My Turn To Rant !

John P. Phillips · From: Folkston, Ga. U.S.A., R.I.P.

I gotta get this off my chest.
I hear a lot and see a lot of threads that blame the D.J's
among the crowd that is blamed for the course that music has followed.
As a former radio employee ans sometimes executive,
I must state that the Disc Jockey is not to blame for this.
The music playlist and even the rotation process is decided at most
stations by the higher ups, the main decision makers. Some stations even subscribe to
companys that tell you what to what and when to play songs.
The D.J's in most cases have very little if anything to say
about the music they play at any given time.
Some of you ex-jocks need to chime in with your experiences in this area.
I was a big proponent of inserting good music by local talent that
I thought was worthy of airplay but was seldom allowed to do so.
When I became a program director, I did this as often as I could
but was often called on the carpet for doing so.
This was a very frustrating situation to be in, and I just had to get this
off my chest.
Your comments, pro or con, are appreciated.
_________________
Just remember,
You donï¿½t stop playing cause you get older,
You get older cause you stop playing ! http://www.myspace.com/johnpphillips

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

Well said, John. Jody.

Leslie Ehrlich · From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

The managers are the villains. Seems like it's that way with a lot of businesses these days.
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LJ Eiffert · From: California, USA

Hello John P.Phillips,as you know it's a hand full of Organizations who are all in bed with this Topic.Now,if you was to name the heads of each Organization in control of the combination sweetheart deal that it takes to get airplay you would have to be in the Union of each who pay each other off in what they say is business. The atmosphere of this Topic you ask for one's opinion can't stay as such because it's to diminish. That's why you don't and won't hear great songs or records by indie Artist on major radio stations.Only them little ones on college campus. This is a great start for the ones who are looking in on what we write about this Topic.Let's get deep into this one. Thanks John,sincerely in music,Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Once upon a time it wasn't like that. In 1967 I worked briefly at an "underground rock" radio station where the DJs were given a 100% free hand to play whatever they wanted. Obscure album cuts, unknown bands, whatever, No restrictions on the music whatsoever.

Too bad it didn't last.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin

David Doggett · Posted 6 Jan 2009 7:15 am

Yes, I remember that the first FM album rock stations in the '60s had DJs who listened to the promo albums as they came in, and picked their favorites to play on the air. AM was all top 40 management picks. The new rock FM stations were where rock fans heard all the new groups. I think this is one of major factors in all the new music of the late '60s and early '70s. And I believe to some extend it carried all the way into New Wave music of the '80s. But gradually all the FM rock stations came under management top 40 control. Now there are two places to hear some new music: college stations and new internet stations.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 6 Jan 2009 8:52 am

The D.J.'s I usually blame for our musical ills, are the self-appointed, so-called D.J.'s that spin the CD's on the breaks at your local bars. Together with the line dancers, they have pretty much obliterated what's left of the clubs that once hired bands. My 2¢ of course. Oh Well

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

FM stations in the 1960's had much more freedom simply because stations owners really didn't know what to do with them - most people didn't have FM radios at home, GM; Ford; etc... didn't install them into cars until much later in the 1970's and more so into the 1980's. FM radio stations in the 1960's are much like HD radios now - hardly anyone has one and currently not mass produced into cars.

Today, ratings are sold to agencys and local clients (more so in major markets) and it's important for stations to play the most researched hits. It's why people listen to the radio. They want to hear the hits and they want to hear them a lot.

Ratings points are worth a lot of money and when a station isn't playing the right music the ratings can have a huge impact on revenue if they lose ratings. The same can be true for TV in your local market.

There won't be many people on this forum that will agree with that - I understand.

There is so much music that is sent to radio stations every year (about 600 singles) from major labels that any 'indy' artist is going to have a tough time getting any airplay. Look at the top 10 songs on Billboard and you'll find they are for the most part major labels - they have the promotional power to 'work' the records up the chart - leaving the indys in the dust... However, sometimes a great song can get into the top - exception, not the rule

There's a lot more to this topic than I'm writing here and I'm not the expert... but I do know this when it comes to getting airplay... The bottom line is: it all comes down to money.

Leslie Ehrlich · From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Ken Lang · From: Simi Valley, Ca

You want to know whose responsible for country music evolving?
Look in the mirror.
You evolved to pedal steel. You tossed the upright bass for an electric. You added drums. You added a sound system. You wrote a song with the odd chord. You played a song upbeat and interesting instead of the same old drab way. Etc..... I'm an old geezer but I like songs with some fun in them and a little life. The old 3 chord Hank songs are cool, but their still old.

Now look at your kids-and grandkids. They are not really into old, old stuff. They are young, they want young things, young music.

