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Author Topic: "The changing landscape of FM radio"  (Read 8835 times)

Offline inigo

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"The changing landscape of FM radio"
« on: March 02, 2011, 05:45:25 PM »
Originally posted on BusinessWorld online, February 24, 2011
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?title=+++The+changing+landscape+of+FM+radio&id=26935

THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF FM RADIO

The changing media landscape has not left the local FM radio industry unaffected.

With the advent of the Internet and portable digital players making it easy to listen to favorite songs on demand, the need to twiddle the radio knob seems less compelling than before.

Faced with the challenge of an audience that thrives on individual control, radio stations are left with no choice but to assess their situations, and rethink their strategies to retain -- or expand -- their market share of the listening public.

THE DECLINE OF ROCK

Longtime FM radio icon NU 107 was just the latest in the growing list of radio stations that succumbed to a declining listeners’ base and falling revenues amid the continued onslaught of the Internet.

Last November, NU 107 -- popular among hordes of teenagers and yuppies since 1987 for its rock-oriented programming -- finally closed down.

Banker Atom Henares does not hide the fact that NU 107 suffered financial difficulties, admitting that he was forced to close down the station to cut back on his losses.

He would have wanted the new owners to continue NU 107’s rock programming which is viewed as catering to more upscale listeners, but with no other choice in sight, Mr. Henares sold it to Progressive Broadcasting Corp., which had other things planned.

During its peak, NU 107 was the vanguard of Pinoy rock music, with budding rock stars getting airtime to launch their debut singles. By 1994, NU 107 emerged as the top station in the AB market among commercial radio stations in Metro Manila with a 32% audience share according to the Radio Research Council, Inc.

But as more listeners tuned in to mass-based radio stations, major advertisers soon jumped ship. Shortly before NU 107 closed, the station was languishing at the bottom of the ratings with a 0.30 audience share, ranking 16th out of 21 radio stations in Mega Manila (Metro Manila and suburbs), as surveyed by AC Nielsen.

NU 107 had to nurse its financial wounds through a host of marketing strategies and tie-ups -- including the staging of the annual NU 107 Rock Awards (an event that attracted fans and advertisers) -- just to stay afloat.

"Short on time, short on budget but big in heart, and I think that sums up NU 107: it’s our having the mission and passion to see it through. It’s our love for the station," Mr. Henares told reporters.

On the station’s final day as NU 107 on Nov. 7, speakers were set up outside the studio in the Ortigas Center, Pasig where a large crowd of supporters and musicians had gathered, carrying candles as a sign of support.

On air, DJs openly wept as they thanked supporters during the station’s final hour. Station manager Cris Hermosisima was the last person on the microphone and said the final words: "This has been NU 107, the Philippines’ one and only Home of NU Rock. This is NU 107, we are signing off." The Eraserheads’ "Ang Huling El Bimbo" was the final song played. The crowd outside joined in singing the song.

NU 107 signed off on Nov. 8, 12:05 a.m, with the usual sign-off notice and the playing of the Philippine national anthem.

For several hours, 107.5 was an empty frequency on FM radio. On Nov. 9, Progressive Broadcasting launched Win Radio 107.5, said to mimic the format of mass-based radio station 91.5 Energy FM. With DJs like Matt Tsubibbo, Dante Machete (who is also Roberto Pistolero of 102.7 Star FM), Sisa Usisa (Glen Garci from AM radio station dzRH), and Sexy Bernie (from 93.9 iFM), the revamped programming offers modern rock and original Filipino music (OPM) catering to the mass market.

The new programming is said to be drawing in more ad money as compared to the upscale NU 107.

The reformatting, however, has been the subject of attacks by NU 107 fans and supporters, who took to the Internet to air their outrage. Facebook accounts like "107.5 Win Radio Sucks!" and "We want NU 107, not Win Radio," and online petitions calling for the return of NU 107 have flooded the Internet.

LOOKING FOR MORE LISTENERS

Similar outrage was last seen when listed GMA Network Inc. decided to reformat its flagship FM radio station, dwLS-FM, in February 2007. Originally known as "Campus Radio" with English-speaking disc jockeys, LS-FM renamed itself "Barangay LS," with Filipino-speaking on-air talents dominating the airwaves.

This despite Campus Radio’s definite success in its niche.

