. They don't deserve to be exploited for political purposes by an agenda driven news media.

Are your listening CBS?

This war can't go on forever. But wars aren't scripted. They end when one side gives up. For the sake of our country's future, we can't allow that to be us.

And to the service men and women past and present...thank you.

A Few Words On Memorial Day.

It's Memorial Day Weekend, here in the United States, and it's a time to pay tribute to those who have sacrificed so much, so that the people of this great land can live in peace and freedom. It's a time for parades, patriotic concerts and pontificating politicians.

And it's a time to think about where we are right now as a people...and as a nation.

I just finished watching what can only be described as a 'hit piece' aimed at the current United States administration and it's policy regarding Iraq. It aired on 60 Minutes and was supposed to be an impartial look at the Iowa National Guard...a fine group of patriots who have been serving in that war torn land for a year and who have had their tour of duty extended through August.

I hate seeing the media use our fighting men and women, and their family's, to sell it's own political agenda. That's what 60 Minutes did tonight. No one wants to see these fine men and women spend one unnecessary day in that country. But that's where the bad guys are right now. Sworn enemies of our way of life are waging an on going battle against our troops and their allies. No matter how we got there, we're there now and so is our enemy.

If 60 Minutes and television news coverage was around after the Battle of Gettysburg, what would have been their position? If they had correspondents on the beaches at Normandy, would we have pulled our troops in the summer of '44 and would that have given Hitler and his cohorts a second wind and the opportunity to win that war?

Do we pack up and leave because it's difficult? Have we as a country lost our backbone? Are we such a 'fast food' society that we no longer have the stamina to withstand a long fight? If that's what we've become then we're doomed as a nation.

No decent human being wants war. War is obscene. War is mankind at it's worse...and it's best. The butchers who set off car bombs, decapitate innocents and who fly airplanes into buildings are the worst. Men and women like the the Iowa National Guard and their families are the best. They deserve our thanks, our prayers and our support as a nation. They don't deserve to be exploited for political purposes by an agenda driven news media.

Are your listening CBS?

This war can't go on forever. But wars aren't scripted. They end when one side gives up. For the sake of our country's future, we can't allow that to be us.

And to the service men and women past and present...thank you.

Is It Just Me Or What?

Tell me...would our ancestors have given a rat's rear end about Rosie and her tirades? Think about it...in the grand scheme of things, how important is her bombastic opinion?

For that matter...why do we tune in by the millions to watch American Idol, which is nothing more than The Original Amateur Hour on steroids and with bad manners...yet only a fraction of that audience watches the news. (By the way, I think Ted Mack would have a copyright infringement case, if he were alive today.)

And what the heck is going on in Washington? On one hand they're telling us that their top priority is to keep us safe from future terrorists attacks...but then they embrace an immigration bill that would leave us more vulnerable than ever!

They pass a bill that would build a 700 mile border wall...but they build only two miles! And now they're talking about reneging on that too.

Do you ever get the feeling that the world is losing it's mind?

Kids can tell you who sings what song but they can't tell you who the Vice President of the United States is.

They think Tony Blair is a member of an English rock band!

I swear that most people have all but forgotten the horror of 9-11. We act like it never happened...but it did...on a beautiful September morning.

We don't want to believe that bad people want to do bad things to us...but they do. While we've buried our proverbial heads in the sand, our enemies have never lost sight of their goal...total conversion and domination of the world.

We ring our hands about Abu Grab and Guantanamo . We allow the world to scold our troops, the best and most humane group of fighting men and women ever, over their treatment of their prisoners yet we ignore the vicious, brutal acts of our enemy.

What is going on?

I have a bad feeling about where we're going as a society. People who know me, know that I'm not a pessimist. But you'll have to admit that it's hard to be positive about the direction of this great country.

I supported the current occupant of the White House. I defended him through thick and thin. But recently he has capitulated, vacillated and equivocated. He has become the typical politician that I had hoped he would never be.

And without a dynamic, strong leader, during these treacherous times, simply put, we're screwed.

Normally, at this stage in my life I wouldn't care. More of the road of life is behind me than in front of me. What happens to this country probably won't effect me. But I have two beautiful grandchildren. They're going to have to live in the world that we leave them. We've got to continue to care.

To hell with Rosie, American Idol and all of the other insignificant distractions. We've got to get serious again. We've got to pay attention to the important things in life...the things that could potentially change our society...or eliminate it altogether.

Is It Just Me Or What?

Tell me...would our ancestors have given a rat's rear end about Rosie and her tirades? Think about it...in the grand scheme of things, how important is her bombastic opinion?

For that matter...why do we tune in by the millions to watch American Idol, which is nothing more than The Original Amateur Hour on steroids and with bad manners...yet only a fraction of that audience watches the news. (By the way, I think Ted Mack would have a copyright infringement case, if he were alive today.)

And what the heck is going on in Washington? On one hand they're telling us that their top priority is to keep us safe from future terrorists attacks...but then they embrace an immigration bill that would leave us more vulnerable than ever!

They pass a bill that would build a 700 mile border wall...but they build only two miles! And now they're talking about reneging on that too.

Do you ever get the feeling that the world is losing it's mind?

Kids can tell you who sings what song but they can't tell you who the Vice President of the United States is.

They think Tony Blair is a member of an English rock band!

I swear that most people have all but forgotten the horror of 9-11. We act like it never happened...but it did...on a beautiful September morning.

We don't want to believe that bad people want to do bad things to us...but they do. While we've buried our proverbial heads in the sand, our enemies have never lost sight of their goal...total conversion and domination of the world.

We ring our hands about Abu Grab and Guantanamo . We allow the world to scold our troops, the best and most humane group of fighting men and women ever, over their treatment of their prisoners yet we ignore the vicious, brutal acts of our enemy.

What is going on?

