On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 04:14:22 +0000, Joe Altieri wrote:

Just a short one : I've been looking at the playlist for the classic rock
station here on the Oregon Coast ... I've spent literally hours in the
air-room
watching the list, since I'm a candidate to possibly take over the show in
the
future, also up for 'traffic assistant' on the 'ofice' side of the station
...
I've noticed the oddness of the list - for example the entire Eagles
are fair
game for the station, but I've only heard a couple of the lesser-known,
and yes, tamer songs played too ...
There are lists on the 'Net that list the 'acceptable' bands, which
DOES
include the Rolling Stones, and I never hear any of those either )
I think it's like 'soft rock', or in this case, 'soft classic/oldies'
that
is bold from a programmer view, but tame for those of us who remember the
entire albums and the really radical cuts almost never aired, even then
...
Of course, I would say I'd change the automated play-list if I were
the on-air
host, but that may not happen here ... more likely I'll be on the tech
side, or
production/announcing if at all. I'm currently looking for another job
locally,
and having met everyone at the local stations, including 'Mr. Big', I
think
looking elsewhere for work, and doing independent commercials/production
and
recording is my future anyway ...
If you are someone who might have a hand in a playlist at a
station(s) in the
future, consider looking on the 'Net, compile a list of 'acceptable'
classic
rock artists, then look for the most obscure and radical album cuts you
can
find .. I remember the Doors are listed too ! Give me a couple days and
I'll
cause a commotion with 'acceptable' artists, without crazy announcements
and
production effects )
It's all there - just do the research ... If a station isn't playing
what YOU
want to hear, contact them .. that simple

good luck

Joe Altieri


You did an excellent job of pointing out why radio programming today has
to be much more professional and research-driven than it used to be.

Back when today's "classic rock" recordings were still fairly current and
the format was called "album rock", most stations had some system for
identifying which album cuts were acceptable according to the station's
program and music directors; but individual jocks often had considerable
latitude in choosing just which cuts they played. For those who are
too young to remember, the microcomputer was still in its infancy back
then and AFAIK no stations were using computers to schedule music -- human
beings had to make decisions as they went along.

In those days a good jock knew the station's library intimately, knew the
audience nearly as well, and could find the right cut for any particular
moment; we even took requests! A mediocre jock knew most of the most
popular songs and artists, and seldom played anything else (except when
they heard another jock play something). A really bad jock had poor taste
in music (and little understanding of flow and tempo), played personal
favorites, and generally stunk up the station.

A youngster who grew up listening to the music his parents liked could be
a pretty goo classic rock jock. His twin who only listened to what the
other kids in the neighborhood liked would need the guidance and restraint
of a knowledgeable music director who uses scheduling software to
preselect everything.

But if I were still programming, I'd rather hire hire either fellow
oldtimers or jocks who have been in the market for several years, then
allow them as much playlist discretion as they can handle. Nothing
against young gypsies -- i was one myself, back in the day -- but nothing
beats having real live people who know both the music and the local
audience.

--
Walter Luffman Medina, TN USA
Amateur curmudgeon, equal opportunity annoyer