"DWLS-FM was No.1 in its niche with the Campus Radio brand. The complete shift in 2008 to Barangay LS was brought about by the vision of expanding the station’s coverage in terms of demographics. As it was, DWLS-FM catered to a specific segment of the market comprised mostly of students and young professionals," the station said in a statement furnished BusinessWorld.

According to a Nielsen Media Research study in 2006, 45% of LS-FM’s radio listeners were 20-29 in age, the highest percentage for that age group among all FM stations.

GMA Network’s Metro Manila radio operations manager Fred Cortez told BusinessWorld that LS hoped to appeal to a wider audience with the change. "GMA’s Radio Group has re-branded its flagship FM station which is now known as Barangay LS... And one can’t get any more mass or broad than by being barangay," he said.

Mr. Cortez said they decided to reformat since research showed that listening and advertising trends favored a happier and funnier sound for FM stations. "The listener is boss," he told BusinessWorld.

Just last Sunday, Barangay LS launched on-air programming with a new catch phrase -- "TugStugan Na!"

Program Director Glenn Allona said Barangay LS bears the distinction of having successfully established the "crazy fun" sound in the market through very popular programs like Talk To Papa and Wanted Sweetheart, among others.

"With ‘TugStugan Na!’ we aim to bring back the focus on the staple of FM programming which is music. We need to balance, if not underscore, the vibrance of comedy-talk programming with a pleasant and highly entertaining all-hits music format," Mr. Allona said in a statement.

Barangay LS, he says, offers "the perfect entertainment medium through clean fun and free on-air music. It can also play cupid or love broker, [serve as] a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on, an instant friend with a ready line-up of only the most popular songs in the land."

"At present, we have a decent share of AB and C1 listeners, but the success story lies in the tremendous growth of C2 and DE listeners coming to our fold and staying. Our all-people (across eco-class, gender and age) performance is very good. We are well within the ‘top three’ among FM stations in Mega Manila," he said.

FILIPINO MEANS MONEY

Based on various radio listener surveys, Elizalde-led 90.7 Love Radio continues to be the leading FM radio station in Metro Manila. Closely following are ABS-CBN Corp.’s FM station Tambayan 101.9, 101.1 Yes FM (another Elizalde-owned station), and Barangay LS.

Interestingly, these top radio stations have something in common. They have the same format -- Filipino-speaking on-air talents dishing out jokes in between playing OPM songs.

Listed radio broadcaster Manila Broadcasting Co., which is owned by the Elizaldes, is said to be the pioneer in the use of Filipino-speaking disc jockeys on FM radio.

In 1995, MBC launched dwST Showbiz Tsismis (Showbiz Gossip), the precursor of Yes FM.

Back then dwST went against the norm by having Filipino-speaking showbiz reporters broadcasting the latest news and gossip about local celebrities, while playing the latest hits.

MBC Sales Director for FM Radio Santiago Elizalde said that the Filipino format, which was something unheard of in FM radio during the 1980s, is what the audience wanted. "We are just providing something that the audience wants," Mr. Elizalde told BusinessWorld.

Soon, MBC’s Love Radio followed suit. From being a radio station playing all-time favorite love songs, Love Radio created a buzz when it reformatted, using the catchy slogan "Kailangan pa bang i-memorize ‘yan?" (Do we still have to memorize that?)

As listeners starting tuning in to these Filipino FM radio stations, advertisers started to take notice. Based on a report submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission for the nine months ending September 2010, MBC radio stations (including its flagship AM station, dzRH) achieved aggregate revenues of P585 million, driven mostly by advertising sales.

This is a great feat, considering there are more than 1,000 AM and FM radio broadcasting companies nationwide competing for radio advertising revenues which estimated to be about P10 billion, based on a Nielsen Media Research study.

"Day or night, 90.7 Love Radio has consistently beaten all other AM and FM stations on the Monday-Sunday, 12 midnight-12 midnight daily run. Surveys show that the station has, in effect, created three prime time slots for radio broadcasting, with listeners peaking at the 6-11 a.m. programs... rising again in the 3-6 p.m. slot..., and once more... during the 9 p.m. to 12 midnight slot," MBC said in its sales website.

No wonder other FM radio stations followed the Filipino format.

There is Energy-FM 91.5, I-FM 93.9, and Star-FM 102.7 -- all trying to appeal to the masses by using the Filipino language.

