My long-time collaborator and friend, the legendary Dave Ryan, shares his wisdom after recently retiring from dominating morning radio in Minneapolis-St. Paul for three decades. Dave is not only a highly creative personality, but he’s also a sharp businessman. There are only a handful of morning show truths, and we are honored to share them […]
When I was a baby DJ in Phoenix, as Scott Shannon likes to call them, I learned how not to coach talent. I was hosting middays at KUPD and had just delivered what I thought was a pretty good intro over a song ramp. I turned off the mic, feeling confident. Suddenly, the program director burst into […]
How long is best to give a new show before management pulls the plug? Traditionally, the answer was at least 18 months. In 2026, many companies don’t have that kind of patience, but that could be a big mistake. Why 18 Months? This standard originated in the diary era, and it still applies today because […]
Evaluating a radio show well is both an art and a science. Whether you’re a programmer assessing your station’s talent or a host critiquing your own show, having a reliable process makes all the difference. Knowing how to listen and what to listen for is the foundation of a thorough review. Here’s the process we use at RLC. THE […]
Almost 30 years ago, I started journaling after reading Julie Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. One of her key recommendations was “The Morning Pages,” a daily journaling exercise designed to unlock creativity and improve well-being. Like many habits, I did it consistently for a while, even several weeks. Then life would get busy. I’d miss a day, […]
What will radio morning shows sound like ten years from now? Will War of the Roses and Florida Man still be staples? And is the talent even live, or human? Those are the questions Barrett Media‘s Keith Cunningham recently put to me in our interview. My first instinct was, “Honestly, my guess is as good as anyone’s.” But after […]
Jeff Bezos is the latest high-profile believer in The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning, Elevate Your Life. Other early-risers include Tim Cook, Michelle Obama, Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, and many more. The core philosophy of the book and podcast is to use the early, undisturbed hours to cultivate personal growth, leading to long-term success and elite […]
Back in the day, there was a morning show character formula called “Dick, Dork, Dear.” It was simple and easy to remember. Many shows tried to force themselves into that three-person box. But today’s successful shows don’t follow a fixed formula. We see four-person casts (a few), three-person teams (several), two-person shows (the most common), […]
“Is our show or digital more important?” That’s a question I hear often from talent and programmers. Today’s personalities are expected to do everything: host a radio show, a podcast, a YouTube channel, and stay active on all the socials. In many ways, today’s talent has the same opportunity that made Howard Stern the “King […]
Endorsements from trusted radio and podcast personalities can have as much, or even more, impact than a personal recommendation from a friend. When endorsements work, they deepen the host’s relationship with the audience. When they don’t, they sound like a speed bump that can weaken your brand. 8 WAYS TO MAKE ENDORSEMENTS WORK 1. Only […]
