The Josh Innes Show - Lazy Radio Stations

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

I make fun of WIP a lot. But, I'll give them credit. They are very good at pumping out content on social media. Compare that with the two sports stations in Houston..woof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know, one thing I will say after dumping on WIP for their shitty opinions and dumping on Philly Media for their weird bipolar nature, really, it's a WIP thing. They're the ones that stoke the bipolar flames a little bit more. I was watching some of the videos from 975 in Philly, and they seem to be at least a little bit more level-headed. You know, I like John. I don't really know a lot of the other guys. I mean, I know John Kincaid. I know John Marks. I don't know any of the other people on a personal level, but I know these people. Like, at least they're less biopold. polar and a little bit more level-headed, and maybe that will be to their detriment in Philadelphia, because whether fans like to admit it or not, they love the fucking chaotic nature of the talk radio there, and they love to be bipolar. And so I don't think any numbers are growing. Now, I haven't seen the day part-specific numbers, but, or the, not just day-part specific numbers, but the demo-specific numbers, but, which is more important than 6-plus, which is the only numbers that are public. I don't know if they're growing or not, but they have the right approach. And the right approach to combat what WIP is doing is to be slightly more level-headed. And I've noticed that they're taking more shots at them. Like I was just watching a clip on there of one of these dudes on one of the shows taking a jab at the fact that the flagship station wanted the quarterback benched and that Merrill Reese took a jab atlement.

And that's good. I think that's kind of what you have to do. But let me play a couple commercials and we'll get into some stuff. At Fandual Casino, you get even more ways to play. Dive into new and exciting games. And all of your favorite casino classics, like slots, table games, and arcade games. Get more on Fandual Casino. Download the app today.

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and I'm a rock disc jockey guy now or whatever the fuck I am. But, like, my brain is in talk radio, and it always will be. Like, I don't give a shit about what other rock morning shows do because I view myself differently than that. I am a talk show host, and I'm a talk show host that's masquerading as wacky FM DJ guy, but my heart and my thoughts about media and everything will always be in the sports media landscape, because that's kind of where I am or just talk radio in general. my brain and my heart is not in, you know, breaking down what Boner and Skidmark are doing on a rock show or a country morning show or whatever. Now, I love radio in general, but, like, I don't know.

I don't focus on what music radio morning shows are doing because I just, I don't give a shit. But one thing that bothers me, and I was looking at Houston, because much like I'm doing here with Philly, where I have a large listenership on the podcast, I have a lot of people that listen in Houston. and I'm looking for examples of audio and stuff that I can riff on from Houston. I do this thing by myself. So some days when there's good audio that I can kind of go back and forth with, it creates kind of a co-host for the whole thing, and I can kind of riff on that. You go to the sports radio station, Instagrams, and Twitters and shit in Houston, and it's not a, it's a nothing burger. Like here in Detroit, the one sports talk station here is just nonstop clip, clip.

looking for reaction from the clip like that the biggest disappointment for me and look I don't work for these stations 610 I feel a connection to and I've told you that forever that I will always feel a connection to 610 because I wasn't fired by 610 I left 610 that is where I think I had some of my greatest success and I loved it and I miss it and I love Houston as you know but like I feel a connection to that station like they'll never acknowledge me really as part of that it's not like I'm ever going to be considered an all-time great there. And if they ever have anniversaries, no one ever invites me to those. And that's all well and good. And that's fine. But big picture, I will always feel a connection there. Like, I love that place. I just, I love the fact that

I worked on that radio station. Whereas 790 in Houston, I don't really feel a connection to. I don't have that same bond. It was a tumultuous time. And the station was never good. And it just, I don't feel that. But when I look at the media in Houston, and the way they cover things. This is an era where you've got to be active on social media. I hate social media, but you've got to be active there. And you've got to be active on Facebook. And you've got to be active on Twitter.

And you've got to be pumping out your content, shit that you can get people to share and regram and retweet, that will get your brand out there. Because it's not like these sports radio stations in Houston are these giant behemists that are drawing in billions of listeners or anything like that. They're not. They ain't doing shit, right? So when I think about this, I just decided to go look at the Instagrams and Twitters of these radio stations and see if anybody's delivered any sort of opinions that I could listen to and then react to because that's what I do on here a lot of the time. Dude, the social media for 790 in Houston is a fucking wasteland. I mean, like, if you're going to be buried in AM radio universe, 5,000 watt AM station in a battle with. two other sports stations and a battle for 20th place. If you're trying to get any attention,

brother, you've got to be pumping out some better shit. You've got to be pumping out some better content. You've got to be pumping out something. You've got to be giving me something. Because at this moment, like, I'm looking at their Instagram and their social media, and it's mind-blowing how mediocre this is. Like in an era, like we have cameras in the studio here. A lot of them don't work and we're trying to get them fixed in here. But every I-heart studio is equipped with cameras. You can go live, you can record videos for later posting on social media, all that shit, right? How is that not the case over at Iheart? I think Rod does that because Rod's very active on social media because Rod's one of the smarter people they have there and that's why he's

