For Urban Music Directors… A little bit of consideration goes a LONG way… Last week we talked to programmers about self promotion, this week we talk to Urban Music Directors about how their jobs could be easier. We got responses from MDs in small, medium and large markets. We got everything from reps disrespecting and calling them after 11PM at night to a request for a simple office space… Here’s what they had to say.. Names are not disclosed.. For obvious reasons….
“Hey Kev! Love what your doing!
My job would be so much easier if reps would not call and bug the sh… outta me after 11PM and on the weekends. That’s taking it too far! But the main thing that would make my job soooooo much easier is for reps to work with us and not against us. Example, when I ask a rep for an artist for a station event, why do they have to throw out a ridiculous price or say “it won’t happen?” And why can’t they just give me the artist’s manager’s number?”
I can say, and record reps can correct me if I’m wrong on this one…. Some artist’s management don’t want to be involved in the radio promotions side but more labels don’t want artist’s management involved in the radio promotions side if the promotions dept. is paying for the promotion… it’s two separate depts.”
“We report to R&R and BDS. Many reps tend to show favoritism to larger markets, but last time I checked people in small markets buy music too! It’s very frustrating to be told “no” or “it can’t happen” without anyone checking with the label and management first.”
I understand both sides of this coin as a former programmer and a former label rep. That’s a nice way of saying they have to spend their budgets where they get the most bang for their buck. That’s not saying your market is not important, it’s saying. Things have changed…. (sorry). HOWEVER, that doesn’t help you when you are doing station promotions and you need name acts (I understand ). I guess it would depend on which artists you are requesting. From an artist’s perspective, once they have reached a certain level, with or without radio’s help, they deserve to be paid …
“My job would be easier if there was some market specific policies/procedures for creating a buzz and have reps/labels actually abide by that system in order to generate airplay consideration from local radio in that market. Obviously, there are exceptions, but this way in at least 80 plus percent of situations, reps/labels won’t have to beg for airplay. It’ll be based on the strongest material, thus creating some early passion which can be quantified, prior to using conventional callout or bds/mediabase research.”
I actually agree with this.. There are ways that labels can do niche marketing, for example, to generate a groundswell for the artist (I know of some) and generate interest FROM the station (wouldn’t that be great in a perfect industry world? The station calling the LABEL on an artist)
Another MD said they need:
“An extra 3 hours in the day and a lifetime supply of Red Bull”
Another MD said this:
“My job would be much easier with everyone using email more than phone calls… I like to have info about songs and artists on paper…with so much music I can’t keep up with who told me what on the phone…”
“More creative freedom and expression. Now that its been revealed that the Spizter (payola investigation guy) was doin dirt to…why not? Lol.”
What kind of “expression” are you talking about and what’s up with the Spizter reference (laugh).
Another MD said this:
“One thing that would make my job a LOT easier–believe it or not–would be an OFFICE. I do everything from my cubicle. We have a six-station cluster, and all PDs, MDs, morning shows, other shifts, traffic, AND sales all share one big room of cubicles. You can imagine it can get loud sometimes. There are times where I have to go to the air studio when it’s voicetracked to hear myself to talk!”
Now that sh… would drive me crazy. A cubicle?
“Wus sup Kev,
Man what would help me out as a Music Director would be mail me the MP3 and not send me to a third party site that I have to figure out how to download it or put in a username and password that I don’t have or know…just email me your MP3′s and include the instrumentals and accapellas. Then I can play em and we can all be one big happy family.”
Now that’s just common sense, you FINALLY get an MD on the phone and you give him or her info on how to download a song? Who in the hell has time for that?
I invite more MD’s and record labels/reps to respond to these statements (anonymously if you wish in the “comments” link below) to help these Urban Music Directors understand why these issues exists and persist.
My Best
Kevin
