Are You SURE You Want To Be In Radio?

If you're thinking about going into radio, I hope you stumble across this posting first and then decide to stick it out with me.

Back in 2008, I thought it was a great idea to start blogging about the experiences I've had in radio, as well as imparting some of the advice from things I've learned along the way. However, after only 3 postings, I closed up shop and wrote no more. Why? Partly, because I was trying to sound like someone else and in doing so, I didn't like the end result. Also, I had the wistful hope that the ugly, disrespectful, and sometimes abusive side of our business would change. I thought that maybe we would see the light with the looming threats of the IPhone and smart phone's in general, MP3's wherever you go, internet music at the touch of a fingertip, etc... and that in the end, we would clean up our houses and return this industry to creative, inspiring individuals who see what we do an art form instead of a burden.

Sadly, I was wrong.

A majority of our industry has been taken over by soulless, hateful, do nothing's who work to appease the bean counters in another city. Because of this, he dictum is no longer "make the magic happen" but "meet your 30% ROI." Ironically, these same people couldn't be hired for about 80% of the jobs out there due to their inept ability to manage people, or exude empathy, or...they just couldn't get the burger done on both sides. Medium and large corporations that own stations all over the country have robbed our communities of their source of music, entertainment, and local flavor. In turn, people wonder why radio either sounds the same or is so bland.

No one would believe the truth.