It came with the debut of the Arbitron ratings company in 1968. The company’s methodology was to recruit people who would agree to write down their daily listening for a week. They got a little ‘diary’ or journal for the purpose. With all the collected data, Arbitron provided something new, a very valuable sales tool. … Read more
Quick Talk Communicates Better Around 1980, the Lexicon Time Compressor was introduced. The electronic device could expand or compress audio without changing the tone or pitch of the voice. It could take a 35 second commecial and make it into a 30 second spot without the voice sounding like a cartoon character. Does fast-talk communicate … Read more
When the competing stations are playing much the same Oldies that you are, it’s the little things that make a difference.
The Word and the Phrase = the Same Thing In the early days, Top 40 played whatever were the current hits. The weekly Top 10 might include Frank Sinatra and Little Richard. Smart programmers played Sinatra in the daylight and Little Richard after dark. Dayparting. Later came two versions of the same Hit record, the … Read more
Here’s What’s Gonna Work By “Work”, I mean build and maintain a loyal audience of listeners. We are facing such massive competition for the ears now such that I could never have imagined when I was a kid radio guy back in the last century. If I was a kid who wanted the play this … Read more
What does an old pro have to say about how an AI does radio? For the middle third of my career, I was an independant radio programming consultant. Managers and owners hired guys like me to improve the sound and the ratings of their radio stations. One of the things I did was to prepare … Read more