Radio Show Content | Audio Breaks

George, Mo, and Erik, KILT-FM, Houston Charlie’s First Day at School

August 27, 2023

This week it’s all about character development. You’re in radio and can’t bring your kid to school on her first day in third grade. What to do? You could talk about it and listeners will relate to your struggles. Or, you can put your humanity on full display by calling your kid. On George, Mo, and Erik, KILT-FM, Houston, Erik has never taken his young daughter to school because he’s always been on-the-air. So they got Charlie on so Erik could talk with her as she heads off for day one. None of this content is revolutionary. But it is strategic. At the end of the break, what do you learn about how Erik is as a father? Listen to the very human interaction between them (and later when his wife comes on the show). You peek into their relationship and get a true sense of who Erik is as a person, dad, and husband. His humanity is on full display. There’s your big win in character development. It’s all about connection.

Logan and Sadie, WINK-FM, Ft. Myers, FL My All-Time Favorite Teacher

August 20, 2023

Our Monday Morning Free Idea this week is a simple one! With school going back in session everywhere over the next few weeks, reminisce on your favorite teachers. Who did you have while in school who had a lasting impact on how you turned out as an adult? With all the negativity in the world, this one is so easy. Grab that teacher, have them on, and tell them why they have stayed with you all these years. It’s positive content that will resonate with your fans. In the process, listeners will get to know you (great character development) and the teacher will tell fun stories about how you were as a student. Then flip things and let listeners tell you similar stories from their past. A great example of this comes from Logan and Sadie, WINK-FM, Ft. Myers, FL.

Hawkeye in the Morning, KSCS, Dallas Celebrates 35 Years

August 13, 2023

I’ve never been a big fan of talent sharing milestones on the air because I don’t think the audience cares. The one I hear a lot is “today’s my birthday!”. Think about how you react when a co-worker says that. You usually space out because it’s not about you. So I wonder why talent do that. There are exceptions to that rule if you focus on the audience. That’s when your milestone is huge (you might be a beloved talent) or if there is a true listener win. Such is the case with my friend, Hawkeye in the Morning, KSCS, Dallas, who just celebrated being on the station for 35 years. This is a milestone that works because he’s adored by the audience. Knowing there should be a listener win, too, his team created a story line to celebrate him by making a statue of Hawkeye they wanted to put outside the building. The problem is the building is owned by Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks. Here’s your listener benefit: they get Mark Cuban on to seek permission. They also get Dallas Cowboys icon Troy Aikman to call the show, too. Listen to both breaks as Hawkeye focuses on Cuban and Aikman who, in return, congratulate him. This is smart, listener-focused radio.

Kira and Logan, WOKQ, Portsmouth, NH Let Me Tell My Story.

August 6, 2023

I’ve talked previously about breaks highlighting where shows heard great stories of something magical someone did and then recanting that person’s story on their show. This might be good content for you to share with your fans what you read, but telling someone else’s story is a B-minus treatment of that content. You will certainly be able to convey the facts well of that story, but it will miss any emotional impact because you didn’t live it. That’s why, when you tell someone else’s story, it’s best to get them to tell it. Then all you have to do is be inquisitive for them to give you the details. This week’s example of great execution of this concept belongs to Kira and Logan, WOKQ, Portsmouth, NH where they talked to a local gal who saved someone’s life on the beach. Listen and feel this because of how they did it.

Spencer’s Neighborhood, 106.5, The Arch, St. Louis First Five Notes

July 30, 2023

You will never lose when you tie your show back to the music brand of your radio station. Some shows are silos – they never talk about the music or the artists. I’ve always believed that that’s a mistake as you should acclimate yourself into the larger station brand. In some respects, listeners choose your show because of you and the content you do. In many ways, they choose your station because of the music you play, too. Here’s a fun game called The First Five Notes played on Spencer’s Neighborhood, 106.5 The Arch, St. Louis several years ago. The listener would choose from the cast who they wanted to play against. Then another in the room would play the first five notes of a song on the station. First to identify the artist or song get the point. Simple, yet effective for tying you back to the radio station.

Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

George, Mo, and Erik, KILT-FM, Houston Charlie’s First Day at School

Logan and Sadie, WINK-FM, Ft. Myers, FL My All-Time Favorite Teacher

Hawkeye in the Morning, KSCS, Dallas Celebrates 35 Years

Kira and Logan, WOKQ, Portsmouth, NH Let Me Tell My Story.

Spencer’s Neighborhood, 106.5, The Arch, St. Louis First Five Notes

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