I have a bad feeling about where we're going as a society. People who know me, know that I'm not a pessimist. But you'll have to admit that it's hard to be positive about the direction of this great country.

I supported the current occupant of the White House. I defended him through thick and thin. But recently he has capitulated, vacillated and equivocated. He has become the typical politician that I had hoped he would never be.

And without a dynamic, strong leader, during these treacherous times, simply put, we're screwed.

Normally, at this stage in my life I wouldn't care. More of the road of life is behind me than in front of me. What happens to this country probably won't effect me. But I have two beautiful grandchildren. They're going to have to live in the world that we leave them. We've got to continue to care.

To hell with Rosie, American Idol and all of the other insignificant distractions. We've got to get serious again. We've got to pay attention to the important things in life...the things that could potentially change our society...or eliminate it altogether.

We Deserve So Much Better Than What We've Got!

I just finished reading an amazing book by Boston Radio Talk show host and newspaper columnist, Howie Carr. Without going into a long book review, it's about corruption in government and it's connection to the worst of organized crime. It's so revealing, so stark and so dark, I felt as if I needed a shower when I finished reading it. It's locale was Boston, but it could have been any city. Boston is not the exception. I'm afraid that it's the rule.

And I found myself thinking about the state of our country in 2007. What would our founders think of what we've become? "Government of the people, by the people and for the people..."...isn't that how it goes? But are the politicians thinking about people or power. I'm afraid the answer is power. Are there any more honest men or women in government? I don't know. After reading Carr's book, I have my doubts. It would appear to me that as long as they can keep the electorate riled up, the better it is for them.

"Keep the masses angry and distracted and they'll never realize what a rotten job we're doing."

"They'll never catch on that we haven't solved the thirty year old fuel problem."

"They'll never realize that our borders are as porous as the screen on their back door."

"They'll never notice that we haven't fixed an unfair and long broken tax system."

"They'll never see that we've ignored a third rate health care system that is ruining people on a daily basis."

"Keep them fighting...Democrat against Republican. Never give them time to remember that they are all Americans...and that, that common bond is far greater than any of their political differences."

Today Congress is pointing, with glee, to the President's latest popularity poll result. His approval rating is 33%...the lowest since...I don't know...Harold Stassen. What they're not mentioning, and they hope that you don't find out, is that the approval rating for Congress is 29%....that's right 29%. They're all NOT DOING THEIR JOBS.

It is this writer's sincerest hope that the American people take a long hard look at what these scoundrels have done to this wonderful country of ours. I pray that the populace will examine every elected official's record...I mean...really take a long hard look at what it is that these people have done. And then...when the voters uncover the low life...they "through the bums out"...and maybe a few of them even into jail. If you think that I'm over-reacting then I'd suggest that you read Howie Carr's book too.

We deserve so much better than what we've got.

We Deserve So Much Better Than What We've Got.

I just finished reading an amazing book by Boston Radio Talk show host and newspaper columnist, Howie Carr. Without going into a long book review, it's about corruption in government and it's connection to the worst of organized crime. It's so revealing, so stark and so dark, I felt as if I needed a shower when I finished reading it. It's locale was Boston, but it could have been any city. Boston is not the exception. I'm afraid that it's the rule.

And I found myself thinking about the state of our country in 2007. What would our founders think of what we've become? "Government of the people, by the people and for the people..."...isn't that how it goes? But are the politicians thinking about people or power. I'm afraid the answer is power. Are there any more honest men or women in government? I don't know. After reading Carr's book, I have my doubts. It would appear to me that as long as they can keep the electorate riled up, the better it is for them.

"Keep the masses angry and distracted and they'll never realize what a rotten job we're doing."

"They'll never catch on that we haven't solved the thirty year old fuel problem."

"They'll never realize that our borders are as porous as the screen on their back door."

"They'll never notice that we haven't fixed an unfair and long broken tax system."

"They'll never see that we've ignored a third rate health care system that is ruining people on a daily basis."

"Keep them fighting...Democrat against Republican. Never give them time to remember that they are all Americans...and that, that common bond is far greater than any of their political differences."

Today Congress is pointing, with glee, to the President's latest popularity poll result. His approval rating is 33%...the lowest since...I don't know...Harold Stassen. What they're not mentioning, and they hope that you don't find out, is that the approval rating for Congress is 29%....that's right 29%. They're all NOT DOING THEIR JOBS.

It is this writer's sincerest hope that the American people take a long hard look at what these scoundrels have done to this wonderful country of ours. I pray that the populace will examine every elected official's record...I mean...really take a long hard look at what it is that these people have done. And then...when the voters uncover the low life...they "through the bums out"...and maybe a few of them even into jail. If you think that I'm over-reacting then I'd suggest that you read Howie Carr's book too.

We deserve so much better than what we've got.

We deserve so much better than what we've got.

I just finished reading an amazing book by Boston Radio Talk show host and newspaper columnist, Howie Carr. Without going into a long book review, it's about corruption in government and it's connection to the worst of organized crime. It's so revealing, so stark and so dark, I felt as if I needed a shower when I finished reading it. It's locale was Boston, but it could have been any city. Boston is not the exception. I'm afraid that it's the rule.

And I found myself thinking about the state of our country in 2007. What would our founders think of what we've become? "Government of the people, by the people and for the people..."...isn't that how it goes? But are the politicians thinking about people or power. I'm afraid the answer is power. Are there any more honest men or women in government? I don't know. After reading Carr's book, I have my doubts. It would appear to me that as long as they can keep the electorate riled up, the better it is for them.

"Keep the masses angry and distracted and they'll never realize what a rotten job we're doing."

"They'll never catch on that we haven't solved the thirty year old fuel problem."

"They'll never realize that our borders are as porous as the screen on their back door."

"They'll never notice that we haven't fixed an unfair and long broken tax system."

"They'll never see that we've ignored a third rate health care system that is ruining people on a daily basis."

