Last night I heard a new ad being run on 92Q jams, “….Bmore…. We want to Be More…” I am paraphrasing so please do not e-mail me with the correct wording. They are asking the Q-mmunity to give them feedback. They want to know what things you like and dislike about the station. They are asking for suggestions for future programming, on-air personalities, etc. All away around- I think this is a great opportunity. I am not gonna hold back!!!! I plan to send an e-mail a day. Think job interview: Ask for more than you actually need.
Now- I know some of you may think, “This is bullshit. They just want to get their website hits up” or “They’ve been calling themselves the voice of the community forever…so what is gonna be different now?” Difference: We are being given a tool that could be used to fix what we view as a problem [i.e. 1 or 2 Baltimore artists is semi-rotation, phoniness many say ppl at the station display, them playing that damn new DL4 song. That sh*t is so terrible, etc]
I plan to combine ideas I’ve been kicking around in my mind with things I’ve found on the net while searching for radio stations out of the area. I will share them with you and I ask that if you think they are any good, please add them to your letter as well—and vice versa. I think that if more people are asking for the same thing, it will have a greater impact. This approach has added value because we all know it’s about dollars and cents at the end of the day and we have none. It don’t cost nothing to send an e-mail if you already spend all day sending out spam. The more people saying, “This [insert the action] will give me more confidence in the messages my local station puts out in the universe” ….the more WE will be viewed as potential listeners. FYI: No one values our age group’s opinion generally [we don’t contribute significantly to the tax base, we don’t vote, etc], but this 1 small action may prove to be so pivotal to all of our success stories. I think a concrete example of benefits derived from collective work will be so instrumental in creating the sense of connectedness that is sadly missing from the Baltimore scene [community overall- but that is another conversation]. I am going to at least make the effort [at least for a month] and I am going to get all of my friends to do this as well- join the train.
Suggestions:
1. “Home Town Hero” song every night. 2. “Local Love” section on the website. 3. Presence of the Rap Attack Show at Local Underground shows…not just the people that come into town and roll out after they perform. 4. Guest appearances for local artists. In studio or ……it could be a 3 min pre-recorded interview that is played on air. It could be slick. Chopped up with their music in the background with them maybe answering one or 2 questions. Think NPR pod casts. 5. If you can’t play the music at least put the name out there. 6. Please add on….. *
Why should they take any of these suggestions? That is an interesting question….but I think that if we at least make a concerted effort... maybe hip hop will not be viewed as the passing fad in Baltimore. |
