Radio. As If Enough Hasn’t Been Said Already.

*** Begin Disclaimer ***

I don’t come from the radio world. In fact, I’m so far removed from that world that I’d bet money that I’ll never, ever have a “job” in so-called terrestrial radio – let alone a career. Sure, I started this PDX.FM thing and I’m just arrogant enough to put my hack (ahem) “radio show” right smack dab in the eight o’clock morning slot for now but it’s only a matter of time before more talented people than I need a place on our schedule and I’ll be the first to volunteer to step aside.

*** End Disclaimer ***

Whether it’s due to my involvement with PDX.FM, or just plain luck, I’ve found myself becoming friends with quite a few of Portland’s most talented radio (and ex-radio) personalities. I peruse their blogs and websites because I’m interested in their opinions on all things radio-related. After all, more often than not, they know radio far better than any corporate suit and tie ever could. They’ve lived and breathed the art and the business and experienced its ups and downs – and when one of them chooses to walk away from a job, as Kristen Bowie has, I naturally take notice.

“I left radio to pursue a business plan that involves taking the step to have creative control over my career. I’m not a seat warmer, I was sick of feeling like one. I’m an old school of radio pro. I make things happen. I don’t let it come to me…I go to it. Or I show my skills off through good old fashioned busting ass.”

I read this post a few days ago and sat here nodding in agreement through all of it. I declined to comment though, at least at the time, fearing that I’d already said enough on this subject elsewhere and that I wouldn’t bring anything of new value to an ongoing discussion. That said, as I read it again, I realized that what makes this particular point of view unique is that it’s skewed toward the positive and written by someone capable enough to pursue other forms of income while still maintaining a love for the radio medium.

One of the more disheartening things about radio and it’s wake of destruction is that many of the displaced and underemployed seem to feel like it’s their mission to save the entire format – and no one can bear that burden all by themselves. Radio will evolve, you can count on it. Ultimately, the format itself isn’t going anywhere but forward whether we like it or not, and while there is much talk about the technology behind it and how the content will be delivered, the real questions about radio have nothing to do with terrestrial vs. podcast vs. live web streams and all of that nonsense. The real questions are much more simple and much less technical.

• Will the next generation of radio actually care about the people who matter most, the listeners?
  
• Will radio finally realize that the format itself is a very intimate social art form rather than a wall of advertiser noise?
  
• Will radio grow a pair and adhere to a belief system that defends that art instead of whoring it out and ruining itself all over again?

The answer is a simple “yes”. Radio will do all of these things because big business will eventually exit the picture entirely. Count on it. When people like Kristen decide that they’re going to do their own thing, creating their own homebrew radio show, people get excited. Here’s someone taking the time to create something of artistic value for no reason other than because she wants to reach her audience.

Hardly the same die-hard capitalistic attitude that has destroyed the radio industry.

The radio of the future isn’t about technology at all, it’s about the people behind that technology. Anyone can sit in a booth and play song after song, stopping only long enough to read a few lines of self-promotional garbage – just think of that person in your social media circle that has nothing to say that isn’t self-serving. Our iPods already give us all of the music we need, sans the tiresome 20 minute advertising blocks and bouts of self-absorbed minor league pandering. It takes talent to actually put together a meaningful show that people will like and want to listen to. Modern day radio doesn’t need to fear extinction, it needs to fear the people out there that love it so much that they’ll make it succeed, even if it means dragging the format, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century.

Radio needs a lot more people like Kristen.

Related posts:

1. A Word About Corporate Portland and Joining a Young Streaming Radio Network…
2. Unfairly Raggin’ On Radio? You’ll Get No Apologies From Me
3. Radio and “Old White Guys” Rears It’s Ugly Head Again… And Nary A Woman In Sight.
4. RobertWagner on OPB Radio “Think Out Loud” Show – Follow Up
5. Dear Portland Radio, Please Pull Your Head Out of Your Butt

Tagged as: kristen bowie, podcasting, radio, technology