tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8578956618041582274..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Terrestrial Radio sucksBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90705305880918696692017-01-25T19:39:00.414-08:002017-01-25T19:39:00.414-08:00We're all telling radio stations that they suc...We're all telling radio stations that they suck for running too many terrible and repetitive ads by not tuning in. They're obviously not getting the message. Unfortunately, my fav online app is now paying they're own ads over the stream's current ad slots and even extending they're ads beyond. I think this is a symptom of the problem. Too many ads forces even ardent radio fans to tune out. I'm getting fed up. The over priced satellite subscription was supposed to originally support ad free listening. Those days are over. Satellite radio needs to choose ad based or subscription based services. They can't keep having it both ways. Again, I'm fed up. Looking for another reasonable option.Howsyomamanemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04170369407809969926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54303503124261721122016-04-18T10:31:48.811-07:002016-04-18T10:31:48.811-07:00I am 67 yrs old. There is absolutely nothing on th...I am 67 yrs old. There is absolutely nothing on the Milwaukee FM or AM band to listen to. No classical or easy listening, the same oldies over and over, and noise that can't be classified as music. Radcadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957288123101865225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51661287637539254782016-04-18T10:30:50.066-07:002016-04-18T10:30:50.066-07:00I am 67 yrs old. There is absolutely nothing on th...I am 67 yrs old. There is absolutely nothing on the Milwaukee FM or AM band to listen to. No classical or easy listening, the same oldies over and over, and noise that can't be classified as music. Radcadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957288123101865225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4717380814377464732015-01-11T04:46:34.503-08:002015-01-11T04:46:34.503-08:00I have to say that everything said here is true.
...I have to say that everything said here is true. <br /><br />Just went bowling today with family and the songs that were being played are very much the same stuff I heard a few years ago. Honestly it's just the same songs over and over. Unfortunately I don't think too many people care anymore, because today we can just use Spotify, Pandora, or any other service that provides us the songs we love. <br /><br />Hip-hop stations used to be pretty good on terrestrial radio back in the late 80s, early 90s. That was basically the time to get into that genre. Lots of talent and styles to be had. Today you can pretty much guarantee if you heard one hip-hop song, you've probably heard all the others. That's how much they sound alike nowadays.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75265853147379200722014-10-19T12:30:33.967-07:002014-10-19T12:30:33.967-07:00Hurricane gonzalo hit Bermuda with category force ...Hurricane gonzalo hit Bermuda with category force winds head on.<br />I was curious to hear what was happening there. <br />Using the "Tune in Radio" app.I searched for Bermuda based stations. All but 4 were kocked out. Out of the 4, 2 were broadcasting a tone (obviously in operation but unmanned. ) The other 2 FM's were playing that Iggy Azaleas crap and that annoying" Happy" song! Followed by more music!!<br /><br />FM sucks. HD Radio allows multiple channels on a frequency but now FM's are reluctant to "rent" their HD2-3-4's to "competing FM formats. Terrestrial is Doomed.Luisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10127359364831811112014-07-29T02:36:17.665-07:002014-07-29T02:36:17.665-07:00So true!!So true!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61951972794461968682014-07-29T02:28:09.936-07:002014-07-29T02:28:09.936-07:00I agree! Look, ESPN's Mike and Mike in the mo...I agree! Look, ESPN's Mike and Mike in the morning is just one big commercial! I quit listening. It made me physically sick. Too many dedicated commercial breaks. Too make matters worse even the nuts and bolts of the show is littered with commercial references. Just giving an opinion has to brought to us by Subway, for example. Then there is the infuriating opinion which directly leads to personal pitch for something and that's before an official 'commercial break.' Their greed gets in the way of analysis, which is too sanitized anyway. But that's a whole other can of worms...nuff said?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2342944033096773492013-10-23T23:51:41.864-07:002013-10-23T23:51:41.864-07:00Satellite radio is what I like. Lots of variety p...Satellite radio is what I like. Lots of variety plus the surprise factor, just like a box of chocolates.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71168011798168493492013-10-17T09:03:57.415-07:002013-10-17T09:03:57.415-07:00Outlaw Radio on Saturday Afternoons with Magic Mat...Outlaw Radio on Saturday Afternoons with Magic Matt Alan can be interesting. Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52861083176469209472013-09-30T00:29:14.466-07:002013-09-30T00:29:14.466-07:00nOT ALL TERRESTRIA RADIO STINKS, JUST cLEAR cHANNE...nOT ALL TERRESTRIA RADIO STINKS, JUST cLEAR cHANNEL AND cUMULUS STATIONS, THERE'S GOOD LOCAL RADIO OUT THERE AND THE QUALITY IS BETTER THAN THE COMPRESSED CRAP ON THE INTERNET STREAMING. SOUNDS LIKE EDGY NOISY DISTORTED CRAP, MAYBE OK ON A TINY CELL PHONE SPEAKER, IN THE CAR IT IS PURE TRASH AND ANNOYING..WHAT HAPPENED TO QUALITY PEOPLE? GOOD SOUND QUALITY?TonyBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39956269509136791372013-09-17T23:25:22.421-07:002013-09-17T23:25:22.421-07:00Ken no you are off target. Check your facts. Why...Ken no you are off target. Check your facts. Why the bias. Radio survives despite you, Clear Channel and Cumulus. What's your negative deal?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36506613727403547632013-09-04T09:37:58.930-07:002013-09-04T09:37:58.930-07:00The reason terrestrial radio still seems to be in ...The reason terrestrial radio still seems to be in business is because of "lethargy" - lethargy of most Americans to look beyond the realms of terrestrial radio. It's too much work and effort. People place ease over quality when it comes to music. This is why terrestrial radio knows they can get away with their incompetence. I mean, they've been doing this for the last 16 years - and getting away with it. Why would they change course at this point?Pranavhttp://www.radiocremebrulee.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26888063897397908432013-07-13T17:25:14.047-07:002013-07-13T17:25:14.047-07:00You should send a copy of your rant to each and ev...You should send a copy of your rant to each and every FM radio station in America! US Radio is dying slowly! I swear that even AM radio is at least 10 times more entertaining than FM. Eddie Vazhttp://thecityworkshop.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52531882658614563252013-05-14T22:43:56.584-07:002013-05-14T22:43:56.584-07:00I agree with what you say about satellite radio. ...I agree with what you say about satellite radio. I have one in my car and two in the house. One is in the living room that my wife listens to mostly, and the other is in my office.Willitsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2854089555721312042013-05-13T14:04:57.075-07:002013-05-13T14:04:57.075-07:00Since I'm still trying to make a living in rad...Since I'm still trying to make a living in radio I am posting anonymously. Ken you've nailed the issue on all fronts. But sadly the hope of independent we thought the internet would provide is being and has been crushed by the draconian royalty charges from the RIAA etc.<br /><br />In the beginning days of I-Net streaming I had several streams on-line that played music no longer heard on radio. Classic Country, Oldies form the 50's and 60's and deep cut album rock.<br /><br />When the royalty fees were jacked through the stratosphere I had to stop since I could not afford the operating costs.<br /><br />Today in this top 5 radio market the major operators all have their national format choices, CHR, Hot A/C, Classic Rock, Talk, and Sports Talk.<br /><br />The remaining stations are foreign language on AM. Freely available entertainment for listeners over 40 via over the air radio is gone...likely forever. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2174926835984365102013-05-02T10:28:27.264-07:002013-05-02T10:28:27.264-07:00Thanks, Mike! I can't believe I've only ju...Thanks, Mike! I can't believe I've only just realized that the head writer isn't the show runner!<br /><br /><a href="http://reachplus.com" rel="nofollow">mass notifications</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09099695426869070748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76871934975938952682013-04-25T13:34:17.516-07:002013-04-25T13:34:17.516-07:00I came of age long after the heyday of legendary s...I came of age long after the heyday of legendary stations like WABC, WRKO, KHJ, etc...but I still wanted to get into radio and be the next Dan Ingram or Bob Shannon. Should have tried to be Seacrest instead I guess...<br /><br />Some radio groups are better than others when it comes to local staffing and content (Greater Media, Townsquare to name two) - the sad fact is that deregulation & Wall Street have wrecked the biz. <br /><br />Internet radio is the hope for the future for many of us - like Howard Hoffman, I have my own station that tried to not sound like everything else on the dial. <br /><br />Next step...trying to monetize the audience without killing them.<br /><br />Love reading the blog...more radio war stories please!Tom Lawlerhttp://jamminoldiesradio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46490798316599910982013-04-18T19:30:57.165-07:002013-04-18T19:30:57.165-07:00Interesting post. I started in radio in 1979 and w...Interesting post. I started in radio in 1979 and worked most of the time in media and radio until 2004, when I was replaced by a satellite receiver.