When Ted Rogers (pictured above) hired me in 1972 to fix CFTR in Toronto I couldn’t do whatever I wanted because CFTR’s license stipulated that the programming had to be adult-oriented.
All the radio stations in Canada that had that same stipulation played it safe with standards by the likes Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and Ella Fitzgerald.
Having little or no ratings to speak of, and knowing that necessity is the mother of invention, I decided that the time was right to create something brand new.
My thinking was, “The only people who could possibly enjoy the music we were currently doing would have to be as old as my folks so I needed to take CFTR younger.
My plan was to go through all the top forty hits of the past 10 years and pick out the ones that I thought would appeal adults. (there was no research in those days)Oh, and seeing that females control 71% of the spendable income, I might as well lean it that way.
After pitching my new concept to Mr. Rogers, he said, “George, you’ll have to go to Ottawa and explain your new idea to the CRTC (FCC), if they buy it, so do I.”
At that historic meeting I was very nervous but totally prepared but surprisingly, the CRTC folks interrupted my detailed presentation. They said, “George, we don’t care what type of music you play, we only care who’s listening so just like you we will be very interested in your first rating book; if it says that your audience is mostly adults, congratulations, if not, we’ll be calling Mr. Rogers.”
That was the moment that Adult Contemporary Radio was born; now all I gad to do is figure out was what the hell that was?
GEO’S LIFE-LINERS
America’s most significant weakness is, its citizens are divided.
One of your best days will be the day that you realize how great your father was.
Depending on the circumstances, I used to be several different people when I needed to be, but now I’ve got it down to two, the one who’s with his daughters or the one who ain’t.
Whatever happened to the former Prince and his Mrs?
One of the problems with loving someone is that you see them differently than others do.
A friend is a person who stays as others leave.
Lots of folks have great rookie years; it’s their sophomore year that concerns us.
I find it hard to believe that everybody doesn’t realize that Fox and NPR are both slanted, albeit in opposite directions.
Do you get to retire, or do they just stop sending checks?
With my daughter Cami’s 25th birthday on the horizon, it made me realize that I wouldn’t want to be her age again without this old brain.
What particular thing have you done that would make us believe that you deserve space on our crowded planet?
Is there any doubt that 4 years ago Hillary already had the Presidential towels ordered?
I’m so sensitive that whenever I feel slighted, I become highly insensitive.
People who lie usually do so because they want something they don’t deserve.
The two things that you have to be born with are the ability to draw and sing. You can learn everything else.
Eventially we’ll have to pay for what we’ve done.
I think the president of the United States should be obligated to do what the people who voted for him want him to do, not whatever his party wants.
If a documentary about a celebrity isn’t R rated, it’s probably filled with half-truths.
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COMMENTS
Gordon Zlot: Geo: Remember to wear your mask and wash your hands every hour. (54 Years Ago Today)
Geo: I’m on it, Mr.Zlot. Hey, congrats on not only your recent double-digit ratings at KZST but also on inducting another staff member (Brent Farris) into the Bay Area’s Radio Hall of Fame.
Nick Alexander: In 1986, KVIL billed 22.5 million $.
Mel took over in July 87. His first year billing dropped to $16 mil.
The prize catalog was soon replaced w free movie Friday. Listeners could win two movie tix and a tub of popcorn.
We used to pull 11’s and 12’s in the ARBs 12+. Much higher in women.
Today they pull a 2.
Like the jingle said: it’s a shame what happened to radio, but they can’t afford to do it anymore. (Whimpering and Whining)
Geo: Yep, when Mel took over, Nick, I was dismissed like Hop Sing on the TV show, Bonanza. Mel knew better!