ABS-CBN’s Tambayan 101.9 has been enjoying popularity by catering to the mass market, following its re-launch in November 2009. The station was known as dwRR Radio Romance from 1989 to 1996, with an all-female DJ line-up playing easy listening love songs.

Eli Capuyan, Tambayan 101.9 station manager said the reformat was part of their efforts to remain relevant to the market.

"The innovations address the needs of today’s listeners. Radio, in order to reach a new generation of listeners, must be willing to play by the rules of the game. Radio stations like us must figure out how to balance personalization, radio interactivity, and incorporate advertisements along the way," Mr. Capuyan told BusinessWorld.

CHASING THE MASA

While the change to more mass-based programming could be seen as a good business strategy for 107.5 Win Radio and Barangay LS, it is not without its critics. An on-line petition against the format of Barangay LS read: "I truly believe that FM stations, aside from late night news, should be at the forefront of inculcating English proficiency in young adults... now, LS-FM joins GMA-TV News as a media for shallow Tagalog, Taglish (a mix of Tagalog and English) and Pinoy street colloquialism in mainstream broadcasting. .. really sad, that’s how I feel..."

Barangay LS takes the criticism with a grain of salt. "Mainstream or masa FM stations are performing very well in terms of ratings and audience share compared to niche stations. The comedy-talk format is alive and people these days congregate to this kind of programming," the radio station said.

"The popularity of our ‘crazy fun’ programs is balanced, if not underscored, with a strong line-up of very familiar songs. We are highlighting our ‘all hits’ music format. We are a bunch of happy people playing everyone’s favorite songs."

The effort to appeal to a more mainstream market for FM radio took a different spin when Pangilinan-led TV5 late last year launched an FM radio station with news and commentary programming similar to what is heard on AM radio.

92.3 News FM, more popularly known as "Radyo 5" took over a frequency known for niche programming -- it was from Joey @ Rhythms 92.3 in 1998 to 2005, XFM on 2007-2008, and U92 in 2009 to 2010.

The move towards a more mass-based programming is also seen by industry watchers as an effort to rake in more money.

Luchi Cruz-Valdes, head of News 5, said the decision to come up with AM radio programming for their FM station is part of TV5’s efforts to provide an alternative to what is already available in the market.

"We’re not down-marketing FM radio in the sense that free TV news has always had CDE as its market. What we were doing was reaching out to that same market base through FM. Is it a strategic move? Yes, in the sense that we’re the first news and commentary station on FM, but no, in the sense that we were really set on addressing our same TV market base, whichever way we could," Ms. Cruz-Valdes said in an e-mail to BusinessWorld.

She said they have received many favorable responses from listeners who welcome hearing the news on FM radio, especially using their mobile phones. "We’re accessible on any cellphone with a radio. And because most of the cheaper android phones now from China come with an FM radio, we’re reaching our target market, the CDE. And they can listen to us unnoticed," she said.

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED

Asked to comment on claims that taking out a radio station like U92, which played Top 40 music, affects the music industry since there is one less radio station on the FM band that plays music, Ms. Cruz-Valdes said: "Frankly I don’t think it’s missed. There are still a great number of music stations for the industry to showcase their wares."

"TV is eating up everybody. That’s a fact. And with cable channels mushrooming, we could be eating up even ourselves, if we’re not careful. So yes, radio listenership has waned, both for commentary and music. But we have pleasantly discovered that the cellphone users are a market that we’ve tapped into, and it’s novel and that’s exciting. We have a feeling we’ll have a pretty good run before it wanes, if at all," she said.

While the long-standing dichotomy of AM radio stations using Filipino and FM radio stations exclusively using English is being challenged, popular FM radio DJ Mo Twister said there is no need to be alarmed.

Mo Twister (real name Mohan Gumatay), who has a radio show on dwTM Magic 89.9, said English-language FM radio stations will continue to exist even if there are more and more mass-based stations using Filipino.

"It is like music. Just because a Filipino singer like Jovit Baldivino is popular, [that does not mean] all singers will be like him. Of course rock will exists, there will still be bands. There is Korean-Pop. We all thrive on variety, and radio is just like that," Mo Twister told BusinessWorld.

"If the trend now is to use Tagalog on FM, definitely not all radio stations would do the same since each radio station has its own niche and its own fan base. We cannot say that one format is better than the other. In the end, it would be whatever would entertain the listener."

