Radio Show Content | Audio Breaks

Indie 88 LeBron James Secrets

May 29, 2016

reynoldsgroup_500x350 This week’s accolades go to Raina and Matt, Indie 88, Toronto. Their Raptors just got done playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBC playoffs. Not content to just talk about the game or play TV audio as most shows would (and should), they decided to add something different to the conversation in a produced thing call “LeBron James ‘Secrets'” where they revealed silly secrets about the Cavaliers star player. What makes your breaks memorable and sticky is not just the topic, it’s what you do with it that grabs notice and a deeper attention from those listening. Their series of “Secrets” (several below) highlight their fun sense of humor, are very topical, very local, short, and gives us one more thing on the show (even though short-lived) that our competitors never thought to do.

Power 106, Letters to Our Moms

May 29, 2016

power106_cruz_500x350 One more Mother’s Day break that is flawlessly executed. The Cruz Show, Power 106, Los Angeles is right up on Mother’s Day and wrote letters to their moms. These have just the right tone and attitude to create humor. What is perfect about this break is how it’s designed. The very first thing you hear after the song are two cast member’s letters. That the show immediately got into content (before any station business) talked to the widest swath of listeners who want to be entertained. They transition from this to Cruz expounding on his letter, with more detail about something he shared with his father as a kid (you will be shocked) with the cast showing its chemistry as they quiz him for all the details. Station business (what you can win, coming up!) is placed at the end, where the audience is most receptive to the message because they were entertained with a great story, delivered in a fun way.

B103, Rockford, IL The Five Year Old Controls Mother’s Day

May 22, 2016

b103_seanmichelle_500x350 What’s it like when you tell your five-year old son to “man up” and take control of Mother’s Day? That’s what Sean Henry, host of Sean and Michelle, B103, Rockford, IL, did with his son, Declan. Seems like Sean wanted to teach his kid how to start making big decisions about what he’d get his mom for the holiday. So, he charged Declan with coming up with one new thing to get his mother each day during the week. This break is strategic because it’s very real, plays off a current topic, is highly personal, and I leave getting a true sense of Sean as a father. There is not a mom in the audience who isn’t stopping and listening to this break loving how this relationship is playing out on the air.

Warm 106.9 Political Merchandise

May 15, 2016

reynoldsgroup_500x350 The conventional wisdom for almost every morning show, especially in this cycle, is that you cannot even touch politics. This is a no-win, totally polarizing place to go. It is if it’s issue-oriented or you talk good or bad about a candidate or issue. How about if you choose the merchandise the candidates try to sell to raise money and do it in a fun way? Allan and Ashley, Warm 106.9, Seattle did just that. Listen to this easy game. One that can be played vicariously by people driving to work in their cars, with them never touching that political rail in a way that gets them in trouble with the audience. This comes from brainstorming and a desire to create fun.

B105 One Great Promo

May 8, 2016

b105_bigdave_500x350 What is the purpose of a strategic promo aired outside of the show? There are two to choose from: promote the signature feature of the show so you get known for doing it. Signature, unique, fun benchmarks are critical to defining a show’s brand – they are always payoffs so pushing audience there helps you. The other purpose is to prove how in the moment and fun you are. This promo for The Big Dave Show, B105, Cincinnati proves the latter. All weekend, those who hear it know the show is about Mother’s Day during the weekend we celebrate it and fun. Many promos push audience to the next show by telling them what is coming up – these are way less effective because you can’t feel those promos. But those which have clips of features or breaks that land on a punchline you can feel, thus defining the show to the audience.

Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

Indie 88 LeBron James Secrets

Power 106, Letters to Our Moms

B103, Rockford, IL The Five Year Old Controls Mother’s Day

Warm 106.9 Political Merchandise

B105 One Great Promo

Some of the Great Radio Stations I’ve Helped...