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.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
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.
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.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
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.
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.
Friday, June 1, 2007
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.
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.
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