What more creative talk in radio would you take if given a chance?

[The Fat Man]

I'm also a lurker on the Radio Discussions boards. This question popped up in the Boston Boards bu a poster named "thezak". I thought it would be fun to share ideas here as well. If you had the creative freedom to program FM or AM, what would you do?

What more creative task in Boston radio would you take on if given a chance?

 

[Juan]

It has to be likable and fun to listen to

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[navychop]

I suppose a station with nothing left to lose could turn back to the 1940s. Play it as it was back then, even with a few old commercials built it. Keep any news bulletins about progress in the war. Fibber McGee and Molly. Bob Hope. Etc.

Maybe someone could try that for just a single night.

Heck, now I want to listen to that.

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[harshness]

My first inclination would be to fill some holes in the existing broadcasts.

The first problem I have with local stations is that most in my area go fully automated at 5pm (one FM station has only a 6-10am morning drive). There's nobody around to take calls for requests or traffic reports. The only station that appears that it might be manned (with something other than an engineer) is the community access station and some of those shows are recorded.

It is tough here as Entercom bought up all the major players and ground them into small fry that have to fight with the independents for market share.

I was at a wedding last night for a youngish (early 30s) couple and most of the music the DJ played was from the 70s and 80s. Most seemed to be enjoying it.

That said, I think picking a genre isn't necessarily a good idea as people listen to linear radio to be introduced to things that aren't on their personal playlist and this is something I can't stress enough. If people wanted to hear their collection, they'd rip it and put their player on shuffle.

 

[spongella]

Bring back an eclectic mix of host-type shows like years gone by such as: Jean Shepherd, Symphony Sid, Danny Stiles, Just Jazz with Ed Beach, Long John Nagy. Maybe some hour-long Oldies but Goodies shows.

 

[Mister B]

I will second the above sentiment that a wide variety mix of music would be more interesting than all of these very tightly programmed radio stations that are available today. Also, most radio stations stick to the very most popular titles of their genre. I like classic rock but sometimes think it is a shame that I can not stand to hear "Stairway to Heaven" or "Don't Fear the Reaper" again. I would like to hear album cuts that were not often played or the lesser known artists.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

One format that has been highly successful in Orlando that hasn't really been tried (or tried but not executed well) is the "Real Radio" format. Which if you listen is really like a bunch of friend sitting around at a bar talking about things going on in the area. With men being men cracking jokes and talking about the happenings locally and when warranted national items... yet without getting real serious about things and no real slanted political leanings.

I use to listen to this station all day long and everyone on the radio seemed like a friend. When I went to Orlando I actually went to the station and they had me on and I fit in just like I was on the air with them for years. It was like talking to old friends.

I would love to see that Format tried at other stations around the country.

 

[Peter Parker]

I suppose a station with nothing left to lose could turn back to the 1940s. Play it as it was back then, even with a few old commercials built it. Keep any news bulletins about progress in the war. Fibber McGee and Molly. Bob Hope. Etc.

Maybe someone could try that for just a single night.

Heck, now I want to listen to that.

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Doesn't WAMU do that on Sunday evenings? Not sure how much of an audience is generated.

 

[navychop]

Ill have to check. They may have been keeping it a secret.


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[The Fat Man]

Personally, I was "the absolute ruler of Boston FM" I would only keep two outlets for each format. Specifically, there are near five for a variant of pop. I can hear newer artist like Ariana Grande on 103.3, 104.1, 104.5, 104.9, and 107.9. Those stations have a varying playlist, but that's too much. Then, there's no outlet for various formats. So, I'd bring in formats like modern urban, real Alternative (not FM's idea of Alternative being mainly 90s grunge), blues, oldies (not classic hits), etc. In Boston (or north of Boston) it's mostly a variant of Pop, Country, Sports Talk, and FM Hip-Hop. There are some sprinkles out there. We have one rock station, one classic rock station, one R&B station, and one "Alternative" station. But, they have tight playlists. For me, I do get Manchester, NH which expands rock a bit. But, there still is very limited variety.

 

[Juan]

Personally, I was "the absolute ruler of Boston FM" I would only keep two outlets for each format. Specifically, there are near five for a variant of pop. I can hear newer artist like Ariana Grande on 103.3, 104.1, 104.5, 104.9, and 107.9. Those stations have a varying playlist, but that's too much. Then, there's no outlet for various formats. So, I'd bring in formats like modern urban, real Alternative (not FM's idea of Alternative being mainly 90s grunge), blues, oldies (not classic hits), etc. In Boston (or north of Boston) it's mostly a variant of Pop, Country, Sports Talk, and FM Hip-Hop. There are some sprinkles out there. We have one rock station, one classic rock station, one R&B station, and one "Alternative" station. But, they have tight playlists. For me, I do get Manchester, NH which expands rock a bit. But, there still is very limited variety.

You were born 25 years too late..the FCC used to control that

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[raoul5788]

I'm also a lurker on the Radio Discussions boards. This question popped up in the Boston Boards bu a poster named "thezak". I thought it would be fun to share ideas here as well. If you had the creative freedom to program FM or AM, what would you do?