"Keep them fighting...Democrat against Republican. Never give them time to remember that they are all Americans...and that, that common bond is far greater than any of their political differences."

Today congress is pointing, with glee, to the President's latest popularity poll result. His approval rating is 33%...the lowest since...I don't know...Harold Stassen. What they're not mentioning, and they hope that you don't find out, is that the approval rating for Congress is 29%....that's right 29%. They're all NOT DOING THEIR JOBS.

It is this writer's sincerest hope that the American people take a long hard look at what these scoundrels have done to this wonderful country of ours. I pray that the populace will examine every elected official's record...I mean...really take a long hard look at what it is that these people have done. And then...when the voters uncover the low life...they "through the bums out"...and maybe a few of them even into jail. If you think that I'm over-reacting then I'd suggest that you read Howie Carr's book too.

We deserve so much better than what we've got.

The Droll Roll of the Poll...

I don't know about you, but I'm sick of 'polls'. Every time you turn around there's a new poll on something. And the polls have become news! What's with that? The news outlets are actually generating the news! Does anyone else think that's wrong or is it just me? Pretty soon we'll be polling the polls!

They're presented as 'fact' and really...they're nothing. The pollsters will tell you that the polls are a snapshot...I say they're more like a crude sketch. I'm convinced that if I wanted to influence any group of people, I could commission a poll and, using well crafted questions, obtain the results that I wanted.

Folks... we have to stop being so easy. We see a poll and we instantly take it as fact. We quote it and point to it like it's made of concrete. It ain't concrete...as a matter of fact, you'll see that it more closely resembles silly putty or maybe some other substance that begins with an 's'. We've become malleable, pliable and just plain gullible. It seems that, as a people, we follow en masse, like a bunch of migrating lemmings. Maybe it's because believing in polls is easier than actually having to think as an individual. And, you know, the politicians, news organizations and pollsters know it.

We'll never be able to get rid of polls...they're here and they're here to stay. But what we should do is prohibit any form of polling during the last two months of any campaign...especially the presidential campaign. Ever wonder how many good candidates have been eliminated from a race because of the polling? They're labeled losers months...sometimes even years before the elections take place. If they had a sophisticated polling system in place in 'the old days'...would we have had Abe Lincoln as a president? I doubt it. How would Wilson have polled? Or Jefferson or even Washington, for that matter?

If we can't get rid of polls then I would suggest that anytime we hear the word 'poll'...we switch the channel...maybe we can catch an episode of Mythbusters.

An Open Note To Those New To Our Ranks...

It occurred to me that there's a lot of negative things being said about the media these days and that I may have been guilty of saying some of these things myself. I think it's important to make something perfectly clear. I love radio and TV. I've toiled in the fields of broadcasting my whole life. I've raised a family thanks to the opportunities that I've had in this business.

If you're new to broadcasting, it must be discouraging to read some of the things that have been written recently; how the conglomerates are consolidating and homogenizing the industry, how traditional broadcasting companies seem to be making creative mistake after creative mistake all in the name of short term profit, how new media is poised to clean traditional media's clock. Well let me tell you that all is not doom and gloom. Much of what is written won't happen and what does happen might actually make traditional media stronger.

We're a business that loves drama. I'm not talking just about TV. Radio is a giant soap opera...trust me. There's always some behind the scenes melodrama going on...even at the smallest station. It's the nature of beast. At every station along my career path, there has been gossip and speculation...be it WKFD in little old Wickford RI or the legendary WCBS-FM in New York City. Read some of the trade magazine and Internet sites. They exist on rumor and side stories...many of which never come to fruition.

If you're new to the business let me reassure you that there has never been a more exciting time to be joining our ranks. Things are good and getting better. If some of my industry articles seem pessimistic then I apologize. Those of us who have been in the business a long time have a tendency to look at situations from a different perspective and sometimes it's a narrow one.

The industry is as it's always been and that's just fine with me.

An Open Note To Those New To Our Ranks...

It occurred to me that there's a lot of negative things being said about the media these days and that I may have been guilty of saying some of these things myself. I think it's important to make something perfectly clear. I love radio and TV. I've toiled in the fields of broadcasting my whole life. I've raised a family thanks to the opportunities that I've had in this business.

If you're new to broadcasting, it must be discouraging to read some of the things that have been written recently; how the conglomerates are consolidating and homogenizing the industry, how traditional broadcasting companies seem to be making creative mistake after creative mistake all in the name of short term profit, how new media is poised to clean traditional media's clock. Well let me tell you that all is not doom and gloom. Much of what is written won't happen and what does happen might actually make traditional media stronger.

We're a business that loves drama. I'm not talking just about TV. Radio is a giant soap opera...trust me. There's always some behind the scenes melodrama going on...even at the smallest station. It's the nature of beast. At every station along my career path, there has been gossip and speculation...be it WKFD in little old Wickford RI or the legendary WCBS-FM in New York City. Read some of the trade magazine and Internet sites. They exist on rumor and side stories...many of which never come to fruition.

If you're new to the business let me reassure you that there has never been a more exciting time to be joining our ranks. Things are good and getting better. If some of my industry articles seem pessimistic then I apologize. Those of us who have been in the business a long time have a tendency to look at situations from a different perspective and sometimes it's a narrow one.

The industry is as it's always been and that's just fine with me.

An Open Note To Those New To Our Ranks...

It occurred to me that there's a lot of negative things being said about the media these days and that I may have been guilty of saying some of these things myself. I think it's important to make something perfectly clear. I love radio and TV. I've toiled in the fields of broadcasting my whole life. I've raised a family thanks to the opportunities that I've had in this business.

If you're new to broadcasting, it must be discouraging to read some of the things that have been written recently; how the conglomerates are consolidating and homogenizing the industry, how traditional broadcasting companies seem to be making creative mistake after creative mistake all in the name of short term profit, how new media is poised to clean traditional media's clock. Well let me tell you that all is not doom and gloom. Much of what is written won't happen and what does happen might actually make traditional media stronger.