Still, with the death of NU 107, fans are worried about what will happen to the music industry in general.

Grace Foronda, ad and promotion manager of MCA Music Philippines admits they have been affected by the closure of NU 107, since the radio station supported newcomers and college rock bands hoping to make it big in the scene like Tanya Markova and Franco -- incidentally two of the biggest winners in the very last NU 107 Rock Awards.

"Now that NU 107 is gone, where are we going to promote their music?," Ms, Foronda told BusinessWorld.

Narciso Chan, Sony Music Philippines sales and marketing director, said that the popularity of masa radio stations makes it more compelling for recording companies to come up with appropriate music for their listeners.

"Definitely, we will have to produce artists that will appeal to the mass market if we want to be played on these popular radio stations. If that means we need to produce Filipino love songs, then we will do it," Mr. Chan said.

He said Sony Music has just released new Filipino songs by novelty artists like Bayani Agbayani, as well as radio DJ Mr. Fu, that are expected to be hits among mass market listeners.

Conversely, he admits this means that record companies will likely gamble less on alternative acts that have slim chances of appealing to the masa audience of these radio stations.

"Recording companies like us will be more cautious in producing an album for new rock artists, for example, because of the limited exposure that they will likely have on FM radio."
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Offline IncX

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2011, 06:00:49 PM »

good read ... definitely a good read.


Offline burnsbhm

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2011, 11:10:51 PM »
Can I cry now?
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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #3 on: March 03, 2011, 12:52:02 AM »
i agree, this is a good, if sad read.  though i find this line a bit contradictory.

Quote
The changing media landscape has not left the local FM radio industry unaffected.


anong unaffected?  eh halos wala ka nang maririnig sa radyo kundi masa stations at spokening-dollars "talk radio"...this is NOT a good time to cater to niche markets, unlike ten, or even 3 to 5 years ago...

unfortunately, maybe the english-speaking "talk radio" stations like RX, magic and the like may be next.  maybe not those two, but similar stations with lesser audience share.  unlike in the '90s when there were several "flavors" of radio, so to say, to choose from, these days only one flavor seems to be popular for a large demographic of filipino radio listeners, and that is the masa format.  sad but true...

sadly, UR 105 is not stepping up to the plate and seems too comfortable in its little niche.  that said, UR is still the only station i regularly listen to, mainly because my girlfriend has it in her car radio.  the point being, kumokonti nga talaga ang mga nakikinig ng radyo unless they really have to, i.e. while riding on public transport or on someone's car - but then again, most car owners would rather listen to their favorite CD's and not radio.  di na nga ako nakikinig ng radyo pag nasa bahay, or even on my cellphone.  internet radio is becoming an increasingly popular choice for lovers of "niche" genres like rock, jazz, etc.  that, and MP3...

...and speaking of public transpo, i still cringe when i hear FX, cab and bus drivers tuned in to WIN 107.5.  times like these, my cellphone and 4 GB memory stick loaded with good music are my best friends.   :-D
« Last Edit: March 03, 2011, 12:55:54 AM by Endshiftresign! »
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Offline burnsbhm

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2011, 08:49:41 PM »
I know jologs stations on FM has been around for so long na. But I would like to share my earliest memories of what is a Jologs station.

It was 1984-early 1985. The radio station that is now owned by ABS-CBN called OK101.9 is one of the stations that some jocks communicate in Filipino. And the sound that they are transmitting is - although in true stereo - is low fi? More like AM stereo if you may.

This radio station is a champion of the music of Menudo much like DZMB 90.7 (their Sundays were called love day so they played nothing but mellow stuff. They later became a knockoff of Mellow Touch and became love radio by the '90s).

Now although stations like Mellow Touch (94.7), DZMB (90.7), DWOK (101.9), DWFM MRS (92.3) played the music that class C-D listens to often, they still present it in such a way it oozes class. Meaning to say - all FM stations will sound the same until they started playing the music they cater to.

By mid 1985, a station at 93.9 Mhz that by now I forgot the original call signs, became DWKC which as far as I know was the first real jologs station. But DWKC was not like that yet. In fact for a short time, KC attempted to rival DWXB 102.7 by playing a lot of New Wave records even playing More To Lose and Love Moves in Strange Ways (although they were all tried and tested hits, I never heard them playing Violent Femmes). By late 1985, Philippine FM radio (as far as I'm concerned) was starting its commercial peak.

