The panel I moderated at The Conclave last week in Minneapolis was supposed to be about maximizing local radio: how to make local radio the best in can be.
Despite my best efforts it still contained an element of complaining about how syndication and voice-tracking are ruining our industry. I’m so tired of this!
First off it doesn’t do anyone any good. There wasn’t a person in that room — or for the most part in attendance at The Conclave — that is going to change the industry’s increasing reliance on syndication and voice-tracking. So please, let’s stop complaining. Come in out of the bitter barn into the house of broadcasting where it’s warm.
Second, I’m not sure these are the worst ills to befall our industry. Like it or not good syndicated content is better for ratings than mediocre local content. Want to stave off more syndication taking root? Let’s focus on having better local content.
Finally, as my friend and session panelist Dave Moore pointed out after the panel, the so-called “old days” before de-regulation weren’t everything they are being made out to be. Sure big companies like Clear Channel and Cumulus can have their drawbacks but so did fly-by-night owners who bounced payroll checks and did lots of shady deals that made advertisers shy away from the medium. The old days are never as good as you remember them to be.
I honestly think this continued insistence on complaining about how things are now and pining away for those golden days or yore are two of the biggest problems facing radio today.
Please, stop looking back. Let’s focus on going forward.
Talent Mechanic.Com: Free Estimates 
Mike Wise
July 24, 2012
I think the problem is so many of us see the writing on the wall Mike, Syndication and voice tracking are both killing the industry and anyone who works in this business long enough will be a victim of downsizing. Here in Tucson several months ago a whole bunch of Clear Channel employees woke up one day to learn they didn’t have a job.If that doesn’t make you bitter and pine for the old days I don’t know what will. I still remember how awesome things were at The Peak and I still believe, if it were still on the air I would have eventually had a full time gig there. That would have changed the way my radio gig played out drastically. There isn’t much to really be happy about in today’s radio world. It’s harder for new blood to break in and that’s probably what the industry needs more than ever. I’ve been out of the game since 2005 I couldn’t get a radio job right now if I tried, not even a part time one.
Mike Stern
July 27, 2012
Mike:
I don’t disagree the industry is different and more difficult but so is every business. My point is that complaining about it doesn’t help anyone. Sharing ideas and working to maximize what is there and learn how to work with it is much more productive.
David Moore
July 27, 2012
Mike Stern speaks the truth.
Mike Stern
July 27, 2012
Thank you brother Dave!