Everyone’s favorite radio station is the station that plays their favorite music.
Why does this matter?
People love what is familiar, and what is familiar is what we love.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #526: Trying to Orchestrate the Reaction
Lately, with Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. I heard several stations trying to orchestrate the reaction to a giveaway for those days, saying things like “You’re gonna like it!”
How do you know? (You don’t. After all, one person’s “great” prize is another person’s “yard sale” junk.)
Frost Advisory #673 – The Bill of Rights for Your Station, a 4th of July Reminder
The United States of America was born 247 years ago with a Declaration of Independence, and a subsequent Bill of Rights for all citizens to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But as Americans we know that with rights comes responsibility.
So it is for your radio station.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #525: Hubie Brown and Your Dollar
The great NBA coach Hubie Brown, also a master “color man” for NBA games for years, has this great saying, “He gives you his dollar.” (Think Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, etc.)
That means the player gives you everything he has every game, a “dollar” rather than, say, 40 cents.
I’ve helped many stations in the search for air talent over the years, and that ingredient is always what we look for. I feel that a good talent who doesn’t give it a full-out effort every day is cheating the station – and himself/herself.
All the “flash” in the world can’t make up for a lazy work ethic. Give it your “dollar” every break, every hour, every day you’re on the air. You never know when someone who could change the course of your career might be listening.
Frost Advisory #672 – We Only Care About Things That Are Designed To Be Cared About
What do you passionately care about?
I’ve never heard anyone say that they loved a generic music channel like you can find on XM/Sirius, unless it was something offbeat that appealed to only three people such as the Jamaican Bongo Channel or the Left-handed Texas Fiddler channel.
Things that are generic don’t generate passion and loyalty. If a customer can take it or leave it… chances are they’ll leave it.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #524: A.I. versus Your Demo
Well, it’s here. A station in Portland has an A.I. (artificial intelligence) “air talent.” A sign of things to come? Well, as the renowned football coach Bill Parcels used to say, “Let’s not get out the anointing oil just yet.”
Frost Advisory #671 – A Father’s Influence… On Your Station
Quick! Name a TV dad that is portrayed as a positive role model! How ’bout in movies?
They say that 85% of men in prison grew up in fatherless homes. Role models can change the trajectory of a life. My dad certainly did for me.
As a format that is foundationally about beliefs and values, we have the opportunity to tell a better story about the role of men than what is typically on TV. (To prove my point I did a Google search for Best TV Dads and the list included Homer Simpson, Herman Munster, and Archie Bunker.)
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #523: Did You Get Noticed Today?
Times have changed. Local stations often don’t sound local. Syndicated shows tend to talk about generic subjects because they can’t be specific to a certain city or state. Huge radio companies are so weak in coaching the talent that many air talents have never had a coaching session.
So let’s start your process with a basic question: Did you get noticed today? Continue reading
Frost Advisory #670 – Two Powerful Little Words
So that…
My programming mentor held up two fingers and said, “Two words to help you focus your radio station;
So that…”
While I’ve had this concept in my programming toolbox for a few decades, I’ve heard that phrase pop up several times in the last week including even Sunday morning in church. I figured I needed to make it my next Frost Advisory.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #522: Radio versus Social Media
It’s come to my attention that a lot of people actually take Twitter, Facebook, or other social media comments seriously. Imagine that – someone you don’t know makes a comment, and you actually care. I knew this day would come when they took the cocaine out of Coca-Cola. (According to Facebook.)
I shudder to think – well, I don’t actually shudder; to do that, I’d have to stand up, and I can’t type very well standing up. Anyway, I’ll ask Siri to remind me to imagine shuddering at the notion of a generation of people who have a real need for some sort of validation from strangers.