The Future Of Radio

I can't even tell you how excited I will be to see Rick Dees do adult radio. I understand the appeal of youth, but what's wrong with entertaining adults? I believe that Rick Dees could build a powerhouse out of KBIG, and I can at least hope that the industry takes notice not just of the talent that is Rick Dees... I hope the industry takes notice of the value of air talent and entertainment rather than more music. Sure, it's a crazy dream of mine, but allow an anonymous media blogger to dream, ok?

I hear so many people talk about having a great voice. A great voice is so irrelevant. The real value is in air talent who have something to say and a gift for saying it. Air talent add value to the radio station rather than beilg filler between the records. We all know this, but too many PD's fail to program with this in mind. They fail to seek it out, to build it, to encourage it. And worst of all - too many big company clusters and their overseers fail to demand it or even WANT it.

I believe there's a lot of that talent out there, but it's being overlooked - or worse, not encouraged or developed in the first place.

Hot/AC is a format that really excites me because it is so ripe with opportunity.

Hot/AC could become a format of air talent stars entertaining women 25 to 45 rather than segging records and reading "more music and better variety for your workday" liner cards. I picture 8 songs an hour in afternoon drive and a team show that in many ways resembles a morning show. It's starting to happen in a few markets, and I hope the idea catches on.

The future of radio isn't music.

The future of radio is air talent.

I always hear PD's talk about "what's between the records." Greatness comes from being about a hell of a lot more than the records. Entertainment matters above all else.