On last week’s show I shared what an exhausting emotional week it was for me and several dozen of my teammates. As you’ve heard, Salem sold its seven Contemporary Christian music stations to EMF in one fell swoop. A huge industry story for sure but very personal to me and my teammates impacted.
My relationship with Salem goes back 24 years when I was invited into the team to launch The Fish stations in Chicago, Cleveland, and Sacramento.
Continue readingWords are what we do. Crafting what we want to say into a shape that’s relatable and connective is always the challenge. But remember, the words grow from the camera angle.
Example: If my wife and I got into an argument standing in line at the bank, how I see it is one angle, and how she sees it is the most obvious choice for a second camera angle.
In the last tip, I (again) addressed why your Content should tap into an Emotion. This is basic “What’s my motivation?” acting stuff.
But here’s the deal: Over the years, I’ve had a surprising number of air talents tell me that they don’t really HAVE an Emotion about a given subject.
So here’s another tip:
This has never happened to me before, I must confess.
For someone that has spent 5 decades plus doing this thing we love called radio I reckon’ that’s saying somethin’.
It’s been an exhaustingly emotional week for me and several dozen of my teammates. Our industry has been abuzz over the news that Salem was selling its seven Contemporary Christian music stations to EMF in one fell swoop. A huge industry story for sure but very personal to me and dozens of my teammates whose lives are impacted.
Continue readingA LOT of time is spent in my coaching sessions dwelling on the Emotion behind what the Talent says, rather than what the subject matter is.
Here’s why: Continue reading
A decade ago friends and former co-workers joined together to celebrate the life of the greatest leader I’ve ever known. If you’ve every hung around me or Alan Mason or Tommy Kramer for very long you’ve heard us bring up the name of Bud Paxson. There’s a reason for that.
Continue readingIf you play a song I love, I’ll listen.
But, when you get into Content, if you can’t reveal something that you and I have in common, I’m not going to listen to you very long.
It’s sort of like dating someone you’re head-over-heels for, but they just kind of like you. That’s not the basis for a great relationship.
Oh, the irony! In a format all about belief, few CCM stations ever declare what they believe.
As a result most stations are simply a commodity rather than a distinctive brand.
If your station is known simply for the characteristics inherent in the music you play, you don’t have a brand. Your station is not distinct from nor preferable to other stations that play the same music.
Continue readingEarly in my career, I lucked into having a tremendous mentor in the great Howard Clark.
My early, feeble attempts to “entertain” were a litany of way-too-long setups for what usually proved to be pretty lame punch lines.
Having spent more than twenty years working with radio stations in Southern California it is frightening to watch the wildfires destroy homes, neighborhoods, and lives. From Santa Monica to Pacific Palisades to the beautiful drive up through Malibu on the Pacific Coast Highway I react with the perspective that I’ve been there and have friends there.
A reminder: the recent wildfires in Southern California show us that with every event heroes emerge.
Continue reading
