[BC] Live, Local...

[wmroradio at bellsouth.net]

Tom,
   We had a local station here in the area that just went dark. WDKN-AM, Dickson, TN, signed off about 2 weeks ago due to financial problems. The station was live and local. Their computer just play spots for them, but a live, warm, body was there each day, running the board, doing live & local radio.
   The station owners signed it off due to financial reasons. Business got so bad that they could not afford to pay their employees. They told this to the local newspaper in Dickson, the Nashville Tennessean Newspaper, and even one of the TV stations in Nashville.
   *I've said this, and everytime I say this, I get nasty comments thrown at me*: 

       "Being Live, Local, and Public Service comes with a Price Tag!"

   It is way too expensive in 2009 to operate a small AM or small FM (especially here in the south) live and local. People (employees) want to get paid. They have mouths to feed and need a roof over their heads. Small to medium size business are struggling to survive themselves, due to the economic situation. 

  The first thing a locally owned businesses will do when they have to cut back expenses is on advertising. The big owned "chain" businesses won't do advertising on local "small town" radio, especially if the station is AM, like a 1000 watt daytimer. They hire ad agencies to place ads for them on the big FM's, Cable TV or the nearest metro market TV stations. 

  Believe me, I don't like the way this is all going, but it's the truth and I warn kids thinking about going to broadcasting school to focus on other forms of media, besides radio. Clear Channel, other major groups, and independent operators are cutting back and using the computer more & more. A small station owner like myself can do local stuff, "BUT", the owner has to get up out of his big lazy boy chair in his/hers office and get out there and work to have local content on the station & play the role of announcer too!

--
Scott Bailey
President/General Manager
WMRO-AM, Magic 1560
Gallatin, TN

  
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Tom Spencer <Radiofreetom at gmail.com>
>
>  From today's inbox:
> 
> Radio Business Report:
> 
> What makes local radio work: An interview with former Q-94 GM Phil Goldman
> 
> http://www.rbr.com/features/interviews/13517.html
> 
> In part: [quote]
> 
> [...]even though we were owned by big companies before Clear Channel we 
> operated just like we were a small local business. We had our own local 
> bank accounts. We did everything locally. Clear Channel did everything 
> out of San Antonio.
> 
> Q:I believe that hurt your local feeling in the marketplace.
> A: Exactly, exactly, and which is why we were not able to maneuver the 
> way we were under Southern and later Harte-Hanks and later Edens, you 
> know. The local managers under Southern, Harte-Hanks and Edens were 
> given basically complete control over operating that radio station.
> 
> Q: And that’s how it probably should be, right?
> A: And that’s how it should be because in reality radio is a small local 
> business.
> 
> Q: Yes, and if you compare the playlist like co-owned Hot 99.5 here in 
> DC to Q94 today they’re pretty much identical. There has got to be a 
> difference in the Richmond audience than here in DC, but you don’t 
> notice that as much anymore on the song lists.
> A: In other words radio today has become “McRadio.” [...]
> 
> [/quote]
> 
> -- 
> Tom Spencer
> PG-18-25453 (nee' P1-18-48841)
> http://radioxtz.com/
> 
> 
> 
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