Tom Scott's Radio Truth

When it all seems hopeless...

2010-10-14T04:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it IS darkest before the dawn. But you might be surprised what can happen with a lot of faith, hard work, willingness to try new methods and equipment. What can happen when you use digital advancements to your advantage, to not give up. What happens when you pool all the best resources into one mission. You'll be amazed at how your efforts become infectious and how those efforts can turn others into believers too! And in the end, you'll be thankful for the result and wonder why you ever thought about giving up.

PS- This mindset could also work for freeing 33 brave men from a mine deep beneath the ground in Chile.

Don't Judge a Septic truck by it's cover...

2010-10-07T04:37:00.000-07:00

On the way in today, I'm following (and quickly pass) a truck with "XXXXX Spetic Service" on the side. As I cruise on by I notice the pumps, hoses and valves connected to the large tank.
It's not difficult to quickly jump to judgement. Wow! What a way to spend your day. How would you like to get up and face that every morning, day in and day out?
A little more thought brought about some perspective though. Here was a guy that not only gets paid...but HAS CREATED A BUSINESS & CAREER out of doing something that a lot of people have to do every day...FOR FREE!
What are you doing today?

Everyday Poets

2010-09-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

What an honor. From time to time, my job gives me great opportunities to meet some extremely interesting people. Last night, it was a privilage to be in the presence of 2 of country music's most prolific songwriters, Rivers Rutherford & Don Schlitz!
Appearing at the annual Fortune-Williams Music Festival in Staunton, VA, Don & Rivers told some jokes, shared some stories and played their music for an appreciative crowd.
During the intermission, I had a chance to chat briefly with both men, discussing a few mutual Nashville friends with Rivers and complimenting him on the first part of his performance.
Don Schlitz was a bit different though. I became tongue-tied, and probably rambled a bit. I managed to tell him how enjoyable his music is while he signed a copy of his greatest hits.
I never did get to tell him that over 30 years ago, "The Gambler", his first hit (and what a hit it is) helped me discover the power of a story song. That catchy tune stuck in the heads of so many people in the late 70's came to life for me when suddenly the line , "and somewhere in the darkness, the gambler, he broke even..." jumped out at me. The realization that the title character dies in the song gave me new ears to listen to it and so many other songs. Don Schlitz can take alot of credit for my love of great country story songs.
The passion that writers like Don and Rivers put into their music was evident as Rivers closed the show with a story about his relationship with his grandfather...that story, of course is a song, and huge hit for Brad Paisley, "When I get Where I'm Going." Rivers choked up a bit talking about his grandfather...and the song was real for everyone there.
I can only hope that someday when I get where I'm going, there will be a lot of "everyday poets" like Don Schlitz and Rivers Rutherford who can tell the stories of our lives in song.

Why is this so hard?

2010-08-11T09:30:00.000-07:00

On a day to day basis, I ALWAYS have plenty to say...trust me...just ask anybody. So then, why do I struggle to get into a groove with this blog? There are certainly things I want to share:

First, I think Steven Slater should get a medal. The JetBlue flight attendant went out in a blaze of glory, and I don't blame him. I've been on a plane with 120 idiots all trying to get off in ten seconds, it's not fun.

Next, I really don't think all that oil in the Gulf mysteriously dissappeared. How do you go from "the end of dozens of species as we know them" to "you know...it doesn't look too bad." BS.

Finally, lately I've been hooked on "American Pickers" on the History Channel. These 2 guys cruise around the country looking for valuable antiques and collectibles in old barns, sheds, houses. They enter some of the scariest places I've seen. Love the show, but really would like to see the outtakes of them running for their lives when some old coot holed up in his little shack pulls a shotgun when they knock on the door. Now THAT'S entertainment!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2009-11-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I devoted time to the blog...I promise I'll be posting more frequently:

Tonight in C'Ville they light the tree on the downtown Mall, Santa arrives during a parade
in the morning...and much of retail has been ready for the Holiday Season since...well about 2 weeks after Labor Day!
I commented to someone the other day, that for the radio biz...Christmas truly is "the biggest promotion there is..." If you can't attract attention to your stations, create some warm & fuzzies, AND make some revenue as we countdown to Christmas...maybe you should re-think things.

