Radio’s Lost Decade
by Brian Maloney, June 25th, 2009 at 12:20pm
Where does talk radio stand versus 10 or 12 years ago? After cleaning out some old files in recent days, I’ve been thinking about that quite a bit.
With many boxes to sort through, I’ve barely begun, but have already uncovered some radio-related items of interest. There are several talk radio convention attendee directories from the 1990s, for example.
What an eye-opener: most no longer work in radio. My best guess is that 80% or more (it could be 90%, but I want to allow more wiggle room) of these people have been squeezed out of the business by the executives who’ve ruined it, possibly forever. Others have passed away or moved on to something else. Many of the firms that employed them no longer exist.
Included in one box was a dinner program from the 1997 National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts (NARTSH) convention held in Los Angeles. The late David Brudnoy (above image, apparently from a publicity photo) accepted an award and delivered a speech. I remember Jerry Williams keynoting another event, though I don’t believe it was during that particular convention. NARTSH was based in Boston but folded long ago.
The question: is radio better off without all of these people? In most cases, definitely NOT. Local talk was a lot stronger then and generated community buzz. Then, the path for hosts was to develop skills in small markets and move up to big cities when ready. But they were the first to be cut, all in the name of preserving top-heavy management.
Talk radio is strong today because a few very powerful syndicated voices dominate the medium. They’re carrying the rest of the industry.
Beyond that, there’s almost no bench. Time slots are now sometimes purchased by firms looking to distribute poor-quality programming.
Many of the remaining local hosts aren’t particularly good, but are willing to work cheap or have achieved some notoriety outside of the medium.
What a mess.
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20 Comments Add your own
1. Circlet Soft | June 25th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
> Time slots are now sometimes purchased by firms looking to distribute poor-quality programming.
Would that be the Andelmans, perchance?
2. NHradiofan | June 25th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Brian,
I am in agreement with your take on the “lost decade”. There really are no bench players ready to take over when the current crop of heavy hitters retire.
For example, if Rush Limbaugh retired tomorrow, who out there has the talent to take his place? I know that everyone can throw out some names: Hannity, Beck, Boortz, Gallagher, Ingraham, Savage, etc., but are any of them REALLY talented enough to carry an entire industry the way Rush has for over 20 years.
The only one I would bank on is Neal Boortz but he is 64 years old (older than Rush) - so not a realistic choice. Hannity is paper thin, talent wise and Beck has veered into a psuedo-messianic area that is hard to listen to as a steady diet.
Rusty Humphries is young (mid-30’s, I think) and he has a late night following but he is cut from the Hannity cloth - a little too heavy on the piety and too self-righteous to draw the diverse audience that Rush has. I know a lot of liberals who are avid listeners of Rush but very few of them can stomach Hannity and his “I’m-too-good-to-be-true” bloviating.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I am one of the casualties of the “management” that has infested radio in recent years. My former time slot is currently occupied by a “talk” host who refuses to take phone calls because he was constantly berated by listeners for changing his stance depending on which way the wind happened to be blowing. The solution: No More Phone Calls. My weekend slot is now populated by local home improvement contractors who are excited to take your calls on leaky roofs, rotten wood siding and installing ceramic tile in your bathroom. Very helpful topics - but not a great training ground for future talk show hosts.
Funny, but I’ll bet NPR doesn’t have this problem. I wonder why……………….
3. piratetoby | June 25th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Hey, I’ll take the Andleman’s guffaws and discussions of their bodily functions over Severino.
Is anyone tuned in? Dr. Jay is sharing his insights into the female and male psyche. Are you kidding me? This fruitcake thinks he has a portal into the psyche of any human being of the semi-normal variety?
Truthfully, listening to Dr. Jay McFreud this afternoon is comical entertainment for me.
4. whatever | June 25th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Piratetoby, I was about to post the same thing about Jay. WTF is he going on about? I am not feeling like the best or brightest listening to this show. He has totally lost his marbles to be spending so much time on what a guy who cheated on his wife is thinking.
5. Chris | June 25th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Radio isn’t better, and neither is any form of media you can name. Newspapers are laughingstocks; TV news is embarrassing. Clearly, it’s all Bill Clinton’s fault. Pretty much every bad thing that has happened to this country can be traced back to that swine.
6. Broadcast Please | June 25th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
The best thing that could happen to talk radio is if we make it a forum for a political spectrum of all different kinds, rather than just Conservative views. Of course, I’m all for it happening organically, not through the fairness doctrine, localization, or whatever experiment else they’d do …
7. piratetoby | June 25th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
For me, the whole “cheating” thing boils down to this: everyone lives and loves differently. The way in which a couple defines their relationship/commitment dictates the feeling of being cheated on.
And only two people - the couple -should be concerned about cheating. It’s no one’s business.
At the risk of sounding glib, it’s kinda like “house rules” for a couple. Don’t like them? Fine. Follow your own house rules.
8. Felix the Cat | June 26th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Right winger destroyed radio.
I rather listen to amateur radio !
9. Cap'n Spackle | June 26th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Felix the Cat destroyed English.
VAVOOOM!
10. Marco | June 26th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I’m finding Severino’s latest attempt at being a talk show host quite fascinating. Him trying to psychoanalyze Sanford and what makes a man cheat is priceless comedy. He’s really just drifting along right now with no real purpose other than to have his show finally put out of its misery.
There is no break when his show ends either. It dovetails right into the Michelle Mc-Amateur show where we are subject to forced feigned outrage, missed queues, all to the tune of someone that always sounds like they have a cold and deviated septum.
What a mess indeed.
11. whatever | June 26th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I think we may have to start a “savewtkk” site.
12. piratetoby | June 26th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Jeez, who knew Gumpy Severino had such an incredible awareness into the psyche of men (oh, and women, too!)
I think WTKK should tap into that reservoir of his. I’m thinking a “Dr. Jay” show a la Dr. Phil. The Best and Brightest could then call in and ask relationship advice. And the Worst and Dullest (my league) could listen for the comedic entertainment. It would be a HIT.
Grace, are you payin’ attention here? Don’t miss this opportunity!
13. grace | June 26th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I don’t think I’m the Grace ‘ol Pirate was referring to. But nevertheless, I felt compelled to share this:
In my most exagerated Valley Girl voice, “whatever”.
14. magpie | June 27th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Later that day, a guy called in and pointed out that Jay tries to promote himself as a crazy lady’s man, and said, don’t you have a wife and a daughter. Jay flipped out, said his personal life was not to be a topic, dropped the guy’s call (big surprise!) and berated the guy.
I’m surprised the call got through in the first place, but it was GREAT to hear someone call Jay out.
15. Circlet Soft | June 27th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Margery, why do you post here as Magpie, anyway?
16. magpie | June 28th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I’M NOT MARGERY!!
Magpie is the name of my cat!
17. piratetoby | June 28th, 2009 at 11:47 am
what cat? Your pussy cat?
18. Circlet Soft | June 28th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Magpie, does Jim satisfy your, ah, needs?
19. piratetoby | June 29th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Magpie,
Careful about your gleeful reveling in someone calling Jay out on the air….people in glass houses and all……
Tell us, what are your sleeping arrangements on the Kruzenshtern? Do you bunk with your Big Jim or maybe one of those young Russians, either a member of the экипаж (crew) or моряк (sailor)?
I’ll see if there is a Russian word translation for Magpie. I know, I know Magpie is the name for your pussy cat.
Hey, who among us has not has a funny term of affection used or given to one of our erotic body parts?
Mag Pie is perfect!
20. susan mcbride | July 8th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
am i the only one who thinks dan andleman is just way gay…………………………………..
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