40 Years ago … another Anniversary!

A few days ago, as I continue to sort, organize and downsize as I prepare for starting a new chapter in my life, I came across the print items that I’ve included here, which were sent to client stations and potential customers. Shortly afterward, I came across a discussion on C-Span with the author of a new book about Ted Turner and the beginnings of the Cable News Network, which had its debut in June of 1980, just over 40 years ago.

This, of course, leads me to want to share this Bonneville Broadcast Consultants information with you. As you’ll see, we were in a period of fairly dramatic growth and the Beautiful Music/ Easy Listening format was near its peak of popularity on radio.

I began sending out The Taylor Report to client stations every month or two shortly after we began taking on stations in early 1971. Picking up where leaving off above:

Turning to the other “TR” … the Track Record, which was published in mid-Summer after all of the Arbitron Spring reports had been released. Other than touting three major market additions to our roster, we addressed the emphasis placed on technical excellence:

Following up on that preview, here’s a look at the total picture from 40 years ago. Of course, within a decade or a little more, that picture had sadly almost completely changed … and today, many do not even still carry the same call letters – the ones that do, you know the story!

The final paragraph of this ratings summary states:

“The marketplace in our industry is the radio dial. Here is where your product is chosen by the listener over your competition. The price the listener pays is his time.”

Those words are just as true today as they were in 1980. And, with just slight modification, are oh so appropriate for most aspects of business and life in general! Just think … in your personal life, what you can and do offer to another person, especially a stranger, is how well you are accepted by them.

You’ll see a note at the bottom of this regarding Shreveport’s KOKA, which benefited from our — at the time recently developed, refined and offered — computer-generated Playlist Management System … something that today is standard in virtually every music-oriented radio station in the world, but at the time was just being created and made available for station use.

Let me return to the Taylor Report issue from above and close with this added counsel for living one’s life:

Now, how about you? Did you play any role in any of this story. Were you listening to this format or one of these stations in the 1980’s? Would love to hear from you.

Finally, if you’ve read to this point, this may be your lucky day! This is just a tiny portion of the life-long career that I have been so fortunate to have had the privilege of experiencing in the radio broadcasting industry. To the first 25 persons who send me their name and address with “1980” in the subject line, I will send you a signed copy of my memoir, RADIO … My Love, My Passion – send to marlin@marlintaylor.com !

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