The Pulse wants to shine a light on your station’s promos, marketing, and news. Email me to be included in the Friday column.
The coming new year will bring a flourish of personal and professional resolutions. Most of which will be forgotten by March 1st.
It is a great time for radio stations to take an honest, hard look at what is working and what is being held on to because “that’s how we’ve always done it.”
In my career, I worked at a cluster that had a heritage with several events and promotions that they were very proud of. Rightfully so, but most were dated and needed a fresh coat of paint, or heaven forbid, let them sunset and move on.
When I expressed that some were not only out of date in the way they were executed but that there might be a better way, I was greeted with that look you get when the people across from you believe they are looking at someone with three heads.
“But that’s how we’ve always done it, and that’s the way we do it.”
I was even told by a senior company official, “If they were ever to do a movie about us, it would be produced by 19th Century Fox.”
Said as if that was something to be proud of.
And don’t even get me started on the morning shows that were still doing caller number nine and rehashing a bit made popular by Scott Shannon in the 80s.
Radio is at a critical fork in the road. I don’t need to detail all the platforms competing for a share of the ear.
Now is a good time to examine everything from programming and promotions to jingles and station voice.
If the only case to be made is “but that’s how we’ve always done it,” then make the tough choice and let it fade into an honored spot in your station’s history.
If you’re too close to it to be objective, ask a trusted peer outside the market to give you a candid and frank assessment.
Heading into the spring book, you could have everything tuned up, and the station would sound fresh and exciting.
All it takes is some work, honesty, and the willingness not to say, but that’s how we’ve always done it.”
Community Connections:
iHeartMedia Chicago successfully raised $1 million to benefit patients and families at Lurie Children’s Hospital. As one of the foremost pediatric hospitals in the United States, Lurie Children’s is dedicated to offering state-of-the-art treatments, innovative research, and comprehensive care for children and their families.
Mark “Hawkeye” Louis and Michelle Rodriguez, the morning co-hosts at Cumulus Media’s New Country 96.3 KSCS in Dallas, have successfully collected a record-breaking 215,800 holiday cards for U.S. troops during their sixth annual “100,000 for the Troops” card drive.
The “27th Annual Preston & Steve Camp Out For Hunger,” organized by WMMR Philadelphia (93.3), successfully gathered nearly 1.7 million pounds of food and raised over $995,710 in cash. The event aimed to support individuals and families in need.
Audacy Philadelphia’s BIG 98.1 raised $241,253 for the Child Life, Education, and Creative Arts Therapy Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with its 23rd annual “BIG 98.1 Loves Our Kids Radiothon.”
Tom Fricke from KYSL Krystal 93, Dillon, CO, writes, “We’re one of the last independent live & local radio stations in a small unrated resort market. Having a small staff means that executing big promotional ideas will require strategic partnering with our local ski resorts, who have massive staffs and budgets for doing cool things to attract tourists from around the world. Such is the case with “The Race of the Santas” promotion done in conjunction with Breckenridge Ski Resort. Hundreds of Santas racing down Main Street Breckenridge leading up to the Lighting of Breckenridge. Technically, it’s not a “station promotion,” but we take ownership on the air leading up to the event, then I participate in the race and our News Director is the emcee for the event. All about having some fun!
Industry Happenings:
Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Warren Zeiders, Drew Baldridge, and Zach Top have been announced as the CRS 2025 New Faces of Country Music. These rising stars are set to perform at the New Faces of Country Music Show scheduled for February 21 at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
iHeartMedia and the Empire State Building have officially announced a festive holiday event titled the “iHeartRadio Holiday Pop-Up Party featuring Meghan Trainor.” A 10-minute special will be broadcast at 9 PM local time on iHeartRadio’s AC, Hot AC, and CHR stations, as well as on the iHeartChristmas Pop digital station at 9 PM ET.
Shaboozey and Brittney Spencer are set to join the lineup for “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash” on December 31, airing on CBS at 8 PM ET. The special will also feature performances from Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Tyler Hubbard, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, and Lainey Wilson. Previously announced performers included Keith Urban, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, and Parker McCollum.
Blake Shelton, HARDY, ERNEST, and Dasha have been announced as the latest additions to the lineup for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” hosted by Ryan Seacrest on December 31 at 8 PM ET on ABC. They join Alanis Morissette, Renee Rapp, Kesha, Natasha Bedingfield, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Laufey, and T-Pain.
Add Ons:
America Media has announced the availability of a four-hour radio special for stations featuring content from the company’s holiday podcast, “Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols.” This special will be accessible to radio affiliates starting December 9. Stations that wish to air the special can email Maggi Van Dorn at America Media.
Premiere Networks has announced an exciting addition to its programming with the upcoming Christmas special, “After MidNite with Granger Smith.” This four-hour festive event, titled “After MidNite with Granger Smith Presents: A Smith Family Christmas Special,” will be broadcast from December 20 to December 31.
Bit Of The Week:
In future weeks, The Pulse will include the “Bit Of The Week.” If you want to be featured, please send me an mp3 of your best, most recent bit to jeff@barrettmedia.com.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Jeff Lynn serves as Editor of Barrett Media’s Music Radio coverage. Prior to joining Barrett Media, Jeff spent time programming in Milwaukee, Omaha, Cleveland, Des Moines, and Madison for multiple radio groups, including iHeartMedia, Townsquare Media, NRG Media, and Entercom (now Audacy). He also worked as a Country Format Editor for All Access until the outlet shut down in August 2023.
To get in touch with Jeff by email, reach him at Jeff@BarrettMedia.com.
