I AM A MANAGER

I have always wondered why these corporations, that own these radio stations, would put them in the hands of some very talented programmers, but not offer them any form of management training.

A Program Director does a lot of managing. You have to manage your staff, other departments (promotions, sales, production) and upper management (OM, GM, Corporate). There is a lot of interactions and situations, and each situation is different. But without proper training or prior experience dealing with any particular situation, a PD's actions could cost the company an awful lawsuit. Lord knows I have faced some tough situations as a PD and I will admit that I did not handle all of them the best way. But I have learned from each and have gotten better. You get better with every experience.

I am thankful for all the programming training the companies offer (Selector, Arbitron, Call-out, Perceptual, etc.). It all makes for a better programmer, but we do have to manage a staff for you... I am a manager.

LJ

ISN'T IT TIME?

Recently WRNB in Philly adjusted their UAC format to focus more on R&B from the 90's and today. While this is great news, I must say that my station WUHT in Birmingham has been trying this different twist on the UAC format since 2005. However, we do play some 80's. So we're not a pure 90's and today station. But we are trying a different approach to the UAC format. A few years ago KRNB in Dallas also refocused their format to include mostly new R&B with recurrents from the 2000's and a few 90's titles. So as you can see some pioneers are stepping out tying to be ahead of the curve. But I'm thinking... Isn't it time?

If you look at the non-urban Adult Contemporary format, you see a lot of diversity. For example they have AC, Soft AC, Hot AC and Rhythmic AC formats to fit the different taste and lifestyles of that audience. But at Urban you only get Mainstream, UAC, Gospel and i think there may be a few black talks still around.

Now, I don't think we should abandon the traditional UAC format. Heck, its the one urban format that has proven it's self in both the dairy ratings system and now in the PPM world (Just take a look at the PPM performance of WALR, WHUR and KMJQ just to name a few). But I do know that there is a big gap between Mainstream Urban and UAC stations.

This debate has been going on for some time now. And as usual I think radio is late to the party. So again I ask... Isn't it time?

LJ

THE BASICS

Are the basics still important to winning in radio? You know the basics... one thought per break, open and close with the station, don't talk over songs that end cold... yeah those basics. The question is being posed because of the changing ratings landscape from diary to PPM. I am also seeing syndicated talent (no names) breaking all the rules yet still garnishing ratings success.

In my career (18 years) I have always succeeded executing the basics, but our industry is consistently changing. Is it time the basics of radio change too? Again, are the basics still important to winning in radio?

LJ