All radio stations have their share of loyal fans and many may drift from station to station in a certain time of a day. Like me, by the late 1985, my favorite radio station was DWBM 105.1 - the legitimate rival to WXB to the punk and new wave records. I still listen to XB and even WKC then (yeah in its early days, it is fun to listen to KC). For the early to late 20s who never cared about Punk and New Wave, there is the elite pop/rock station (99.5 RT Rhythm of the City - they sound like Klite 103.5 then and they broadcast American Top 40 every Sunday at 2-6PM), the hardcore top 40 stations (89.1 forgot the call sign but they were formerly owned by IBC13).

By 1986, although all stations are still doing fine, two radio stations are battling it out neck to neck for the youth of Metro Manila - they are DWKC and WXB. Amazingly, WXB got that very large fan base of Manila Teenagers with only 1kilowatt transmitting power. Households in Bulacan have difficulty getting the station on the radio if at all. DWCK at the time was broadcasting on 10,000 watts - the standard for the big stations. But things are getting polarized. Because of WKC cracking out corny jokes and playing incessantly Eurodisco and Menudo every hour, you cannot listen to them both. Either you love one and hate one or not listen to radio at all.

1986 when WKC was now the official jologs (then called baduy) station. They held that title for many years. WXB was finally sold to Bombo Radiyo and it became WSM 102.7 the first FM radio station in Metro Manila to broadcast on 25,000 watts! For a few months it played music like Mellow Touch, until it showed its Bombo Radiyo fangs a little later by playing the music not much different than WKC.

Still, rockers, true top40 pop fans, jazzers, Standard-MOR fans, oldies fans and classical afficionados still have a station to tune up. Stations like CT-lite 88.3 and KISS Jazz 101.1 for the Jazzers (105.1 Crossover have to come in the 90s), WTM Magic 89.9 for the hardcore Top 40 fans. NU 107.5 in 1987 practically picked up where WXB left off. There is something for everybody!

But this station (WKC) is like a sore thumb! Because 90 percent of the bus and jeeps are tuned to KC. It is irritating but not as bad as it is now!

By the late 90s, stations followed closely the format of WKC - more talk less music. ANd played all the very very bad records you can think off. Things were never the same again.

And it seems like the onslaught of jologs radio is not about to end in the next 5 years or so!
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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2011, 12:46:36 AM »
actually, the "more talk less music" theme is a staple of the "englishing" stations.   :lol:  they abide by this 24/7 unlike the masa stations that have specific segments (i.e. papa jack's True Love Confessions) that cater to this. 

in any case, i've learned to tolerate a lot of masa stations' talk portions...nicole eala and chris chuper's "balahura at balasubas" morning show and TLC are both guilty public transportation pleasures...but you will never get me to like WIN 107.  i may not have been NU's biggest fan for most of the last decade, but you can't tolerate radio industry blasphemy like taking over the Home Of Nu Rock just like that...   :-(
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Offline inigo

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2011, 02:52:50 AM »
@burnsbhm: That's a great post. This thread now has a lot of things for people interested in Pinoy media history. :)

With that historical perspective, I can say that, on one hand, the takeover of Pinoy culture in FM (because it is Pinoy culture, however bakya it is), is a good thing for Pinoy-ness, because Pinoy-ness is now making its power manifested. The fact that it commands commercial/financial consequences means that it is more pervasive into the hearts of the people than what some had thought previously. However, music critics will always say that it is destructive to musical taste, or in a deeper perspective, the development of music itself.

I say, support what the people think their hearts can relate to. If it's bakya, then it should be developed. We don't know if there will be some innovator out there that can develop the bakya music into something that is uniquely ours. Has Lito Camo done this to an extent? I think so. And I think, so did Aegis, April Boy, and Siakol.
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Offline burnsbhm

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2011, 11:21:10 PM »
Which is something I am pretty much afraid of.

During the 60 to the early 70s, American radio is also polarized in FM and AM fans. AM fans cater to the teeny boppers whose music depends on a 45RPM Vinyl record. While the jazzers, classical buffs and the more "intellectual" rockers go to FM where album cuts are played. Sometimes a whole album is played in its entirety in one long segment. So the "jologs" go to FM while the cool ones go to FM. At that time, FM is only in its infancy.

