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.

The Attackers At The Gate!!

I was visiting a friend of mine last week, who owns several stations in Virginia, and we were discussing the current state of the radio business. We both agreed that these are interesting and turbulent times. Direct to consumer satellite program delivery has changed many of the rules and made the radio game much more challenging.

In my opinion though. the real threat on the horizon is WiFi. Radio executives are ringing their hands and fretting over the growing strength of satellite and justifiably so. But they seem to be ignoring altogether the real challenge WiFi broadcasting will represent...very soon. Imagine, if you will, getting into your car, slipping your cellphone into a cradle on your dashboard, punching a few keys and suddenly receiving your favorite Internet radio broadcast. The signal will be digital and as good as satellite. And wherever there is WiFi service, you'll have access to shows that interest you. And don't poo poo WiFi service. The day will come, in the not to distant future, when it will be everywhere. Think of how cell service has improved over the years. Not too long ago we were talking into phones the size of bricks that had very limited range. It's improved so much, in a short time, that we now become irritated when we drop a call or are in a poor service area. And already there are hundreds of Internet only stations out there; many offering programs that are much more interesting than the run of the mill fare found on traditional terrestrial radio.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. The key to radio's future is the aggressive implementation of creative programming. And they can't wait until the attackers are at the gate because if they do, it will be too late. Radio can't be content with offering the same old, same old. It has to be aggressive, bold and innovative. If they remain complacent then the new kids on the block are going to muscle them out of a market and make them an afterthought.

They've Got It Bass Ackwards!!!

Would someone please tell me what's happening in the record business! Why, in the name of heaven, are they pushing away Internet radio stations. Do they really think that there's money to be made by charging a fee for every song played on the Web? I mean, come on, most of those 'stations' have never made a profit and those that have don't make enough to allow their operators to quit their day jobs.

Can anyone say the word 'greed'. There must have been dancing in the record company corporate offices when word came down last week that the Copyright Royalty Board had ruled in their favor and issued a pay for play rate schedule. You see, what these people don't seem to understand is that these 'station owners' are nothing more than enthusiasts. Most aren't doing it to build a communications empire. They love music and they love radio. Building an Internet radio station was probably the closest they would ever get to the business.

Many of these stations are run from a desktop computer in someone's home. The whole thing is put together in a software program like WinAmp. They were run on a shoe string...but now, because of the fees that they are going to have to pay, most will stop running altogether. And what I don't understand is why the record companies did this. You see, it was a free promotional outlet for their product. Kids who wouldn't listen to 'regular' radio were discovering songs on the Internet stations. Now, let's see...they give their products to terrestrial radio stations with the hope that they'll play it...but they want to charge the underfunded Internet stations for each time the songs are aired! Does that make sense to you because it sure doesn't make any to me.

They should have embraced this new marketing avenue. They should have encouraged the use of their music. Songs that might never have made it to a 'regular' stations play list might have had a shot on an Internet station. But it looks like that will never happen because in their infinite wisdom they decided that it was in their best interests to squeeze the little guy. If you ask me...they've got it bass ackwards.

Are there any more rational people out their? Doesn't anyone else see this? They think that they've just fixed a problem and what they've really done is shoot themselves in the foot. And what's worse is that they aimed and pulled the trigger!

They've Got It Bass Ackwards!!!

Would someone please tell me what's happening in the record business! Why, in the name of heaven, are they pushing away Internet radio stations. Do they really think that there's money to be made by charging a fee for every song played on the Web? I mean, come on, most of those 'stations' have never made a profit and those that have don't make enough to allow their operators to quit their day jobs.

Can anyone say the word 'greed'. There must have been dancing in the record company corporate offices when word came down last week that the Copyright Royalty Board had ruled in their favor and issued a pay for play rate schedule. You see, what these people don't seem to understand is that these 'station owners' are nothing more than enthusiasts. Most aren't doing it to build a communications empire. They love music and they love radio. Building an Internet radio station was probably the closest they would ever get to the business.

Many of these stations are run from a desktop computer in someone's home. The whole thing is put together in a software program like WinAmp. They were run on a shoe string...but now, because of the fees that they are going to have to pay, most will stop running altogether. And what I don't understand is why the record companies did this. You see, it was a free promotional outlet for their product. Kids who wouldn't listen to 'regular' radio were discovering songs on the Internet stations. Now, let's see...they give their products to terrestrial radio stations with the hope that they'll play it...but they want to charge the underfunded Internet stations for each time the songs are aired! Does that make sense to you because it sure doesn't make any to me.

They should have embraced this new marketing avenue. They should have encouraged the use of their music. Songs that might never have made it to a 'regular' stations play list might have had a shot on an Internet station. But it looks like that will never happen because in their infinite wisdom they decided that it was in their best interests to squeeze the little guy. If you ask me...they've got it bass ackwards.

Are there any more rational people out their? Doesn't anyone else see this? They think that they've just fixed a problem and what they've really done is shoot themselves in the foot. And what's worse is that they aimed and pulled the trigger!

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.

Tired of an Angry Media?

