Comments on: ON (AND OFF) THE AIR: AN INSIDE LOOK AT RADIO, part 1 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2007/09/17/on-and-off-the-air-an-inside-look-at-radio-part-1/ Where Happily Ever After is Always on the Menu! Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Darlene http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2007/09/17/on-and-off-the-air-an-inside-look-at-radio-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-23438 Darlene Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:02:58 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2007/09/17/on-and-off-the-air-an-inside-look-at-radio-part-1/#comment-23438 Yes, I sold when I did because there is no more market for "mom and pop" local radio. I had to hire an engineer for my one station, where the conglomerate across town could have one engineer for six stations. My sales guys could sell one format--Classic Rock. The conglomerate across town could sell six formats. The economies of scale did us in. But I like writing full time, so it all worked out.[g] Yes, I sold when I did because there is no more market for “mom and pop” local radio. I had to hire an engineer for my one station, where the conglomerate across town could have one engineer for six stations.

My sales guys could sell one format–Classic Rock. The conglomerate across town could sell six formats. The economies of scale did us in.

But I like writing full time, so it all worked out.[g]

]]> By: Sierra http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2007/09/17/on-and-off-the-air-an-inside-look-at-radio-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-23436 Sierra Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:32:20 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2007/09/17/on-and-off-the-air-an-inside-look-at-radio-part-1/#comment-23436 Hi Darlene and Kim, and thanks for "tuning in" as it were! It's funny that you come from such opposite ends of the spectrum as far as your experience with radio stations goes. Darlene, I started at a radio station full-time in the last few years before deregulation. We had a private owner who juggled more stations than he was technically allowed to have ... in one case, I think he had a station in another state that was owned under the receptionist's name! Wonder how they sorted all that out. Then one of the big corporations came in and ate us up ... before selling us to one of the other big corporations.... In my fictional world, I like to keep my radio stations privately owned! Kim, hope you continue to enjoy the workshop. A radio station truly is a lively place. If you ever get near one, be warned: it can be addictive! Sierra Hi Darlene and Kim, and thanks for “tuning in” as it were! It’s funny that you come from such opposite ends of the spectrum as far as your experience with radio stations goes.

Darlene, I started at a radio station full-time in the last few years before deregulation. We had a private owner who juggled more stations than he was technically allowed to have … in one case, I think he had a station in another state that was owned under the receptionist’s name! Wonder how they sorted all that out.

Then one of the big corporations came in and ate us up … before selling us to one of the other big corporations…. In my fictional world, I like to keep my radio stations privately owned!

Kim, hope you continue to enjoy the workshop. A radio station truly is a lively place. If you ever get near one, be warned: it can be addictive!

Sierra

]]> By: Kim http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2007/09/17/on-and-off-the-air-an-inside-look-at-radio-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-23435 Kim Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:58:26 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2007/09/17/on-and-off-the-air-an-inside-look-at-radio-part-1/#comment-23435 Okay, I know absolutely nothing about radio so I find this fascinating! Thanks for doing this workshop. Okay, I know absolutely nothing about radio so I find this fascinating! Thanks for doing this workshop.

]]> By: Darlene http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2007/09/17/on-and-off-the-air-an-inside-look-at-radio-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-23434 Darlene Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:23:17 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2007/09/17/on-and-off-the-air-an-inside-look-at-radio-part-1/#comment-23434 Hi, Sierra--Ah, the glamorous life of small market radio! Who could ever forget? I started in radio as a news reporter (back before dereg) and I ended up getting an FCC license and building a radio station, which I then sold. It is a crazy business and there's nothing quite like being on the air and making a fool of yourself in front of thousands of listeners. Thanks for sharing! It's fun to remember what it was like, and thank heaven I got out when I did.[g] Hi, Sierra–Ah, the glamorous life of small market radio! Who could ever forget?

I started in radio as a news reporter (back before dereg) and I ended up getting an FCC license and building a radio station, which I then sold. It is a crazy business and there’s nothing quite like being on the air and making a fool of yourself in front of thousands of listeners.

Thanks for sharing! It’s fun to remember what it was like, and thank heaven I got out when I did.[g]

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