That situation is very the same in the Metro Manila during those times. But sadly, now things are getting very different. There is no niche market station in FM anymore and more and more are joining the jologs bandwagon. The sad reason is commerciality. All entities now have to survive, make a decent living.

The most frightening thing here is that we have not yet seen the peak of the onslaught of jologs station. Honestly, they are just getting started!
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Offline IncX

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2011, 12:09:54 AM »


come to think of it... music is so easy to access nowadays... so for some reason, ppl enjoy "talk radios" ... cause they get to hear opinions and such.

maybe someday they'd have a Philmusic Forums radio segment, where topics are opened and debated ... something like 'Jerry Springer on radio' where people have intellectual, trolling and constructive discussions.

i guess i hope an interesting radio personality would come out and maybe play cool music again, while maintaining an interesting opinion/discussion based show

Offline burnsbhm

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2011, 12:43:20 AM »
Which brings the question : is radio as we know it, dead?

So Roger Taylor's song has already come to pass? (You've had your time, you've had the power, you've yet to have your finest hour)
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Offline BassCog

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2011, 11:02:24 AM »
I think it's also a matter of who uses what media. For those of us who are internet savvy and have the means, radio is probably dying if not dead, since we can go online and look for what we like. Those who can afford TV's, they go to Myx and the like (again taking away from radio's audience). But for those who either by job circumstance or simple financial hardship can only afford radio... then that's the radio target market.


Offline IncX

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2011, 12:04:18 PM »
I think it's also a matter of who uses what media. For those of us who are internet savvy and have the means, radio is probably dying if not dead, since we can go online and look for what we like. Those who can afford TV's, they go to Myx and the like (again taking away from radio's audience). But for those who either by job circumstance or simple financial hardship can only afford radio... then that's the radio target market.



very good analogy... so i guess if your music is relatable to C and D markets, then radio is a good way to promote yourself

Offline inigo

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #12 on: March 07, 2011, 12:48:10 PM »
very good analogy... so i guess if your music is relatable to C and D markets, then radio is a good way to promote yourself

I don't think economic class necessarily applies, but workplace does. I guess it just so happens that people who use radio all day (bus/jeep/taxi drivers, office workers, store attendants) are in the C-below segment. I don't think it applies as much if they're in their homes, though.

With this, is radio now just source of background music? Is that why songs of substance (so to speak) are hard to come by in radio, because it's a general mood that listeners want?
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Offline inigo

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #13 on: March 07, 2011, 12:56:22 PM »
Which is something I am pretty much afraid of.

During the 60 to the early 70s, American radio is also polarized in FM and AM fans. AM fans cater to the teeny boppers whose music depends on a 45RPM Vinyl record. While the jazzers, classical buffs and the more "intellectual" rockers go to FM where album cuts are played. Sometimes a whole album is played in its entirety in one long segment. So the "jologs" go to FM while the cool ones go to FM. At that time, FM is only in its infancy.

That situation is very the same in the Metro Manila during those times. But sadly, now things are getting very different. There is no niche market station in FM anymore and more and more are joining the jologs bandwagon. The sad reason is commerciality. All entities now have to survive, make a decent living.

The most frightening thing here is that we have not yet seen the peak of the onslaught of jologs station. Honestly, they are just getting started!

(In an attempt to quasi-trend) Would you say that the way the internet is accessible/inaccessible now to (relatively) a small group of people is comparable to how FM was in the 60s-70s?
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Offline inigo

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #14 on: March 07, 2011, 12:58:59 PM »

come to think of it... music is so easy to access nowadays... so for some reason, ppl enjoy "talk radios" ... cause they get to hear opinions and such.

maybe someday they'd have a Philmusic Forums radio segment, where topics are opened and debated ... something like 'Jerry Springer on radio' where people have intellectual, trolling and constructive discussions.

i guess i hope an interesting radio personality would come out and maybe play cool music again, while maintaining an interesting opinion/discussion based show

You mean like... how AM radio is now? Gasp. Haha.
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Offline burnsbhm

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #15 on: March 07, 2011, 01:20:58 PM »
(In an attempt to quasi-trend) Would you say that the way the internet is accessible/inaccessible now to (relatively) a small group of people is comparable to how FM was in the 60s-70s?

