Info collector who were the dj's on Vibe? I'd like to take a look and see where they are now.

Excuse me but even the rookie "kids" have to start somewhere - I'd like to get my break into radio .. someday.. :P

Spinster: You read me wrong. What you see as, how did you put it, "Priceless"? -  is actually a never ending quest for broadcast excellence and a refusal to suffer hacks and radio recreationists.

Well RV you read me wrong... by "Priceless" I really mean "PRICELESS" More people should "SAY IT THE WAY IT IS" but we have become a society based on "Sparing feelings" all too often. I know many people in the biz that should of got their ASS kicked a long time ago - but haven't because someone didn't have the balls to do it.

Info Collector: I must be brief. I have a morning show to finish preparing and then BED!  You sound like you UNDERSTAND that emotion.

1. Given that the desired audience is Female 35+ (only an assumption as even I am confused by the list) you MUST - from an announcer's perspective - START with an understanding of really WHO your listener is.
Gansta' Boy does not understand! As evidenced by his promo shot and video leak - now removed. Hilarious!!
That listener info should have been made clear to him long before he ever turned on the mic full of stokes and amps and jizzes. Crazy!!

Info, sounds like you have been around, seriously - how can you build from that? And how could they let that happen in the first place? You really should have a listen.

2. Music. Sure it's tough to find the sweet spot. Try programming music in Detroit. But you can't just throw a whole upchuck of music on the air and expect the listener to understand it. Again, a market survey, some music testing( I can hear the laughter from here. Hey, are you serious or not?)

I have not done a monitor of other Calgary stations in a while. I will. Then get back to you with more music thoughts.

Spinster. Thanks. It really frustrates me how young talent expects to be coddled and stroked into success . I suspect some of that attitude is generational. However, we can't keep going this way. SOMEBODY has to correct this HUGE issue facing RADIO. I hear Pandora has written algorithms that will allow it's existing internet service to provide local news, sports and weather information to specific, individual communities and has begun to hire staff to seed those positions. Oh - Oh!

Quoted from Radio Veteran

It really frustrates me how young talent expects to be coddled and stroked into success  

BINGO - coddling is not good...it raises spoiled brats that think the world owes them. The world OWES no one anything - it must be earned by hard work and constant self improvement.

Quoted from BarkerFan

I was fortunate to grow into a major market with Clarence Mack and Jim Kunkle, Lorne Ball was the morning man and kind of took me under his wing. He didn't dwell on linguists, but DID tell me a lot of incidental stuff which remains with me today...even if he didn't know it.
These dudes were not negative, they helped me go to Vancouver. They helped me go to Radio Netherlands, even if they don't know it. I am still inspired by them today. They were NOT NEGATIVE.
They hired a young guy, who was nurtured long - with positive feedback and the excitment of radio - who I guess, got somewhere.
Geat business, sometimes filled with bullshit, but if you love it, you can put up with the naysayers.
Hit the post! I am gonna be the fifth of the Four Tops!
What does HIT THE POST mean?
CJIB forever, and the Couresty Motors Parade of Hits.
Radio is HOT and can be fun, F**K the computers, it'll all come back!
Cheers,
Jim Yount.

Quoted from AB GAL

Info collector who were the dj's on Vibe? I'd like to take a look and see where they are now.

I had to research this one because I honestly couldn't remember (nor did I listen as it wasn't my cup o' tea).  It would appear "Boss" Chad Martin was doing mornings off the top, with "DJ Drew Atlas" doing middays and Mastermind doing afternoons.  At least according to this article:

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2002/1219/mus1.htm

As for my friend RV, thank you for the kind remarks.  I haven't done mornings in a few years now (thank goodness).  Believe it or not, I haven't been around the block for too long.  Just put myself into situations where I could learn a lot about the industry and now sit in a very good spot.

Knowing the past of one of the jocks at UP, I'd be honestly surprised if they didn't know what they were walking into.  By the sounds of that Ara video, they was basically in "hiding" for a while and couldn't say anything.  That tells me they had plenty of time to get prepared for the big launch.  I agree, perception is everything, and they didn't get off on the right foot if they are going after the "soccer moms".  So they have some work ahead of them if they want to put their stamp on this city.  I'd be willing to give the jocks the benefit of the doubt.  It does almost sound like they were put between a rock and a hard place in that they were being offered a major market gig, but with no real tools to be fully prepared.  I'll have to give it a listen though.