We are all to blame for the evolution to one degree or another. I say we better learn to tolerate it, just like our parents tolerated us, even though we were going to hell in a hand basket. Come on man, bend that 3rd a little flat now and then.
_________________
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Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I feel your pain, John. The problem isn't radio DJs, nor is it really the management - they're just doing what they will do when allowed to run unfettered by any standards or regulations - do whatever it takes to make the maximum amount of money.

IMO, the problem is the FCC, the Congress, and many administrations, who have allowed unprecedented concentration of ownership of broadcast media into what amounts to an oligopoly. Until this cartel is broken and smaller (and especially local) players are allowed to enter into this business, there's no chance for any type of real programming diversity. The fallacy in the current approach is the notion that these companies, or the FCC and Congress, "own" the bandwidth. The people of the United States own the bandwidth - it is supposed to be managed in OUR interest - everybody's - and that hasn't been happening for a long time now.

The incoming administration has stated that it wants to do things to create more diversity. We'll see. A bunch of interesting links on this subject are here: http://www.benton.org/node/8000

Note the wide diversity of political views that agree with this, going from people like Trent Lott (R-MS) to Diane Feinstein (D-CA) to Obama. I am actually hopeful.

Leslie Ehrlich · From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Jeff Hyman · From: West Virginia, USA

Dave... I thought Chicken wire was to keep the Chickens in the pen, not keep the fox out of the pen. :-)

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Well, I think it does some of both. The rules are the chicken wire, the FCC is supposed to be the guard dawg. But I think that dawg has been takin' a long nap after bein' fed some nice, juicy dawg bones by the foxes.

Gordy Hall · From: Fairfax, CA.

When I was in high school I got interested in becoming a DJ, and at the time FM had just begun to play rock and folk kind of things. I took classes, had a late-night shift, and had a lot of fun.

Then I met the #1 AM disc jockey at the time in the area (SoCal) and he introduced me to the hard realities of the job...including kissing the butt of the program directors & management that had little knowledge of music or the audience, but lots of interest in selling ads as the main focus. He got suddenly fired and replaced by a tape deck, and I decided that as a 'career' being a DJ was not worth it.

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

I spent quite a few years as on air talent in radio. It started to be a job when the FCC deregulated radio and big fish ate the small fish. They hired consultants and took the music away from the people who knew and understood it and started compiling play lists based on what a small but very vocal number of people wanted. These people were mostly stay at home housewives who listened all day and called in all the time. That was what started the Kenny ROgers, Crystal Gayle, Lee Greenwood years or bad country radio. Nashville didn't help much with the synthesizer replacing everything and little or no steel, fiddle , etc..

I don't listen to very much local radio anymore prefer to spend most of my time at Willies Place and the other Sirius channels and spend my morning drive with Howard Stern.

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

In Southern California in the 50's and 60's the DJ's pretty much had control over what they played on the Country Stations. (Charlie Williams, Joe Allison, Biff Collie, etc.} If any local bands cut a decent record with a small record company, or a demo record, they could take it up to the Radio Station and be on the air for an interview and get their record played. KFOX, KXLA, etc. The DJ's even became guest stars at the clubs and dances.

LJ Eiffert · From: California, USA

Right on Billy, them Jockies were Larry Scott,Chuck Sullivan,Bill Patterson,Lee Ross,Don Hillman,Harry Newman,Paul Bowman,Skip Gray,Chuck Wilder,Cliffie Stone and many others. Leo

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Cleat Wooley · From: Louisiana, USA * R.I.P.

IT's ALL about BIG BUiSNEST., 'MONEY' .The signs of the time. Rolling Eyes

W. C. Edgar · Posted 8 Jan 2009 8:53 am

No it's not the DJ's fault but it is the managements fault. It's a little word called payola which means

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Yup, WC - I agree with all that. But I think the only solution is to take the oligopoly control of these small number of broadcast giants away. In a large corporation, management's duty to themselves and shareholders is to make the maximum profit possible. In this case, their goals are not in line with the public's. This is not a normal business - they are supposed to operate in the public interest with licenses to use the bandwidth owned by the American people - the FCC is supposed to be an honest broker for our interests.

Solution: Radically broaden the base of people and companies in that business so their goals and the peoples' goals can be aligned. Again - anybody in this business operates on a license to use the bandwidth owned by the American people. This needs to happen generally across American industry, but the broadcast industry is one of the most glaring examples of abuse, IMHO. I agree that brainwashing is the operational term here.

A trailer for the DVD "Before the Music Dies" came up on another thread - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwIiYvLVyZU

And yes - I and many others are calling for a revolt. It has to start somewhere, and the grassroots is the only place it can start. It isn't just about country music - it's any music. IMHO.

WC - I certainly hope you are able to break through. Your music kicks ass.

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