Radio-Just Another Wireless Dictator?
I probably might just get kicked in the ass for being King Kong bold and having that as my header but little do I really care about people in the media circus these days!
I’m sure anyone with functional grays might just shun radio as the greatest waste of time mankind has ever created; salutes to those who do! But I will also spit on your face if you made that decision but never cared to know about “real” radio. Radio was created as a source of entertainment for all and not a marketing tool as it had become from the 60’s or 70’s onwards. But still during that period of time, there was this sense of keeping radio as real as possible, after all back then both Jocks and Programme Managers knew what people really wanted! – People who made a difference, not in a global sense, but to them, musically or otherwise.
That brings me to the question: Is the radio of today really doing that?
Some may argue and say “Well yeah my favorite radio station does play the hits”,” my radio station plays my kinda music”; but is that really what it has become?……Yeah personality –less radio! Even the “hits” have personality…I swear they do….after all its all on repeat mode (just listen to a few songs if you CAN be bothered!).
As a radio personality I’ve heard that tireless statement over and over again and what do I really have to say to these people? Don’t stop at just the hits! Explore music; explore myspace and the likes for there are countless deserving artists/people who are really out there!
I’ve heard lots about what home radio used to be like during the 90’s, it was still great in my opinion during the early 2000’s, until all radio stations switched to the “Hit Music Format” (in laymen terms) and hired Disc Jocks from Night Clubs because hiring a radio personality was considered quite a monetary drain (personality comes at a price bitch…no one works for free…not even the Chinese). But still there were a few good jocks. Now I don’t know what you call a great jock anymore for most sound like carbon copy Jocks to me.
If you are a Jock reading this, and I don’t mean to sound like the grandma of radio but really “get a life” before you try and make life great for people, radio is not just about reading dedications and playing requests (I will personally kung fu the idiots who made radio that way!!!). Its about sharing life, music and above all being passionate and incessantly true to your own self!
Internally most radio stations that I’ve worked for cared all about making the ‘big bucks’, hence; “Let’s play some crap that appeals to the masses, after all who really cares about a niche market that listens to Rock n Roll/metal? More people = more money to us”; “Do you know the only station that plays Rock n Roll runs at a loss?”; “You have no future at a station that plays Rock n Roll and alternative”; “Okay Linkin Park is fine just don’t play Korn or Led Zeppelin because they are too heavy”; ”Okay men that maybe a slow song by a local artist but we cater to an audience that only want to hear Rihanna and Britney spears”; “We will loose listener ship if we play that slow song by Metallica”. Those were the very words uttered to me by a number of mindless Managers at the first few radio stations that I worked for. So what is radio to them? To sum it all up “The perfect wireless dictator” that is controlled by yep you guessed it, people who care about your wallet more than you!
Your number one hit music station; The lifestyle station; All the hits all the time; Nothing Survives without it; The magic of retro……..These tags have just one message in common “I’m the real ruler listen to me, buy what I tell you to buy, live how I tell you to live and then you shall be deemed fit and fine by society!”.
And that works just fine! Because it is the case with thousands of people who really don’t get IT!
It’s quite sad to see generations trying so hard to fit into the stereotypical mould set by that little electronic device that lives in their homes. Quite a powerful mind controller……….. Almost like a president, but without the badda pack and the irritating shawl! Hell in this world Jim Reeves is god, Akon is the perfect role model and Lady Gaga is the new shepherd!….follow them …follow them sheep ….My fat ass I will!
I work with some of these kids whose mindsets are so 200 and late, and trying to even tell them about Rock n Roll is almost impossible; for now the Jonas brothers and Katy Perry are considered to be “Rock artists”!…….Jesus Of Rock n Roll I read your mind (Idiots!!!!!!!!……Why Why Why!!!!). When I even try and tell them about musicians at home they make the odd ball statements (prepare to be not so shocked) “Aiyoo that band is too heavy for me”, How do people even listen to them? ; “I don’t like that band… ammo they are satanic!”, and I’m like Whaaaat?
Music by my friends is satanic? Since when did Stigmata, Paranoid earthling, Nemesis become that way? Very posh and shaa statements no?
