Week of September 17, 2007

Friday 9/21, 2007

All this week we have been discussing little things that bother me in running a cluster. Leaving the back door open so the staff can catch a smoke, denting the remote van, not refilling the copy machine or worse, burning the pots on the coffee machine. However, the worst irritant a GM faces is a thief in the building. You know, when personal things disappear off of people's desks. Unless you catch them in the act, there is little you can do except not trust someone on your staff. I hate that! It means I may not be hiring the best people for jobs. Are you "casting" talent or "filling" jobs? As the GM, as they say, "The fish stinks at the head." Make sure you demand your staff thoroughly check references on every potential hire. It may cost you in more ways than one if you don't. Have a great weekend!

Thursday 9/20, 2007

Have you ever heard the air staff say, "I'll be here till X'O'clock?" Great, glad to know it, my boss paid a zillion dollars for this station, and that's the best content you can come up with? No wonder the all-reggae channel on sat radio has more listeners than my midday jock! More little things that bug me ... tomorrow "on your Friday!" on www.allaccess.com

Wednesday 9/19, 2007

All this week we're discussing those little things about radio clusters that make me crazy. (Look at yesterday's column to see what I mean.) Here's one for programming or sales, but why do I always have to call in the PD and ask why time-sensitive spots and promos are not updated to say "tomorrow, tonight," or "this afternoon?" It's a little thing that means a lot to the client or listener. Tomorrow, the most-violated irritant heard at most low-rated stations. Log in tomorrow and find out. At www.allaccess.com

Tuesday 9/18, 2007

Have you spent the day listening to your web stream? Last week I did, and it made me crazy. If I hear one more PSA about Smokey the Bear or passing gas, I'm going to pull an OJ and stick somebody up in Las Vegas. I realize the AFTRA and copyright issues regarding streaming (do you?) but this is just bad programming. You would never put this on your regular air, why put it on your stream? If we must cover up our local commercials, let's fill with a song, or a feature, or something besides, "We're in a commercial break, so here's some really bad instrumental music to drive you away," or worse ... nothing! Just dead air! (Or dead bytes) Come on! We have to do better!

Monday 9/17, 2007

This week we will discuss those little things about a radio cluster that makes me crazy. Maybe you might come up with a few yourself. They may be little things, but they just irritate the hell out of me. I'm not talking about the office staff that leave month-old macaroni or tuna salad in that brown bag in the refrigerator, or the midday jock who never seems to use deodorant. I'm talking about the stuff that costs us money or ratings. Tomorrow, we begin with a problem that didn't exist three years ago. Log in tomorrow and find out. At www.allaccess.com.