Hmm. Clearly not a fluke case of incompetence from CFRB. Not to push too hard on a sensitive topic, but on 21 March Tory and his CFRB handlers granted generous morning airtime to a decidedly sketchy Israeli 'charity'. It was a promotion piece rather than a news piece.

Chrisphen you have absolutely no evidence for the outrageous claim you are making, I would like to request that the moderator remove your post. I thought we were going to keep highly sensitive politicsl statements out of this forum

Question: 

When you are in the studio, what is your preferred microphone...  an EV RE20 or a Shure SM-7?


 

Glen Warren wrote:

Question: 
When you are in the studio, what is your preferred microphone...  an EV RE20 or a Shure SM-7?
 

Hopefully I didn't misunderstand, but if you meant by this to suggest other, more relevant topics we should be discussing on SOWNY, I fully agree.  I think that, because there's a disproportionate amount of discussion regarding two lowly rated AM frequencies, duking it out over an aging format, we discuss too much of WHAT they talk about,  That should be something that station fans or listeners should discuss; not insiders.

We should have more discussion surrounding formatics, jingle package effectiveness (and by that I mean modern ), break content and quality or automation systems.  We should get more questions such as (just as examples):

(a) Is 80s gold still warranted so heavily on AC stations, now that millennials become the core audience?
(b) How can talk be made more relevant for Gen Z audiences to attract them?  Or is that now YouTube and TikTok?
(c) Is Live/Local really the solution to radio's woes, or is it compelling content?
(d) How can streaming incorporate ratings, in a way that broadcasters can leave the costs and infrastructure of terrestrial radio behind?
(e) How can we better mentor young broadcasters, when companies cut more costs.
(f) Where can beginners gain experience (now that post secondary media courses and overnights have nearly vanished).  OR ... should they focus on building influencer/podcaster "empires".
OR even ...
(g) How can we arrange a "Podcast vs AM radio" intervention for RA?

See?  Other than the odd discussion about its possible replacements, not a single mention about AM radio, CHUM nostalgia, numbers like 640 or 1010 (unless you're quoting the time), etc...  Do I love these topics?  Sure I do, but they should only come up every so often, unless we want to rename SOWNY to the "Vintage SOWNY Board", and actually say what we are.

But if we're going to appear progressive, and in the here and now, discussions that I'm criticizing should only appear every so often.  Most millennials and GenZs that you SHOULD WANT to be attracted to this board do not care one iota about AM radio period ... much less talk radio.  American auto makers crying afoul about the demise of AM radio in cars and its impact on security and safety is pure fear mongering silliness.  AM is dying (actually terrestrial radio is dying - ONLY radio people deny it).  I did care about that once, either when I was working in it, or when I loved listening to it.  News for some of you - there is MUCH MUCH better content elsewhere, and I mean by a mile.

Yes, most of that content is online, which means we should talk about it here, because what replaces radio eventually, is also relevant to the discussion of radio.  We need to stop being in the "live and local" and "radio still has life in it" echo chambers, because that's what we're becoming.
 

Last edited by Jody Thornton (June 22, 2024 8:36 am)

Jody Thornton wrote:

But if we're going to appear progressive, and in the here and now, discussions that I'm criticizing should only appear every so often.  Most millennials and GenZs that you SHOULD WANT to be attracted to this board do not care one iota about AM radio period ... much less talk radio.  American auto makers crying afoul about the demise of AM radio in cars and its impact on security and safety is pure fear mongering silliness.  AM is dying (actually terrestrial radio is dying - ONLY radio people deny it).  I did care about that once, either when I was working in it, or when I loved listening to it.  News for some of you - there is MUCH MUCH better content elsewhere, and I mean by a mile.

Yes, most of that content is online, which means we should talk about it here, because what replaces radio eventually, is also relevant to the discussion of radio.  We need to stop being in the "live and local" and "radio still has life in it" echo chambers, because that's what we're becoming.
 

Amen to all these points Jody, particularly the one quote captured above. I wish more people here would give podcasts a chance because I've found many that are enlightening and entertaining. Yes, some podcasts are too long, too amateurish and too self-absorbed, but so was a lot of early radio back in the days when it was run on a shoestring by hobbyists and a few forward thinking businessmen. Content will evolve and improve over time, just as it did with radio, television and streaming services. Twenty years from now, terrestrial radio will be looked upon as a quaint relic kept alive by some philanthropic folks catering to small, niche audiences.

With diminishing resources, radio's capacity for breaking news coverage has largely been superseded by social media, which often breaks stories far faster than they can be put on the air. Look at yesterday's announcement of the immediate closure of the Ontario Science Centre. Reporters from the Star and Global were able to immediately inform their audiences using their social media channels roughly three hours ahead of the "official" announcement. Radio had to play catch-up and largely stuck to quoting the official line and, ironically, social media reports on how the various political actors responded.

