You have been working on that Part 15 Station and you got the magical mile going.
The Sound you have been working on is at last perfect and ready for the local world to hear.
You have been working on that Part 15 Station and you got the magical mile going.
The Sound you have been working on is at last perfect and ready for the local world to hear.
The Antenna System is running a it’s peak efficiency and all the audio chain is working as it should.
Then as you sit there think man this is killer I now have a real broadcast station.
AND THEN IT HITS YOU!
What do I put on this station?
Will people enjoy what I am playing ? will anyone even listen to this station ?
That is the moment when you realize that you have to decide if that station you built is a hobby or if you are trying to offer a station that gives the public better programming.
So lets say that the station you built is going to be a pro deal.
Then you will have to decide what should be part of the stations programming.
Music , Talk , and if music then what ?
Are you going to do the same old oldies format or are you going to do the same old left VS right format in talk ?
That is the point everyone , We have to consider what the public wants to have on a station and not use our ego to set the programming.
And let me tell you , It is not easy to program a station in a manor that is best for the public. You have to have programming that is able to gather people to the station and also sell adds.
The Programming must be the main part of these stations and it must be live and have lots of ways for people to connect to the station and it’s DJ’s or Talk show hosts.
Phone must be part of this.
You want you’re DJ’s to be able to take requests and the talk show hosts to field phone calls.
Another thing with Talk shows, Loose the fricken call screeners already.
Automation is a big part of the problem.
Work on the schedules will take months , But once you get the station working as it should that part of it will become easier.
Do not over look this aspect of part 15 Broadcasting.
Have self respect and your listeners will have respect for your station and you.
Lefty.
Well Said
You have to have programming that is able to gather people to the station and also sell adds.
There are examples of licensed, 50 kW commercial AM stations whose ratings/sales in their markets are less than those of licensed FM stations having far smaller areas receiving a useful signal.
One Idea Among Many
A technique I have seen be very popular is to broadcast live from on location at a sponsor event, for example having a talk table at a sales event at a garden shop, auto dealer, furniture store, book store, and so on.
Sponsors will possibly sign on with you simply to have such a connection with the radio audience.
The public in attendance can make a quick cell phone call to tell their friends they are about to be on the radio.
I have another idea coming later tonight.
Excellent Point
“you have to decide if that station you built is a hobby or if you are trying to offer a station that gives the public better programming.”
As said in post title..excellent point.
To be or not to be…that is the question.
RFB
Great article!
I learned that lesson the hard way….
After years working as a PD in lots of big markets for all the big companies, I had my chance to buy my first full power radio station, a little AM, WZFB in Fair Bluff, NC (1kw days/48 watts night) – it was practically in a cornfield with coverage of a few small towns nearby. (The story of how I negotiated that one is a whole other blog entry) Having built my chops as an oldies radio programming expert, I knew I was going to be an oldies station first thing. I had connections with all the big jingle companies and voice-over guys. I had engineers who would help me with all the equipment I needed to set it up (had been dark almost a year before I came in and need an EAS… among other things) – I was set. after all, I was the programmer for America’s #3 oldies station… I knew what I was doing.
Dropped some coin on programming, automation, new processing and such. Round 20,000 was spent getting this AM running. Yes, for that area, my station was going to be the world’s best AM.
Flipped the switch and…. and…. (hello hello hello) and….
Nothing. Not a damn thing. No business, no listeners (that we could tell) no nothing. Just 20,000 out the door from Mr Hotshot oldies PD. That’s all.
After about 7 months of footing a 2k a month note to keep the station on the air, I realized I better do some research. So I started asking around.
After a small informal poll was done of area businesses and anyone I could ask, it was obvious… I was gonna have to be some sort of gospel station. There was no way about it. They wanted to hear “The Stameys” and I was playing “YMCA” – AND I was on AM.
It took about 35 cents for me to cut new station IDs and download a ton of gospel tracks.
20,000 vs 35 cents and some time researching.
truth is… unless you give listeners a reason to tune you in… they won’t. Whether it’s compelling talk they can’t get anywhere else… or a special blend of music they can’t find (those days are numbered with Spotify) – your station has to be more than what you want. If you are serious about making money or having listeners… it’s got to be what THEY want.
I had 25 years experience as a SUCCESSFUL programmer before I started that station… and my tail tucked between my legs from a few locals who didn’t care about my hot Tony Griffin jingle package & my thunderous Charlie Van Dyke station IDs once I started the station.