Parang ganun na nga. Internet radio is today's niche market. But nonetheless, there are a lot of internet radio that plays Justin Bieber to death! But the analogy is pretty close!
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Offline inigo

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #16 on: March 07, 2011, 03:44:55 PM »
Parang ganun na nga. Internet radio is today's niche market. But nonetheless, there are a lot of internet radio that plays Justin Bieber to death! But the analogy is pretty close!

Cool. That gives me the impression that we're going through a transition phase. In this case, the things that will deter/advance the internet as a source of music is infrastructure (on the part of the provider), access to resources (on the part of the consumer), and technology (for both) It will be exciting to know what kind of devices people will have to access music that is floating in the cloud, waiting to be listened to, in the environments that people want to listen (e.g., the workplace).

Now, the only thing that differs in today's context from back then, is choice... it's easier to choose what to listen to nowadays, given the availability of music that one can acquire and play purely for personal listening. Back then, you don't have a lot of choices, because records aren't that ubituitous as today's music via the internet, and sharing is easier now.

For music providers, whether it's in the radio, internet or other media, it's now a battle to get the people who don't want to choose and rely on what's fed to them. How control freak-ish can Pinoys get when it comes to music that they want to hear? How much of Pinoys want to choose the songs the like to hear? Or, how much of Pinoys don't really mind the music, but just want a happy-ish sonic background while they're working?
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Offline burnsbhm

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #17 on: March 08, 2011, 01:50:29 AM »
Cool. That gives me the impression that we're going through a transition phase. In this case, the things that will deter/advance the internet as a source of music is infrastructure (on the part of the provider), access to resources (on the part of the consumer), and technology (for both) It will be exciting to know what kind of devices people will have to access music that is floating in the cloud, waiting to be listened to, in the environments that people want to listen (e.g., the workplace).

Now, the only thing that differs in today's context from back then, is choice... it's easier to choose what to listen to nowadays, given the availability of music that one can acquire and play purely for personal listening. Back then, you don't have a lot of choices, because records aren't that ubituitous as today's music via the internet, and sharing is easier now.

For music providers, whether it's in the radio, internet or other media, it's now a battle to get the people who don't want to choose and rely on what's fed to them. How control freak-ish can Pinoys get when it comes to music that they want to hear? How much of Pinoys want to choose the songs the like to hear? Or, how much of Pinoys don't really mind the music, but just want a happy-ish sonic background while they're working?

Sorry but I have to disagree on that one. Music is easy to access then as it is now. Only now it is easier to get PIRATED ones with good quality.

Back in the 60s-even the early 90s legit record stores are everywhere. Kahit sa mga talipapa sa probinsiya you will likely encounter a record store that sells 45RPM singles and cassettes. They only sell a few albums because hindi siya affordable ng masa. What the regular people buy is the 45RPM single kasi yung sikat na kanta lang naman ang gusto nilang mabili. LPs are usually sold by department stores and big record bars at magsasawa ka sa choices. But then again the real heavy stuff are not released here (like I don't think I have seen a locally pressed John Coltrane album yet - but I could be wrong).

I used to buy singles sa Muntinlupa Public Market (yup sa Alabang sa Tapat ng Mercury Drug, kadulu-duluhan ng Alabang-Zapote Road). In the mid '80s it is P8.00 per single. Around that time, an album costs P40.00. When I was a kid, my lola used to buy me Michael Jackson 45s in a public market in Libertad. Kasi makakatawad ka ng 10centavos (malaking bagay yun noon makakabili ka pa yata ng isang tali ng kangkong ng 10c). I think when I was a toddler a single costs P2.00 kasi when my mom was a teenager it costs 65cents daw.

Pirated materials then are although mabili pa rin, cannot totally ruin the sales of legit products because ang pangit ng tunog ng pirated cassettes (by the 80s halos wala ka nang makikitang pirated records). Nowadays, than is totally the reverse. An album today is very very lucky if it reaches Platinum status by the RIAA.

