Are we as good as yesterday?

[CoolBreeze]

To be clear...I didn't say I thought it was a "beancounter" problem. I'm still not sure what that means when people say "radio voice"--but I guess it's the fact that it's a familiar voice that stands out. His diction is perfect, grammar is excellent, he has a powerful vocabulary, and delivery is smooth and flawless.

When I was a teen, you could immediately recognize the DJ and the station he worked for without knowing where the dial was. Seemed that every voice was smooth but distinct, and "mostly" DEEP. Back then, it was almost as though you didn't stand a chance in radio unless your voice was really deep. (And why I took up smoking )

Now days, your little sister can get on the air. I may be wrong (since I don't listen to all the local stations) but the last really distinctive deep voice I remember... left the airways some months ago: Darrell Daniels. I remember him as one of the "smooth deep voiced guys" of my teenage years.

I think radio people back in the day (for the most part) sounded professional even when they were holding a conversation with you out on the street. They simply didn't sound like anyone else. (There's a difference in someone who is using their "radio voice" off the air, and someone who naturally sounds like that). Now all you need is confidence, a little talent and a weak voice to work radio. This is OK, as many formats NEED to sound a little "other than a deep voiced professional" today. But I think everyone sounds pretty much alike now. And apparently what the scientists says is true: American males testicles really ARE shrinking.

[Boss 97]

Dave Harmon quote

Actually, the usable signal wears out out 20 miles short of Charleston, which could be part of the problem. Yesterday, it seemed not to come in until well past Clarksburg as well.
.

Dave, you must have a really cheap radio in your vehicle. Most people tell us they can pick up
WDBS from Mount Morris, PA down to the Bluefield Tunnels going into Virginia. We also get calls
from eastern Ohio and western highlands of Virginia plus we also get an abundant
amount of calls from Beckley and the northern half of Kanawha county on a regular basis.

But there's still plenty of revenue in that market. Maybe someone will tap it before long

too late the BOSS, the Summit and 105-KQV have already tapped it!

[Dave Harman]

Dave Harmon quote

Actually, the usable signal wears out out 20 miles short of Charleston, which could be part of the problem. Yesterday, it seemed not to come in until well past Clarksburg as well.
.

Dave, you must have a really cheap radio in your vehicle.

An Average radio, like the vast majority of your listeners. Maybe a little better than most of your listeners, even, and it seems to pick up all other stations pretty well. You must have a cheap antenna or transmitter

Being able to pick it up is different than being able to listen to it without straining. If you read what I said, you'll see I said "usable signal", and your usable signal wears out at Kanawha county. People can't, and don't, listen to it driving around here.

too late the BOSS, the Summit and 105-KQV have already tapped it!

Oh, ok. Darn it, might as well turn the licenses back in!

[Boss 97]

Dave, sorry to see that what I've read on this site about your comments are apparently true.
Your take is that only "your employer" is the only "radio people" who are intellegent enough to
operate radio stations. I think many other operators will disagree with your narrow opinion.

A usable radio signal is one that gets you response from listeners where they listen.
If we did not get response from listeners hearing WDBS at those locations, then you might
have had a point, but as long as they call and tell us, it must be usable because they just used it.
I never claimed people are driving around Charleston listening to WDBS, but unless
you've seen a map of WV lately, Charleston is halfway into Kanawha county. We have calls from
listeners in Elkview, Clendenin, Pinch and other communities in Kanawha county and yes they
can hear WDBS, I've been there to listen for myself.

As for the equipment we have, especially on WDBS, we use the top of the line ERI antenna
on an ERI tower. We use the very same model transmitter WBRB uses, yes they are both Energy Onix
ECCO models, ours is a 24kw model installed new in 2004.

As for the Summersville marketplace, don't worry, we know how to take care of our own
and we are well aware of the history of your employer's manuvers.

So bark all you want, you're wrong and know nothing more than you're fed from your supervisors.
Dave, I sure hope that your employer is at least compensating you for your efforts on this board.

[Dave Harman]

Dave, sorry to see that what I've read on this site about your comments are apparently true.
Your take is that only "your employer" is the only "radio people" who are intellegent enough to
operate radio stations. I think many other operators will disagree with your narrow opinion.