Get out and support Toy drives, food drives...adopt Santa like a long-lost relative. Candycane stripe your website...your vehicles...your logo. Be present at traditional community events, and find ways to take your clients along! It really is the "most wonderful time of the year!" Make the most of it.
I also invite you to follow Santa Claus @northpoletweet...yep even Santa is on Twitter, and take a few minutes to check out the holiday web pages I created within 4 of our station websites.
Country997.com HOT 101.9 Generation 102.3 1075tom.com
Some of our listeners fondest memories are those of the holiday season...tap into those memories!

Don't You Forget About Me

2009-08-07T05:27:00.000-07:00

20-some years ago, I was in love with Molly Ringwald. OK, I still like her a little, don't tell my wife. The much too-early passing of 80's pop culture movie director John Hughes inspired me to
jot down some thoughts. Hughes taught a generation that high school stereotypes didn't matter...that the jock doesn't always get the girl and that the cheerleader doesn't always get the guy. Movies like "16 Candles", "Pretty in Pink", "The Breakfast Club" and of course "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" are staples of a generation. Ferris just wanting to have a little fun and break the rules was what everyone wanted to do. Director Hughes created characters and dialogue that we all remember, and quote. When we say those lines from those movies, nearly everyone knows the reference point. When you hear, "Bueller?....Bueller?" in that low monotone you instantly go back and remember. It was what Hughes said and how he said it that still strikes a chord.
Presenting something in an interesting compelling way that people remember certainly applies to our business of radio. Did you give your listeners a "Bueller" moment today?

I'm B-a-a-a-c-c-c-k-k!!!

2009-07-26T18:57:00.000-07:00

I don't just mean writing this blog (sorry, it's been a couple of days) I mean back in the biz! Tomorrow is my first day with Monticello Media in Charlottesville, VA as Director of Interactive Media! 71 days on the beach is more than enough to recharge my batteries, get energized again and get excited about all the possibilities!

I'm grateful for this opportunity to develop on-line opportunities for our clients and listeners, and especially thankful for the support of MM management and their belief in interactive media and how it can work hand-in-hand with radio.

Thanks for all my friends in and out of radio for their support...I'll keep you posted!

The Man in the Mirror

2009-07-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

I've been to my share of funerals; family, friends, business associates...
They all left me with the same feelings. Sorrow, emptiness, loss...from the first funeral for a young classmate who tragically died when I was about 8 to the last I attended a few months ago for a high school friend..the feelings were the same.
So today, I found myself surprised when I felt those same feelings during the MJ memorial.
Along with a billion or 2 others, I parked in front of CNN to watch the spectacle...the circus...the funeral for an entertainer who most recently has been known for his bizzare behavior than his abilities to entertain.
Proud to be a smart-ass in the first-degree, I was ready to ridicule the proceedings...but the afternoon took a turn when speaker after speaker, performer after performer paid tribute to a man who truly was an unbelievable entertainer, with a career that spanned my entire life.
The memories of Brooke Shields...and love and anguish of his young daughter put a very human face on someone who's life had taken on very un-human qualities...and with them I felt sorrow, emptiness and loss.

Checking out the neighbors

2009-06-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

We arrived safely in VA on Wednesday and have been busy unpacking and unpacking and...oh yea, unpacking.
Today we did take some time to check out the neighbors, so we headed a few miles down the road to to meet Mr. Madison at his place, "Montpelier", the in-progress renovation of the beautiful home of our 4th President, James Madison. Of course the President was not home...but our guide made it easy to feel the presence of the aptly named "Father of the Constitution."
Our afternoon road trip was an effort to explore our new chosen home, and we didn't orignally plan to visit Montpelier, but as we waited for our tour to begin I realized it was exactly 173 years to the day, the Madison died there. For you radio folks, Madison it turns out, also could be called the "Father of Reseach." In preparation for the 2nd Continental Congress, Madison developed the Virginia Plan, by researching great governments of the ages to come up with a plan that would work for our own young country.
Kind of a great way to do things-taking the best of what works and using it. Not imitating, not taking a cookie-cutter approach...taking the best of everything and adapting it for your needs...or the needs of your residents (listeners). What a great way to run a radio staion (country)!
Thanks Mr. Madison, stop over some time and I'll show you how to use Selector.

"Knock a Lil Louder, Sugarland!"

2009-06-17T05:52:00.001-07:00

I enjoyed every second of the Sugarland/B52's performance of "Love Shack" during the 09 CMT Video awards. Taylor Swift rapping "Thug Story" with T-Pain made me smile, too. I know some people get all bent out of shape with the increasing pop influence in country music and CMT always does it's best to include performances like these...but c'mon...it was FUN.
Plus you still have Brad Paisley taking home 3 awards and performing "Then"...and Trace with, "You're Gonna Miss This" (shout out to Wayne Addleman on pedal steel!)...two real country songs with real country themes.
Before the purists start bitchin'...remember...there have always been lots of people coloring outside of the lines. Thinking of you Mr. Cash.

