podcasting killed the radio star?

[Anonymous]

Dear anyone reading this,
I am a 20 year old student at Bostons Emerson College. I am writing a research paper for my management class titled "Achieving Results: The Management Challenge in Radio, Keeping up with Technology" The paper is basically going to discuss the problems radio stations face when trying to keep up with technology and how it effects different aspects of radio. I came across an article in Wired dicussing podcasts and I was shocked. I had no idea these podcasts existed. I was wondering if anyone had any feedback or information they could give me. Specifically, I was wondering if people think this will be the end of in-studio radio DJ's. With XM and other satellite radio stations now in the market, are FM radio DJ's, myself included (88.9 FM WERS) possibly already dying a slow and painful death. If anyone has any comments, questions, or criticisms...anything at all that would assist me in writing this paper, please post a comment.

Thanks everyone,
Mia

[Anonymous]

First, our society is moving toward increasing both globalism and localism simultaneously, and some of the paths are and will be an enhanced similarity of certain structures - which will allow for greater global communication and information sharing - and an enhanced diversity, also simultaneously. [Hopefully, people will become accoustomed to living with diversity, sooner instead of later; will give up their fears of others, and of change, sooner instead of later. That's another topic].

It would be wrong to expect the systems that were in place a decade ago, or now, to continue to be there for you In The Same Form. On the other hand, you can expect that skills you are picking up now will be useful later. The first astronauts were actually military men and airplane test pilots. The first TV news broadcasters were either newspaper or radio journalists. The first movie actors were trained on the stage. Your training now - in voice, in knowledge of the community you service, in being sensitive to that knowledge, in seeking out the music to provide - are all skills sets that you will be able to use when "whatever" comes along next.

You may want to listen in to "The Blues Shop" from Grand Forks, ND - I think the host is a DJ; through podcasting he gets to play the music that really interests him. And I get to learn about something I've shied away from.

And that brings me to Second, which is podcasting, which is precisely hitting the stroke of both Globalism and Localism, of unity and diversity simultaneously. I like the shows Misadventures in Taiwan and Tokyocalling and SoCalYLo precisely because they are short, local and universal.

http://www.grandforkscity.com/blues-shop.html
http://feeds.feedburner.com/misadventuresInTaiwan
http://tokyocalling.org/
http://f1.blogspot.com/


Andy
New York

[seabreeze]

I continue to think about your question, and today came across an interview regarding the development of new products, and smell. The thought raised by the writer is that all five senses will come more into play as people interact with stuff -- and going forward, manufacturers will bring touch, smell and sound into the marketplace. Is radio too limited? Martin Lindstrom - Brand Sense: Build Powerful Brands through Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, and Sound. [ http://www.wnyc.com/shows/lopate/episodes/02282005 ]

While you are preparing your research for a single assignment, you are raising issues which are quite rich and I hope you will continue to play with them as you move on; the world needs more insight into these thoughts.

[PaulCasting]

The only DJ's that will die because of PodCasting are the ones that refuse to change. As radio studios have gone from records to carts to mp3's, stations have been forced to change.

With that change to MP3's has come automation and remote show hosting and all those things us radio guys hate. But, for the consumer it's brought big market hosts to the smaller markets. For the advertisers it means less costly advertising with voice-tracking.

TV Studios have struggled with TiVo because of that dreaded fast forward button (I remember the good ol' days when there was a 30 second advance button... the studios managed to kill that one). But, people are going to insist on anything that is convenient for them. Well, if you like Dr. Laura, or Howard Stern or Air America, you don't want to be held to a specific time. I know I've had countless occasions when I was sitting in my car trying to catch a bit more information before heading into a meeting. Imagine if this was on my iPod instead of the radio. I wouldn't miss a thing.

The other thing to realize is, just cause Rush or Howard or Imus or whoever have the number one shows on the radio, this doesn't mean they're the absolute best at what they do. There's a VERY good chance there's someone else out there who can do it better. They just haven't gone through the trouble of working their way up the broadcasting ladder. Remember, Rush started out spinning records in Rio Lindo, CA and talkin' politics during the breaks. I actually probably spent a bit of time working as a board op somewhere or maybe in promotions before he even got on the air.

So, what is PodCasting going to do to the industry? Competition. That's always a good thing. As Sean Hannity is challenged for listner "ear share" he will be forced to get better or fall by the wayside. Look at some of the people who have been given a show simply because they have a name. Where I live, one station has Mark Fuhrman (he was the cop in the OJ trial) on in the afternoons. Is his show good? Nope... but people tune it because he's somewhat of a celebrity.

Look at my situation. I love radio, but when you look at making $8 an hour getting started in it versus what I make now, there's no way I'd go into radio. I just can't support my family and do that. So, I found PodCasting. This opens the doors for people like me. I'm not on the radio anymore, not because of talent or ability, but because of a need to make a living wage to support my family.

So... you're doing the right thing. Learn about the technology and keep up with it.

Paul
www.EastpointRadio.com

[yaz]

the radio's been dead for a long time now, the only thing it's good for is for telling you the traffic reports in congested areas...and most of the time they can't even get that right...

[spaz]

the radio's been dead for a long time now, the only thing it's good for is for telling you the traffic reports in congested areas...and most of the time they can't even get that right...

I find I usually am just past whatever is blocking traffic when the announcer tells me why I was waiting so long...
Which, by the way I think is symptomatic of the problem with radio--it's forever 5 minutes to late....

[yaz]

most radio stations around here tell you the traffic update every fifteen minutes, it always seems like i get the south jersey report meaning i just missed the north jersey report and i am in north jersey most of the time...they should just play the traffic report in a constant loop...they should also allow you to pull people out of their cars when they are in the left lane doing 40 mph and beat them senseless with a 6 cell maglite...hey wait, i think i got off topic here a bit...

[radioclash]

it's interesting topic, and will be doing my 25th show as a Radio themed show - anyone got any good links to audio/podcasts/radio shows on this I could use?

Tim

[sydbarrett]

DJ's with respect to music have the greatest challenge in radio. I believe their time has come. In the 60's, music deliver was mostly through live performance, radio, record albums. Today there are many sources. For radio industry to survive it must focus on what it does well and why people continue to listen today. And technology has already eliminated the need for radio transmitters. So literally anyone can broadcast. The difference being "quality" of audio content, that's it. So AM/FM stations are in (but most don't realize) direct competition with 10 year old Jimmy in his basement streaming mp3 on ShoutCast, Live365, etc. A number of radio stations have addressed this issue by making there broadcasts available on their website and fewer still have podcast a small number of shows.

News, talk shows, current events radio does well, but so does 100 other websites with streaming audio. Once whole cities go WiFi, where does that leave radio? That gives Jimmy a lot of power.

Good luck with your paper, I hope my opinions are of some use to you.

[robaustin]

TV Studios have struggled with TiVo because of that dreaded fast forward button (I remember the good ol' days when there was a 30 second advance button... the studios managed to kill that one).

Huh?

My TIVO still has a 30 second advance button, which I can activate through the shortcut. I only have to activate it if the power to the TIVO is reset.

Still works. Still works. Love it. Love it.

--*Rob