super successful. Explain to me when I look at the Sports Talk 790 Instagram. Everything I'm seen is like audio from shows with pictures and not videos. Why is that what I'm seeing here? I don't even know how current any of these are, but if you notice, seemingly the majority of the content on here is Rockets and Astros content. And I'm aware that they are the Rockets and Astros station. But, friend, you've got the hottest football team in the league in your town. And you're dicking around over here with, hey, here's a Jose Al Tuvei take or here's a Rockets take. And it's like, those are all fine.

But let me see. Like I got Matt Thomas on here. And I'm not ripping Matt or anything like that. I like Matt. He's a good guy. And Ross is a good guy. The guy that works. I like them both very much.

They're good people. I like them. But like, what are we doing? Like, it's maddening. And then you go over to 610 and, like, they post occasional shit. Like, they should be hitting hot and heavy Texans video content non-freakin' stop. Let me look at their Instagram, because Instagram is a better gauge of this than Twitter. Let's go to Sports Radio 610 Instagram.

And, of course, they stream live all day on YouTube, and I get that. Sports Radio 610 in Houston has 8,800 followers on Instagram. What video content do they have up here? Let's see here. Hold on. What am I listening to here? This is Sports Radio 610 decided to give the 610 Reggie roommate rankings. Okay, that's, by the way, this video is like 30 weeks old.

Oh, because that's a tagged video or a pinned video. So then they've got Rockets content. Are these at least videos from the shows? Okay, they are. Good. Like, that's at least something, right? Like, my God, the lack of video content from these shows is mind-blowing. It's like, basically, they've gone out and they've put a, they've put a, what's the word I'm looking for?

They've essentially put cameras in the studio and they run them live all day. and like 50 people will watch them concurrently, and then they consider that video success. Like, dude, you're an AM radio station, bro. Like, for all I make fun of WIP for, they keep pumping out tons and tons and tons of content. And whether you think the content's stupid or you think it's asinine, which a lot of it is,

they're pumping out content, content, content. Compare that to freaking Houston, where it's just like it's half-assed bullshit. You wonder why these stations make no image? impact there. It's just bullshit. It just doesn't look good. And then you compare the number of followers these places have, right? So you've got 610 in Houston has 8,800 followers on Instagram. I guarantee you if you go to, like, let's look up 971 the ticket in Detroit. Okay. They've got four sports teams. There's not a huge difference between the cities. I mean, look, there's 45, 46,000. 46,000. followers on there and you've got 8,000 in Houston

for the flagship station of the Texans so again for all I make fun of these hot take factories for like your station has 8800 Instagram followers and you're pumping out occasional video content 790 has I forget let me see how many

followers 790 has 790 has 790 has 7400 followers on Instagram and you're pumping out random like audiograms that don't even have video in them? Like, let me see if I can find video. Let's see. Let's click on this link here. Coach, it's Matt and Ross.

I got to ask you, did you really call the team of junior varsity spot at halftime last night? With audio. So let me just say this. Here's Matt Thomas talking about Texas A&M. How is there? I understand that he probably travels and it's more difficult for him

because he might be on the road with the basketball team. But like, here's one. Let me find one from the actual radio shows that are in studio. Why is all of their audio and their video and shit from the Matt Thomas show? Here's the A team. Where's Jake Myers going? This show is on TV. The show is on TV.

So the idea that this is... And there's no video? What are we doing? Hell, my show doesn't do enough video, but our shit doesn't work. We got to figure it out. What are we doing? Like, it's maddening because I have a passion for talk radio, right? And I have a passion for Houston. Like, you know this. Like, it's not

It's not a mystery. I love the place. And I'm watching the shit they're doing or what they're not doing. And it's like, how are you not posting videos that are actual videos? No one's going to click on or watch a video of a picture of Jose Al-Tuvres. And the American League side of things. And then, like, here's some audio from it. Post some fucking videos.

Your afternoon shows on TV. And all you're posting is, like, videograms? What do you got with OJ today? Well, I know that you have mentioned on the show. I mean, I'm not ripping the people on these fucking shows. I don't care. But, like, it's maddening. Like, for all the shit the WIP does, at least there's content that's engaging their audience.

Maybe part of your problem on these sports stations that have no fucking listeners in Houston is that you're lazy on the other forums. That's my biggest issue, man. But, I mean, do better with that shit. And look, I'm aware of the limitations. Like, look, I'm doing a radio show in Market 12 or 13 or whatever Detroit is. You know who's on this show? Me and one other dude. And we have to do all the work.

So I get it. You're limited in a lot of the shit. But come on, man. What are we doing?