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Who talks first, second, third, etc.? There are no hard and fast rules for mic order on radio and podcast shows. There are highly successful shows with a fixed mic order and highly successful shows with a varied mic order. Fixed Mic Order Almost all shows with one personality’s name on them such as DeDe in the Morning or Ryan Seacrest, […]

Last week’s blog on contesting drew a polarized response. We are not saying abandon contests; we advise radio stations to avoid designated caller and text contests that only engage the small percentage of listeners trying to win. Instead, focus on listener-interactive games and contests that are so fun to play along with the prize does not matter. The result […]

Radio programmers have long believed contests persuade people to listen and listen longer. We are the only major medium still running them to encourage listening and to create awareness. The annual Jacobs Media Techsurvey reveals that most people are motivated to listen to radio because “it’s easiest to listen to in the car,” “DJs/Hosts/Shows,” and “it’s free.” Prizes […]

We all spend many evenings watching top-rated shows like The Last of Us, You, or Young Sheldon…or do we? The truth is most of us have not seen those shows. We assume that almost everyone has seen the top-rated shows we and our friends watch. Let’s look at the facts: The super bowl of television shows is well, the Super Bowl. It […]

The competitive edge is achieved by creating original content that distinguishes your show or podcast.  Dave Ryan is one of radio’s most creative and innovative talents. This skill has kept his show on top of the ratings for years at KDWB Minneapolis. In today’s guest blog, Dave reveals multiple ways to be more creative. Randy Lane […]

Reaching your goals, feeling confident and finding success as a media professional depends more on mindset than most people realize. According to Merriam-Webster, mindset is “a mental attitude or inclination.” Everyone has natural, built-in inclinations. The best of the best chooses their mindset and that mindset is how they reach excellence. This [...]

The Federal Trade Commission’s proposed new rule banning noncompete clauses in employee contracts could have a major impact across the media industry. Noncompete clauses in talent, sales, and management contracts are common in the radio industry. The FTC proposed this rule because noncompetes suppress wages, hamper innovation, and block entrepreneurs from starting their own businesses. It [...]

Why do some shows set up interactive topics that attract an overload of engaging responses and others get boring lists or zero responses? Interactive topics with listeners by phone, text and social media live or die by the setup. 4 Reasons Interactive Topics Fail Story Setups Succeed Ideally, topics are designed to connect a show with listeners […]

In meetings, how many times have you “agreed to disagree?” It’s a way out of endless arguments that can stall and prolong meetings. This phrase enables both parties to maintain their positions. But there’s a big downside to agreeing to disagree. When it’s decided to implement one person’s position, the disagreeing person typically secretly roots […]

How do you build chemistry on a radio show or podcast? What listeners sense between on-air players is a key determinant of the show’s success. What can you do to create a partnership that vibes? If you want the audience to feel something you have to feel it first. Consider Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A […]