The Future of Our Business

Lately I have been saddened, angered and alarmed all in one shot.
I keep reading about all the people being fired at so many radio
stations that I can't help feeling this way. Whole air staffs at some
stations are being let go and in some cases not replaced.
Some of this can be attributed to cost cutting to make the bottom
line look better. Clear Channel seems to be an example of this
prior to their LBO. In other cases it could just be getting rid of an
expensive DJ and hiring a younger and cheaper replacement.
With all this going on why would anybody go into the business? I
have been asked by young people about getting into radio and I
have given a standard answer: Go to college and minor in
communications and major in something else you like, that way
you always have something to fall back on.
If we don't straighten out our industry we will lose lots of fine
talent to others and eventually we may have about a couple of
dozen people voice tracking all the staions in the U.S. (I guess
that's one way to raise the pay scale). And the same thing will
happen to the technical staff. Where will we find all the engineers
we will need? I don't know what these people are thinking. Do
they figure since Ipods are so popular and that they don't have
DJ's so we don't need them either? or is it something else? I can
tell you why Ipods are so popular, It's because they're commercial
free and their music. Not because of no DJ's. A good DJ can
become a friend even though they're not seen. They reach out
and touch us. A cold radio station touches no one.

Mike Dane

WMJI and Oldies

Awhile ago someone who claimed to be part of WMJI complained
that The Sunday Oldies Jukebox made disparaging comments
about the station. I can't speak for the others at the Jukebox, but
I freely admit that I have in the past taken my share of pot shots
at WMJI both on and off the air.
I think Majic (and Clear Channel) suck, but that's just my opinion.
Their playlist has moved up in years to the point where I have no
intrest in it and in fact hate it. I prefer music from the 50's to early
70's and from there on I tend to cherry pick more. This is one of
the reasons I loved The Sunday Oldies Jukebox from the moment
I stumbled upon it 8 years or so ago as just a listener tuning up the
dial programming my new car radio. They didn't forget the 50's.
And the Play list was/is larger too.
Now mind you, even though I dislike WMJI (and Clear Channel)
that does not extend to the people employed there. I have met only
a few of them, such as John Lanigan and Ravenna Micelli and they
have all been very nice. The problems as I see them comes from
Corporate and not from the local GM, PD/MD and DJ. It's not their
fault. I believe they go to work every day and try to make a living
just like the rest of us.
So to the person who got up tight, relax and take a deep breath.
Because it's not worth getting upset over.

And if you like oldies, why not give the Sunday Oldies Jukebox a
listen on Sunday at 88.9 on your FM dial. I'll be on from 9pm until
midnight.

I'd also like to thank Cliff (also know as 74WIXYgrad) from WIXY's
Gone Bananas ( http://wixygrad.blogspot.com ) for the kind help
and tips on improving my Blog. I need all the help I can get. All the
good parts are thanks to him and all the bad are mine.
LOL

Now go and enjoy the ride on This Wild World of ours.

Mike D.

Today's Stuff

I set this blog up to have some place to speak my mind.
Some of the topics will be politics, radio, television, you name it
and it may show up here. I will say what I think and there is
a chance you may be offended, but I hope that it makes you
think. Even if you don't agree with me I hope you'll go away
saying "so that's what Mike thinks, ok" And just so you
know in advance I am a conservative with a libertarian
streak.
This ride could be Wild.

To Everyone who reads this, I'd like to say, Happy New Year
to you all and to your families.

Mike D.

Why did they bother

Ok would someone like to tell me why we broke up
Ma Bell into the Baby bells if the FCC is just going to
let SBC/ATT reassemble them?

Kind of a waste isn't it?