Sunday, June 25, 2006
SAME OLE SAME OLE
(Sorry for the delayed posting, but the server on which this blog is hosted had a corrupted file and I couldn't post until the techies figured out which one it was for me)
Not much happening. I've decided to leave radio if I must in order to stay in Cedar Rapids and not force my family to move again.
Lots of anxiety with that, but I've settled it in my mind. We're better off here. Nice neighborhood, great friends, family nearby, etc. Now I just have to figure out how to put my 18-years of radio to good use. Most prospective employers are put off by the fact that I've done it that long and are under the impression that my eyes would wander back to radio the first chance I get. Nope...the money ain't that great and I'm tired of the way radio is being done these days. My first goal is to take care of my family...so if that means stacking boxes or selling brushes, then so be it.
I came to this conclusion after seeing more and more of what has happened with radio. Selling anything for the sake of selling it is getting old. I always thought that I could put together quality AND sales and make things work, but the people running the show these days are more interested in whatever sells....regardless of quality. It has been made perfectly clear to me the last couple of months of soul searching.
Take for instance my previous station...the same promos playing the same times, same voice over music commercials, same advertisers with the same copy, overall generally poor quality radio. Occasionally a sparkle or two (like weather coverage sometimes), but they're rare. But, with a legendary signal and call letters...who cares as long as you're meeting budget or making a profit? Listeners aren't going to change their habits much.
I'm not saying I'm some golden-boy expert to the rescue...and frankly I failed in a lot of areas to make improvements not only in myself, but in my own work...but I tried to push a little too hard and in the wrong way to try to change things. I'm just an innocent bystander now and I've probably got a lot on my chest that is starting to come out. I do imagine there are a lot of people who are still there that see the same things...but they're getting a paycheck. In the quiet of a bar, they'll admit it...but like I said, they don't care because they're getting a paycheck...it's the same attitude that got radio in trouble in the first place:
Very simply...the problem with some radio today is "If it sells, air it"...and "If it causes revenue to go down, don't air it"
I don't necessarily disagree with the last statement, but in the context of trying something new or different, then it makes no sense. Rush Limbaugh (don't worry, not a hero worship here) is a good example of that. Anyone remember how many stations he started with? 6 or so. Rush broke through the mold of stale radio at the time...sameness...safe. All of that was cast away when he came on the scene. Radio today has forgotten that lesson. They all want to just play it safe and print the checks. I can forgive them for not wanting to mess with success if they're having it, but you still need to stay fresh or you bore people to death and they eventually go away to their I-Pods, XM, MP3 or whatever.
I tried to do it the old fashioned way..."If the people like it, be patient, then sell it"
So...I'm apparently done with radio. Now, I'll try and take my overall view about radio to another career track.
Provide quality service...go above and beyond to please the people you depend on for your income...and never, ever take them for granted.
Anyone need an employee like that? Email me for my resume.
(Sorry for the delayed posting, but the server on which this blog is hosted had a corrupted file and I couldn't post until the techies figured out which one it was for me)
Not much happening. I've decided to leave radio if I must in order to stay in Cedar Rapids and not force my family to move again.
Lots of anxiety with that, but I've settled it in my mind. We're better off here. Nice neighborhood, great friends, family nearby, etc. Now I just have to figure out how to put my 18-years of radio to good use. Most prospective employers are put off by the fact that I've done it that long and are under the impression that my eyes would wander back to radio the first chance I get. Nope...the money ain't that great and I'm tired of the way radio is being done these days. My first goal is to take care of my family...so if that means stacking boxes or selling brushes, then so be it.
I came to this conclusion after seeing more and more of what has happened with radio. Selling anything for the sake of selling it is getting old. I always thought that I could put together quality AND sales and make things work, but the people running the show these days are more interested in whatever sells....regardless of quality. It has been made perfectly clear to me the last couple of months of soul searching.
Take for instance my previous station...the same promos playing the same times, same voice over music commercials, same advertisers with the same copy, overall generally poor quality radio. Occasionally a sparkle or two (like weather coverage sometimes), but they're rare. But, with a legendary signal and call letters...who cares as long as you're meeting budget or making a profit? Listeners aren't going to change their habits much.
I'm not saying I'm some golden-boy expert to the rescue...and frankly I failed in a lot of areas to make improvements not only in myself, but in my own work...but I tried to push a little too hard and in the wrong way to try to change things. I'm just an innocent bystander now and I've probably got a lot on my chest that is starting to come out. I do imagine there are a lot of people who are still there that see the same things...but they're getting a paycheck. In the quiet of a bar, they'll admit it...but like I said, they don't care because they're getting a paycheck...it's the same attitude that got radio in trouble in the first place:
Very simply...the problem with some radio today is "If it sells, air it"...and "If it causes revenue to go down, don't air it"
I don't necessarily disagree with the last statement, but in the context of trying something new or different, then it makes no sense. Rush Limbaugh (don't worry, not a hero worship here) is a good example of that. Anyone remember how many stations he started with? 6 or so. Rush broke through the mold of stale radio at the time...sameness...safe. All of that was cast away when he came on the scene. Radio today has forgotten that lesson. They all want to just play it safe and print the checks. I can forgive them for not wanting to mess with success if they're having it, but you still need to stay fresh or you bore people to death and they eventually go away to their I-Pods, XM, MP3 or whatever.
I tried to do it the old fashioned way..."If the people like it, be patient, then sell it"
So...I'm apparently done with radio. Now, I'll try and take my overall view about radio to another career track.
Provide quality service...go above and beyond to please the people you depend on for your income...and never, ever take them for granted.
Anyone need an employee like that? Email me for my resume.
Labels: wmt
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
