Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

Nothing could be more endearing than putting a parent on the show.  It’s also quite efficient character development because you go from being a radio host to being someone’s kid for those few minutes.   While brainstorming content for Halloween, Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA realized they had very similar experiences with their mothers and costumes when kids.  Option A is to tell the audience about it and then get listener’s stories.  Option B is is to get their moms on to participate in the telling of the story.  This shifted the break from being a monologue (I tell you a story vs. we tell you a story) to a dialogue.  Option B is much more robust and entertaining because the human dynamic appears in a conversation.

There’s this exercise I do when brainstorming with shows around a pop culture or local topic that helps them develop treatments which puts their authenticity front and center.  It’s called Know Wonder.  What do you know about the topic and also, what do you wonder?  Researching every topic stimulates one’s creativity.  That curiosity fuels interesting breaks because, if you’re fascinated by it in the presentation, your audience will be, too.  Liam Payne from One Direction dies unexpectedly.  Many shows would report what they know to the audience.  Add in some curiosity and it comes alive.  Kira and Logan, WOKQ, Portsmouth, NH wondered why people cry when a celebrity they’ve never met dies.  It led to fascinating calls from their fans.  Here’s what they did the day after Liam died.  This is compelling, relevant, topical radio.