Sorry for rambling… this was a great topic!!
It is a great topic, and some
It is a great topic, and some great responses too.
We can play our own music preferences (or other), whatever wherever and whenever we want. But if when we choose to go through the time, trouble, and expense involved to broadcasting publicly; then something else is going on.. It becomes catering, or if not; a vain imposing of our own taste.
I agree the objective should be catering.
A public service.
When I originally got into the hobby, I had no initial intentions of creating a radio station, it was just a means to receive the audio of 16mm films on a radio. But my original intentions took a turn when I moved back to the beach.
The receivable area of your broadcast is what holds the answer to what the content of your programing should be.
My particular area is a strong summer tourist location, so my station objective is geared towards the tourist. But it’s also a small close knit self contained city, which makes it prime for creation of a genuine community radio station.
So then, here I have two prospective and also almost captive audiences!
You know your own area, every place has it’s own under currents that makes it unique.
I suggest you focus on the unique current whatever it may be, and blend your station into it, become part of it, and simply flow along with it.
Tune into what already exist (and I don’t mean on a radio dial!), and that will better enable you to decide on what to broadcast.
When to Change the Format
On a nice day your station can have its “regular” format and serve it’s audience in a consistent way, but when bad days arrive it might pay to suddenly change the format. I’ll give an example.
Some years back, when I had first started scouting the internet for streaming stations for listening, the weather bureau announced a major ice storm was moving north-east out of Oklahoma and was entering Missouri at its border with Arkansas. It would arrive here in eastern central Missouri in less than a day. I got the idea that it would be fabulous to follow the storm by listening to reports from along the path, but there were no reports. I checked AM, FM, public radio, everything, and all the stations were running regular programming.
Until, that is, I found KSWM, 940kHz, in Aurora, Missouri. They had moved their desk up to the big window facing the outdoors, and were describing the streaks of ice dropping from the sky, trees icing up, one or two trees collapsed from the weight, and the two hosts took calls from listeners for miles around with non-stop reports about what was happening. That’s the way to do it.
absolutely
audience safety is always first… can’t tell you how many time I was at a cluster of stations who all simulcasted one of the stations during bad weather or other emergencies. all five of our FMs in Raleigh simulcasted a TV station during 9/11.
Great Posts guys , lets keep
Great Posts guys , lets keep talking about all of this.
Also I would like to discuss these things at the next ALPB meeting if that is ok with all of you.
Bandit let’s talk sometime as I have been a DJ on KNRY AM 1240 until it was bought out.
I would love to discuss all of the ways to program radio with you.
I am very serious about making Banana Belt Radio matter for the people of Santa Cruz Ca.
I want to offer the people of this town a real station that cares for the people who live here and a station that promotes the City and all of the Business’s that are here.
I hope that Banana Belt Radio will matter to everyone who listens to Her.
Anytime Lefty… Drop me an email if I can help…
[email protected]
I found out what people
I found out what people wanted to hear in Raglan when I was on the community radio station. They didnt like talk shows, wanted more country and a lot liked rock & roll. When I left there I was lucky and took a few listeners with me. That helped to get the word around. I get most of my requests when Im down town when people talk to me. I dont get many people ringing me on the phone, but do get the odd txt. I do a few public events with music and I have a big sign for the station, that helps as well. If you like the music , well tune into my station and hear it all the time. I play music more for the older people (well like Me) and another station plays for the younger people. You know you have it right if you get people in the town telling you they like the station. I have never had a bad one yet.
Serving The Public Interest
“it’s got to be what THEY want.”
A very simple and elementary concept not difficult to undertake.
Perhaps someday the big wigs will get the idea…or not. If not, that helps us!
If they hear what they want, they will go as far as sitting in a car down the street just to hear what they want. Or set up elaborate receiving antennas and very sensitive receivers.
Never underestimate a wanting public.
The big boys did..and look at the result.
RFB
When you start selling ads
When you start selling ads and/or sponsorships (i.e., taking in money), that’s when you have to get real serious. Because if someone pays money, they expect some things, including guarantees that the ads or sponsorship messages will air, that you know how many listeners you have that are listening to them, that your station won’t just randomly go off the air for periods of time, etc.
