Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

Each of us in radio have call letters that will always be meaningful.  Today’s audio comes from one for me because this is where I started my morning show career, when on-the-air.  I jokingly say that it took this station firing me, then re-hiring me, then my leaving for things to click professionally.  Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA own every single demo in the market.  They have large leads because they are excellent broadcasters, understating why listeners tune in each day – what they’re looking for.  And central to that is connection.  They are deeply connected to the audience because they share their lives with their fans.  Dina went missing for a few weeks because her mom unexpectedly passed away.  It’s powerful to talk about something like this with the audience as it’s pure character development and very emotional.  Here’s Dina sharing with the audience what happened.  Her mom was a big part of the show so, Chris tilted the sadness at the end by re-airing a time she was on that was fun to hear again.

Your Cubs are in the MLB playoffs (Hot Topic) and you want to align with it in a unique, fun way to make people talk.  This one is pure silliness, which is why I like it.  Moug and Karla, B96, Chicago went to Etsy and found a witch to put a hex on the opponent’s of the Chicago Cubs baseball team.  Who even knew that getting a witch on Etsy was a thing?  Even if it isn’t, this creative approach to the topic is the perfect way to make fans stop to listen and, if done well like this, leave talking about it.  Choosing the topic is the first part of a great break.  To make it strategically successful, it’s the treatment you bring that makes it memorable.  Here are two installments of The Etsy Witch from this past week.