On May 12, 9:28=A0am, Dan the Man <dan...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On May 12, 5:19=A0am, "KajaGooGoo" <Kajagoogo...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > BY RICHARD PACHTER
> > r...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Right of the Dial: The Rise of Clear Channel and the Fall of
Commercial
> > Radio. Alec Foege. Faber and Faber. 320 pages.
>
> > The name ''Clear Channel'' became shorthand for everything wrong with
> > terrestrial (nonsatellite) radio: Lack of diversity, repetitious
music,
> > boring programming, too many commercials, censor****p, jingoism, ad
nause=
am.
>
> > In a previous life, I was very familiar with radio, first as a record
> > promotion man and later as a marketing executive at a trade
publication =
for
> > radio managers. Initially, I encountered a variety of stations, mostly
> > independently owned or part of small chains. Few companies held more
tha=
n a
> > handful of stations, due mainly to the limitations imposed by federal
la=
w.
> > But that all changed with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which
lift=
ed
> > most limits for cor****ate acquisition of broadcast properties and
allowe=
d
> > owner****p of multiple stations in a single market. In the industry,
the
> > resulting change was called ``consolidation.''
>
> > Writer Alec Foege's interest in the subject of radio in general and
Clea=
r
> > Channel in particular was piqued when he became aware of the
uniformity =
of
> > radio stations' programming during a longish family car trip. He
wanted =
to
> > know why the music was so bland and over-familiar.
>
> > He begins with a brief history of Top 40 radio, the company that later
> > became Clear Channel, and its founder, Texan Lowry Mays. He knew
nothing=
> > about the broadcasting business, according to Foege, but was a shrewd
an=
d
> > op****tunistic businessman who viewed radio as a unique industry with
> > unparalleled potential for growth.
>
> > As the story continues, Mays builds his business and is poised to take
> > advantage of the sweeping pro-business trend toward deregulation.
Acquir=
ing
> > numerous stations, he seeks efficiencies by eliminating various
> > redundancies. Among them were physical facilities, so Foege writes
about=
> > how, in markets where the company owned several stations (as in South
> > Florida), all are based in a single building, sharing a common
managemen=
t
> > team as well as administrative and engineering staff.
>
> > But the downside became apparent as the cost cutting continued.
Indeed, =
the
> > company's nickname of ''Cheap Channel'' was earned by their
elimination =
of
> > incumbent talent and the promotion of lower-paid employees. At the
same
> > time, through automation and other tools, live local announcers were
> > replaced by pre-recorded programming or ''voice tracking,'' with the
on-=
air
> > content for a multitude of stations originating in a remote studio
from =
a
> > single announcer. The same voice and personality hosts a show in
Orlando=
,
> > for example, yet she's really sitting in a studio in San Antonio or
Omah=
a.
>
> > And the local news component of most Clear Channel stations had also
bee=
n
> > reduced or eliminated, with several striking examples of the absence
of
> > re****ting during local disasters cited in the book.
>
> > Foege also writes about other issues, such as the company's cor****ate
> > culture, with the controversial practices and behavior of managers,
> > including Randy Michaels, who came into the fold as a result of Clear
> > Channel's purchase of the Jacor chain (owned by Sam Zell, who bought
the=
> > Tribune Co. last year).
>
> > This book covers a lot of ground, including the company's politics,
whic=
h
> > are more expedient than ideological, according to Foege. But
ultimately,=
> > media consolidation has been a disappointment, as evidenced by AOL
Time
> > Warner and other failed mega-mergers. Clear Channel is already
starting =
to
> > dissemble, though as a result of this exercise, the vitality of radio
as=
a
> > local medium will likely never return. Right of the Dial explains how
th=
is
> > precious cultural and economic institution was exploited and
destroyed.
>
> > To receive business book reviews by e-mail or join the Business Monday
B=
ook
> > Club, e-mail Richard Pachter at r...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To read more of
> > Pachter's musings, go towww.reviewrap.blogspot.comorread his weekly
> > personal finance blog atwww.moli.com/p/moliview/3/category.
>
> Thanks for the post. Ever since QueerChannel bought the FM station in
> my area, it's been All-Bon-Jovi-All-Of-The-Time. Blecchh!- Hide quoted
tex=
t -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Cheap Channel and Entercum both suck!
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