Archive for category: Audio

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?