iHeartradio-Firings-Bankrupt-Media-Future-Bob Davis Podcast 893

Radio Talk

I don’t always talk about radio in my podcasts these days. However when something most noteworthy happens, I do. Learn more in iHeartradio-Firings-Bankrupt-Media-Future-Bob Davis Podcast 893.

Displacements Or Firings?

Recently the biggest radio company in the United States unexpectedly announced it was firing over a thousand employees. Especially relevant is the fact that the company used such obtuse language in its press releases, it confused news writers and listeners.

You Got A Future?

Moreover this event has kicked off a lot of discussions about the ‘future of radio‘ in this country. In addition suddenly all my friends and clients are asking me to comment.

Not much

First of all, radio doesn’t have much of a future. At least not as we have known it. I’ll tell you why in iHeartradio-Firings-Bankrupt-Media-Future-Bob Davis Podcast 893 and in a recent podcast I did about the history of top forty radio. You can find it here.

Content Creators Struggle Too

Furthermore all not rosy in the digital media world either.

It’s All About Revenue

While it seems like everyone who has ever worked in the radio business has an opinion about how iHeart ‘screwed up’, the bottom line is revenue. An industry that scaled to a certain point based on the old business model, simply can’t support that scale anymore.

Digital Marketing

In contrast various forms of digital marketing are all the rage, sucking all the revenue from ‘traditional’ forms of advertising as well as media production. Digital platforms are producing huge numbers while we haven’t quite figured out how to monetize individual content creators very well yet.

Disruptive Technologies Rule

Finally we’re living through an extraordinary moment in history. Due to disruptive technologies we’ve seen more traditional businesses destroyed and whole industries laid to waste. Broadcast radio and television are just two of them.

Tower of Babel

Even more, considering the tower of babel that is American Corporate Business Speak, I wonder how well other industries and businesses are actually doing.

On The Beach

In conclusion it’s tough to lose your job no matter what you do. Because of the realities in radio these days, I am afraid there will be many more people on the beach.

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iHeartradio-Firings-Bankrupt-Media-Future-Bob Davis Podcast 893

 

 

Podcasting Meets Broadcasting-Bob Davis Podcast 744

Suddenly broadcasters have discovered podcasters. These days that means broadcasters will soon be telling podcasters how to do what they do. Is that a good thing? In Podcasting Meets Broadcasting-Bob Davis Podcast 744.

Doing Radio Is Pure Joy

In the first week of August 2018 I got a chance to do some fill in at the legendary WCCO Radio in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. My experience was rediscovering the pure joy of doing radio. The takeaway for a podcaster is how different the two mediums are. If you know how to do it, radio is pure joy.

Podcaster And Broadcaster

Furthermore after 40+ years in the radio industry and almost ten years of podcasting I am uniquely qualified to wax poetic on the differences, good and bad. Podcasters and broadcasters will enjoy Podcasting Meets Broadcasting-Bob Davis Podcast 744.

All About Show Prep

First and foremost the prep work required to do a good radio show is off the charts compared to a thirty or forty five minute rant in a podcast.

Moreover to pulling all the elements together for a news talk show, for me, means reading. Hundreds of pages of news stories. Not scanning my smart phone. Reading everything you can find written in any particular news cycle. Yes, you end up throwing most of it away but you come away with granular information.

Deep Dive Of Podcasting Won’t Work On Radio

For me, podcasting is an opportunity to go deeper into the psyche. It means sharing ideas in a format you probably would never be able to make work on the radio.

Digital Disruption

Finally broadcast is being disrupted by digital. Broadcast will evolve though. Radio isn’t going away. Neither is podcasting. Fact is podcasting and broadcasting are two different mediums. Most noteworthy is radio’s penchant for formula and formats and it’s desire to force those ideas on other creative communities.

In conclusion authenticity is probably the most important thing for both broadcasters and podcasters. A short story about Aretha Franklin and Atlantic’s Jerry Wexler provides a little background on how to handle talent.

(Editor’s Note: I mentioned two legendary recording studios in this podcast. I called it ‘Studio City’ but it’s Sound City and Muscle Shoals. Also here’s some info on the legendary Atlantic Records.)

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Podcasting Meets Broadcasting-Bob Davis Podcast 744