What’s the most dangerous thing that can happen to a successful show? It’s comfort and familiarity. Not trying anything new or going anywhere unfamiliar. It’s walking through your day, half paying attention. It’s having conversations and not really listening. That’s autopilot. And autopilot is where creativity goes to die. Your Unique PerspectiveRadio people often ask me, “How do […]
One of the best growth tools you have is simple: listen back to your own show. Sometimes it’s cringy, sometimes it’s inspiring. Guest segments, even with big stars, often tank in PPM. They can slow the pace and feel promotional. And the second, the conversation drifts into industry talk, listeners bail. But guest interviews don’t […]
Personality radio shows often believe they’re in the content business.They’re not. They’re in the emotional experience business. Portland, ME morning ace, Blake Hayes at Coast 93.1, shared an episode with me from the brand-oriented How I Built This podcast with Guy Raz. Guy advised a businesswoman who owns a puzzle company that she’s not selling puzzles; “What you’re selling is an emotional [...]
The Jamie & Danny Show was a forced marriage between Jamie White and Danny Bonaduce at Star 98.7 in Los Angeles in 1999. Despite early ratings success, the show lacked contrast. Jamie and Danny were both alphas, both drivers, and both edgy. Jamie had to be the driver because she established herself as a star with Frosty and Frank over […]
What if the Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis happened in your listening area? How would you handle this on a music station morning show that doesn’t talk politics? That was the question KDWB Minneapolis’ legendary morning host Dave Ryan was wrestling with last Monday morning. And it wasn’t theoretical. It was deeply personal. Dave said he’s always known […]
Consultant Mark St. John and I learned, painfully, just how hard it is to replace a successful show when the legendary Mark & Brian left I-95 Birmingham for KLOS Los Angeles. We tried to do everything right. We “cleansed the palate” with more music before launching the new show. We recruited a creative night host from a top-10 market […]
We don’t “sit down” with content the way we once did. Today, we consume ideas, information, and entertainment in short, fast, compressed moments, clips instead of complete narratives. We scroll. We swipe. We sample. We move on. I typically skim headlines unless something grabs me. Even with non-fiction books, I’ll skip long setups and background […]
By the first week of the new year, many people are already wobbling on their resolutions. Estimates point to about 20-25%. We’ve all been there. Additionally, many people use the words “intentions” and “declarations” to make positive change. So, the real question isn’t why they fail, it’s how we make change stick. I delved into the meanings and uses […]
When I was a kid, I asked so many questions that it drove my parents and older siblings crazy. They’d say, “Stop asking so many questions!” I never did, and I’m glad. Curiosity is one of the most powerful drivers of creativity and innovation. My radio mentor, Todd Wallace, encouraged that curiosity from day one. In airstaff […]
There are times I sit down to jot down a few notes on a blog idea. An hour later, I look up to find that two pages are finished! We know this psychological state as “being in the zone” or “flow.” You’re not thinking, you’re in the moment doing. Think about the times you’ve been so absorbed […]
