So, here we go, people not in radio spewing negative language about what they don't understand.
Please understand we are Employees. If you do not like the direction radio has taken, although the work we do shows we are headed in the right direction and the continuation of the regular paycheck continues as proof, then talk to the owners. You think we direct everything. We don't. Talk to the owners. I have as much control over my station as the cashier at Walmart has over what they do at their corporate office, but I'm the bad guy. I'm the one that destroyed whatever you think radio is supposed to be.
The fact is syndication requires: a proven successful track record and usually several successes to get a client. Oh, sure, if you come along and say I'll program it free until you get your ducks in a row, you might get a yes but that is not syndicating. If you had a multi-million dollar investment would you buy a format unproven in ratings and revenue to generate the funds to pay back your investment? Anybody in their right mind would not.
Yes, Houston has live and local jocks and many shifts are voice tracked from elsewhere by people just as talented as the folks locally. That has been the writing on the wall for a couple of decades at least. We talked about it coming 25 years ago. People still listen and haven't a clue. Can you name the jocks that are live and which ones are voice tracked? Care to try your luck?
Last, if you're so upset with radio put your money where your mouth is and buy a station and run it the way you insist radio needs to be done. I doubt you will. In my experience, those that offer criticism often don't see the door opening for an opportunity that would scare the pants off both of us and likely wouldn't muster the courage to venture through the door, the opportunity to bring out the ability to change the norm or understand why the norm is the norm.
This thread is about Joe and if he is syndicating his programming. He might have a station where they're looking for their programmer, still setting things up or testing and perhaps between clients that would let Joe on. It's one less thing to worry about until the next stage of events happens. Would a station pay him to run his format? Maybe in small town radio perhaps overnight. In fact if they paid at all it might be less than it costs Joe to deliver the format to them. Unless its high school sports, most small town stations don't make a dime at night. In fact, at some stations I worked, we'd bonus spots after 6 pm to lower the overall spot rate since clients tend to fixate on price per commercial (ie: 3 commercials for the price of 2). In fact, I know one station in a sizable market that sold overnights at $15 an hour if they'd man the station. During the day the spot rate was $45 and they had about 8-10 units sold an hour 6 am to 7 pm on weekdays. $15 an hour beat $0 and they had payroll covered...a great deal!
