Broadcasting Schools

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008, 03:14 (GMT) Post subject:

Glad I got lucky and was right about something for once!
Wink

Haneen mentioned board op'ing. Let's talk real-life money, shall we? Bear in mind I live (and work) in the 8th largest radio market in the nation.

Board op at the #2 station in Atlanta (WSB-AM): $10/hour
Standard full-time salary for afternoon or evening drive jock (which you won't get since you're new and there are 87,000 others in line in front of you): If you're lucky enough to do it on one of the top 10-15 stations, you MIGHT make $35k or so, plus any appearances (means working Saturdays) or endorsements.

Production manager, aka: creative services director: $25k - $40k if you're lucky.

No or few benefits. Absolutely NO job security whatsoever. None. I mean it. Lots of weekend work.

About 5-6 years ago I was a F/T production director at a station here (making in the low $30's). A good friend was a former Country Music Association DJ of the Year winner, and she was our morning show co-host. Don't know what she made then, but I'd guess in the $40's. She was WILDLY popular with our audience, but after about 3 years was let go due to a difference in 'vision' with station management (ahem). Today she can't get hired locally, not because she's not good (she IS!) but because the jobs aren't there. A tiny local station HAS offered her a p/t production job at $8.50 or $9/hour. She declined.

Still interested?

EDITED TO ADD:
I found that link you referred to, Clinton:

http://www.boston.com/bostonworks/galleries/30fast_declining_occupations?pg=28

Note the median salary for broadcasters: $36k. In 2008. How sad.

John Weeks · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 186

Michael J. Schoen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 198

Clinton,
OK, I will chime in as a veteran broadcaster -- two networks, major markets (NY, Phila, L-A) -- and still making a living at it after all these years.
I know nothing about broadcasting schools and have never worked with anyone that I know of who has ever attended one.
If I were hiring, I probably wouldn't be impressed by an applicant having gone to one, unless he or she could show the requisite skills.
But one thing that has afflicted our business is a total lack of training grounds -- small stations used to churn out the talent for large markets -- but those small stations are no longer doing anything -- they syndicate everything, don't do any news except a little in drive time.

The business is very difficult now as indicated by others in this thread.
Even the biggest stations in the largest markets are scrambling to save every penny they can because the conditions are so bad industry wide.
That frugalness breeds a poorer product and listeners are slowly streaming away. I have much more to say about it, but this sort of discussion group is not the place for a long winded diatribe.
TV is better but not much for similar reasons.
Lots of talented people on the beach because the business has shrunk.

Allison Scussel · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 928

Michael Schoen made some valuable points.

Michael J. Schoen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 198

Not to belabor the point, Allison...
IMHO, consolidation is the symptom of the problem not the source.

Clinton Nobles · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 197

Allison Scussel · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 928

Michael,
In your honest opinion, if consolidation isn't the problem, than what is the source?

Michael J. Schoen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 198

I'll run down how I think the business changed --
starting in the mid 60s -- FM started its rise to becoming dominant -- virtually doubling the number of stations competing against one another... slowly lowering revenue for each -- but more choice for the listening public.

Previously -- AM dominated -- fewer choice but more stations were more prosperious.

Tape players in cars

80s Cable TV revolution -- way more choices -- people gravitating to narrower audience oriented stations like CNN and ESPN plus many new entertainment choices.

CD players in cars

90s Internet -- ads starting to pay off..

Somehow people turn on their TVs instead of radios in their homes in the morning, though they still listen in cars.

2000's satellite radio creating more choices.
More people with more choices away from radio -- little stations can no longer compete -- big stations and small alike have to cut back.

Dereg comes in to allow consolidation -- to keep the companies alive.

That's the way I saw it happen. Dereg means a few companies dominate -- but at least they are still in business. It's not like there's one or two companies -- but not as many owners as before for sure.

Allison Scussel · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 928

I see your point. The companies who own today's stations have paid 10x's their net worth. They are struggling to pay the bank note, so many broadcasters are out of work. There's just too much audimation. Programming has suffered. Today's station's s*ck and the average person can't listen more than 10 minutes with out being tempted to tune into another source.

Poor Clinton wants advice for education and we've hijacked this thread. Sorry Clinton! Michael and I are just a couple of folks who are saddened to see the demise of radio over the years.

~Ally~

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008, 07:34 (GMT) Post subject:

i have to go back to my main point.... the PROBLEM is a lousy product no one wants to hear.

Simplicity for radio success... LIVE, LOCAL, PROMOTE.

They've fired the LIVE, got rid of the LOCAL and won't spend the money to PROMOTE. Now, they wonder why the money is dwindling.

IT'S NOT THE VENUE... IT'S THE PRODUCT.

Build it and they will come.

Michael J. Schoen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 198

Yes, I agree with both of the previous posts...Allison and Colin.
But it isn't only radio.
TV and newspapers are in the same boat -- they have all become very risk adverse and money conscious...and it shows in the programming.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008, 12:10 (GMT) Post subject:

For Clinton and whoever else is interested, there is a nationwide network of radio discussion boards where you can view discussions going on in your local area, or anywhere you choose. I log on almost daily to the Atlanta one just to read the topics and more often than not it involves bitching about the state of the industry, how bad morning shows are, playlists, etc. At any rate, it's enlightening.

Go here:
www.radio-info.com
and choose your city.

Michael J. Schoen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 198

One of the best of them is in New York... the New York radio message board -- filled with radio geeks.

http://www.musicradio77.com/wwwboard/

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

And for those of us who are veterans of, or otherwise interested in, news about the radio (& TV) business in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, there's Northeast Radio Watch:
http://www.fybush.com/

It's not a discussion, just a roundup of the week's media-related news, but for radio geeks it fulfills a need.