A usable radio signal is one that gets you response from listeners where they listen.
If we did not get response from listeners hearing WDBS at those locations, then you might
have had a point, but as long as they call and tell us, it must be usable because they just used it.
I never claimed people are driving around Charleston listening to WDBS, but unless
you've seen a map of WV lately, Charleston is halfway into Kanawha county. We have calls from
listeners in Elkview, Clendenin, Pinch and other communities in Kanawha county and yes they
can hear WDBS, I've been there to listen for myself.

As for the equipment we have, especially on WDBS, we use the top of the line ERI antenna
on an ERI tower. We use the very same model transmitter WBRB uses, yes they are both Energy Onix
ECCO models, ours is a 24kw model installed new in 2004.

As for the Summersville marketplace, don't worry, we know how to take care of our own
and we are well aware of the history of your employer's manuvers.

So bark all you want, you're wrong and know nothing more than you're fed from your supervisors.
Dave, I sure hope that your employer is at least compensating you for your efforts on this board.

Okay, then.

Your signal doesn't come into Pinch or Elkview in usable levels. Sorry that tweaks you off, but it's true. You have a great signal in your local market, but your tower and antenna can't go over hills and behind mountains.

Chill. I don't hate ya. The people I work with don't hate ya. Congratulations on your Elkview listener, it's unusual that someone would go to the lengths to seek a satellite fed station from a marginal signal area, hopefully they'lll turn in a book for you.

Good luck!! This sounds like it's going to be fun!

[Greg Goodfellow]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I emailed Boss 97 a while back, as I was able to easily receive his signal in a parking lot in New Martinsville. As for listeners he would actually care about that can receive a satisfactory signal, only they would know if it's worth the effort to tune in. He mentioned in a previous post that he does a nighttime Saturday night show. Even though I don't listen to country, I may make the effort to listen because it is a 'local' product and not delivered by bird. By the way, if the antenna is pointed just right, I can receive 100.3, but haven't tried for quite a while. How's the Rhythmic AC doing (if that's what it's called)?

[Scott Reppert]

Whether we are as good as yesterday? I don't know. I do, however, feel we can still hold our own against "Lady Madonna"...

[Jay Nunley]

Personally, I think in many ways we are better than yesterday.

Also, are we romanticizing radio from the past? I'm not saying I think that is true. I'm just asking the question.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Also, are we romanticizing radio from the past?

I don't think so. I listen to old air checks, and, in my mind, today's radio can't hold a candle to most of what I'm hearing. Personality. Local-local-local. (Good sounding) regional favorites receiving airplay rather than using a national playlist. Jingles. Having fun on the air. The DJ making the entire shift "his show", rather than being a synthesized voice in a parade of synthesized voices that fill the 24 hour clock, with all being interchangable and the listener wouldn't know or care. It seems like many stations make their live dayparts sound bland so the cutover to automation (which programs many stations the majority of the time) won't be so noticable.

I know there are exceptions. I know there are great DJs out there trying to stand out and be heard above the noise. I know there are a few PDs out there who make time to develop their airstaff and tweak the station's sound 'til it's just right. But it doesn't happen as often and in as many places as it used to happen. I stand by my original post about the beancounters and Wall Street destroying the Art of making Great Radio. The effects of consolidation and automation produced a domino effect throughout the industry. Radio needs to re-prioritize and re-invent itself quickly, or it may be everlasting too late ...

Just my $0.02. Good question.

[Big Dawg]

I don't really know anybody with that "radio voice" anymore.

Asshole.
Look, all those old radio guys smoked two packs of Lucky Strikes a day. Their vocal chords were so stickly covered with tar (i.e glottal fry: In linguistics, creaky voice (sometimes called laryngealisation, pulse phonation or, vocal fry or glottal fry), is a special kind of phonation[1][2] in which the arytenoid cartilages in the larynx are drawn together; as a result, the vocal folds are compressed rather tightly, becoming relatively slack and compact. They vibrate irregularly at 20–50 pulses per second, about two octaves below the frequency of normal voicing, and the airflow through the glottis is very slow. However, although creaky voice may occur with very low pitch, as at the end of a long intonation unit, it can occur with any pitch.)...where was I? Oh yeah. I'd have those pipes if I smoked. I'd have those smokes with the right pipes All the old radio guys died or are dying of lung cancer. Man, I wish I could do most of my production after drinking in a smoky bar, but I'm usually not in the "mood".

