[BC] Underground = Classic

[Steve]

Hi Kent:

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kent Winrich, K9EZ" <kwinrich at gmail.com>
To: "Broadcast Radio Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 4:43 PM
Subject: Re: [BC] Underground = Classic


> OK Dana, what do you propose as creative?  It is SO easy to say that
> there is no creativity as an arm chair quarterback... oh sorry I guess
> that was a used line and not creative.
>
> Lets see some examples of what YOU find creative.  Or are you just
> ripping on people for the sake of ripping on them?
>
> BTW all of the people I know at CC dont even wear suits.

I would like to add something to this for what it's worth. I don't think I
want to get into the Creative fight but I might. One of my best friends from
my college days (now out of the biz and has his own production studio he
operates out of his home) and I came to the conclusion many years ago that
people seemed happier when they had LESS choices. I know this sounds crazy
but I would just like to throw that one on the table. Think about it, life
was much easier when we had the 3 networks the one or two independents and
the PBS station in town. Yes, that's a TO.VS.. example (we were talking
about the entry of cable at the time of our discussion) but I think the same
goes for radio but for a different reason. Ergo....

I can understand Dana's point of view. It's really all a part of what I said
above. I believe, albeit slowly, the lines between talent and management
became blurred. To add to the blurring we add into the mix the guy who's
very guts are ripped out because his creativity is now being tested at warp
speeds. Now he has to be creative and attempt to focus on many stations
rather than one. I really think many creative types simply got murdered by
the hodge podge of it all. Crank it out no matter what the cost. (money and
health..mental and physical) To hell with creativity. Now this ties into the
era many of us went through when the bean counters (part of the blurring)
started coming out of their offices and stepping where they didn't belong.
This is when the erosion started. After that? Well, I've already stated that
with the example of the creative guy. Of course I was talking about the
clusters. Those who followed (carefully stepping over the burnt out bodies
in the hallways) inherited what they could BUT it's like the old generation
loss when you copied a tape then you copied the copy. You remember the
sound. DULL.

So.....this is where I believe we are today. Many have NOT gone through the
necessary steps (Oh, yes...there are some Mozarts out there and there always
will be) so we don't have as many as we used to and on top of that we don't
need many because the burning continues and more choices have become
available and on and on ad nausium.

See? We WERE happier when there were less choices and when broadcasting was
considered an art. Art is fun.

In closing, I think Dana is simply showing the frustration any broadcaster
who came through the mud would show. Yes, yes I know Carly Simon's
song...."These ARE the good ole days"....well, she's probably right but
that's another book. Now we have those who just jump from the street to the
shower to the production room or to the P.D. chair....but his/her mind is
like that tape I spoke of above. DULL. So, here we are in the age of
mediocrity but digital will save the day. Not to worry. :)

Steve
Steve Walker Productions