Radio: The Objectivism of my affections

At least Former Fed Reserve head Alan Greenspan admitted he was wrong.

He’s not blaming our economic meltdown on an imprecise perception of our financial system, which differs from Emmis CEO Jeff Smuylan’s claim of radio’s tribulations being "…. problem of perception, not consumption."

Greenspan’s circuitously put the blame on Ayn Rand, whose Objectivist philosophies governed his decision making.

Greenspan's first wife, Joan Mitchell (no relation to current spouse Andrea), introduced him to Rand’s beliefs.

Poor Alan. Now, he’s finding himself – as he put it - “in a state of shocked disbelief” that financial institutions couldn’t manage themselves without regulation.

Isn’t that the same shocked disbelief most radio chiefs have over the common perception of the present state of the radio industry?

Maybe radio should also blame itself for its credulous confidence in Rand’s Objectivism.

We don’t need regulation. We can be trusted. The industry will take care of itself. How many times were we sold those lines in the early nineties?

Today, we ask ourselves the question, what is worth less – a radio stock or the 1999 Ayn Rand U.S. postage stamp?

(Go with the latter if for no other reason than the illogic of Rand honored by a government bureaucracy with a tax-supported stamp.)

If Objectivism had a theme song, it’d be “Forget Domani.”

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was a much-needed rewrite of the out-of-date Communications act of 1934. It redefined Congressional regulation of the emergent telecommunications industry and allowed for increased competition for development of new services in broadcasting, cable, and telecommunications.

The problem with it was the poorly written, loophole-laden radio revisions, which radically changed rules to favor of incumbent licensees.

The two bumbling idiots President George W. Bush appointed as FCC Chairmen Michael Powell and his successor Boy Kevin Martin - only made its tribulations worse.

Despite deregulation, which the industry claimed would provide radio the freedom to effectively compete against new media - radio stocks have been beleaguered for years.

Flawed corporate structures destroyed radio’s greatest asset – to be local and immediate.

Poor programming resulted in declining TSL. In turn, radio advertising became less effective, and clients went in search of alternative media to sell their products.

Instead of facing those facts radio played the blame game – the Internet, iPods, and video games.

Thanks to the NAB, instead of recognizing new media and technology as allies to work with, they became radio’s enemies.

And radio broods over why Steve Jobs will never put a terrestrial radio receiver in an iPod or iPhone?
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Facts, schmacts. We’re a few days a way from radio acknowledging the eighteenth month in a row of declining ad revenue.

Were you really surprised when you heard that Interep went belly up?

The radio industry doesn’t even know which horse to bet on in the Presidential race. Years ago, Sen. John McCain did his former “my friend”, former Secretary of State Colin Powell a favor by pimping his son Michael for FCC Chairman job to George Bush. But all bets are off now that Colin’s Baracking the vote. Son Michael broke ranks with his father by endorsing McCain.
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Just as well. John McCain still believes FM is an acronym for Find Me. Wait, maybe he’s right!

Say hi, how-are- ya to the Radio Communicators Group (RCG). It’s made up of the usual suspects from embattled radio chains and executives from the NAB, RAB, the HD Digital Radio Alliance, and the Holy Beejeebub Mystic Knights of Radio – all of whom are already involved in too many organizations and committees that fruitlessly attempt to put a positive spin on the state of the radio industry.

Groucho once said that he’d refuse any organization that would have him as a member.

Pick an economic indicator – any economic indicator. They’re all showing, as John Fogerty sang, that “we’re in for nasty weather.”

The golden age of rampant buffoonery has come to a close.

And it’s not just radio.

Survival’s all about standing tough. Doom and gloom is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Believe in it and you’ll be history.

Successful radio operators must confront reality and not permit terror take hold. The one emotion that overrides greed is fear.

The recession we’re about to experience should be viewed as opportunity for the most talented and dedicated among us to come alive and thrive.

Just in case you didn’t get the memo - we are in the entertainment business, y’know.

Potential listeners will be drawn by programming and promotions that truly deliver to their wants and needs.

Mediocrity in any product is destined to fail.

It’s time to get the spectators off the field. We need genuine talent and creative programming, promotion, marketing, and sales to survive. Excessive voice-tracking and audio wallpaper formats won’t cut it.

Forget what some of your “not my fault” consultants are telling you. Successful radio will utilize the Occam’s Razor model. Shave away all of the irrelevant assumptions and extraneous information to the bone and work with what is left.

You know and I know that we have too many radio stations. Some of them will go dark and those that do will deserve to.

Those that understand the need to provide entertainment when times are tough will survive and build a firm foundation for the future when our economy improves.

The Jacks and Jills are over the hill. Just like Ayn Rand.
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21st annual Buckeye Book Fair