We're a business that loves drama. I'm not talking just about TV. Radio is a giant soap opera...trust me. There's always some behind the scenes melodrama going on...even at the smallest station. It's the nature of beast. At every station along my career path, there has been gossip and speculation...be it WKFD in little old Wickford RI or the legendary WCBS-FM in New York City. Read some of the trade magazine and Internet sites. They exist on rumor and side stories...many of which never come to fruition.

If you're new to the business let me reassure you that there has never been a more exciting time to be joining our ranks. Things are good and getting better. If some of my industry articles seem pessimistic then I apologize. Those of us who have been in the business a long time have a tendency to look at situations from a different perspective and sometimes it's a narrow one.

The industry is as it's always been and that's just fine with me.

The Clock Is Ticking

I just learned that a station in Texas has decided that the answer to declining listenership is to play more music and no commercials. That's right...more music and NO COMMERCIALS! You've gotta love these people. Let's see...more music. Hmmm. They think that's a NEW idea? Didn't Bill Drake design his jingle package around those two words in 1968?

When will they ever realize that the thing that they've eliminated is personality? Today's music stations have no soul...and I don't mean Motown. And the announcers that they do have on the air sound unprofessional...juvenile....prepubescent. Why would up, professional jocks, with balls (I'm sorry but there's no better way to describe it.), playing the hits, work 'way back when' and not today? Of course they would. It's just that they might cost a few bucks and many of today's radio execs are more concerned with short term gain than long term profit.

Once talent was an important part of a station....management valued their air people and they were treated with dignity. The new breed of radio management believes that they are the most expendable part of their stations. Boy have they screwed things up.

Guys...people can get MORE MUSIC on their Ipods. They can crank out the hits faster than you can program your Prophet. And they're not stupid. They know that when you say no commercials you really mean camouflaged commercials. They know you're a for profit business and they understand how you make your money.

For crying out loud, look around you. You have given your audience a reason to look elsewhere. There's NOTHING unique on your stations. When I got into the business, jocks were important. Afternoon drive was as crucial as morning drive. Now...not so much. You have got to return personality to radio. Again...it's the thing that you can give your listeners that they won't get anywhere else. I really believe that if you don't, the downward slide will continue and you will reach a point when it is too late. The clock is ticking.

The Clock Is Ticking

I just learned that a station in Texas has decided that the answer to declining listenership is to play more music and no commercials. That's right...more music and NO COMMERCIALS! You've gotta love these people. Let's see...more music. Hmmm. They think that's a NEW idea? Didn't Bill Drake design his jingle package around those two words in 1968?

When will they ever realize that the thing that they've eliminated is personality? Today's music stations have no soul...and I don't mean Motown. And the announcers that they do have on the air sound unprofessional...juvenile....prepubescent. Why would up, professional jocks, with balls (I'm sorry but there's no better way to describe it.), playing the hits, work 'way back when' and not today? Of course they would. It's just that they might cost a few bucks and many of today's radio execs are more concerned with short term gain than long term profit.

Once talent was an important part of a station....management valued their air people and they were treated with dignity. The new breed of radio management believes that they are the most expendable part of their stations. Boy have they screwed things up.

Guys...people can get MORE MUSIC on their Ipods. They can crank out the hits faster than you can program your Prophet. And they're not stupid. They know that when you say no commercials you really mean camouflaged commercials. They know you're a for profit business and they understand how you make your money.

For crying out loud, look around you. You have given your audience a reason to look elsewhere. There's NOTHING unique on your stations. When I got into the business, jocks were important. Afternoon drive was as crucial as morning drive. Now...not so much. You have got to return personality to radio. Again...it's the thing that you can give your listeners that they won't get anywhere else. I really believe that if you don't, the downward slide will continue and you will reach a point when it is too late. The clock is ticking.

Another Year Older...and Wiser

Well...today was my birthday. I was...well...another year older. When you reach my age you stop counting the years. I don't feel much different than I did when I was younger but the strange thing is, I see my grandfather in the mirror every morning! Isn't that weird? Wouldn't it be better if we were born brilliant and became dumber as we aged? I mean, being young, mature and smart would make more sense to me. The way things are now, we're smartest when we're the weakest! And we don't seem to value smart older people in this society. In China, there is a great reverence for that segment of their population. In the US...they hope that you'll move to 'The Villages' ASAP.

The smartest man I ever met was my late dad. He was one of these people who was intellectually gifted all of his life...straight A's in high school...Phi Beta Kappa from Brown...honors from Boston University Law... the list goes on and on. But I think he was the wisest towards the end of his life. Even after he became sick and his once strong body diminished, we could sit and discuss things like the American Civil War and he would amaze me with his knowledge. His brilliance, in his later years, was awe inspiring. Yet, if he wasn't a successful attorney, with his own practice, odds are he would have had a hard time finding a job in the USA today.

We are a fast food society. We gobble things up and discard our waste. If we have to wait longer than five minute for our service, we become impatient. We're bombarded with commercials that glorify youth. Few people on television are bald, overweight and old. Most are young, firm and under forty. And, as a country, this national attitude is hurting us. One of our greatest resources is our wisdom and intelligence. We acquire this as we age, yet we turn our back on our elders. Everything isn't solved with a computer. All answers aren't digital. Some of our greatest problems require thought and life experience. As a society we have to slow down and think. And we have to use our collective intellect...young and old. I'm afraid that we'll become a second rate country if we don't.

Hey...it's just an opinion from someone who, today became one year older. Now I'm off for a slice of that birthday cake.

What's Happened to Radio?

