[BC] On the FM Dial, Rock Is Sliding Away

[Rich Wood]

------ At 01:13 AM 11/29/2005, Steve wrote: -------

>But I digress....sort of. If anything dies it's going to be the fault of the
>broadcasters. Seems we don't have any good program directors anymore. Am I
>off on this one?

No. Most programming is done by owners and managers. In large groups, 
someone spreads the word to the station's PD to implement Jack, Jill, 
Harvey, Alice, etc. Like hurricanes, they'll soon run out of names. I 
know many PDs who are little more than babysitters for big ego Jocks 
and Talk Show Hosts. The creativity is directed at appeasing them, 
not programming their stations. When I was programming stations I 
actually made decisions. When I started affiliating for ABC, then 
building and affiliating the WOR Radio Network I ran into PDs who had 
to check with someone above them just to pick up a weekend show. One 
PD friend of mine has an incredible track record. He took a job and 
was relegated to taking orders from the owner. My friend has taken 
every station to the #1 position either in the market or in the 
format category. Stations hire high powered employees famous for one 
thing and make them do something else. The successful PDs today 
collect paychecks and go home. The unsuccessful ones try and make a 
difference and burn holes in their stomachs in frustration. The 
really successful ones find another career.

Rich


Rich Wood
Rich Wood Multimedia
Phone: 413-303-9084
FAX: 413-480-0010