Check out this list of the 100 most popular podcasts in Canada. There's sports, comedy, music, political commentary (from right and left) and pop culture choices galore.


 

Boy did I pick a bad day to take a day off from this Board! But it couldn't be helped.

I have to say I was worried about this thread from the moment it was resurrected. There is no winning with stuff like this, since someone's ox will inevitably be gored. Which is why I try to keep it off here for the most part. But as noted, this involved two major talk stations allowing an Internet "broadcaster" on its airwaves and I thought that made it relevant. But perhaps we just can't let stuff like this go, because inevitably someone takes offence while others will go too far. 

As for the other issues raised in my absence, some quick observations.

-Re: Jody Thornton's always interesting comments:

I've said it before and will say it again. I have no problem dealing with any of the issues he raised. I post stuff about the stations I listen to, because I can talk about what I heard. Anyone who wants to start threads on CHUM-FM, CHFI, Indie 88.1- pick your station of choice - or even a relevant podcast, is welcome to do so. But it seems no one ever does, which leads me to believe a) those who gather here don't listen to them or b) they rarely do anything worth commenting on. Yes, CHUM-FM recently switched a morning host to afternoons and that made news here. But in general, when all you play is music, what is there to post? That I like the new Taylor Swift song they added? 

Somehow 640 and 1010 often make news by following the news and thus there's plenty of fodder for comments. But feel free to talk about anyone else. I, for one, would welcome it. 

-Jody's other suggested topics are fine. I'm not just not sure what the responses would be. But instead of merely suggesting them, I would welcome his posting about them to try and generate discussion. Well, except for maybe that thing about me and podcasts! Maybe one day I'll find something I like enough to make the effort but for now, they're simply not on my radar. And as a non-stop dial switcher, it would be technically awkward to go from one to another and back again. So for now, no thanks but I hope everyone out there really enjoys what they hear and posts about the better ones. That's why I always welcome Toronto Mike promoting his efforts when he thinks he has a guest SOWNY members might like to hear. 

-I still happen to have a soft spot in my heart (or more likely, my head) for AM radio. I agree it may be on its last legs, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it while it lasts. And I see nothing really wrong with that. You do you and I'll do me and hopefully we'll both be happy. (I still don't quite understand why what I choose to listen to seems to bother  other people, but I have to say, that's not my problem!) 

-Jody notes most millennials and Gen Z-ers don't care about AM radio, but I'm guessing they don't really much care about FM, either. They're certainly welcome here, but if they don't listen to local radio, then I can't see why a board whose purpose is to discuss local radio would matter to them at all. If they want to come onboard and start threads that are broadcast related, they're more than welcome. 

-As to the number of members vs. the number of posters, I think that's endemic to a lot of boards, not just this one. Some people join to post one comment, then are never heard from again. And that's fine. They've said what they wanted.

Others have sadly passed away (like Mike Cleaver and Don Daynard, for example) but remain in the list because paring down over 1,500 names is something I simply don't have time for. Still others are thankfully alive and well (David Lennick comes to mind) but have, for whatever reason, chosen to move on. They're missed and I would welcome them back if they want to return but that's up to them. They remain in the list of users in case they ever do decide to come back.

-Finally, yes I like to discuss the history of broadcasting, because that's always been one of my interests. If you find it boring, by all means, you can skip that thread. I have a ton of great back-up material I've collected that hasn't been seen in years and I think it adds something when I get to post it. Again, it's my personal area of interest. Please feel free to discuss yours if it fits the theme of SOWNY. 

Over all, I rarely censor this board because I'm a big believer in free speech, within reason. This particular topic about the Middle East, while a very important one, doesn't really belong here. This came up as kind of a fluke, and  against my better judgment, I let it go. I'll leave it to you to decide if that was a mistake. But in future, I'd prefer we stay away from anything that's going to pour obvious gas on a fire I'd rather not have to put out. 

I hope that addresses some of the concerns and I appreciate you reading this overly long screed! 

Actually RA, the discussion we've been having since Glen Warren's comment, is also the sort of frank discussion I enjoy too.  Even though it's more about the board and its future, I like the direct, yet non-aggressive tone that comes across when we have these "back and forths".

When I suggest the types of questions that may be worth asking on SOWNY, I'm not necessarily saying that I'm interested in it (although I may be, in some cases )  I'm saying that if we want to attract a younger voice or perspective, we need to think of ways to do so, collectively.  I'm not necessarily that audience, but I often like to contemplate things pulling myself out of the equation so that perhaps everyone benefits.  If I had a burning question, I promise that I will ask.    However, I just wanted to clarify that my comments aren't necessarily about me.