There was a time, not too long ago, when creativity was encouraged; when programming ingenuity was valued. It was a time when there was a balance between sales and programming. Radio air talent were admired for their originality. I can assure you that that time has passed. These days radio stations are run like fast food franchises. Air talent are considered a necessary nuisance and their numbers are kept to a minimum.

Now the upper echelon of the industry are wondering what is happening to the business? Audiences are shrinking! Why? Maybe it's because, for at least a decade, radio has ignored the 'product'. Back in 'the day' cutting edge programming was essential...now it's hard to find. Conglomerates have homogenized the system and curtailed creative growth. Once there were places where fresh young talent could go to make their mistakes, hone their skills and move on. Once there was a time when struggling stations took creative chances.

Radio has lost a lot of it's 'fire' and it sounds like it. Back in the seventies, when I had the good fortune to work at great stations such as WDRC, WBZ and WCBS-FM, the industry was 'alive' with new ideas. Stations took pride in the 'product'. Today the environment is different and radio has no one to blame but itself.
Back in the fifties, radio blamed TV for an industry wide depression. It's doing the same thing today when it points the finger at New Media. Trust me, New Media isn't the culprit. If you must blame someone then blame ownership or radio's high level decision makers. They've eliminated air staff and cut back on the product for years. They underestimated their audience; figuring that the listeners would settle for what they give them and never catch on. Local programming became bland and predictable.

Imagine, if you will, a car company that is run by people who don't know what it takes to actually make a car; run by a management team top heavy with sales types and lacking in automotive engineers. Chrysler was that way, and it almost disappeared from the automotive landscape, until a former engineer named Lee Iaccoca took control of the company. Japan made it's biggest inroads in the US car market during the eighties when General Motors was more concerned with quantity than quality; more interested in sales than service. All Honda, Toyota and Nissan had to do was fill that void. New Media is giving listeners creative programming options. It's a hard thing to have to say but there are very few truly creative people in radio today. Most programmers follow the tail of some other programmer who, in turn follows the tail of the programmer in front of him. An original thought or idea is a rare thing in today's radio.

The good news is that radio woke up back in the late fifties and early sixties; it rolled up its sleeves and went to work and by the mid-sixties it was in the midst of the 'second' golden age of radio. It can do it again, but has to think outside of its very limited box; it has to stop thinking like bankers and get back to thinking like 'creative' broadcasters.

Hey radio...'carpe diem'!

Have you noticed that there's a lot of talk about new media versus traditional media? It's causing some consternation in the radio business. Let's face it, many people simply don't know what to make of this thing called 'new media'. It's an interloper; an uninvited guest at the media table. First it was ignored; maybe it would go away. Then there was a rudimentary acknowledgment; stations started building simple, almost obligatory websites (some were pretty bad...some still are), now...many think that they've 'arrived' because they're streaming their station. I think they're kidding themselves.

Why is new media so attractive?
Why has it become the golden boy of the marketing industry?

I think it's because it gives the user the feeling that they're getting something valuable for free. Of course it's an illusion but a well executed one? Look at Google...what a story they have to tell. That company has truly partnered with their patrons. Every time you go to their search engine you feel like they're giving you something; be it quick and easy answers, information at you fingertips, marketing opportunities and even powerful free software. The average Joe is so enamored with Google, the brand name has become a part of our lexicon...like Kleenex. How many times have you heard someone say..."Well then why don't you 'Google' it and see what you find"?

But wait...they're a company...they're worth billions...how can they give away all of this 'free' stuff? Like I said before...it's an illusion. Google is one gigantic advertising machine. There are paid announcements all over their site. And the good thing about the Internet is that they get paid up front. They've got your credit card and you've given then authorization to charge their fees to that piece of plastic. There's no waiting thirty to ninety days for their money. Their cash flow is excellent.

So what is radio to do? How does it compete against this attractive newcomer? You don't fight it...you embrace it. It's not an adversary, it's an opportunity. You can incorporate and blend the two medias. Instead of your station's website being an afterthought, it can be an integral part of your operation. And make it immediate and alive, just like your radio station. Include cross-promotional contests; sometimes they can win by going to your site and other times to the station. Make your radio clients want to be a part of your web presence. Give your listeners a chance to download, for free, certain station promotions and features; work out a licensing deal with a software company and give it away on your site. Stick a camera in your studio and 'and make your talent TV stars'.

And don't charge 'club' membership fees. Maybe certain programs and personalities can get away with this, but you want to make it as easy as possible for your listeners to access and use your site...fees are an obstacle and a turn-0ff. However, make it attractive for advertisers and potential advertisers to use their credit cards to buy advertising packages and opportunities online; get in on some of that instant cash flow. Right now you make your money by having your salespeople market advertising opportunities on the air; you can do the same here. And you can track your growth almost instantly; the more people who visit your website, the more you can charge.

Hey radio...'carpe diem'! 'Seize the day!' You have a terrific opportunity here.

Hooray for Hollywood? I Don't Think So...

This past weekend I saw the much touted film '300'. Without going into detail, it was probably the bloodiest, most violent film that I've ever seen. They were stacking bloody body on top of bloody body...literally. After the second or third head decapitation, we became numb to the act. Spearing...and twisting...and wrenching...well that was run of the mill. It was supposedly based on the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C.. But there were monsters and gods and elephants..oh my!! I mean...were there monsters back in 480 B.C.? I don't think so.

It was a movie designed to showcase gore...and I don't mean Al. Was there any redeeming value to the story? Not really. It was typical of what Hollywood is throwing at audiences these days. They toss great stories and green light scripts about guys who wear masks and run around with chainsaws, slicing and dissecting the neighbors. Every once and a while they slip and release a great story...but those slips are becoming fewer and fewer.

Hollywood used to make films like The Sound of Music and Grease. They made Gone With the Wind and Rebecca. What has happened? Why market to the lowest common denominator? Because that's where the money is. There is no thought of moral responsibility. I don't think that they have any.