[RadioKnowwhere]

Actually Dave, when you say "This sounds like it's going to be fun!", it really disappoints me. Is it going to be fun because you are looking forward to the challenge of a new station in a new market, or is it going to be be fun because your company plans to try and ruin another company's employees ways to make a living? If the second is true, which in my experience of hearing many who works with your company say it, having heard it in person several times, it usually is the second, then you should know that some of us do not appreciate your glee. Of course, I realize that you work for the "greatest company in the world", but it is really disrespectful for you to be so full of glee and intent for revenge when you know that many in this market are working two jobs just to try and keep the lights on, and that some are single parents, and that some struggle to make it into work six to seven days a week. You and your band of money-toting corporate thugs may very well come into Summersville soon and push everybody around. But someday, and I really want you to read this twice Dave, YOU are going to be standing on OTHER side of the street. I truly realize that you all are the richest, the most talented, have the most technology, the strongest signal, the best sales force, et al....but someday, all of you are going to stand on the other side, and then and only then, will you truly find out and understand what it's like to eat only ONE meal a day so that your kid can have two, what it's like to have something inside your body that could eventually kill you and you can't do anything without health insurance, and that just because you are have EVERYTHING now, you'll end up like everyone else, slobbering and helpless. That, dave, my former level-minded and cool, now super arrogant friend....is where the REAL fun will start...

[Dave Harman]

I just want to win, fair and square. I'm not interested in dirty tricks, and I'm not ever working for a different radio company, so I just concentrate on winning every day, in every situation.

I'm sorry if you think that's arrogant, but to make a good living for yourself and your family, you have to want to win.

Good luck, and I hope things go better for you soon.

[Dr Fever]

i'm just sitting here humming the Emperial March in my head...

*dun dun dun dun dundun dun dundun...*
You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor!
*dun dun dun dun dundun dun dundun...*

[Bob Campbell]

Personally, I think I'm better than I was 2, 5, 10,20 years ago. I keep learning and improving (at least I believe I do).
The industry as a whole, no, I don't think so. I hear the changes in the business on the air in markets of every size. Imaging, airwork, production, so many things that sound rushed and half assed. You know it's because there's 3 guys doing work that used to be done by 8 or 9. I hear it in younger talent also, who obviously aren't getting the coaching us old farts got. I'm part of that problem myself. I am slammed every day and don't get to sit down with my jocks nearly enough to go over airchecks. I'm fortunate to have a veteran staff who don't need a lot of coaching, but I find it nearly impossible to recruit qualified young talent for fill in and part time.
But I do still enjoy ruining someone else's job. Aaahh, the joy of someone else getting canned because you kicked their ass knows few equals.

[TimeEnuf]

I think that it is hard to generalize all radio under either as a better than or worse than "yesterday" label.

There is still some great radio out there, but there is also a lot of radio without any heart.

Technology has made the job of a jock, so simple that they have forgotten the basics of radio, such as watching the VU meters on the board and making adjustments accordingly(that is why there are pots).
More than once I have observed jocks using the VU meter section of the board as a place holder for the latest computerized weather forecast .
Many VT'ers have about as much personality as dry toast, but there are still a few out there making the most of their opportunity for air time.
My first experience in radio was back in the mid 70's, doing a live evening show while in the Air Force on Armed Forces Radio....... two turntables, two cart machines, one mic, one telephone and one network feed.

It was some of the best times in my life.

Unless you own a station, or are in sales, you do not get a job in radio to become rich.

You seek out employment in radio because it is what you love and no other job will do.

[bigjohn]

Hey Dave.. Don't "PRETEND".. You've been blessed with my humor... my incredible sense of dress... and the "BLUE IZZY CLOUDS" that i've blown from every bathroom in LOGAN... and as for the person sayin we never take a breath... "BREATHIN'S FUR WUSSY'S!!"......