Tom and Karen + 6 minus 4

2009-06-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

With apologies (not really) to Jon and Kate who are very busy trying to screw up the lives of their young children.
As many of you know, we're in the middle of a life-changing move. Our pursuit of radio is taking us 300 miles from home to central VA. Karen & I and 2 of the boys will call VA home in 2 short weeks. Our other 4 children are in school, on their own and will visit.
For the radio crowd...moving comes with the gig, I know...but so far we have taken short journeys.
My wife has been away and on the job for 5 weeks...we've been packing and trying to sell a home. I've interviewed and searched for a new job in radio. Together we've searched on-line and in person for a new place to live.
I'm happy to report we've found a wonderful place perfect for us, close to work, with the amenities that will make a difficult situation much easier.
This is where I admit it IS difficult. Our career-based decision affects all of us in different ways, but in the end, is the right decision.
Radio people have always moved across the country for the next gig...because they feel so strongly about what they do, and because they feel so strongly...the business of radio is better. The passion that exists in the radio business is the reason it WILL survive all the BS...all the challenges and changes.
No offense to the man with the pipe wrench, but I don't know of many plumbers who uproot it all to install a toilet.
You have to care about what you do enough to step off the edge. The decision to move wasn't a premium choice...it was our choice. I'm glad we made it.

RIP R & R

2009-06-04T04:25:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen right? As the industry changes, do we really need a publication called Radio & Records. Actually...yes. Take away the highly researched, over "Big Brothered" stations and you have a huge chunk of the radio industry, smaller operators without budgets, without research, without consultants who can use this info. R & R charts can help point the way for some, provide contacts for others and be a source of great ideas and information about music, sales, promotions and more. A lot of good people are out of work (like in the rest of our industry)
and I feel for them...and for those who looked forward to weekly updates about many aspects of our business. There are still avenues to find the info, online, other publications, etc. - but no more R & R? That would be like losing local announcers in favor of generic across the board programming...and that wouldn't be very P.C. now would it?

Two sides of the same coin

2009-05-29T04:41:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for new music and right now 2 country artists fill the bill and demonstrate the range that defines the format. Trace Adkins, "All I Ask for Anymore" and Craig Morgan's "Bonfire." With Trace you get the thought provoking side of country music...songs with deep feeling. Craig provides the uptempo feel-good, rowdy summer-song with "Bonfire"...in a way
it's "Redneck Yacht Club '09" but that's OK. I love these both for different reasons, and that's what the format is all about, isn't it?

Hug your listeners!

2009-05-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

NBC News and the NY Times did a feature today on how the "Hug" is the "high-5" of 2009.
Apparently lots of people are hugging more...so much so that some schools have tried to ban hugs!
Hug all you want...it feels good and makes you feel better...which is why we should be "hugging" our listeners. Giving them what they expect...information, good content...reliable info. Make them comfortable...just like a good hug. Keep them coming back for more.

George Strait is right!

2009-05-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

Not only is King George a country music icon...he's pretty damn smart. At the conclusion of Wednesday night's "Artist of the Decade" tribute, George made a reference to all the artists that took the stage and performed his songs and said, "I'm glad I gotta holda them songs before they did."
That sums up why country music is so great...it's always about the songs. George recognized all the great songs that made his three-decade career so memorable. It was good to hear a handful of the 50+ that have been #1 done by some of today's best. It was great to hear George himself wrap it up and let us know he's not done yet!

Stepping off the edge...

2009-05-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

I've spent nearly 28 years in the radio business...some days I wonder how it got to be that long! And now...by choice... I've stepped off the edge into the wide world of unemployment.
It actually feels a little guilty to choose to get out of radio when so many of you are out of jobs through no fault of your own.
This business can be crazy...and right now is no different. We're changing...it seems more and more each day.
I'm confident that most of us will find ways to adapt, to continue to do great radio, and continue on in the business that we all love so much.
For me, my decision came about when my wife, a Director of Sales accepted a new position in central VA. As we prepare to move our family, I'm energized by the possibilities that await.
If you're out on the edge right now...I hope some of those opportunities and possibilities find you too.