There was a time in my life when I dreamed of being a film director. I wanted to be the next Robert Wise, Frank Capra or John Ford. I couldn't help but wonder what those great artists would have thought about the Hollywood of 2007. What would they have thought about the overt violence and sexuality? I think that they would have been surprised and saddened. They created great movies. They moved the camera and the story like the masters that they were. They generated sexuality without dropping a skirt or removing a bra. They could get more out a of a scene with a look or a gesture. Today...nothing is left to the imagination...NOTHING. And that doesn't speak well for the Hollywood Imagineers

If I could tell young film goers anything...I'd probably suggest that they go rent a Frank Capra, John Ford, Victor Fleming or Alfred Hitchcock film...and if they don't know who they are then Google them. They'll see what Hollywood once did...but may never do again. And that's sad.

Hooray for Hollywood? I Don't Think So...

This past weekend I saw the much touted film '300'. Without going into detail, it was probably the bloodiest, most violent film that I've ever seen. They were stacking bloody body on top of bloody body...literally. After the second or third head decapitation, we became numb to the act. Spearing...and twisting...and wrenching...well that was run of the mill. It was supposedly based on the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C.. But there were monsters and gods and elephants..oh my!! I mean...were there monsters back in 480 B.C.? I don't think so.

It was a movie designed to showcase gore...and I don't mean Al. Was there any redeeming value to the story? Not really. It was typical of what Hollywood is throwing at audiences these days. They toss great stories and green light scripts about guys who wear masks and run around with chainsaws, slicing and dissecting the neighbors. Every once and a while they slip and release a great story...but those slips are becoming fewer and fewer.

Hollywood used to make films like The Sound of Music and Grease. They made Gone With the Wind and Rebecca. What has happened? Why market to the lowest common denominator? Because that's where the money is. There is no thought of moral responsibility. I don't think that they have any.

There was a time in my life when I dreamed of being a film director. I wanted to be the next Robert Wise, Frank Capra or John Ford. I couldn't help but wonder what those great artists would have thought about the Hollywood of 2007. What would they have thought about the overt violence and sexuality? I think that they would have been surprised and saddened. They created great movies. They moved the camera and the story like the masters that they were. They generated sexuality without dropping a skirt or removing a bra. They could get more out a of a scene with a look or a gesture. Today...nothing is left to the imagination...NOTHING. And that doesn't speak well for the Hollywood Imagineers

If I could tell young film goers anything...I'd probably suggest that they go rent a Frank Capra, John Ford, Victor Fleming or Alfred Hitchcock film...and if they don't know who they are then Google them. They'll see what Hollywood once did...but may never do again. And that's sad.

Hooray for Hollywood? I Don't Think So...

This past weekend I saw the much touted film '300'. Without going into detail, it was probably the bloodiest, most violent film that I've ever seen. They were stacking bloody body on top of bloody body...literally. After the second or third head decapitation, we became numb to the act. Spearing...and twisting...and wrenching...well that was run of the mill. It was supposedly based on the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C.. But there were monsters and gods and elephants..oh my!! I mean...were there monsters back in 480 B.C.? I don't think so.

It was a movie designed to showcase gore...and I don't mean Al. Was there any redeeming value to the story? Not really. It was typical of what Hollywood is throwing at audiences these days. They toss great stories and green light scripts about guys who wear masks and run around with chainsaws, slicing and dissecting the neighbors. Every once and a while they slip and release a great story...but those slips are becoming fewer and fewer.

Hollywood used to make films like The Sound of Music and Grease. They made Gone With the Wind and Rebecca. What has happened? Why market to the lowest common denominator? Because that's where the money is. There is no thought of moral responsibility. I don't think that they have any.

There was a time in my life when I dreamed of being a film director. I wanted to be the next Robert Wise, Frank Capra or John Ford. I couldn't help but wonder what those great artists would have thought about the Hollywood of 2007. What would they have thought about the overt violence and sexuality? I think that they would have been surprised and saddened. They created great movies. They moved the camera and the story like the masters that they were. They generated sexuality without dropping a skirt or removing a bra. They could get more out a of a scene with a look or a gesture. Today...nothing is left to the imagination...NOTHING. And that doesn't speak well for the Hollywood Imagineers

If I could tell young film goers anything...I'd probably suggest that they go rent a Frank Capra, John Ford, Victor Fleming or Alfred Hitchcock film...and if they don't know who they are then Google them. They'll see what Hollywood once did...but may never do again. And that's sad.

One Vote For The Easter Bunny...again

Easter is just around the corner and I thought that it wouldn't hurt to re-post the following. JH
......

I believe the saying goes "All the nuts aren't in the fruitcake." But I think you'll find a whole bunch in California. It seems as if every time you turn around there's an unbelievable story coming out of that great state. Today, the award goes to the municipal officials of Walnut Creek, California.

I'll be the first to admit that local government leaders, around the country, deal with some pretty difficult problems on a day to day basis and most do a commendable job. They have to handle police and fire problems, sewer budgets, emergency services, school concerns. Let's face it, they have their hands full. So you have to wonder how the Easter Bunny ever became a front and center issue in Walnut Creek. (That's right, I said the Easter Bunny!). Apparently, the great minds who sit on their municipal board felt that the term, Easter Bunny, was divisive! They determined that the term Spring Bunny would be more appropriate. Forget that Easter Egg hunt stuff. Give the kids what they really want...a Spring Egg hunt.

What's really amazing is that this story has been flying under the radar for five years! I guess people were too busy dealing with the assault on Christmas to even notice that the enemy had pulled a flanking maneuver and was attacking Easter.

I've been on this earth for some time now and I never met anyone who was upset over the Easter Parade, Easter Eggs, or even the Easter Bunny. And I'm talking about my non-Christian friends, too. If it bothers them that the Easter Bunny delivers candies one day a year or that people march down Fifth Avenue wearing their finest Spring attire, in something called the Easter Parade...well that's news to me.