To show you how easily accessible music is then. I will give you an unusual setup that I think the major companies abroad are not aware of: during the 60s, Beatles tracks (not just the hits - I mean MOST if not ALL the tracks they recorded) were released locally as a 45RPM singles - meaning to say songs that are only meant as album tracks by EMI are available here as singles. What does this mean? Well the local distributors of Beatles here then (during the mid-60s, DYNA, from the late 50s to early 60s MICO) are releasing these album cuts as singles without proper permission from EMI in the UK. What does that tell us? The masses cannot afford albums then (P17.00 during the 60s - in MONO, mas mahal pag stereo), so para magkaroon ng chance the masses to have these album tracks on their houses, they release it as single. Likewise in the side of the local distributor, they can recoup the expense of buying a copy of the master tape of Beatles tunes. They were not just buying the tapes, they were also buying the metal stampers used to manufacture copies of the record.

Still, shady people still release pirated Beatles products! I have seen a let it be album with a totally different album cover (the coloured photos of the white album were used) and changing the label from Apple to London records!

I also discovered in the 90s that it is a SOP for bootleggers and pirates to release popular records on labels the artists were not signed to. Whatever is the exact reason is not clear to me. But it is safe to say that if you ever see an album then that is on the wrong label, it is a pirate even if the metal stampers are legit! (That happens! The let it be pirate record I mentioned earlier used the legit metal stamper from EMI, in which my hunch is, the local pressing plant do this - tapos yung mga pirate sila mismo ang pumupuslit nun. Just a hunch I repeat, pero in that case pressing plants then were "bantay-salakay".

These are just my observations as a record collector for 27 years. At any rate, it only proves that it is as easy to get music then as it is now. Only now you can get pirated ones - FOR FREE EVEN! Kasi noon kahit pirata magbabayad ka pa rin.

I would like to believe (again suspetsa lang) that the radio stations that play the current hits DO NOT GET THOSE MATERIALS FROM THE LABELS THEMSELVES but rather from downloads too. Radio stations to day are 90percent automated. Some have no more cd players. Probably just a computer in front of the DJ (do we have to call them DJs still? as they don't spin any disc any more).
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Offline trxter41

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #18 on: March 08, 2011, 07:56:30 AM »
a lot of changes in the air. i never bothered getting my radio fixed when it got broken. NU is off the air anyways. i really dont have first hand experience on how radio stations work but im pretty sure thay are affected by money. a radio station needs to make a profit. sometimes i wonder, are there more radio listeners now than there was before the advent of the internet? because i was thinking that cellphones and portable media players also have FM or AM radio functions. and i think there are a lot of cars with audio systems installed (especially taxis, theyre the one who tune in to the radio more often).

talk radios, i dont have anything against them. run the program right and you can have something that can have a big influence on people. in the 1990s, radio has sole monopoly on the air. but now you have mobile technology, a technology that is now fused with the internet. in the 90s you only have cassette tapes. cd players were too expensive. but now you can buy a 2gb mp3 player in quiapo or divisoria for less than 1000 pesos. 2gb is enough to accomodate all the justin beiber songs you ever want to listen to.

sa radio kasi, maghihintay ka pa. you have to wait for those boring commercials and sometimes even more boring DJs (some DJs are interesting though). with your mobile device, you can skip through songs that you think suck and just go straight to "baby, baby, baby, oh..."

and i havent even talked about youtube yet. before 2006 there was no way you can watch so much videos on demand. then boom!! here comes youtube. youtube aint even done yet and here comes mark zuckerberg with his facebook and then its kablooey!!

technology is one thing that has influenced thte landscape. i believe money plays a big role...everything is about money. but technology will keep on changing the landscape for the next years to come.

Offline inigo

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Re: "The changing landscape of FM radio"
« Reply #19 on: March 08, 2011, 11:27:05 AM »
I'm interested to find out how internet radio will take this country. I know that there are some locally-based internet radios out there... Indie Pinoy is one. Then there's the newer Dig Radio.

The difference between these two is their following. Indie Pinoy started its listeners with the bands that got played in it, mostly indie stuff, and the friends that they promote the station to. Dig Radio, on the other hand, has that NU107 pull.

Since the closure of NU was much publicized (felt?), the rock-listening public suddenly felt urgency to find a suitable alternative. Using Facebook (are there others that are relevant nowadays?) and a playlist that isn't purely indie at the get-go, the NU/Dig guys will probably pretty much have an easier time than Indie Pinoy in getting "casual" listeners. I haven't seen the stats, but it would seem like that on the surface.

I'm curious on how the common Pinoy will eventually get into internet radio. Maybe by then, broadband access will have become everywhere, and free.
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