Wednesday, October 13, 2010

New Radio Job

Its a whole new radio world for us.  Lots of you have noticed and I'm thankful that you have.  It means we've done something right on "The Matt and Ramona Show" and "The Satisfied Life."  You could say that we were radio pioneers.  Our old boss, Rick Jackson, was the king of what we called "Personality AC."   The format was heavy on conversation with just a tad of the most non-offensive music known to mankind.  Our station was a talk/music hybrid and though we haven't had even one sexting scandal, its time to retire the hybrid brand.  We're making the necessary adjustments to satisfy  a new ratings system and learning a whole new job while we're doing it. 

Practically every radio pro in the country has, is or will be getting an earfiul about the effects of the new system from listeners and/or management.   Under the old ratings system, The Matt and Ramona Show and The Satisfied Life consistently outperformed the radio station as a whole in key demographics (she said while patting herself, Matt, Bandy, Doc, Wheezy, Pete, Pam and Sharon on the back).  Thanks to some musical tweaks and re-clocking (a term I made up to explain changes to the clock that tells us when to talk, play commercials or station IDs)  The M&R Show is reclaiming a top spot under the new system.  In fact, I think the mental editing we now have to do actually suits Mattman's ADD.   

More music simply wasn't the answer on "The Satisfied Life,"  so we decided to streamline the show and keenly focus on the three I's:  issues, information and inspiration.  TSL moved from an 8:00 am start to 7:00 am on Sunday mornings. Lowes Foods has graciously supported the changes.  Now we're able to continue to provide faith-based, quality programming on a secular Adult Contemporary FM station (that's pretty remarkable in the industry just in case you missed the second pat on the back for the TSL gang).

I must admit, the e-mails to the boss and Facebook comments demanding more Matt and Ramona and less music do wonders for the ego.  However, in the current radio environment, that's just not a smart thing to do.  Mattman put it best, "isn't a little 'Matt and Ramona' better than none at all?" (I chose to leave off his "you freaks" at the end)  We're all still dedicated to providing engaging topics... and we still want you to take us along for the ride.

Need a little Matt and Ramona fix?  Yearning for a Satisfied Life?  We really hope so! 

Listen anytime or anywhere with our mobile apps for your iPhone, iPod Touch or BlackBerry or Download the podcast.

12 comments:

Lesko said...

I've been meaning to write to complain about this change. Doesn't it seem a little weird to change your show to appease a rating system that means nothing to listeners, and at the same time do less of what made you guys worth listening to in the first place? It seems to me that if I want to jab my ears out listening to Lady Gaga I have tons of stations to listen to, but I have only one place to listen to you two. Now less of you anyway. I don't appreciate the way callers are cut off in the interest of getting to yet another replay of a song I've heard six times today already. I understand that you want to stay high in the ratings, so you have to change the format to do that, but there just seems to be something wrong with the system. I miss the old Matt&Ramona show.

JenniferSpengler said...

Just wanted to post here, too, in case I haven't been annoying enough. Basically, I'm posting here to say, "You said it, Lesko!" There. I'm done ranting. I know it won't get me anywhere, anyway. :(

Jennifer Spengler

frank said...

i don't listen to you guys much but i HATE, HATE, HATE what the link has done to your loyal audience who love YOU. new rating system be damned. i choose my entertainment and the choices have become fewer. that makes me sad.

Erica said...

I'm glad you guys are still around for us to listen too and I hope your ratings stay high. I just really dislike the new format. We need just a little more talk. And if they have to play more music at least make it a variety. The same old songs & commercials day after day really gets old.I mean is it really that hard to change up the commercials and songs? Sometimes when I hear the same commercial over and over I hit mute on the computer, then I end up missing some of the show :(

Erin said...

Yes, Mattman, a little is better than none - just wish it were a little more. I have to say that I am one of the numerous people who wrote on FB and to your bosses about the change, but now that you all seem to have settled in, I feel more settled too. Still want fewer music breaks but a little more settled. Congrats on top spot status!

Anonymous said...

Ramona,

I appreciate your taking the time to explain things to us, but it doesn't do anything to assuage my righteous anger at TIIC of your station. I was part of a focus group there a few weeks ago and a room full of listeners in their key demographic told them in no uncertain terms that we wanted the old format back, less music and more talk. And point by point they've taken every single thing we said did not interest us and shoved it to the forefront. It honestly feels like they are trying to get rid of us "old hags" to appeal to the tween set. But seriously, do you think my 13-year-old gives a darn about Three Way Plumbing?

