In this week’s Programming To Win, Bob Quick takes a look around the radio industry and finds less people doing more work. However, instead of being pessimistic about this fact, Quick finds a reason to celebrate.
Bob Quick
By Bob Quick, Quick Radio Consulting
Disclaimer…This is not an old guy pining for the old days of radio…
Bear with me for a moment, and you’ll see where I’m going with this.
When I started in radio (at a market leader in a small city), each station had a Program Director, General Manager, National Sales Manager, General Sales Manager, Air and Sales Staffs in the double digits, a News Department of at least 2, a Promotions Department, an Engineering Department, a Creative Services Department, Copywriters, not to mention Traffic Managers, a Business Manager, and maybe even an Accountant …if it was an AM/FM combo you went to a Christmas Party every year with 50 or more co-workers, plus their spouses.
So, you had 50+ people taking caring of, at most, the on-air product for 1 FM and 1 AM station.
Fast forward to 2013…
Most stations are lucky to one local talent per station who probably also performs the duties of the Program Director, Promotions Director, and Digital Manager all wrapped into one…One Market Manager overseeing 4 to 5 or more stations, most likely doubling as the Sales Manager with a Sales Staff of 3-5 people who write their own copy. A Business Manager, who doubles as a Traffic Manager and is the station’s Human Resources, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable Departments. Many stations import News from a local TV or newspaper source. And get a single monthly visit from a Contract or Corporate Engineer.
About 20 or less people taking care of the on-air product, digital content, NTR events, sales and collections for 5 or more stations.
Do the math…less than half as many people taking care of 5 times as much work.
If I were a pessimist, this would depress me.
But, I’m an optimist…
CONGRATULATIONS!
Mazel tov!
Way-to-go!…You radio person reading this right now!
To continue to be working in this industry, you must be VERY good at what you do!
We hear about cuts here and reduction in forces there. Don’t worry.
NEVER think, not even once, that you couldn’t get another job doing what you’re doing. You’re so good at it, handling the equivalence of 5 jobs, someone is out there looking for you…and almost all the time.
There’s power in the confidence of knowing you have value…even if it isn’t where you are working now.
Remember, there are thousands of radio stations out there…and there are still hundreds of owners. Sure, the big companies snag all the headlines in the trades. But attend a state broadcasting convention, you’ll see there’s plenty of opportunity out there for someone as smart and hardworking as you.
Now hold your head high and get back to work!
Bob Quick has never worked for one of the big companies, not that he is opposed to it. But he still has made a good living for him and his family over the last 25 years and 10 different owners. He believes that positive thinking, a good work ethic, and a passion for what you do is the key to a long career in radio. If you’d like advice on your specific situation feel free to contact him at bob@quickradioconsulting.com or at 706-358-9103.
