Karen, Johnny, and Anthony, WNEW-FM, New York with Elvis’s Tips on Marrying Someone

When doing a narrative story arc (a story that evolves and lasts a few days on the show), it’s always best to look at it as though you’re writing a book.  The opening chapter sets the entire story and the conclusion is where you’re headed.  At Valentine’s Day, Karen, Johnny, and Anthony, WNEW-FM, New York married someone in a feature we called the No Budget Wedding.  What moves that narrative forward to your designed conclusion are the middle chapters – things you do that advance the story line.  Here’s one of those “middle chapters”.  Karen getting advice from an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas on how to marry the couple.

Chris and the Crew, WPST, Trenton, NJ with Joe’s Mom Does March Madness

You must marry opposites to create memorable radio.  Plus, it ain’t too bad to have a cast of characters you can rely on to help.  March Madness is on – it’s a big topic everywhere (not everyone is doing it or following it, but they aware of it, which is the only threshold you must meet).  Chris and the Crew, WPST, Trenton, NJ is super topical and local.  Joe’s mom has zero knowledge of the teams.  But, she’s a pistol – always opinionated and (even better), always cursing.  Let’s bring those two together for this week’s audio.  This is topical, local, real, and fun.  All terrific images to get from a content break.

Carlin and Brent, Indie 88, Toronto with the Drag Queen Bachelorette Party

The absurd always works.  Marry the usual with the crazy and people will listen along.  Carlin and Brent, Indie 88, Toronto did this effortlessly in this week’s audio.  Carlin’s sister is about to get married.  She’s given him a rather interesting task:  he must put together her bachelorette party.  Carlin openly admits he has no idea what to do.  So, in a brainstorm, we decided that he’d subcontract the work out to local drag queens.  Carlin and his girlfriend were about to go to a drag show anyway.  He approached the head drag queen and invited her on-the-air to discuss the dilemma.  They agreed to put something together for Carlin so we’re off the races with unique, character-driven content that has an absurd element to it so listeners pay attention. Edgy, attitude, the absurd. If that’s not you, invite it on your show to stand out.

Carlin and Brent, Indie 88, Toronto with Break Brent’s Brains

Benchmarks are even more effective when they define a cast member on the show.  If the reason for the feature goes to a core attribute of the personality, it helps that talent secure a position in the mind of the listener.  Like:  “she’s the mom” or “he love dogs.”  Look at Carpool Karaoke as an example.  James Corden is a singer and theatrical performer at heart.  So it makes sense for him, being a fan of music, to invite celebrities in the car to sing along with their tunes.  Carlin and Brent, Indie 88, Toronto, came up with a new way to give out prizes.  Brent has a fascination for quirky facts.  Marry that to the belief that everyone knows one and here comes Break Brent’s Brain.  Listeners call with their fact.  The one that Brent is most wowed by wins the prize.

Kyle, Bryan, and Sarah, WRAL-FM, Raleigh with the Door Dash Audit

With tax season fast approaching, Kyle, Bryan, and Sarah, WRAL-FM, Raleigh decided to lean in on the lifestyle of one of its cast members.  We talk much about relatability and radio’s super power to connect with the audience.  One thing morning TV does not have is relatable cast members.  Connecting is what we do well in radio.  When forming a relationship with anyone in life (much less a listener), they must leave having connected with one of you – and the base for connection is having something common.  That’s perfect character development.  Bryan spends an amazing amount of money on Door Dash (and Uber Eats).  The team gave a financial expert access to Bryan’s banking info.  He then shared how much Bryan spent using these services in the last year.  The number will blow you away.  Now, Bryan sits with a sign behind him in the studio (as seen in social media posts) to show how many days he’s gone without using Door Dash!

Jackie and Bender, KISS, Seattle with Dad’s Poetry

This week’s audio is a reminder that when you have something to give out, you must take into consideration all those people not vying for whatever prize you have.  Research consistently advises that 98% of your audience will never try to win something from you.  They come to the show each day to connect with you on a human level and have a good time.  So, when sales or promotions has something to give out, focus on how you give it out to earn images and play to why those 98% of your fans turn you on each day.  Here’s some retro audio of Jackie and Bender, KISS, Seattle executing this perfectly.  It’s Bender’s dad with some poetry around the station’s music blend.  They gave out the prize, but entertained everyone.

Karen Carson with Johnny Minge and Intern Anthony, WNEW-FM, New York with It’s Raining Men Ringtone

What radio is missing many places is a sense of silliness and frivolity.  Mischievous shows tends to make their audiences giggle with laughter.  Looking at something through those lenses will bring out the goofiness in a show.  Marry it to an opposite, include a family member, and you have a great recipe for a strategic, memorable break.  As in the case heard here by Karen Carson with Johnny Minge, and Intern Anthony, WNEW-FM, New York.  Anthony’s father is a longshoreman at the piers of New York City.  This is a man’s man’s job.  It’s hard, grueling work.  How does his father react when Anthony changes his father’s ringtone to the iconic Weather Girls song “It’s Raining Men”?  Silly and mischievous.  Here’s the story of how it all unfolded and Anthony’s father’s reaction.  An instantly memorable break.

Karson and Kennedy, MIX 104.1, Boston with The Good Vibe Tribe

Over the last few months, I’ve touted the value of doing a positive news feature on your show.  Tacking in the opposite direction of what everyone feels creates an image for you and your show.  Proving that there is, indeed, good news in the world and in your market is a powerful perception to create evangelists for your show.  Some shows do this and look for good stories from anywhere.  Crafting this feature around listeners who are having positive experiences in your town brings additional images to the feature.  Karson and Kennedy, MIX 104.1, Boston do The Good Vibe Tribe.  Someone calls with good news and they’re brought into the good vibe tribe, which is another win because they’re creating a club of listeners who share positivity.

Christine and Salt, 96.5 TIC-FM, Hartford with Lauren Saves Jackson

Sometimes running in the opposite direction is a smart strategic move.  Seems like there’s negative news no matter where you turn.  It’s Trump this, Biden that.  So if you become the show that shares positive, uplifting news, you’ll gain an image not as the escape from all that, but as a respite.  This week’s audio proves that, and a few other things.  Before heading off for high school one morning, Tolland, CT resident Lauren Lews saw her 140-pound Great Dane, Jackson, fall through the ice of a pond in her backyard.  The dog started to struggle so Lauren did what any of us would do, she risked her life to save her dog’s.  In this on-air conversation she had with Christine and Salt, 96.5 TIC-FM, Hartford, Lauren tells her story.  You will never miss if you get the people in stories to tell their version of it to you audience.  Images received here:  it’s a story that fills you with pride, it’s local, and it’s very human, reinforcing that there is good in the world.

Logan and Sadie, WINK-FM, Ft. Myers, FL Sadie Loses Rascal

Can you cry in front of listeners?  Can you be that vulnerable to show your true emotions around a sad experience?  It’s true that much of what we should do in radio is be fun.  High on the list of what listeners are looking for is humor and a good time when they turn you on.  No show wins without that image.  But you’re a human being and there are many sides to you.  My question is are you capable of showing all of them to prove it?  Logan and Sadie, WINK-FM, Ft. Myers, FL are deep and different people.  And quite comfortable to show all of it to the audience.  All of that forms a bond which is almost unbreakable to moving people from being listeners to being fans of a program.  Sadie recently lost her dog, Rascal, after a long illness.  He was a rescue and she wanted to bring listeners into that experience.  Can you do that with those who come to you for connection each day?