[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: John Hines out at KTLK-FM

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
John Hines out at KTLK-FM
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1194656591.shtml


   In case you didn't notice, and apparently not many were likely to
   notice, John Hines has suddenly vanished from the KTLK-FM Morning
   Show. Don't worry about Hines - per The Rake, he got a six month
   severance.
   Personally, Hines' big booming voice was a bit much in the morning.
   But hee gave it a good try, and I certainly wish him the best. I think
   the big problem for KTLK and others in the morning is the format.
   I give big points for trying to be local rather than carrying yet
   another national network show, but contentus interruptus makes the
   distinction all but moot. There are simply too many commercials and
   too many interruptions to develop any meaningful thoughts or ideas,
   i.e., a reason to listen.
   I think someone should consider something like the Paul Harvey method.
   First, he does virtually all of his own spots, avoiding the sharp
   transitions, like those tired, jarringly annoying Menards jingles with
   the shouting announcer. And though they all deny it doing it on
   purpose, commercials typically are 3 to 6 db hotter than the programs.
   Second, Paul's breaks are usually just one minute, almost never over
   90 seconds. You'll sit still for that, and besides, clever writing and
   his trademark vocal idiosyncrasies often make them border on
   enjoyable. He still gets in a solid 5 or 6 minutes in his quarter
   hour, but you don't mind it somehow.
   Third, Paul doesn't waste your time. The typical morning drive program
   has made wasting time an art form. We don't need endless weather
   breaks for temperate sunny days. We don't need routine traffic
   reports, just major disruptions like the I-35 bridge collapse.
   Fourth, Paul doesn't take phone calls. I know we're talking talk
   radio, but most morning calls aren't worth the trouble. Let people
   leave messages perhaps, play a few of those if you must, but get those
   amateurs off the air!
   This would require significant capitalization, so it probably won't be
   tried. Plan on yet another Willie Clark instead.