DAN O’DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO

Straight talk about radio programming, radio advertising, radio production...Well, you get the idea.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

THE UNEDITED VERSION: HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF EVEN MORE UNPOPULAR WITH RADIO EXECUTIVES


Recently I shared with you a snippet of a video shot at RAB 2009 by Broadcast-Future!'s Peter Fuermetz, when he pointed a video camera at me and asked for my honest evaluation of where radio is and where it's headed.

Peter was kind enough to provide me with the complete video. I'm sure it will make me even less popular with some radio people.


Labels:

11 Comments:

Anonymous Summer James said...

well, i certainly need that video..thanks Dan!

June 6, 2009 at 12:50 AM  
Anonymous Jimmy Olsen said...

Tell them you'll work for free to make the share holders happy...

June 6, 2009 at 1:08 AM  
Anonymous Jimmy Olsen said...

Oh wait that would make you popular... oops sorry... lol

June 6, 2009 at 1:08 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

This is a phenomenal video Dan and a great idea!

However, most of the GMs I know in radio won't go for it.

A few years ago I posted an anonymous message on another radio site about the problem with radio management. A famous radio consultant (not you) lifted my post word for word and took credit for it.

Here's what I wrote and I think it explains why radio is where it currently is:

Radio is the lowest paying of all media. And in the past 15 years we've seen salaries get cut even more.

Other entertainment media, film, TV, even books, pay their creative talent far better than even the major market radio stations pay their talent (this includes sales people too).

Those with the real talent in radio have already found this out and left for better money elsewhere.

But the big radio corps need stability in management. So they've promoted the most mediocre people to the top. Those who don't have enough talent to make it in the better paying media. Or, they've promoted accountants and lawyers to run the companies - those who don't even understand how to make money in the entertainment industry. Those who think that they only way to make money is to cut expenses.

And that's why there has been and continues to be such a devaluation of creative ideas in radio. The mediocre managers now in charge don't get it and never will.

I'm sure some of them may see the value in what you've said about the iPhone idea... but unless someone is willing to barter that service for commercial time the answer is "no budget".

However, smart air talent and creative people will see this idea and do it on their own - without the radio station's involvement - and make it big in the new media. And radio will fall off the map - deservedly so in my opinion.

June 6, 2009 at 8:57 AM  
Anonymous Efrain Gonzalez said...

Wow, that is the most straight up, compelling and engaging argument I've heard about the radio industry lately. Hoefully radio executives do see this, and wake up to the 21st century and realize that radio has now come to a point in which it needs to give more and be relevant to their audience.

June 6, 2009 at 9:25 AM  
Anonymous Sharon Matthews said...

Not only are we not being innovative, no one even mixes up what they got on the air! And if something sort of works on one station, that becomes a bible for all other stations even if other markets don't respond.

June 6, 2009 at 9:25 AM  
Anonymous David Hull said...

As long as the "killer c's" (Citadel, Cumulus, CC) are calling the shots, radio has no chance. Innovation requires human input, which requires humans, which is a direct violation of the current business plan.

June 6, 2009 at 9:26 AM  
Anonymous Mike Thomas said...

Great video Dan.

June 6, 2009 at 9:27 AM  
Anonymous John Watts said...

Right on the money. (or lack thereof for those who fear change)

June 6, 2009 at 9:27 AM  
Anonymous Summer James said...

oh yes, let's see relevance to the actual listening audience? that is a preposterous idea. Let's keep competing with an IPOD that cant' do traffic or time or give any information like oh I don't know the idea of the foundation that radio was created on ..urgency, excitement , the human touch. hmmmm

June 6, 2009 at 10:09 AM  
Anonymous David Hull said...

The human touch? Summer!!!! Obviously you've not discussed this radical idea with Lew Dickey or John Hogan. LOL

June 6, 2009 at 11:04 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home