I've been with you guys from the beginning, but I can't tell you how many times I've missed your show because I change the station every time the music comes on. If you could just give us the times when you'll actually be talking, it might make listening to the show much easier for those of us who tune in for Matt and Ramona, not Katy Perry.

Peace.

Unknown said...

You can blow all the corporate smoke you want, but the bottom line is, I can't stand the changes that were made to your show or "Bob and Sheri" and I refuse to accept them. And the statement "isn't a little 'Matt and Ramona' better than none at all?" is such a load of garbage and a sell out. Remember who made you #1, your listeners, they can take you down too. Hopefully things work out for your station and you get the demographics and people you want to listen. But as for this person I'm done. Maybe tell the management to play "Hey Hey Hey Goodbye" in their song rotation

umberhaven said...

I've been a loyal listener of M&R for several years now, probably most of the time that you've been in Charlotte.

I always listen in the car after work, and I have noticed a little more music lately. At work, I listen to you via podcast, and I've noticed the podcasts getting shorter, especially when fast forwarding through the occasional song that isn't edited out.

When listening by podcast, I'm usually several days to a couple weeks behind. So, I'm wondering, has the "more music problem" gotten even worse over the last week or so that I haven't caught up to yet? I hope not.

When I am in the car, and music comes on The Link, I typically switch over to 101.1 WZTK, an *all*-talk station out of Burlington, NC. The more music The Link plays, the more I'll be switching over to Allan Handelman on WZTK.

I used to listen to Cooper Lawrence faithfully too, but a couple years ago when they got rid of Chad and increased the amount of music, I listened less & less. Now, the music-to-talk ratio has gotten so bad, I almost never try to listen because you hardly ever hear Cooper any more. I've even thought of de-friending the Cooper Lawrence Show on Facebook because the "golden age" of the show feels like a distant memory.

I miss the Pam Stone Show on Saturdays too.

So, if the station were to drastically cut the talk time from M&R, I would have very little motivation to tune into 107.9 The Link.

Regardless of rating system, the Link is gradually damaging its content and alienating its audience if it keeps reducing its on-air talent time. If people want to hear the same dozen songs over & over again, they can get them off iTunes. That's what iPods are for. A talk station needs to have talk.

Kal-El said...

I totally agree with Lesko and Jennifer! It seems you guys are being phased out anyway and how can less of you *which is what made you outperform your old station/system* be better? It's turning off your listners and I honestly get so frustrated that it appears no one cares about the listeners. I turn the station when music comes on and I'm honestly thinking of quitting listening at all. It's too frustrating and stressful .. and you guys seem to not care and clock in probably 14 mins. of actual show an hour now. The podcasts are a practice of fast-forwarding through ads, songs and commercials to find 'the show'. I love you guys and that's what where fighting to have more of but really the way things are going do you think it won't be long until you've been phased out for more "Bad Romance" or until you've completely alienated your fans/audience?

Carla said...

I too am so frustrated at the new format and emailed the boss, the cast, etc., but get the corporate "it is the new rating system" story. Do we care about the new rating system? Of course not! It is the listeners who put you guys on top and we want what made you what you were, not a dang radio show! I have participated in every survey sent to me but do they listen???? Heck no.
I have been a constant listener sinced the beginning. WAY back when. Too bad things had to change -- at least my new car has XM radio but it is damn hard to try to switch back and forth. Even with Matt's attempted help by telling us what is coming up in so and so minutes. I quit.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I notice there is not a single positive comment regarding this change, and I have to say I agree with everyone. The thing that made you guys number one is YOU, not the music. We can hear the music on many other stations. The show seems rushed now and somehow out of balance. I think I'd rather them just play your show straight thru than have the bouncing back and forth to music. Play the music afterwards. It's obvious your station management hasn't been listening since they took Pam Stone off her daily show. Very disappointing. Still love you guys though! Oh and I agree with the comment about Cooper too....I thought her show had been cancelled when I heard nothing but music one night when I wanted to listen. Not good for her show either. Go back to doing your own thing and not chasing some kind of ratings stars!

ballisticflea said...

What a brilliant move by the new management to dilute the talents of Matt, Ramona, Bandy and Doc by reducing their air-time to 10-15 minutes per hour and giving us the privilege to hear that Black Eyed Peas song for the millionth time. Based on the comments about the new format, it appears the "new rating system" is working like a charm. Who makes the decision to take a highly rated, successful and truly unique show like M&R and formulize it to be like all other shows? A machine can play commercials and Lady Gaga songs. A good manager knows how to recognize, promote, and share special talents of his/her people. Someone save the M&R show before it is too late!