As for your love of AM radio, it's not that I'm at all "bothered" by it.  You're a free person who should do as they please.  In fact, I can imagine how enjoyable it must be to walk in the morning, as I'm going to do shortly, and spend time with your fur baby, and listening to your radio.  That's sweet.  I'm guess I'm just baffled by it.  I can't understand that appeal of anything on AM radio (except perhaps a quick 680 news wheel) that would be worth consuming in 2024.  Please don't hear that as snide and insulting, as it's not meant that way.  To me, it's like comparing me to the mid-1990s when, for all intents and purposes, vinyl LP pressings were pretty much extinct.  The drought period from 1991 through 2007 saw me buying a lot of imported 12" singles and LPs.  Most who knew me could NOT understand why I continued down this lonely path.  I guess the difference was, though I love LPs and the turntables I played them on, I never thought for a moment that what I was doing was relevant.  I never thought that outside my apartment walls, that anyone else was purchasing Seal or Alanis Morrissette on LP pressings like I was.

However, I wonder if we both had/have a ... hmmm ... let's call it "stubbornness" to do things our own way.  But with the AM talkers, I think to myself, do I want to hear the SAME guests on roundtables?  Do I want to hear the same municipal topics about the TTC, the Gardiner, or whatever?  Do I want to keep hearing about Pierre Poilievre breathing down Trudeau's neck?  I suppose if that's your cup of tea, terrific.

When I hear comments about podcasts being too long form ... see, I cannot understand why people would not want MORE content.  I often think that the reason 1010 got rid of the positioner "In Depth Radio" was, ... because they weren't.  One quarter clock would be news, the start of the show setup, MAYBE a call or two, and they're hurried, then traffic, a two-century long stop set, and back to the show, where I have to hear a recap/setup, because it's no longer the norm that people stay tuned in more than a quarter hour.  As a quick aside, I wonder if this is done to absolutely ensure that topics never run too in-depth, in a way that a host will say something egregious that lands the station in hot water.  Just a thought.  Nonetheless, podcasts get in to the nitty gritty.  They're conversational.  You learn things you would just never learn anywhere else about a guest.  Are these shows polished?  Sometimes ... Nope!  But the guest is what I am there to enjoy.  It's not just a quick five minute or less recap, akin to what I hear on an AM talker.

I'm not really bothered by the politics on here as some might be.  My boiling point is reached when I hear far-right stuff, or when I know that some of the anti-John Moore stuff comes from the perception that he is too liberal, or precious.  Hey to each their own.  To me, that's no different than me taking about how I think the current state of radio is a shyte-show.  To me, reading a radio forum is like climbing a fence and looking at just how bad the neighbours' back yard has become.  Is that nasty?  Inconsiderate maybe?  Perhaps!  But thinking radio and broadcast television is in the toilet IS a valid opinion to have, and should freely discussed on a radio/TV forum.

By the way RA, I know that you've never muzzled my opinion, but I know that some radio people feel that they should be able to "seek refuge" from such perceived negativity (which it's not in the least.  It's called "looking up at the sky and calling it blue".)   To me, that's like getting only selective news-stories that you like, or being in a Facebook echo chamber.  Sigh!

Anyway, I enjoy reading your thoughts RA (you write quite well in fact).  I'm still going to plan that AM Radio Intervention though!  Haaaaa!

Cheers!
 

Last edited by Jody Thornton (June 23, 2024 6:36 am)

mic'em wrote:

I turn 68 next week which I assume puts me in the age boundary of most of the senior members on this board. I do have a laptop at home, and a Samsung smart phone , but I only pay for 4g of internet on it. So the only podcasts I have really ever heard are the ones that CBC1 broadcasts occasionally, and I did like the Canadian  Crime related one 640 used to air following Roy Green on Saturdays a few years back. The only time I actually hear radio now is when I'm driving, and now that I am in Northern Ontario, 640 can only be heard when my engine is off. So, I haven't heard AM in months . The sad point is , I don' even miss it. If and when AM is finally gone , I doubt I will be around , if I am, it will likely be sitting in a wheelchair drooling. 

I'm 66 and stopped listening to AM for good last year.    I don't care for sports shows and the political phone-ins  usually consist of topics that have received saturation coverage by the media while most of the opinions are IMHO uninformed, unbalanced and lack expertise (along with too many ad interruptions).   The best thing about podcasts is the flexibility to target subjects that interest me instead of getting whatever the station dumps at that moment.  

You can download podcast mp3's to your PC and transfer the files to your phone if your bandwidth is restricted instead of streaming them, something I did up until 9 years-ago.    I find podcasts great except for cases where the host is not trained in interviewing so they interrupt, change the subject and generally talk over the guest.  At least in those cases there's a fast forward button!  

Forward Power wrote:

mojo55 wrote:

I thought we were going to keep highly sensitive politicsl statements out of this forum

Seconded.

CO-SIGNED!

Walter wrote:

I heard David Menzies got arrested.  Is there anything to that?

"Fringe activist known to police is arrested."

(Will not be CFRB's lead story)

Saul wrote:

What I wanna know ... can we keep the comments non-partisan and be observational about it?

I'm increasingly led to believe the answer may unfortunately be "no."