The Future Is Like It's Always Been

Jimmy Carter ... Spring Break, Daytona Beach, Florida

I think I will lock my daughter in her room until she's 22. Heard about a 12-year-old "mom" in North Alabama. Scary times for parents, but it always has been, I bet.

The CMA research that came out during CRS is interesting. Not as eye-opening as the 12-year-old mom, but for radio it is critical.

Research is a tool. It's all about the question and the sample. You take it all with a gut and an ear and maybe you don't get your head knocked off when making a decision. Research alone is a vacuum and can be a dangerous tool.

With that said, the information sounds right. Find it. Listen to it - such as the fact that fans want local people talking to them. They want to know what's going on in their area.

People also have no idea what they want. The Beatles were created, but could not be invented. If that makes any sense. Same for Elvis. Committees create camels and Edsels.

One thing you do know: Radio stations in a closet, running music, are wastes of electricity. Pandora seems to fill needs more than they do. The people who put those stations in closets may or may not see the end result, but that end is failure.

People want to be a part of something and that includes their broadcasting. This half-hearted attempt by local TV to be on Facebook is a joke. Go cover the news and come back to see me.

You can not trick listeners/viewers for long. They know if you do what you say you are going to do.

The idea of reading liner cards as your primary announcer communications has gotten you where you are today ... in the toilet. Hire people who can talk. Pandora plays more music than you ever will..

Newspapers being liberal in conservative areas or vice versa for decades have gotten most of their employees working at fast-food places.

You have to evolve with the technology. It helps to reflect the values of your service area.

Facebook or something like it reflects a need for people to talk to each other. We are too scared to meet someone at TJ Maxx; they will think you are a criminal. We live in fear and we need friends. Even Facebook friends will do.

Radio in the morning is still alive, for the most part. That CMA research showed that people want information and music. They like radio to talk about what they watch on TV. Radio needs to be visual. There is no reason WHY radio stations can't take over local TV's failed role in covering the community. Put a camera in your control room ... get a newsperson to cover spot news and stop worrying about things like HD channels for headbangers.

I still hear long, long, long commercial breaks ... five minutes or more. What listener in his right mind will endure that? It's like radio bosses are deaf people.

MusicRow has Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood for sales. Thank God for Darius' conversion to Country. Brad and the rest are solid and make the foundation. Luke Bryan may just turn out to be a star. (I saw him this week and he's good!) Kenny Chesney doing these little shows around are great for him and gives people the magic of the music business.

There is so much right going on and so much wrong.

Firing good people or having them leave is hard for the people and the culture of the company. If you do THAT to THEM, what are you going to do to ME? And you soul-less bosses, wait and see what your bosses will do to you ... in a matter of time! You reap what you sow.

I think you need better owners who know what they are doing. Few of these CEOs today have a clue at what made their companies what they "were," These folks are bean-counters, pencil pushing salespeople or little Brenie Madoffs -- not the creative Henry Fords or William Randolph Hearsts. These managers are jokes. And they are being booed off stage.

There is so much good, but the LAZY generation that wouldn't know how to pull a 12-hour shift is going to screw this all up unless some kind of change happens. Nothing is free, so the people wanting handouts are going to mess things up.

Radio needs to get back where it can touch the pulse of its listeners. The Kennys need to get out and see the faces of the fans up close. TV better figure out away to entertain other than a talent show or a sporting event.

Get a clue ... read what your listeners want and LISTEN ... react ... say the name of the damn song and stop listening to some of these idiot consultants who helped create this mess in the first place (not you, Joel!)

Broadcasting is a lot of common sense. You work for the listeners -- not the labels, radio people! Open your ears...why is that so hard? Get on Facebook and read! Give new talent a chance ... a meaningful one. Stop being stupid. Also stop panicking ... panicky people make mistakes....