Any new market we go into we’re trained to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the other radio stations to figure out a strategic plan for carving out our share of that market’s listenership and revenue. The better our…

There’s a reason why network TV shows stopped doing long intros that lasted a couple minutes several years ago. They understand how important it is to pique the interest of the viewers who were watching the last show to keep…

If you read my blogs or listen to my podcast you know that I have a lot of passionate opinions about radio. Some of that probably stems from my personality type, but the vast majority of that comes from the…

The lack of news coverage for radio station events and promotions can be incredibly frustrating in some markets. Though we may put together massive events or major promotions that draw thousands upon thousands of attendees, entries and engagement, we’ll barely…

Just like any other business on the planet, the main purpose of a commercial radio station is to make money. People that tend to last a long time in our industry, and have sustained success in it, keep that thought…

In some markets the station at the top has been there so long it can feel like there’s no possible way of catching them. They’ve won at the game of radio, established a position format-wise, connected with the audience on…

There’s nothing easy about coaching on-air personalities. It’s a delicate balancing act of finding the right amount of praise to build on the things they are doing well and just enough constructive criticism to help them improve problem areas without…

Being funny is a huge advantage for on-air personalities. It allows us to add to any content and make it our own, making it more likely to stick with the listener. It also helps us come up with those great…

Great on-air personalities can work and succeed on multiple radio formats, regardless of how different their age, lifestyle or personal interests are from the core demo of that format. However, there’s one big caveat to that. It requires coaching and…

I don’t like steering away from polarizing topics and I’ve certainly written blogs over the past few years that have split the room and ruffled some feathers. However, I’ve held off on writing about this particular topic because I know…

Anytime I run into a kindred spirit that’s spent most of their life in radio we can’t help but wax nostalgic about the good old days. Back when stations had more staff, advertising dollars were easier to come by, we…

Many on-air shows, solo and teams, are only creating surface connections with their audience. They opt to keep it light by choosing low hanging fruit content, ignoring the big things (or just mentioning them to check off a box) and…

When we make the jump from on air to programming on a music station, regardless of the format, the first thing we’re taught is a very simple rule that sounds easy to follow yet trips up so many. Depending on…

When I’m evaluating an on-air personality or show, regardless of the daypart, one of the main two things I’m listening for is the amount of content they brought to the show that day and what they added to that content.…

I’m a firm believer that radio stations should man as many dayparts as their budgets will allow so they’re as live and local as possible. However, there are a lot of different definitions for what those often tossed around terms…

Here’s the long-term vision of most of the big radio groups: ‘How few people can we employ at the local level, and how cheaply, without MAJORLY hurting ratings, digital stats and revenue?’ I say majorly because they fully understand that…

Meetings are an essential part of any company with more than a few people. They help us communicate so everyone’s on the same page, brainstorm new ideas, plan ahead and a whole host of other things that are great for…

Going into this season most NFL analysts agreed that the Philadelphia Eagles won the off-season. It pains me to say that as a life-long Cowboys’ fan duty bound to despise all things Philly, but clearly those talking heads were on…

Sticky content is just what it sounds like, content that sticks with the listener. Things they go to work and tell their coworker, recount later to their friends and significant other, or even to the on-air talent themselves at a…

Over the course of my career coaching and managing talent I’ve worked with every level of on-air personality. That includes former number one talent trying to recapture the hunger required to get there again, experienced people who’ve had moderate success…

We’ve all been to a neighborhood bar that’s filled with regulars taking up the best seats. Sat there waiting while the bartender, who of course knows them all, hangs out across from those regulars, laughing, yucking it up and handing…

I’ve never been a detective, but I’ve talked to a few and watched enough cop shows to know that the best way to track down a criminal is to think like a criminal. You can’t catch them by saying, ‘what…

Those of us who have been in the radio industry long enough have a handful of stories about former bosses with management approaches that wouldn’t fly today (and shouldn’t have then either.) I’ve seen chairs thrown from a studio into…

The amount of content necessary to fill our airwaves, station websites and social feeds can be overwhelming. Especially when most stations are being asked to create all that content with less resources and staff each passing year. That’s part of…