I mention this issue in my media oriented blog because, in a way, this deals with marketing...branding. The leaders (and I use the term loosely) of Walnut Creek want to re-package...to re-brand the season. At least in their community. They want to purge their celebration of anything that might faintly acknowledge the existence of God and in this case Jesus Christ. Sure, the majority of the community may disagree with their position but 'screw them...they don't have the gavel....they don't have a vote.'

And then, of course, we have the opinion of academia.

"It's really not a big deal," said Lawrence Cunningham, University of Notre Dame theology professor. "I don't see any intrinsic value to the rabbit to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"The bunny is a fertility symbol with no religious connection to Easter," said Cunningham, the former Christianity editor for the HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion. "The egg, which was popularized in Greece, Russia and Eastern Europe in connection with Easter, does not have a religious connection to Easter. By taking away the term 'Easter,' these symbols to some extent return to their pre-Christian roots as symbols of spring fertility."

Mr. Cunningham....chill out! Go back to correcting your papers...PLEASE!

I'm sorry but these people have too much time on their hands. And this guy teaches at Notre Dame...a CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY! Ooy Vay!!

It's this kind of thinking that leads us to Sparkle Season and the Spring Bunny. What ever happened to good old fashioned tradition? We don't need to re-brand Easter...or Christmas. As a Christian, I welcome holidays of other faiths and beliefs. Holidays are happy times and God knows (dare I mention His name), we need more happy times.

Hey Walnut Creek...I know I don't have a vote...heck, you're probably thinking that I shouldn't even have an opinion....but if I did, I'd vote to keep the furry little Easter Bunny...and leave the Spring Bunny to Hugh Hefner.

Whatever Happened To 'Funny'?

Is it me or do most of the commercials stink these days? I mean...the stuff that they're passing off as 'funny' just doesn't cut it. For example...does anybody see the humor in a talking turtle being nagged by his talking turtle wife? Or what's with the guy who can't sleep being greeted at his kitchen table by Abe Lincoln....and a BEAVER?!? Are these suppose to be his 'dreams'? What? He dreams about Abe Lincoln and a Beaver! And what's with Smiling Bob...or whatever his name is...on the erectile dysfunction spot. We get it...he takes a pill...and he gets it. I can't imagine any woman in her right mind coming within a hundred yards of this grinning simp. Is this creativity in the twenty-first century?

You know, besides working in radio for longer than I'd like to admit, I owned an ad agency and I went on a lot of pitches (for those not familiar with the term, it's when an agency goes out to visit a client or potential client and proceeds to baffle them with their b.s.). Can you imagine someone standing in front of these clients and selling them on these asinine concepts? And what's even harder to believe is that some fathead client had to agree that this would be great stuff.

Granted, TV (and in some cases radio) commercials were, for the most part, never works of creative art. If you've ever met the 'creatives' behind the productions then you know that most are anything but creative. They're more into glitz than substance. They follow trends and rarely create them. The industry is awash with no talents making six figures who have more fun playing with their computer toys then working on the actual commercial content.

And whatever happened to 'funny'. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to laugh. With the exception of a handful of Doritos and Budweiser spots that ran in the Super Bowl, has anyone seen any gut wrenching commercials recently? And speaking of those Super Bowl spots....why haven't we seen much of them since? Is there a belief in the ad business that that kind of funny really doesn't sell? What nonsense.

Like traditional radio and TV...advertising is all wrapped up in statistics. They poll and test and 'refine' until every last vestige of true creativity is squeezed from the commercial. And what's with the research? Who died and said that they had all the answers? Sometimes I think that research, in and of itself, is the scam. It baffles the no-talents in the biz who don't have the intestinal fortitude to stand by their convictions. It also gives them an excuse for their failure; something that they can point to when their work tanks. They can say, "Well boss, I don't know why that didn't work...it tested well!"

And most agencies just want to close the deal. So they capitulate and give creative ground for the sake of the bottom line. Meaning...they may pitch a great concept but if the client doesn't get it then they toss it and go to Plan B...you know... Abe Lincoln and the Beaver...or the duphus wearing the Sun suit eating the sausage sandwich.

Advertising can be creative and profitable but the Presidents and CEOs of these agencies have got to point their businesses in that direction. They have to take the creative lead. They're constantly telling their clients or potential clients how creative their work is, but all you have to do is watch any commercial break to see how wrong they are.

It's a BIG industry flushed with huge sums of money and people who don't want to rock the boat. So I guess the truth of the matter is that we're going to see more of Abe, the Beaver, Smiling Bob, Mr. Sun and their friends. What a shame.

Bring Back The Radio Geniuses!!

I've been in radio for a long time. I've seen format fads come and go. I've worked for and known some legendary programming 'geniuses'. I've watched the consultants walk the halls like monks at vespers. I've seen the program directors nervously trying to appease these seers and most failing in their attempts.

I've seen General Managers, who have risen to their positions through the non-programming ranks, insert their programming preferences into the mix and over-ride and over-rule their PD's, the people who have apprenticed in that area of expertise. It hasn't always been a mistake. Some GM's are naturally good programmers. They've watched and learned as they toiled in the sales side of the business. But unfortunately, most of the time their decisions were disastrous. They've 'watched the car and it seems easy to drive' But watching from the sidelines and sitting behind the wheel are two separate and distinct things.

Programming a radio station properly looks easy. It's not. Ask any of the program directors who have failed. Making a station appealing and popular is like squeezing Jello. It's hard to get a handle on. It takes an understanding of the fundamentals, patience and innate creativity. Two out of the three you can develop over time. The third you have to be born with.