<br /><br />The word that comes to mi d is "sterile." Radio is cold and lifeless. AM in my market is totally dead. All the stations together on AM have less than a 1.5 share.<br /><br />I have an Internet classic and current country station that is little, but still has had more than 203,000 listeners. I sometimes feel very discouraged because I can't make a living with it.<br /><br />I have enough music that no song needs to repeat on any given day.Alanhttp://www.bigdcountry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64625431608424370812013-04-17T12:20:27.662-07:002013-04-17T12:20:27.662-07:00as to saying a Top 40 station only plays 15 songs ...as to saying a Top 40 station only plays 15 songs an hour. You're incorrect for some stations. I myslef do on-air talent for a Top 40 station, WFMG-Indiana, and i know for a fact we have five songs, that play 5 times a day from 12am - midnight. literally wont hear the same one within three hours. a radio isn't set up for all day listnership. Most listners are in and out of the car. radio isn't set up for you to listen from 8am - 5pm. that's impossible. they'd need so much music.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79602751098592481612013-02-26T13:51:48.487-08:002013-02-26T13:51:48.487-08:00Well, you pulled no punches. Ken realizes radio i...Well, you pulled no punches. Ken realizes radio is using a business model that's decades old. Soon someone just MIGHT develop a method of making the "paying" advertisements actually listenable (for all of your shopping needs)- monetizing the graphics of the online experience -and helping radio out of the chasm that will be created. Oh then there's the other side of the coin. Online "radio" will adopt the terrestrial model and cram 15 spots into a 7-minute stopset. I kinda like that "Spandau Ballet" channel -where is it? Dave Masonhttp://www.narrationnow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21762418147772505192013-02-22T00:07:53.276-08:002013-02-22T00:07:53.276-08:00Why listen to the radio when I can carry around 16...Why listen to the radio when I can carry around 16,000 of my favorite songs on my Ipod 160 classic and plug it into a listening system almost anywhere I go....Colin Sicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32385044758287232162013-02-20T06:20:07.463-08:002013-02-20T06:20:07.463-08:00girard31
I hope "Bill in Raleigh" sells...girard31<br /><br />I hope "Bill in Raleigh" sells his radio stock soon. My youngest, who is 16, never turns on the radio, even in the car. She plugs in her smartphone.<br /><br />Besides, Bill, starting out with ad hominem attacks denotes a weak argument every time. And why not just come out in say it, Bill? Radio hinges its future on America's growing lower middle class.<br /><br />I worked in radio, and the guy who fired me admitted that the new PPM form of measurement "Isn't being used by the upper middle class people we want to listen to our station". In other words, they were dumbing down. While I appreciated the compliment, I'd rather be employed. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18230118053331648294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76261598721041596782013-02-16T07:36:17.216-08:002013-02-16T07:36:17.216-08:00While doing the morning show at KLUV in Dallas for...While doing the morning show at KLUV in Dallas for 3 years, my log ended up with 23 minutes of spots, 7 minutes of news, 6 traffic reports, promos and liners too. And I thought "WTF?" CBS thought the revenue was fantastic. At $300 a pop it worked for them, but the listeners disagreed. When they brought Ron Chapman over from KVIL, he demanded only 15 minutes an hour. With his talent and crew, they moved into the top 3. So, great local personalities and lighter commercial loads do work. For 14 years in Tampa Bay we proved that at WUSA.Deeksternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90799513378007555402013-02-15T00:15:42.675-08:002013-02-15T00:15:42.675-08:00Whoops! Forgot to add my name to the above. It&#...Whoops! Forgot to add my name to the above. It's Geno. (Sorry!)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02030368728373537919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2342560257435320462013-02-15T00:14:47.537-08:002013-02-15T00:14:47.537-08:00I worked on the radio for almost 30 years, includi...I worked on the radio for almost 30 years, including about 14 years in a top-five market. I watched the beginning of the end when the beancounters came up with the idea of running two nine-minute stopsets (commercial breaks) per hour.<br /><br />A) What listener wants to sit through that much non-entertainment all at once? And 2) What advertiser wants to shell out big bucks, only to have his or her announcement buried smack-dab in the middle of a nine-pound bag of shit?<br /><br />And of course, when listenership began to plummet, the same beancounters blamed the programmers and the on-air personalities -- the same ones who tried to tell the beancounters that they shouldn't run so many commercials.<br />Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02030368728373537919noreply@blogger.com