Media personnel know that what we lack is a Rock n Roll station but they don’t even want to care…I’ve fought time and time again for her….I know I’m not the only one ……even talking about a certain band is considered taboo in most stations….why what’s really wrong with a band that stood their ground, defiled religion/society because of what it REALLY is, openly spat upon politics and made people better thinkers?…simply put …Its all about control and money at the end of the day!
This is not the end of me relentlessly putting on a good fight for a Rock n Roll station because its music that really is full of you and me…people who have brains and personality……..I’m not wanting you to take a cue ……that’s what cards are for.
By the way thanks for all the support that you’ve shown me and my friends who strive to make radio in Sri Lanka better…month by month…in the little ways that we can.
Sorry you’ve just gotten me all nostalgic…now I cannot find myself ending without adding a special thanks to all the metal heads/Rock n Roll fans that made Spinning Unrest a huge success when I hosted/produced it…….thanks and thanks again.
(Photo credit: aloshbennett)
First, Im glad a jock admitted that radio nowadays play the 20-song playlist 50 times a day. But you’re kind of contradicting yourself, cuz when you were on TNL, that ‘repeat mode’ was present. And did you do anything about it? You PRODUCED the big show, and it was the ‘repeat mode’ playlist.
and oh ‘get a life?’ its almost like you are saying every other jock other than YOU is ‘carbon copy’. I am a jock, and I never repeat a playlist, and I play new music..and I explore! So for jocks like me, thats offensive. And AGAIN, you used to the do the SAME thing, read dedications, play requests (out to lunch). SO you werent true to yourself in the first place, what good can it do ranting about it when you no longer work at TNL?
And radio is not a dictator, it doesnt ‘control’ our minds. Thats done by TV these days. No one is addicted to radio as they were before.
And there is nothing you can do as far as money is concerned. Try running it on donations. You NEED the advertisements, the sponsors for money, to put your station on air. As much as people dislike ads inbetween the music, its reality.
And besides, inviting a new band to the station to be featured on a show, is advertising that band, their music indirectly. and you obviously would have a band thats seen success, so more fans WILL listen in. Your’ll create a bigger fan base. Will you interview a band that sucked? No.
See what I mean?
ofcourse, radio ISNT what it was before, no way. i have ceased to listen to the “radio” and its simply gathering dust at the corner of my room. good music? dont count on it.
but the point is, just a little question, how exactly is the radio a wireless dictator? of course, they only play stuff we rock and roll junkies get green in the face listening to, but isnt that what the audience wants? how then is it a “”dictator?”" sure, we dont get catered to, which is of course sad, but how exactly do they display this shade of alleged despotism? its all about the money, no doubt, but its also a form of democracy. if people want to listen to bullshit, and the majority requests for bullshit then bullshit wins. much to our dismay of course, but the srilankan rock and roll community, while it is growing, is tiny compared to many places abroad where rock and roll reigns. its not fair of course that its the “money” that matters but hey people listen to that crap. that doesnt make it a mindless dictator unless of course it forces crap down peoples throat, and guess what? they arent. because WE exist after all dont we and we choose not to listen to it…:)
cheers!
Lol Im just loving the responses I swear!
Hey you two…..thanks for stopping by and sharing what you feel..
96 am/Arya….Aloha!
Let me get one thing straight, at the radio station I worked at before I had no control over the play list’s…actually none of the jocks/producers did (It was part of the PM’s job description jotted down by the management, hence even if the jocks wanted to they couldn’t change it unless they spoke to the PM before s/he made the play list and then a FEW songs of their choice were slotted in, my job was simply to overlook/take charge of all the pre-produced elements on the show like nature boy, Dr. Mervin and all the skits together with the other “audio prep”).
Hope that clears that up!
With regards to getting a life (lol I love the fact that I’ve offended a lot of people who haven’t even commented), What I meant was everyone lives a different life (duh!), why not share that on radio? Or get crazy on radio like the “grease man” n make radio just purely enjoyable? (just a suggestion, not asking anyone to copy) instead of doing the usual intros n extros of songs or just readin off celeb gossip all the time …I say that’s done n over with unless its a different approach you’re taking. (If you are a new comer to radio this does not entirely apply to you….for even Ive started off this way…but its not forever that you have to do it you know).
