- TECHSURVEY8: An Interview with Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs
- Program Directors and Communicating
- Fresh Listen: Miami's Refreshing AC Battle
- Social Works for Building Music Audiences
- Houston: Gow Communications Purchasing ESPN Radio Affiliate KFNC 97.5 FM
- SFO: Room for More Layoffs at Entercom?
- Discussion: Broadcasting Companies Turn to Personality Tests for Employment
- Communication Tower Climbing: America's Most Dangerous Job? - Discussion
- Downsized by a RIF? Tell the Industry You're Looking for Work on Our Free Jobs Board
Newsletter: Stark Country
The Country Format's Online Community
Stark Country brings together the country radio and music communities through exclusive content designed to help you do your job better. Authored by veteran journalist and industry insider Phyllis Stark.
More Life After Radio: Billy Dukes Of TasteOfCountry.com
In the second installment of our periodic new series “Life After Radio,” we chat with former WQDR Raleigh, N.C., MD/night jock Billy Dukes, who left a 10-year-long radio career in 2011 to become a writer, quickly landing his current gig as associate editor at TasteOfCountry.com. Despite working for a great station, Dukes says he got “burnt out” on radio and felt himself heading down the path of becoming an “old, bitter curmudgeon.” Read more about his happy “Life After Radio.”
Life After Radio: Our New Series Debuts
Today’s issue marks the launch of what will be a periodic series in Stark Country, “Life After Radio.” We’ll profile longtime broadcasters who left radio—either because they had other dreams to pursue, or because finding a job in the shrinking industry became too challenging—and found fulfilling new careers. We start with former Paxson Communications VP of programming Denny Alexander, a 33 year radio veteran who left the business in 2004 and now works as a master handyman in Florida, where he is as happy as he’s ever been in his career.
Radio’s Biggest Downers
What are the most depressing songs to ever make it to the radio? Radio-Info.com’s Sean Ross asked readers of his Ross On Radio newsletter that question. Their responses ranged from some already-reviled death-rock classics (“Seasons In The Sun,” “Wildfire,” “Last Kiss,” Bobby Goldsboro’s “Honey”) to some surprising choices that still play and research well at radio today, including recent titles from Martina McBride and The Band Perry.
Industry Gives ACM Awards Mixed Reviews
The country music industry gives thumbs up to ACM Awards performances from Toby Keith, Keith Urban and the pairing of Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw. The appearance of rock band KISS and other celebs from the non-country world got mixed reviews. But format insiders directed nothing but wrath toward presenter Ashton Kutcher and his cowboy “costume.” Read what our never-shy industry observers thought of Sunday night’s 47th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
Passion Runs High As Programmers Defend Their ACM Awards Picks
On Tuesday, we brought you the results of our exclusive survey of country radio music directors, who picked the artists they want to see win at the ACM Awards on Sunday. Even more revealing than their “should win” picks are their comments about each of the choices they made… and didn’t make. Those comments range from “You’re a communist if you don’t vote for this” to “Anyone who says she shouldn’t win is completely high.”
