About This Music Career

With one of the most important responsibilities at any radio station, the Program Director (often called the P.D.) selects each station's format and programs. He or she is also responsible for scheduling these programs, making sure they run at times of full exposure. It is not uncommon for the Program Director to also work with the Music Director to decide on playlists. The Program Director can also have their own show as an on-air personality, or even a disc jockey – most Program Directors even begin their careers as DJs. Thos e who don't begin their careers this way may move into a Program Director role after holding other jobs at the station.

The Program must decide between a number of different formats including Top 40, Adult Contemporary, Middle of the Road, Classical, Talk, Oldies, News, Jazz, Country, etc., or even a combination. To be successful, the Program Director must have an advanced knowledge of the local community, and which formats the community wants to listen to – of course, the larger the audience, the higher the ratings, and the higher the ratings, the higher the station can set advertising and commercial rates to drive revenue.

Aside from music, the Program director must decide the types of public service shows that will be aired and when they should be aired. The same is also true for deciding how many times news, weather, and community announcements will be aired. Other responsibilities include hiring, supervising, and firing disc jockeys – it is the job of the Program Director to communicate the image the station wants to project to the DJs.

Developing the segue – the way that records are rotated in relation to other record, announcements, and commercials. An example would be playing a new country song, then a Top 40 hit, followed by a commercial and then an older country song, and so on – the cycle would then continue and then start over. It's important that the segue keeps the audience entertained and in-tune.

Last but not least, the Program Director also works with those who work in Promotions to figure out who visits the stations, attempting to get their clients on the station's playlist. The Program Director usually answers to the Station Manager and even the owner. Hours are typically long, and it is common for the Program Director to start work early, stay late, and even work weekends due to special promotions at the station. Because the Program Director works hard to achieve high ratings, a great sense of pride and success can be attained when high ratings are achieved.

Salaries
The Program Director's paid salary hinges on the size of the station, its location, its popularity and their prior experiences and skill level. Salaries can range from $27,000 to $100,000 per year.

Employment
Because of the fact that every radio station in the country employs a Program Director, employment prospects are fair, and competition will be determined by station size, location, etc.

Advancement
The Program Director can advance his or her career by finding a similar position with a larger station or by moving on to be coming the General Manager of the station - with the latter being very difficult to do.

Education and Training
Some radio stations look for Program Directors who have a college degree in communications or broadcasting, but a college degree of course will not guarantee a position.

In terms of education, there are many radio broadcasting trade or vocational schools around the country, which can be found by looking into the school through the states Attorney General's office or the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Experience, Skills, and Personality
As mentioned, most Program Directors begin their careers as Disc Jockeys, and have often times held positions at college radio stations or other radio stations. In terms of skills, Program Directors must have the ability to understand the market the station is trying to reach, and what type of music and programming will capture that audience. To accomplish this, they must also have an advanced musical knowledge and an interest in music in general. With that said, he or she is responsible for ratings garnered by the radio station, so personal preferences and interests should not impact decisions for the station.

Unions and Associations
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) are a couple of the associations Program Directors would belong to. They may also be members of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET).

Suggestions for Getting Started

© 2012 CareersInMusic.com | Pryde Multimedia, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Las Vegas Video Production | Dog Cancer