I think I understand the thinking of Rawlco with the music.  I once had a consultant tell me that the only way to battle iPods and online stations is to program your music like an iPod or online station.  And let's face it, most iPods are a mish-mash of everything.  The idea of "upbeat music" makes sense in theory, whether it actually makes sense on the radio or not is a completely different thing.

Just out of curiousity, does UP do news?  I have a feeling the answer is no but figured I'd ask.

And just to address the whole "young ones" feeling like they are owed the world.  While I admit my tenure in radio hasn't been that long, I remember a college teacher telling us that it'd take at least five years to get into a major market.  It quickly knocked a bunch of us down a notch as we had egos the size of the room.  But now some are getting jobs straight out of college.  I don't necessarily blame the "talent" for not getting that quick stroke of reality when they have to do a year in GP, a couple of years in Medicine Hat, maybe two in Lethbridge then up to Calgary or Edmonton (if you're not forced out of province after any of those spots).

Alright.  I've rambled long enough.  Just some thoughts as we all look towards staring at the back of our eyelids  ::)

In my day, Jim Tighes, Dan Matheson, Mike Cleaver, et al, were the bossjocks! ;)

Oh yeah, then was my old friend Don Warner, circa the 50's, who had a helluva voice, terrible voice, but the people loved him. God, dunno why, Would it be he was a communicator?
He didn't have liners, no instructions from the PD, just did his thing.
"940 Radio, this is CJIB".

And then, there were dudes like Dennis McVarish, Ken McReath, Dale O'Hara, Bob Arnold, Carbury, Jimmy Hughes, Corey, who were GREAT to young guys. Line up to offer your expertise, please.
The guy who gave me my break was Gil Seabrook. The tight old f**k paid me a buck an hour but he knew I was in love with radio. So was she. I admire him to this day.
Jim Yount.

Heard a newscast at 8 a.m. this morning read by Kath Thompson, the station's program director.  

Caught a bit of the Tripp Anthony show.  Tripp may want to talk to Jim Yount about "hitting the post" as he managed to botch a few inserts which proclaimed the arrival of "his great show on Calgary's new, fun, fabulous station."  He did at least try his best to fade the inserts out as quickly as he could before the song vocals began.  Still sounded pretty bush.

Also got to watch Kev Woods, yesterday evening, and another fellow replace a broken mic on the station's web cam.  Seems Kev was a little too aggressive adjusting it before a break and snapped the mic from the mic's studio arm.  He ended up doing his break with mic in hand until he and the other guy who couldn't seem to separate himself from his cell phone swapped the broken one with one of the other studio microphones.

Kev's show seemed to consist of about two 10 second breaks per hour involving little more than saying "hey, we're new," "we're a lot of fun" and the brilliant close of his show involved wondering aloud if Chilliwack the band had anything to do with Chilliwack, BC.  Welcome to Canada, Kev.

Radio talent is always a hit and miss situation when you throw out proven track records and experience.  I have worked with people that some say are great talents...my opinion of them is...well...not so much.  Kind of like "beauty in the eye of the beholder".  I listened to the drive show on UP yesterday and heard Kev.  Welcome to the colonies Keven.  Seems he has spent his days back in jolly old England and has brought all of the regionalism's with him.  As someone who is familiar with that, I have no problem understanding what he is saying or referring to.  Someone who doesn't might not get it.  Remember Kevin - the daily grind in Canada is the ritual of getting up and going to work and not getting up and getting it on..hope you enjoy the warm Calgary summers in your boardies.  One last note:  Kev don't be a Kev.

Just for the record.  I think radio lost a lot of the magic when they pulled the cart machines out of the control rooms.  I remember firing off a drop in at the drop of a hat in the 80's.  Now you have to search through a data base forever to come up with anything.  When you do find it, you can only use one at a time because the station only gives you one computer in the control room.