The most universal topic any show can do is relationships. There are many kinds of relationships and almost all conversation around them in relatable to the widest audience. Here’s Karson & Kennedy, from MIX 104.1, Boston, doing a new relationships feature called “Ex Boyfriend Poker”. This is where listeners come on and tell a story about an ex-boyfriend. Best story wins something.
Candy & Potter at KMPS, Seattle do a “Hole in the Wall Tour” each fall and spring to get out and meet listeners. It’s a Friday broadcast at a small breakfast diner in the metro. During the last tour, we decided to find the most famous person who hailed from each small town we visited. When we went to Sumner, WA, our choice was between the man with the Guinness Record for the world’s largest pumpkin (six tons!) and Wayne Northrup, who stars on “Days of Our Lives”. Here’s a fun interview with Wayne.
One of the more effective methods of character development is when you put a family member on the show. In this break from Tiffany & Michael’s morning show on B101, Philadelphia, the team, along with a listener, call Tiffany’s mom to find out if she’s used the Shake Weight recently purchased to work out.
When the New England Patriots were still in the NFL playoffs, we knew we needed to tie into this topic but as a female-targeted morning show, Karson & Kennedy, on MIX 104.1, Boston, knew it couldn’t talk pure sports. That’s why they came up with this fun feature called “Mom, I’m Having an Affair with Tom.” One female listener, calling her mother on the other line, had to convince her she was having an affair Patriots QB Tom Brady.
Anyone can do American Idol updates, most people talk to the kicked off contestants, but only one show can do “Bud Light Bev”. Bev is a listener to Karson & Kennedy on MIX 104.1, Boston. She calls in a lot and she’s always drunk. So, they built an American Idol game around her. Go grab a Bud Light and enjoy!
The Seahawks had a great season in the NFL, even beating reigning Super Bowl Champs, the New Orleans Saints. To help celebrate, Candy & Potter, on KMPS, Seattle decided to put together, with listeners help, a Pete Carroll Carol. Just off of Christmas, they re-wrote “The 12 Days of Christmas” as an ode to celebrate the team and coach who took them further than anyone expected (theirs is called “The 12 Days of Seahawks”). I always ask shows what they are doing with local topics others in the market aren’t. This is a great example of one that scored on every level.
One of the chief responsibilities of a show is to generate content no other show in the market can. Perez Hilton does a daily celebrity update on J & Julian’s show on B96, Chicago (now #1 P18-34!!). Perez could certainly rattle off all the latest Hollywood gossip with great credibility. But listen as this report lights up when the morning team gets Perez to talk about trying to find a partner on match.com! That’s something no one else did that morning and led to other organic ideas which positioned the show as relevant, unique, and fun.
Games work on morning radio, especially if they have a vicarious element to them, where people listening can play along. Here’s Karson and Kennedy at MIX 104.1, Boston playing “Jessica Simpson or Homer Simpson” where they read something said by one of them, with the listener having to guess who said it. They get bonus points because they got audio of everything to add a dimension to make people laugh. The fun part is that everything they read could be said by either person!
Every show finds dumb stories in the paper or on line to use on their show. Listen as Chris Carr & Company, on B105, Cincinnati, use one to make their audience laugh. They not only report the story, they found audio (and doctored it) to make it better. Listen to the laughter and all the fun listeners have with this. It’s this kind of break that makes people come back to the show for more!
Sometimes the best fun is the silliest fun. Here’s The Scotty Show at Radio Now, Indianapolis opening the phones to have listeners make fun of Oprah’s favorite things episode!