Final Analyses

Talk radio has become very popular over the years in American pop culture.  There is a variety of programs available from computers, sports, news/talk, to shock jocks.  I enjoy listening to talk radio, but after I have analyzed popular culture through its theories I think I will enjoy it even more.

The thing that blew my mind the most was the stereotyping that exists in talk radio.  A majority of the hosts in the news/talk format actually hold the conservative view and it’s the audience/listeners that are diverse in their political views and opinions.  I think a lot people feel that talk radio has a huge influence on our political system especially now that we are getting closer to our next presidential election.

A lot of host of talk radio programs are vey iconic and have become well know household names.  You don’t see many heroes, but I would consider most hosts to be celebrities.  Look at Howard Stern and his huge following especially moving from fm radio to satellite radio.  Then you have the likes of Rush Limbaugh who is considered by some to have a huge influence on the Republican Party and conservatives.

I also found it very interesting that each talk radio format had its only blueprint for having a successful show.  The mixture of entertainment, knowledge of a variety of topics, ability to express their own point of view and for some having that taboo quality is what makes their programs successful. 

News/talk radio has become very influential in our society depending on how they “spin” the topic of the day.  I have been guilty of taking a talking radio hosts words as absolute truth, but now I realize that in order to get the truth you have research it for yourself. 

Assignment 1-4-5

Everybody is looking for guidelines for the necessary steps to improve the way things work or make them better.  Everywhere you look you’ll discover some formula was used to bring success or improvement to a product or service.  It’s no different in the talk radio genre.  There may be different formulas for the different formats like news/talk radio, sports talk or pop culture talk radio, but essential there is a blueprint to be followed in order to have success.

Most successful news/talk radio hosts has some type of recipe that keeps their program on the air. The radio host must be entertaining, have the ability to hold the audience’s attention, knowledgeable on a plethora of topics and subjects, have their own point of view and have opposing views on their show.  I’m sure host and producers tweak the blueprint here and there once they find a formula that works well for them.  A plan for one genre may not work for another.  The audience for Rush Limbaugh is quite different than the one for Howard Stern.

Popular culture radio has a different formula in order to be successful.  Shock jocks are more controversial and seem to bring up the topics that no one else wants to bring up.  That’s what brings them success daring to push the envelope to actually ask or say the things that everyone has on their minds, but do not talk about it.

I’m sure when societies taste change, so will the formula.  Those that work in the news/talk radio industry will have to find a new blueprint that will make their programs successful.  Who knows maybe there will be a news/talk shock jock genre coming in the future or something new all together.  Society dictates what formulas work or don’t work by their involvement with radio show programs.  As we as a society change, so does popular culture.