Radio Show Content | Audio Breaks

Jen and Tim, Star 102.1, Cleveland with the RnR Hall of Fame 80s Music Quiz

March 9, 2025

Here’s another example of a music-based break that would do very well in research. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a new list of inductees. Jen and Tim, Star 102.1, Cleveland want to quiz their producer to see if she knows the group based on the song hook. This is another sing-along, play-along type game for people in cars. There is no prize involved, yet it still shines because the chemistry of the cast advances the fun, it’s local (because of the Hall of Fame), there is a little character development for the producer, and the show is weaving itself, once again, into the music brand of the station. I’ve seen breaks like this played in focus groups for listeners – they are always very well evaluated.

Karson and Kennedy, MIX 104.1, Boston with Make Your Mess Your Message

February 23, 2025

I love shows that own their shit! Some radio talent want to paint the most perfect picture of themselves. What do listeners want to be around but flawed, human beings. When you slip and fall, it’s always smart to run towards it for content, as it makes you mortal to them and, like it would happen in real life, draws fans closer. Take Karson and Kennedy, MIX 104.1, Boston. Karson had promised in December to attend a local Christmas tree lighting. As the ceremony started, the organizers called to find out where he was. He wasn’t even close as he’d forgotten to put it in his calendar. What did he do on the next show? Brought them on to apologize. He owned it, took his beating, his teammates made fun of him, and the organizers let him off the hook. And the audience loved him even more for all of it. As the title above suggests, if you have a mess, make that your message.

Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA with Are We Rick Rolling

February 16, 2025

Rick Astley is having a birthday and, because Rick Rolling is a thing, Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA created content from it. You’d never know how many artists actually sound like Rick Astley. They grabbed the hooks of several songs. Some of them Rick and some not. The listener had to correctly guess if they were being Rick Rolled when they heard the hook. I love several things about this idea: it’s music and hit-oriented and there’s never a downside to do something musically. The audience is playing along because this is vicarious. And who’s not singing as the hooks are playing because all the songs are familiar. Familiarity is really critical when people wake up so you can help acclimate them into the day. All around a simple and effective idea.

Thunder and PT, 102.9 The Wolf, Minneapolis with Farmalee for Parmalee

February 9, 2025

Laura Ries wrote a great book on how to name things called Battlecry. It’s a short but very instructional on how to name products. It’s worth your time if looking to name a new benchmark or even a one-and-done game. Often, when stuck, I’ll use RhymeZone to see what words in the English language rhyme with a primary word around what I’m doing. Taking both of these to heart are Thunder and PT, 102.9, Minneapolis. The team recently had Parmalee tickets to give out. They came up with a clever name called Farmalee for Parmalee (rhyming is one of the techniques discussed in Laura’s book). They substituted a farm animal for a word in a hit song by the country group. Listeners had to identify the missing word to win.

Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA with The Stolen Car

February 2, 2025

Sometimes listeners bring stories filled with drama. What makes the best stories memorable are details of tension that advance them to conclusion. Watch any great TV show or movie and this is the technique script writers use to hook us quickly and keep us on the edge of our seats so we stay until the end. Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA had one such experience in their Feel Good feature when a caller told them that he solved the case of a stolen car in the neighborhood by accessing the cameras outside his house. When he found out a neighbor’s car was taken outside his home, he looked at the footage to help the cops nab the culprit. What we’re given is a compelling story of high drama and humanity of one person helping another. This is memorable content.

Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

Jen and Tim, Star 102.1, Cleveland with the RnR Hall of Fame 80s Music Quiz

Karson and Kennedy, MIX 104.1, Boston with Make Your Mess Your Message

Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA with Are We Rick Rolling

Thunder and PT, 102.9 The Wolf, Minneapolis with Farmalee for Parmalee

Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA with The Stolen Car

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