What more creative task in Boston radio would you take on if given a chance?

I'd focus more on women singers like Bonnie, Allison, Eva, Joni.

 

[The Fat Man]

You were born 25 years too late..the FCC used to control that

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Pretty much. They also used to have greater control on how much one company can own in each market. I think radio was better when each station was owned by a mom and pop company. There was more experimentation back then. Now, iHeart and Entercom are in bed with the record companies to play specific songs. Then the stations use algorithms to figure out what songs people like to hear, instead of allowing the DJ to select some deep cuts and independent songs. We used to go to radio to find something new. Now, we go to radio to hear the same rehashed hits, and whatever the record company wants us to hear. Here's an interesting item for viewing.

 

[Juan]

Pretty much. They also used to have greater control on how much one company can own in each market. I think radio was better when each station was owned by a mom and pop company. There was more experimentation back then. Now, iHeart and Entercom are in bed with the record companies to play specific songs. Then the stations use algorithms to figure out what songs people like to hear, instead of allowing the DJ to select some deep cuts and independent songs. We used to go to radio to find something new. Now, we go to radio to hear the same rehashed hits, and whatever the record company wants us to hear. Here's an interesting item for viewing.

That pay for play stuff has been around for ever..I do agree that radio has lost its local feel thus many people chose to ignore it..newer technology allows me to build a station with music that I enjoy not what some corporation thinks that I like

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[Sean Mota]

That pay for play stuff has been around for ever..I do agree that radio has lost its local feel thus many people chose to ignore it..newer technology allows me to build a station with music that I enjoy not what some corporation thinks that I like

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I cannot stand modern radio station. Too much commercials and lots of talk when they are supposed to be playing music. I do not think i would like any format since you can make your own playlist now a days.

"The need to be right is the sign of a vulgar mind"

 

[Juan]

I cannot stand modern radio station. Too much commercials and lots of talk when they are supposed to be playing music. I do not think i would like any format since you can make your own playlist now a days.

"The need to be right is the sign of a vulgar mind"

Try pandora..slacker among others..you have some control in the free versions..if you truly want an ad free make your own playlist experience..slacker is great but its like 10 bucks a month

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[billowens]

I lived in Houston, Tx in the early 90's. There were radio teams on morning drive:
Hudson & Harrigan - Country
Stevens & Pruett - Hard Rock
Dean & Rog - Classic Rock
They were entertainment, everything from prank birthday calls to character skits. More talk actually than music. They are all gone now.

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[The Fat Man]

Try pandora..slacker among others..you have some control in the free versions..if you truly want an ad free make your own playlist experience..slacker is great but its like 10 bucks a month

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My issue with those are that they get you with the subscription fees. I found that I need to go off the beaten path to find different types of music that I like, then I buy the songs I want on iTunes and put them on my phone's expandable memory.

I'll use KROQ-HD2 for 80s alternative and rock, Q101, Indie617, The Independent FM, and WLIR.FM for alternative, and SiriusXM via Dish (at home) for modern rock on Octane. I used to use Radio Mojo (WZLX-HX2) for my Blues fix, but thanks to CBS selling WZLX to Clear Channel (still refuse to say its crappy current name) in the merger and subsequent discontinuation of Radio Mojo, I now use Bluesville on SiriusXM. I hate that I don't get blues in my car. At least I can use a local rock station if I need to. Basically, I use free outlets to find new music and then buy the song on iTunes.

 

[Tampa8]

One format that has been highly successful in Orlando that hasn't really been tried (or tried but not executed well) is the "Real Radio" format. Which if you listen is really like a bunch of friend sitting around at a bar talking about things going on in the area. With men being men cracking jokes and talking about the happenings locally and when warranted national items... yet without getting real serious about things and no real slanted political leanings.

I use to listen to this station all day long and everyone on the radio seemed like a friend. When I went to Orlando I actually went to the station and they had me on and I fit in just like I was on the air with them for years. It was like talking to old friends.

I would love to see that Format tried at other stations around the country.

That actually started with a Miami talk station WIOD quite sometime ago. And really that format in one way or another is being used now.
For instance WEEI Boston sports radio's most popular show and highly rated is not really about Sports. As you described they sit around and talk about things, could be whatever the big story of the day Sports, Politics, problems at the station with management, etc etc. Stupid things people in public say, etc etc....

 

[Tampa8]

Pretty much. They also used to have greater control on how much one company can own in each market. I think radio was better when each station was owned by a mom and pop company. There was more experimentation back then. Now, iHeart and Entercom are in bed with the record companies to play specific songs. Then the stations use algorithms to figure out what songs people like to hear, instead of allowing the DJ to select some deep cuts and independent songs. We used to go to radio to find something new. Now, we go to radio to hear the same rehashed hits, and whatever the record company wants us to hear. Here's an interesting item for viewing.

Great video, so true.