What is making stations boring?

There are situations where programmers feel like the only way to compete, now that their stations are measured by PPM methodology  is to shut up and play the music.  That Tim McGraw and Sugarland is going to win for them.  That they can provide so little to entertain the audience that  more music is the best way to win.

Shame on those programmers.  I know that I was challenged with a morning show that was so bad playing more music was the short term answer.  The long term answer is in fixing the content on that morning show but that never happened.  Finally the management gave up on that morning show and brought in someone new.  Unfortunately they have not fixed the content issue and this show too will fail, if early returns are any indication.

The music is the most important part of a music radio station.  No debate there.  But what happens to connect with the audience has to come from the air talent.   Does the listener feel like the air talent is engaged in their music, their lives and their community?   The listener knows that Tim and Jennifer aren't part of their community.   The listener knows that Tim and Jennifer don't live their lives. 

There are dayparts where music is 99% of the station's appeal.   Middays the music should lead and the air talent should stay out of the way, simply talking about the station and immediate issues.  But too many stations have let this kind of programming seep into morning drive too and the long term consequence of that will be Pandora and Internet radio. 

In Los Angeles the top morning shows are Ryan Secrest,  Mark and Brian,  Kevin and Bean and Bill Handel. Not much music there. I am sure that there is some Spanish language station in there too that I can't understand.  These are shows that engage their audience in fun and content.

Putting in someone less talented than those shows and trying to wing it around 14 songs an hour is going to get you...nothing.  Talent wins.  Coaching wins.  Creativity wins.  Country Radio:  Don't depend on Music Row for your morning show.  You'll fail