Re: Your Page Title

Observer2009 — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:25:37 -0000

Thanks "Kicks" I wish you success in your future endeavours!

Re: Your Page Title

Observer2009 — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:09:26 -0000

The Performance Rights Bill will in no way change the way Program Directors deal with rotations. Program Directors ( At least PD's working for corporate owned stations) Ie Clear Channel, Radio One, Cox, Cumulus ..etc not just in black radio but white radio as well DO NOT CONTROL the play lists. Having worked as a PD for two of the aforementioned companies..every song even the categories have to be "approved" Nothing can be added or dropped for that matter. Most not all but a great number of PD's today do not have the ability to do half of what they were able to do as far as programming a radio station 10 or 15 years ago.
Corporate radio relies heavily on research and focus groups. The role of the Program Director has evolved into a different kind of position. Like it or not. All industries change..some for the better some for the worse. In any event if radio is an industry you choose remain apart of you will have to conform to those changes or think about a new career.

As far as the Performance Rights Bill it was amended as follows:

The Judiciary Committee approved an amendment offered by Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., who introduced the bill. The amendment reduces the fee small stations would pay in a nod to critics, including minority broadcasters like Radio One, who say extra fees would devastate the strapped radio industry and especially hurt minority-owned stations.

The changes create a sliding fee scale for small stations. Stations with annual gross revenues of less than $100,000 would pay $500 each year. Those with gross revenues between $100,000 and $500,000 would pay $2,500. Those between $500,000 and $1.25 million would pay a royalty fee of $5,000 per year.

In the original bill, stations with gross revenues of less than $1.25 million would pay a flat fee of $5,000. Non-commercial stations, such as college stations, would pay $1,000. Talk formatted-stations and religious broadcasters would be exempt from the new fees.

The fees wouldn’t start for three years if a station’s revenues are less than $5 million annually, and for one year for others

These fees "will not" put black radio out of business. These are yearly "blanket fees" just as the fees to ASCAP BMI and SESAC are "blanket fees" If anything the "artists" for whom this bill is supposed to benefit from ..will still get shafted in the end. That's another story.

One final personal observation..why is it that "WE" have this crabs in the barrel mentality? Some of the worst vents on this forum are about how horrible Radio One is. Do they have issues and things that need fixing?..Absolutely! But so do the other corporate owned radio stations. I have acquaintances who are programmers at white radio...it's just as bad ..the only difference is they don't waste time bitchin and moanin about it they move on. There is a lot of bad stuff at ALL of them..but there is a lot of BAD stuff in business period. You have to find or create what works for you.

At the end of the day instead of spending valuable time hoping for the demise of Radio One and how much you hate them...you have a choice...don't work for them!..find another gig...get out of radio! If you or someone you know works or have worked for them when it's all said and done it was YOUR choice to do so in the first place.

"THOSE THAT CAN....DO---THOSE THAT CAN'T....SIT AROUND AND BITCH ABOUT IT ON THE VENT ALL DAY!"
Build up instead of tearing down ...it's a much better look!

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