Tidbits

December 26, 2019 Off By Eric O'Brien

Why yes, that was me quoted in the Post-Gazette on Christmas Day… and somewhat accurately. Of course, WKGO is licensed to Murrysville and not McKeesport, and its transmitter is in the New Kensington region. Oh well, you get the idea. (h/t: Maria Schiullo)

If I had more time this year and had been sure that 1410 was going to be on the air, I might have programmed several hours of Christmas music for December 24 and 25. But between the boatload of church bulletins I had to run, and the fact that 1410 wasn’t back on until December 19, it wasn’t feasible.

Of course, we had a nice supply of Christmas music on WSHH (99.7) and WWSW (94.5) since the middle of November. Other stations throughout the region did much the same and they are now awaiting their Holiday numbers from Nielsen Audio to see how the “format” helps the bottom line.

Of course the Christmas music I would have programmed would have been in line with what WSHH would have played 30 years ago. But 30 years ago today, the station dropped the Beautiful/EZ format for an all-vocal format or “AC Gold” which has morphed gently into the “soft rock” it plays now. (Come to think of it, the “36 hours of Christmas” on WSHH continued to feature some of those instrumental holiday tunes for many years after the initial flip.)

Although the official “decade change” doesn’t happen until we flip into 2021 (we didn’t have a year “0”), I am beginning to wonder what will happen to the business as a whole. Media will always be around, but this last decade has brought forth a lot of change in how we receive it.

I’ve said this for years, but my belief is that radio (and television) can remain sustainable so long as they do something to fulfill local interest. Not only serving the public interest with 30-minute programs on Sunday mornings, but by creating content that creates interest every day. Meanwhile, one has to wonder if there really is any up and coming talent to fulfill such roles?

I’m going to stop right there. There are too many “experts” proclaiming that radio has died; is clinging to life support; or is doomed. Frankly I am tired of hearing it. Okay, people, here’s a challenge – try to come up with something useful instead of giving up. What can you do to change the system in the 2020s instead of sitting back and giving up?

Speaking of 2020, PBRTV’s web hosting renewal comes due. We’ll be starting a fund drive in a few weeks. Although I haven’t been as diligent as I would like to be with the site (especially in the 2019 year of adjustment for me) I still enjoy it and want to continue to provide the service. Stay tuned!