It ceases to be a one person thing. Well, I guess it can be, but you’re going to be awfully busy. Selling, programming, maintaining, monitoring – you get the picture.
You need to have a variety of skills over and above running a radio station and putting together a radio program. I don’t want to discourage anyone (I did it as a business for several years), just introduce a reality check. It’s difficult to be all things to all people (as an example, someone technical in nature might find it difficult to get out into the community and sell), and generally this means that the job elevates to more than one person or you develop multiple personalities.
So sure, knowing what the public wants and attempting to give it to them is one basic step. The first one, in fact. But beyond that, there’s an actual business that needs to be run, and that takes a lot of time and resources. Such as a solid business plan, including revenue and expenses. Then there are all sorts of legal issues such as contracts (always necessary where you’re taking in money), insurance (much different if your activities are not classified as a hobby), liability (over and above the basic stuff, what happens if a listener doesn’t like what you’re broadcasting, i.e. thinks it’s offensive?), etc.
Running a low power radio station as a business can be very satisfying. But all in all, it’s also a lot of work that requires a lot of careful planning and ongoing maintenance.
You are not only the boss and
You are not only the boss and worker, you also have to be the tea lady as well, and it takes a few hours out of your day to run and program, get shows ready to air, make station trailers. Before you know it bang there goes your life.
Yes, yes & yes
artisan brings up a very good point. Ya gotta be able to market it. We do – already we make lots of money with our internet digital stations – which also are on every major app, directory and more. However, the biggest advantage of our sales? Our programming. It almost sells itself. Come on? Anyone ever hear a psychic talk radio station before? Not likely on the am or FM band – but the psychic industry likes it & we are the world’s top station… and we never release listenership data. We purposely don’t track it. after all, aren’t we doing business with psychics? Psych in on it….
Got iTunes? Open “Radio”, click “News Talk” – A1R Psychic Radio is the top two stations you see. Tune in… not your grandpa’s talk station. In fact, we promote it as the world’s first female friendly talk station. All gossip and locker room lies… all the time.
However, we also own some stations that have major listeners and they don’t always make money. Great for promoting our other stations or added value to an ad campaign though!
That’s why, for me, it’s now
That’s why, for me, it’s now more of a hobby (although I reserve the right to change that status in the future).
My primary business on Bowen Island was a bookstore and I thought it would be interesting and fun to start a little local radio station.
Before not too long I was running a radio station, and operating the bookstore on the side. And soon after THAT, the radio station was the business, at least time wise.
All who wish to venture down that path need to do so with their eyes open and with realistic expectations.
Your Own Commercial Voice
If the bookstore has any existence at all, you could run ads for it on the radio station around the clock. Join the two ventures.
You could run public domain audio books at times from librivox.org, and maybe get some produced commercials for paper books and audio books from publishers.
Perfect
Books on tape is exactly the format I am talking about. I will definitely investigate that link. A good part 15 that told stories might be an amazing radio station if programmed, engineered and streamed properly. I think any bookstore in town, any upscale business and more might be a great place to prospect.
Lefty, in your original post
Lefty, in your original post there was one line that puzzled me..
“..Another thing with Talk shows, Loose the fricken call screeners already.”
What exactly did you mean?
The Gold Mine is Mine
Answer to the programming question “What now?”
How about an unlimited supply of live rock, country, bluegrass and pop music concerts under Creative Commons License, free and legal?
Hmmm?
I will tell you how and where on Blare OnAir Lite No. 14
http://www.kdxradio.com/blare_lite.html
The Receptionist 2.0
At one time all businesses had a job called “receptionist”, usually a friendly woman at a telephone console in the lobby who served as the voice of the company. It was a kind of call-in show that wasn’t connected to a transmitter.
Deterioration started with the introduction of the answering machine and the eventual evolution of automated selection touch-tones which did little more than put calls into a dead zone.
Websites are the new high-end receptionists, serving today as the face of the business, usually with no voice. Websites try more or less to be friendly with colorful dancing art and entertaining links, like a waiting room with magazines on the table.
ATTENTION RADIO PROGRAMMERS — It is time to come full circle and by use of audio and video turn the Home Page into a live online receptionist, staffed by real people and broadcast in real time on part 15 AM radio. For stations with a brick and mortar store-front it could all happen in the main lobby.
My idea is the ultimate fusion of old and new media.
A plastic statue honoring me is being commissioned.