Greetings ARN Troops..
This has been a rough week for me, especially yesterday (Thurs) I failed an important real estate broker test, that I really didn’t study for anyway. You know how you THINK you can ace an exam so you don’t study much? Well, that’s what I did and literally failed it by 5 points. Next, a high school friend I have not heard from in over 2o years from Performing Arts in Buffalo, found me on Facebook and asked “Man, what did you do with all that talent you had/have?” I laughed and thought about it, “not enough” and pretty much went on about business. 2 months later, as of yesterday, another friend from high school called me and told me that he died. I had no idea and I would not expect someone to tell others that they are ill (it’s nobody’s business and perhaps the person does not want to burden others) but it still hits you in a place that just doesn’t feel good. Before I could fully digest that news, one of my friends got his test results back and found out that he has cancer. WHOA! how much news can a man take in 1 day, I beg? Time for a maniac workout at the gym to get those endorphins working. One thing’s for sure my industry associates… Life is SHORT. Shut the fook up and LIVE!
KMEL is running ads everywhere for an Assistant PD and since Stacy Cunningham’s departure, several industry people are wondering what the station is going to do for a programmer. Are there any prospects?
I’m hearing from several sources that Steve Harvey better be paying attention to Rickey Smiley‘s success. I have stated several times that if urban radio does not appeal to the trendsetters, there is going to be hell to pay and Rickey does just that. The markets where Steve is targeting 18-34 year olds are starting to be viewed as “a problem” to several urban programmers who are seriously considering replacing Steve with Rickey… YIKES! We do work in a youth driven industry folks..
Speaking of which, there is a trend across all formats where older jocks are getting booted out of the stations, this week alone I reported on CHR, Rhythmic, Rock and Urban “seasoned” jocks that have been given walking papers. I have to question why some people get upset about it, I mean is there something wrong with a station updating the sound and bringing in jocks and shows that appeal to the current audience? Hell no, I am middle-aged myself and if I was still programming I would make that changes too where needed. WE ALL should be preparing for retirement, something that radio or record people have not been able to do very well since we often shift from job to job so often but it is what it is my friends. The day will come when your calls will no longer be returned and you are viewed as irrelevant UNLESS you put yourself in an undeniable position of power and wealth, so prepare for it… NOW.
I’m hearing from several sources that there is about to be a shakeup in the DC market, the changes have already started but are said to be just the beginning. I am also hearing that Dallas has some more changes coming too.
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