Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

One of the most efficient things you can do is ask the audience a question.  Do that and those paying attention are grabbed emotionally.  In this relatable break about stolen Amazon packages, Carlin and Brent, Indie 88, Toronto do this.  “Would you confront someone you saw stealing an Amazon package from a neighbor’s porch?”  Any listener would answer in their head and pay closer attention.  That’s what they do here.  One other thing to point out in this week’s audio is how little time they spend on the initial scenario about Carlin’s sister.  A typical show would talk around that story for several minutes without advancing the narrative.  In this break, they make that crucial pivot early from talking about their story to a listener telling theirs.  Two major takeaways:  questions grab listeners and make them more vicarious to your content and make sure you put that pivot in early to keep their attention.

Effective games do two things:  they’re fun to hear and they have a play-along factor.  Enter 8 Bit Hits, played by Karson and Kennedy, MIX 104.1, Boston, when promotions gives them prizes.  They have a website that will convert any song into an 8 bit hit.  Meaning the song becomes cheesy, sounding like it belongs in a 1980s computer game.  One of the things that’s helped this show rise to #1 women in the market is they’ve increased their arsenal of things done on the show that are entertaining to hear when people are in cars.  8 Bit Hits is one of their many ideas that helps them win images with those who truly matter to their success, people driving to work who tune in to have a good time.  Here’s their Christmas version of this fun game.