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It will become even clearer in 2021 that talent is the great distinguisher. It’s still most important to have the best talent, but now they don’t have to live locally. We are seeing an emerging trend with talent working remotely. Like syndicated shows, local radio stations are beginning to hire drive time hosts and cohosts […]

Thanks for the feedback on social media concerning our blast this week on handling the Capitol Hill riots. Some music stations avoided the topic completely. Others were unsure of how much and how often to talk about it. The fact is we are living in a climate of fast-breaking news that affects your listeners. In the future […]

As you prepare your show for the first week of the new year, here are several cultural trends and talking points to relate to your content. 2020 and 2021Trends Giving was up sharply in 2020. Multitudes of people gave their time and money volunteering. Radio stations and shows raised thousands of dollars for numerous causes including food […]

In last week’s Content Ideas, we stressed the importance of drama to generate ratings. Here are four effective ways to create drama in your show. Storylines One of the best ways to engage listeners and promote tune-ins is storylines. They can be an intense drama going on in a cast member’s life or something as simple […]

Dictionary.com defines drama as “a dialogue or story involving conflict or contrast of character.” The most listened to audio shows and the most viewed TV shows are fueled by high drama. Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit is Nielsen’s top-rated streamed TV show. It’s loaded with character conflicts, dilemmas, quests, and vulnerabilities. If you haven’t checked it out, it’s a […]

The most interesting characters have what we call “skewed opposite” traits. They have opposing endearing characteristics and flaws that make them relatable. Jeff McHugh looks into the light and dark sides of characters in this video. Randy Photo by DDP on Unsplash

There is something so fundamental to the human experience that it goes back to the beginning of time: storytelling. The Randy Lane Company coaches radio and podcast talents to master the art of storytelling. At the center of every good story is conflict. When there’s no conflict, tension, or rub, there’s no story. In this video we explore the multiple ways to create conflict in [...]

Syndicated shows have proven that great shows can succeed with zero local content. Radio is experiencing another burst in syndication this year. Concurrently, we see the appeal of local content rising. Local farmer’s markets have popped up all over North America and Apps like Next Door are gaining in popularity. The 2020 Jacobs Media Tech Survey revealed that local […]

Last week, Jeff McHugh outlined several ways to be a companion to listeners. As we enter the holiday season, people more than ever are craving companionship, connection, and community. Rather than being part of an audience, how do you make people feel like they’re part of your community? Your show has a great opportunity to make all listeners (not just […]

“Podcasting has become the greatest companion medium because you can listen to a podcast and it can be a friend.” That’s a quote from Edison Research Senior VP Tom Webster speaking at the Podcast Movement conference this past Tuesday. Radio’s greatest strength has always been its companionship factor. Unfortunately, many music radio stations have weakened […]