Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

One of the benefits of being a phone-driven show is that you have regular callers, many of whom are quirky characters.  Some shows don’t see the opportunity there.  The AD Show, KSHE, St. Louis does.  Oddball regular callers become part of the show and add much-needed color to many of them.  Think about how David Letterman made stars of the weird people on his staff.  AD and Chris have done the same, embracing every time these folks call the show.  Enter Pot Smoking Patrick.  As Patrick has called in, everyone has gotten to know him.  Then, a touch of humanity.  Patrick shares with the audience that he has cancer.  More stories, more real life.  Hear how the rest of the audience, none of whom know Patrick outside of his appearances on the show, rally around him.  Now, that’s great, memorable  radio.

If you ever need to construct a break and get stumped at how to create conflict (a disparity or incompatibility in how something is viewed), just think “what’s the opposite of this”.  The big story last weekend in Seattle was two Metallica concerts after years of not being in the market.  This is a big deal to rock fans and the Daly/Migs Show, 99.9 KISW, Seattle needed to own it in content.  Yea, other rock shows had tickets, too.  But this is about what’s done with Metallica content that competitors won’t think to do.  The opposite of a metal head is to play some of their music for a kid.  Enter Danny V, who’s on the show and has a ten-year old, who’s never heard the group.  Listen to Lily’s reactions.  To extend the content, the rest of the show did it with their kids the next day at the same time.  All of it adorable, character defining, funny, and relevant.  This is great ideation on that relevant and local topic.