The industry is filled with people who understand the fundamentals and have the patience. Unfortunately it's sorely lacking in creative programming talent. Most don't realize that this money making business is also a creative work of art. It's not enough to 'know the music' or to understand how to interpret the latest ratings book. The authors of all of the creative formats from this industry's inception, have been radio artists. They broke the molds and stepped into new and uncharted territory.

And great formats have 'legs'...they last. Most would last much longer than they do. The problem is, the creative programmer (the rarity) usually passes it off to the fundamentalist (the majority). They lack the skills to maintain the station, never mind the talent to bring it to the next level. They end up blaming their poor numbers on the format.

And of course today, the large radio groups usually have a market programmer who oversees several stations, which have a variety of formats. Most of these people would have their hands full with one format...they've got a whole bunch! It is a recipe for failure.

And radio wonders why listeners are looking to other forms of portable entertainment. People aren't stupid. They may not be able to understand what exactly is wrong with their favorite station, but they know when it doesn't sound good. And if it doesn't improve they look somewhere else. And as most programmers know, they're hard to get back.

Radio has done this to itself. Computerized stations with 'group' programming is not the answer. We need to bring back the Radio geniuses. Instead of minimizing the Program Director's position we need to re-establish it's importance and to give these people the freedom and tools that they must have to save our business. There's still time...but it's running out.

Bring Back The Radio Geniuses!!

I've been in radio for a long time. I've seen format fads come and go. I've worked for and known some legendary programming 'geniuses'. I've watched the consultants walk the halls like monks at vespers. I've seen the program directors nervously trying to appease these seers and most failing in their attempts.

I've seen General Managers, who have risen to their positions through the non-programming ranks, insert their programming preferences into the mix and over-ride and over-rule their PD's, the people who have apprenticed in that area of expertise. It hasn't always been a mistake. Some GM's are naturally good programmers. They've watched and learned as they toiled in the sales side of the business. But unfortunately, most of the time their decisions were disastrous. They've 'watched the car and it seems easy to drive' But watching from the sidelines and sitting behind the wheel are two separate and distinct things.

Programming a radio station properly looks easy. It's not. Ask any of the program directors who have failed. Making a station appealing and popular is like squeezing Jello. It's hard to get a handle on. It takes an understanding of the fundamentals, patience and innate creativity. Two out of the three you can develop over time. The third you have to be born with.

The industry is filled with people who understand the fundamentals and have the patience. Unfortunately it's sorely lacking in creative programming talent. Most don't realize that this money making business is also a creative work of art. It's not enough to 'know the music' or to understand how to interpret the latest ratings book. The authors of all of the creative formats from this industry's inception, have been radio artists. They broke the molds and stepped into new and uncharted territory.

And great formats have 'legs'...they last. Most would last much longer than they do. The problem is, the creative programmer (the rarity) usually passes it off to the fundamentalist (the majority). They lack the skills to maintain the station, never mind the talent to bring it to the next level. They end up blaming their poor numbers on the format.

And of course today, the large radio groups usually have a market programmer who oversees several stations, which have a variety of formats. Most of these people would have their hands full with one format...they've got a whole bunch! It is a recipe for failure.

And radio wonders why listeners are looking to other forms of portable entertainment. People aren't stupid. They may not be able to understand what exactly is wrong with their favorite station, but they know when it doesn't sound good. And if it doesn't improve they look somewhere else. And as most programmers know, they're hard to get back.

Radio has done this to itself. Computerized stations with 'group' programming is not the answer. We need to bring back the Radio geniuses. Instead of minimizing the Program Director's position we need to re-establish it's importance and to give these people the freedom and tools that they must have to save our business. There's still time...but it's running out.

Bring Back The Radio Geniuses!!

I've been in radio for a long time. I've seen format fads come and go. I've worked for and known some legendary programming 'geniuses'. I've watched the consultants walk the halls like monks at vespers. I've seen the program directors nervously trying to appease these seers and most failing in their attempts.

I've seen General Managers, who have risen to their positions through the non-programming ranks, insert their programming preferences into the mix and over-ride and over-rule their PD's, the people who have apprenticed in that area of expertise. It hasn't always been a mistake. Some GM's are naturally good programmers. They've watched and learned as they toiled in the sales side of the business. But unfortunately, most of the time their decisions were disastrous. They've 'watched the car and it seems easy to drive' But watching from the sidelines and sitting behind the wheel are two separate and distinct things.

Programming a radio station properly looks easy. It's not. Ask any of the program directors who have failed. Making a station appealing and popular is like squeezing Jello. It's hard to get a handle on. It takes an understanding of the fundamentals, patience and innate creativity. Two out of the three you can develop over time. The third you have to be born with.

The industry is filled with people who understand the fundamentals and have the patience. Unfortunately it's sorely lacking in creative programming talent. Most don't realize that this money making business is also a creative work of art. It's not enough to 'know the music' or to understand how to interpret the latest ratings book. The authors of all of the creative formats from this industry's inception, have been radio artists. They broke the molds and stepped into new and uncharted territory.

And great formats have 'legs'...they last. Most would last much longer than they do. The problem is, the creative programmer (the rarity) usually passes it off to the fundamentalist (the majority). They lack the skills to maintain the station, never mind the talent to bring it to the next level. They end up blaming their poor numbers on the format.

And of course today, the large radio groups usually have a market programmer who oversees several stations, which have a variety of formats. Most of these people would have their hands full with one format...they've got a whole bunch! It is a recipe for failure.

And radio wonders why listeners are looking to other forms of portable entertainment. People aren't stupid. They may not be able to understand what exactly is wrong with their favorite station, but they know when it doesn't sound good. And if it doesn't improve they look somewhere else. And as most programmers know, they're hard to get back.

Radio has done this to itself. Computerized stations with 'group' programming is not the answer. We need to bring back the Radio geniuses. Instead of minimizing the Program Director's position we need to re-establish it's importance and to give these people the freedom and tools that they must have to save our business. There's still time...but it's running out.