Are you tired of an 'angry' media? I know I am. There's so much media out there, it seems that the only way that they can get your attention is if they 'tick you off'. Look at television. The cable news channels don't simply deliver the news, they take sides. The left has its channels and the right has theirs. Maybe I was naive or something but when I was a kid, it seems that we simply got the facts. Maybe they massaged the stories a bit, but it wasn't obvious. Today...they hit you over the head with their partiality. There's no subtlety to it. It's there for everyone to see, like a flasher with his raincoat opened.

You watch the news and you find yourself getting angry at strangers...people you don't even know! And people you'll probably never know. Why is that? Isn't there enough real stuff for us to get angry about...problems that we have to deal with day after day? Do we need to watch TV to raise our blood pressure? I don't think so.

Even the reality shows get me honked off. Take Survivor....everyone is trying to stick it to the other guy. They're conniving and deceiving...and they all deserve to be on a deserted island. And American Idol....now he's probably a nice guy in person...but don't you want to just smack Simon sometimes?

Dramas are no better. I like House but the guy's no Marcus Welby. What a nasty S.O.B.. He has the bedside manner of Attila the Hun. I wouldn't want him performing any delicate surgery on me. (Hey guys...imagine Dr. House giving you a vasectomy...YIKES!!) I also love 24 but Jack Bauer's got some serious anger management issues, don't you think? You watch an hour of that show and you're exhausted! And you feel inferior...like you're not getting enough done. I mean this guy saves the world in a day. I feel fulfilled if I get my car washed.

Radio talk show hosts are particularly good a elevating my BP. And the real good ones can drive me to near rage in the short time that it takes me to drive to the convenience store down the street. You find yourself walking in to buy a quart of milk and you're scowling at the clerk! And I should know better because I've been a talk show host...on some pretty big stations. I know the tricks of the trade. But I guess I'm as vulnerable as the next guy. And most of today's Top 4o radio morning show hosts can crank me up too. I find their 'humor' to be demeaning, disrespectful and dumb. Oh...and their music stinks too.

And how about them promo announcers! That's right I said promo announcers. The guys sound hostile. They used to be big voiced and important...now they sound surly and they growl their messages at you.

Wow...just mentioning this stuff is getting me uptight.

Is it all a sign of the times? Is it just a reflection of who we are? Have we become an unhappy and angry society? Maybe...but I hope not. God knows that we have a lot to worry about.

Friends...we all need to step back and take a cleansing breath. Maybe if we avoid these angry media messages and outlets they'll get the message. There are other options for us out there and having a little more peace in your life just might make you live longer.

Oh, and the convenience store clerk will feel better about you too.

Tired of an Angry Media?

Are you tired of an 'angry' media? I know I am. There's so much media out there, it seems that the only way that they can get your attention is if they 'tick you off'. Look at television. The cable news channels don't simply deliver the news, they take sides. The left has its channels and the right has theirs. Maybe I was naive or something but when I was a kid, it seems that we simply got the facts. Maybe they massaged the stories a bit, but it wasn't obvious. Today...they hit you over the head with their partiality. There's no subtlety to it. It's there for everyone to see, like a flasher with his raincoat opened.

You watch the news and you find yourself getting angry at strangers...people you don't even know! And people you'll probably never know. Why is that? Isn't there enough real stuff for us to get angry about...problems that we have to deal with day after day? Do we need to watch TV to raise our blood pressure? I don't think so.

Even the reality shows get me honked off. Take Survivor....everyone is trying to stick it to the other guy. They're conniving and deceiving...and they all deserve to be on a deserted island. And American Idol....now he's probably a nice guy in person...but don't you want to just smack Simon sometimes?

Dramas are no better. I like House but the guy's no Marcus Welby. What a nasty S.O.B.. He has the bedside manner of Attila the Hun. I wouldn't want him performing any delicate surgery on me. (Hey guys...imagine Dr. House giving you a vasectomy...YIKES!!) I also love 24 but Jack Bauer's got some serious anger management issues, don't you think? You watch an hour of that show and you're exhausted! And you feel inferior...like you're not getting enough done. I mean this guy saves the world in a day. I feel fulfilled if I get my car washed.

Radio talk show hosts are particularly good a elevating my BP. And the real good ones can drive me to near rage in the short time that it takes me to drive to the convenience store down the street. You find yourself walking in to buy a quart of milk and you're scowling at the clerk! And I should know better because I've been a talk show host...on some pretty big stations. I know the tricks of the trade. But I guess I'm as vulnerable as the next guy. And most of today's Top 4o radio morning show hosts can crank me up too. I find their 'humor' to be demeaning, disrespectful and dumb. Oh...and their music stinks too.

And how about them promo announcers! That's right I said promo announcers. The guys sound hostile. They used to be big voiced and important...now they sound surly and they growl their messages at you.

Wow...just mentioning this stuff is getting me uptight.

Is it all a sign of the times? Is it just a reflection of who we are? Have we become an unhappy and angry society? Maybe...but I hope not. God knows that we have a lot to worry about.

Friends...we all need to step back and take a cleansing breath. Maybe if we avoid these angry media messages and outlets they'll get the message. There are other options for us out there and having a little more peace in your life just might make you live longer.

Oh, and the convenience store clerk will feel better about you too.

Too Good For Just One Day.....

I know that this is a repeat but yesterday's blog was too good for just one day. If every other form of media can run repeats...why not us.

ONE VOTE FOR THE EASTER BUNNY....

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.

One Vote For The Easter Bunny...

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.

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.

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.

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.