Post by keith on May 18, 2008 23:33:28 GMT -5
It's not goodbye world yet, I've got more to say
*
John Laws
May 19, 2008
Somebody asked me the other day what I really think about commercial radio. A two-word answer is all I required: I don't. I don't know that I have ever really thought about commercial radio as a particular genre. It has all been radio … which has been my life.
As far as the commercialism of it is concerned, had we not been able to make it commercial we would have been relying on government bureaucrats, who know nothing about radio, to run radio.
As it stands now, we've got private enterprise bureaucrats, who know nothing about radio, running it!
Oh, they might know how to sell it all right. They know how to make money from it. But as far as its structure and much of its content is concerned, I think it leaves a lot to be desired.
Now, before you start saying 'Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black?', let me assure you, of course it is.
I have watched and listened as radio has been manipulated for reasons other than entertainment. I don't now, nor have I ever, objected to the advertising.
In fact, that was one of my favourite parts. I enjoyed being able to sell a product - in other words, earn my living. Because, after all, that's all I ever was, or all I was seen as: some kind of super-salesman.
But I didn't mind that one single bit. I did very well out of radio, thank you very much, and radio - at least the people who owned the licences - did very well out of me.
There was a time when Australian radio was the best in the world - and I mean the whole world. People looked to America because America invented the Top 40. But you can count really good world-beating American broadcasters on two hands.
Over the years Australia has produced, I believe, the best broadcasters. Remember the Daveys and Dyers, Terry Dear, Dick Fair, and perhaps one of the best ever who was known as "old smoothie", Alan Toohey.
Wonderful, easy-to-listen-to voices, more than a modicum of intelligence, and an innate understanding of the basics of radio.
I suppose I can lay claim to having had a good voice, but I didn't do that, God did. Most of the rest was really a lot of bluff while having a good time - and I always did do that, have a good time.
Now what have we got? A bunch of bullies and know-alls and also-rans, most of whom are totally devoid of a sense of humour, but they make up for that with a sense of self-importance that's bewildering. They really believe they can change election results. They really believe that they can force governments to do things they wouldn't have otherwise done. Sure, they can hurry up the process, and that's good, and most do it with the best of intentions. But believe me, there's not a lot of intelligence there.
*
John Laws
May 19, 2008
Somebody asked me the other day what I really think about commercial radio. A two-word answer is all I required: I don't. I don't know that I have ever really thought about commercial radio as a particular genre. It has all been radio … which has been my life.
As far as the commercialism of it is concerned, had we not been able to make it commercial we would have been relying on government bureaucrats, who know nothing about radio, to run radio.
As it stands now, we've got private enterprise bureaucrats, who know nothing about radio, running it!
Oh, they might know how to sell it all right. They know how to make money from it. But as far as its structure and much of its content is concerned, I think it leaves a lot to be desired.
Now, before you start saying 'Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black?', let me assure you, of course it is.
I have watched and listened as radio has been manipulated for reasons other than entertainment. I don't now, nor have I ever, objected to the advertising.
In fact, that was one of my favourite parts. I enjoyed being able to sell a product - in other words, earn my living. Because, after all, that's all I ever was, or all I was seen as: some kind of super-salesman.
But I didn't mind that one single bit. I did very well out of radio, thank you very much, and radio - at least the people who owned the licences - did very well out of me.
There was a time when Australian radio was the best in the world - and I mean the whole world. People looked to America because America invented the Top 40. But you can count really good world-beating American broadcasters on two hands.
Over the years Australia has produced, I believe, the best broadcasters. Remember the Daveys and Dyers, Terry Dear, Dick Fair, and perhaps one of the best ever who was known as "old smoothie", Alan Toohey.
Wonderful, easy-to-listen-to voices, more than a modicum of intelligence, and an innate understanding of the basics of radio.
I suppose I can lay claim to having had a good voice, but I didn't do that, God did. Most of the rest was really a lot of bluff while having a good time - and I always did do that, have a good time.
Now what have we got? A bunch of bullies and know-alls and also-rans, most of whom are totally devoid of a sense of humour, but they make up for that with a sense of self-importance that's bewildering. They really believe they can change election results. They really believe that they can force governments to do things they wouldn't have otherwise done. Sure, they can hurry up the process, and that's good, and most do it with the best of intentions. But believe me, there's not a lot of intelligence there.