Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

When you have something to give out, how you give it out is way more important than what you have to give out.  Yet, I still hear shows that believe the quality of the prizes equals the success of the show or still solicit for caller ten (ugh).  How you entertain and engage the audience is much more important because earning that image captures the imagination of those not trying for the prize, which is most of the audience.  That’s the concept of designing whatever you do for those who only come in to be entertained.  Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA came up with a fun new game to prove this called the Celebrity Slowdown.  My bet, as you listen, is that you’re playing along.  So will the audience.

I heard some creative excuses two weeks ago about why some shows didn’t touch the Baltimore bridge story.  One said “we’re the escape” (no, you’re not – you need to reflect how the audience feels waking up to the story).  Another said “it’s not local” (that doesn’t matter – it was topic #1 that day which validates being on it). Your audience wants to be tied to the topics of the day.  Add your perspective and you define who you are.  That is one way to do character development.  Enter the Daly/Migs Show, Rock 99.9, Seattle who dug deep into the story.  That morning, they not only talked with listeners who had bad bridge experiences, they also got on a guy who oversees the bridges in the state of Washington.  Listen to their inquisitiveness to localize the story and give insider perspective they would not have normally had.  Listeners lean in with this kind of relevance.