[JPL] Announcing and Clocks

[Jae Sinnett]

Pet peeve...hmmmm....one of mine Blaise is when I hear announcers playing to the clock at the expense of the continuity of the music. Trying to fit something in for time sake as opposed to what would be a logical and musical follow up. For me night time gives you more flexibility in programming so personally I'm not as dictated by the quarter hour. I enjoy the "feel" of a set and can tell rather quickly if the programmer is programming for the clock. 

I think it's also important for us to understand that ones view of "good broadcasting" is a subjective thing. There are obvious no no's in radio but still...it's subjective. I might do things you wouldn't but they work for me. They may not for you. For example I play things that some of the "jazz" radio research says I shouldn't. Many times those tracks become my most requested pieces and sold more in the local stores than the other material I program. I base what I do on feel. I think it's important for a programmer to get to that place but it takes time. Also, these requests are by several different listeners and not...and I say this jokingly...by the repeat offenders we all have that call us ALL the time about whatever.

Great post by the way. 

Jae Sinnett  


--- On Thu, 9/18/08, Blaise Lantana <blaise.lantana at riomail.maricopa.edu> wrote:

> From: Blaise Lantana <blaise.lantana at riomail.maricopa.edu>
> Subject: [JPL] Announcing and Clocks
> To: jazzproglist at jazzweek.com
> Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008, 8:42 PM
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> What Arturo mentioned about clocks is pretty standard fare
> as an alternative
> to TOTAL control for a music director. Especially since
> software has made it
> easy to access a category and pull up another artist or
> tune.  A clock with
> categories is standard for structuring an hour of music in
> radio.  Although
> people don't listen in hour sets, that is the usual
> game plan.  Like
> baseball has 9 innings top and bottom, radio has hours with
> top and bottom,
> but don't say that on air- *see pet peeves below.  
> 
> Starting the hour is usually a classic, with 2 or 3 vocals
> within an hour
> and anywhere from 2 to 6 new releases an hour depending on
> your stations'
> general philosophy about what jazz they are presenting. For
> example two very
> different clocks would be BH Hudson's in Carolina and
> Nic Francis' in
> Washington as they have totally different philosophies of
> jazz and radio.
> There was a great presentation at the JPL Summit a few
> years back about
> creating a music radio sandwich done by someone with years
> of experience in
> commercial radio.  I'd like to hear that one again. 
> 
> It sounds like the announcers had a lot of leeway at kuvo
> which creates a
> pretty inconsistent overall sound even if they were
> programming the whole
> show from the MDs library picks.  Then when someone jumps
> in their car and
> hits the button, something totally unexpected would be on
> their favorite
> station, listeners like consistency with a little surprise,
> but not too far
> off their comfort zone.  
> 
> I have been doing a clock and playlist at KJZZ for 15
> years.  I create the
> clock and categories and choose what goes into Selector,
> our music software,
> to be played.  Although Selector prints out a structured
> show for the
> announcer, they can change things within the category, or
> juggle things,
> switch Diana Krall FROM this hour and Ella TO this hour
> from the next, or
> use an entirely different vocalist.  This is especially
> handy if we want to
> feature someone who was just in the news or on a show, or
> is performing in
> Phoenix.  Plus there is so much music and so many areas of
> jazz, I really
> appreciate the input of my knowledgeable announcers,
> especially as they keep
> up with TV things and films.
> 
> One of the problems with this is reminding the announcers
> they NEED to stay
> in the category, as over years they think they know
> everything.  While I
> find many good jazz announcers can know a GREAT deal about
> the music, they
> are not as well informed about what makes good
> broadcasting, so I still have
> to play the bad guy.  
> 
> People are often resistant at first to new systems,
> especially since it may
> mean more control but usually they find the categories and
> software helpful
> after they get used to using it.  Some dinosaurs refuse to
> evolve at all,
> (see announcers know everything above) but I believe every
> business has this
> issue.  
> 
> 
> *But here is something totally unrelated.  I thought
> I'd add my pet
> announcing peeve.
> Ok, two, 
> 1.  "Top of the hour", NEVER SAY THAT, EVER!! It
> went out in 1850, ok maybe
> if you are Irish, but I think that's "top o'
> the mornin'" 
> 2.  The royal "we", unless you have your dog on
> air with you. 
> 
> Ok, I'm better now,  MDs and PDs what is your pet peeve
> for announcing? 
> 
> Blaise Lantana
> Music Director
> KJZZ Phoenix
> Kjzz.org
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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