Why Sign Up For Planet Reynolds?
Anyone who works with me will quickly learn that I’m not usually a fan of “lists” for on-air bits (no lists of birthdays, please).
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But here, I’m breaking my own rule, as I give you the top 10 reasons to subscribe to Planet Reynolds, my monthly newsletter. Cue the David Letterman music . . .
10 It’s FREE.
9 This newsletter will help change your approach to developing compelling content—for the better.
8 You’ll start thinking more creatively AND strategically—automatically. Yes, even in your sleep!
7 You’ll gain a new and deeper appreciation for your listeners’ needs—and how your team can meet them.
6 You’ll start to live and breathe my mantra: be FAIR to be GREAT. (FAIR stands for Funny, Authentic, Innovative, Relatable. Read more about it here.)
5 You’ll find new ways to talk strategy with your talent—ways that will make sense to them.
4 It’s also GREEN. (No trees will be harmed in the making of this newsletter.)
3 Regular practice of my strategic approach will help turn listeners into your BIGGEST fans (and not the scary kind, although some will still send you listener food).
2 Rumor has it that regular reading of this newsletter could result in a slimmer build and better sleep!
1 You’re guaranteed to laugh, learn, and laugh some more.
Creating Credible Connections
All the ratings gimmickry in the world can’t beat a personality who is emotionally connected to his or her listeners. When starting with a show, I ask what two unaided things they want the audience to say about them in two years. Almost every time I get back the right answers: that the show is […]
Six Step Show Prep
The next time you get on a plane, glance to your left before walking down the aisle to your seat. Those two pilots, whether young or grizzled veterans, have one thing in common with every other pilot on every plane you’ll ever be on. They have a flight plan to get you from here to […]
They Missed the Cut (Pun Intended)
I love sports, but hate golf. Many of my friends play and I’ve never understood the appeal of a venture that so frustrates and angers people. That said, I adore The Masters and am glued to its final round every April. I cry tears of joy when someone wins their green jacket. It was no […]
The Overused Talent Excuse
Which brings me to Facebook and an exchange I had with a morning talent about relevance and appearing tone deaf to the audience. I was listening to a show in another market getting nailed with bad weather. With snow falling, here’s the show’s content that morning: hacks on how to vacuum your house better, a […]
Trivia Done Right – Dishing Out the Dopamine
In many of the focus groups I conduct or see, a show’s trivia feature usually scores well. Ever wonder why? If uniquely presented, they are vicarious. All game shows on TV are trivia-based yet every one is different – Who Wants to be a Millionaire and The Weakest Link are both trivia games done differently. […]
Be Bold or Get Cold
The BLUF (bottom line up front): Radio doesn’t have a listening problem. It has a top-of-mind-awareness problem. For whatever reasons (and there are many – looking at you corporate lawyers, over-worked brand managers who might be scared to take a chance, and morning talent who enjoy their comfort zones) much of what we do is […]
Steve’s Pet Peeves Volume Two
What’s it like to listen to 7-8 hours of morning radio each day? Well, you’ll need to sit with me each morning to find out. Each show gets one hour of listening so I can get a sense of what they’re up to. The goal for any show and any talent is to conquer content […]
Cleanup on Aisle Four (Part 2)
The BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): If not tended to strategically, brands can become cluttered, busy, and listening can be less satisfying. It’s on us to clean that mess up so our fans have a good experience when they tune in. Why It Matters: Radio is fighting for every quarter hour. There’s so much competition […]
Cleanup On Aisle Four (Part 1)
The BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): The new year brings an appropriate moment to re-affirm your content strategy and clean up your show for a better listener experience that results in higher ratings. Why It Matters: We are not in the radio business anymore. We are in the experience business. Years ago, Best Buy was […]
Steve’s Big Five to Start 2025
The BLUF (bottom line up front): I’m not one for resolutions because I’ll break them before you finish this sentence. But the beginning of a new year is an appropriate time to reset your strategy and commit to understanding that the growth of your show lies in a game plan to evolve. Because everything evolves. […]
Steve’s Pet Peeves: Volume 1
Just before the holiday break, on a morning when I had some extra time, I decided to check out some shows I’ve been hearing about. One placed, in a prominent content slot, celebrity birthdays. Not that I think this could work anywhere, I felt it was time, as we conclude the year, for a list […]
I Wouldn’t Be Here, If They Hadn’t Been There
I ponder lots about how the hell I got here. Radio’s had its ups and downs for each of us, but on balance the industry’s been good to me. I’ve found my place. It’s been quite rewarding to help talent grow. My favorite part comes when shows I work with have breakthrough moments that change […]
The Power of the Purple People
A couple of weeks ago, former Coach Tim Walz asked me to sit next to him at a high school football game in my hometown of Raleigh – he bought me popcorn. JD Vance stopped over last week to see if I owned any cats. Kamala’s coming by on Thursday for coffee (I hear she […]
A.I. Doesn’t Know U
Let’s chat about how A.I. and the one thing it really can’t do to help you be successful. The three best areas for content for any show, regardless of format, are pop culture (pop = popular = familiar), local, and character development (you!). A.I. is marvelous at getting you the latest on topical news items […]
Promo No No’s
Apple has new devices for sale. Even though they’re one of the world’s most recognizable brands, they’ll still market the hell out of them. This week, let’s tackle marketing your morning show. No, I’m not gonna suggest you buy a TV campaign and billboards (even though they could probably use them). You don’t have the […]