I’m sorry if I’ve offended you and a load of others but really how would you like me? (by the way if you do your shit right…why are you offended?)
I’m not from McDonalds, so I don’t aim to please… I’d rather be honest than just sugar coat n say man radio in Sl is so fly I could just listen to it all day long n forget me tv cuz its just that entertaining!
I wish that were the case cuz I grew up listening to great Jocks n sometimes I wonder why some people keep their personalities at bay when they should be really putting it “out there”….Kudos to the very few that do!
Now I’ve never mentioned or implied anywhere that “I’m the best”, would never do that…I’ve got a long way to go just like anyone else.
I listen to local radio on a day to day basis and there is a difference when a “personality” is on air and when a “Club Dj” is on, I personally switch off when I hear the latter……most people do!
I’d rather do a show that’s different, than just do a show where I have to read names…n how many radio stations do that…sure it’s a popular thing but really…. the perception here about radio is that it is merely a live jukebox..…”radio is all about requests and dedications no???” one kid asked me recently n that just left me wonderin “Is this what radio has become here”?
So you tell me …what would YOU choose at the end of the day ..….a great entertaining show or hours of songs n names?……Would you like people to know what real radio is all about?….Passion n great entertainment n not a 24/7 live jukebox?…..Its really upto you!
Yes all need money to survive but it beats me how some over here chuck passion for them big bucks; I can sit all day and be amused at most “radio marketing people” cuz of the way they give the Pm’s feedback (dunno if you’ve experienced it)….yes yes you need feedback…but some sacrifice their own brand cuz of what these idiots say…”play something poppy will you…that will help us to get this client or that client” (That doesn’t work dammit!)
…..I’ve heard that a million times …… Need I write more about this?
Radio is a dictator, the weirdest kind you’ll ever know (differs from country to country and its really not as direct as Tv)…I guess I should have mentioned that this was to be taken in a very third world country sense cuz at the end of the day ………over here like ive mentioned before , Jim Reeves is god, Akon is the perfect role model and Lady Gaga is the new shepherd.
My nose has started to drip again…excuse me ….need to get more tissues…keep em comments rollin in….
fuck all of u.
media makes music,musicians,news, whatever the fuck u name.
do u really think ppl wud hav listened to pansies like akon if ur fucked up media dint pump em up.jesus fuckin christ, how many fuckin akon songs do i hav to listen to on a daily fucking basis even though i don wanna.u get in ur friends car….there’s akon.u get in2 a shopping mall,there’s akon again,u go to a restaurant, fuck he’s there again…i can go on and on about how radio stations play one set of artists over and over and over again even though i do not to listen to any radio station at all.WILL AKON BE THER IN HEAVEN TOO??????
FUCK if he will be then i don wanna fuckin go there.
96am or whoever the fuck u r.if u like it or not,ur gonna hav 2 play the same fuckin songs over and over and over and over and over again.
do u think ppl really like the songs that u play on radio stations,or are they forced 2 like it cuz thats the only fuckin thing u fuckers play.sri lankan media as a whole carries one fuckin attitude.that is watch or listen to this cuz u hav nothin better to watch or listen to.
no media institution in sri lanka is worth watchin or listenin to.
of course it’ll be gud way for businessmen to advertise.
radio is supposed to play music,not just hip hop,pop trance n techno and oldies and retro.what the fuck happened 2 heavy fuckin metal,what the fuck happened to jazz,what happened to blues,
do u think the stupid ppl in this country will ever know who mikael akerfeldt is,who nocholas kvarforth is,who chuck schuldiner is,who mike stern is,……
they only know akon and britney spears and lady gaga n some more lowlives like that thanks to the so called radio that ur standin up for.
im not a jock…im just a fan n, n this is how a true fan feels over here.fuck all of u jocks,fuck all the radio stations,fuck tv stations,fuck news papers….FUCK THE MEDIA THAT MADE U PANSIES IN TO WHAT U R NOW.
ahhhhhhhhhh fuck u lowlives
over and out
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