Bill Gardner: Interesting numbers, Nick and George! Thanks. May I add in the heyday of KOOL 94.5 Phoenix, while my morning show and the entire station dominated 25-54, KOOL was billing $50,000 a DAY, or a million and a half a month. I wonder what they’re billing these days? (Whimpering and Whining)
Tom Hoyt: KVIL, $67k!!! Huh? Do they have any salespeople? That’s the dumbest number for a station in Dallas I’ve ever seen!!! (Whimpering and Whining)
Robin Blair: Hi George, I hope you are well? (Whimpering and Whining)
Geo: I am, Robin, but I think a couple of prayers on my behalf couldn’t hurt?
Dick Yancey: What the hell, you are at an age where long term is next week. (54 YEARS Ago Today)
Geo: Thanks for blazing the trail, Dick.
Kevin Robinson: Great story, G. Unfortunately the younger (and untrained) generation when I talk about Radio Magic they look at me like they’re Nipper The RCA Dog. (54 Tears Ago Today)
Geo: I feel your pain, Kevin.
Orly Knutson: 81 For Me Next Week I Still Work 5 Days A Week 8:00 to Noon For My Daughters Company, Love It, Still. My Best Radio Days were At WIBC for you And Jim, Great Times!! (54 Years Ago Today)
Geo: Orly, you sound as good as your old man did at WIBC. Love ya!
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George, I am not so certain that the U.S. is more divided than ever. In the early months after 09/11/2001, this country was remarkably united. What has changed since the defeat of George H.W. Bush in November, 1992, is that both political parties have polarized to an extent not seen since 1841-1876 and 1965-1976. I think most Americans want to do the right thing most of the time, but instead, we focus on the truly evil (10 %) and the truly vocal whom want to be loud and out in opposition to something, anything. That doesn’t mean that the remaining 80 % are sheep, it just means that the loudest and most visible mouthpieces in our society draw attention to bad news (and there is always a lot of it) rather than focus on the millions of random acts of kindness that happen every day. Nobody will listen to “good news” talk radio in significant numbers (Remember Jim Hilliard’s favorite talk show host, Herb Jepko on KSL-AM and WIBC-AM in the mid-1970s after Bob Morrison died ?) and few people want to listen to “G”-rated rock music approved by Tipper Gore. (Interesting, WIBC was so strong then that even Herb Jepko and his snoring callers did not torpedo the ratings !) I wonder if a political consultant would advise a candidate for national office today to be like Ronald Reagan: Be upbeat, be concise and memorable and look for the best. Mr. Hilliard was always sending me quick notes to find for and get Gary Todd to do more positive SMILE stories to counter-point the hard-news that came out of Fred Heckman’s news department. Then there was my favorite Jim Hilliard WIBC announcers meeting where he explained why Doris Day was America’s Sweetheart and why Johnny Mercer wrote the credo for WIBC: “You gotta accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and don’t mess with Mr. In-Between” ! Poor Nat Humphreys left the meeting wondering if “Que Sera Sera” was going to be in a Power rotation !
Well said, Jed, but then again, Mr. Humphreys had Sally Franklin, just saying’.
Even though I understand Nick Alexander’s comments, his numbers are not even close to being correct. The revenue numbers continued to increase for another decade. You can’t continue being employed by Mel if your billing declines and I stayed for another 10 years. Just saying
If anyone could keep it together during those very unlike, Fairbanks times, Jerry, I’d bet on you.
Agree with Jerry. Our weekly report to New York was focused only on sales. If the numbers were not going in the right direction you got “the call.” Mel’s madness was his obsession with free cash margins at the expense of everything else. Doing my first budget in Dallas it became obvious the only number New York cared about was margin. EBITDA was Mel’s entire act. A perfect fit for his audience of Wall Street analysts who cared most about quarterly performance, and near-term growth. Compare and contrast with today’s winners, the ones spending their way to success (e.g., Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Netflix). Seems to me the business fundamental those companies deeply understand that too many broadcasters seem to have have forgotten is building great enterprises requires great investment. Of course, I might be wrong. Thanks for use of the hall, Geo.
My hall is always open for you, Mr. Martin.