For even more inspiration, check out these breaks from my clients—and get a taste for what I bring to the proverbial table with my talent coaching.
Want me to show your team how to strategically develop kick-ass content that turns listeners into raving fans?
Lana Goes to Times Square
Here is an absolutely brilliant example of character develop (a critical building block for a successful show) through story telling on Karson & Kennedy, on MIX 104.1, Boston. Karson’s wife, Lana, the sweet southern belle, enjoyed her first trip to New York City. Listen as she tells her Times Square story what happens to define the people on the program. Kennedy, the big city gal, appears in almost every reaction to Lana’s experience.
Intern Mark Sanchez
Here is a break from Mojo in the Morning on Channel 95.5, Detroit that is masterfully designed to play well in PPM. Not because if its length (it’s about 8 minutes long) but because of four “pivot points” the team created inside the break. A “pivot point” is where something is said or happens that says to listeners who might have grown bored with the break that they should pay attention because the next 60 seconds will be interesting. The break is about a show intern who’s dating someone younger than him. Listen for these “pivot points”: when Mojo calls him “Intern Mark Sanchez”, when the actual age of the girlfriend is revealed, when the first caller says the words “child molester”, and when the intern’s mother calls in. Every single one of these “lean in moments” was created by the team and did not happen by chance. That’s what prep does for you!
WBMX Ex-Boyfriend Poker
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.
KMPS Hole in Wall Tour
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.
Tiffany’s Mom Gets a Shake Weight
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.