People who have gotten up at 3:15 am to prepare to crack the mic at 5:29 belong to a special club. Today’s battle for share of ear sometimes leaves morning shows wondering how to stay relevant.
If you’ve found yourself asking that question, Don Anthony has built a place for you. Anthony is the founder of Morning Show Bootcamp, an annual gathering of industry folks that is part reunion, part revival, and part reality check.
Morning Show Boot Camp kicks off Thursday at the Austin Marriott in Austin, TX.
I began my conversation with Anthony, asking him to describe the event for a first-time attendee or someone who had never attended before.
“I think each person’s impression could vary depending on what they’ve read, heard or seen on social media about our event, said Anthony. “Regardless, given some time to mingle with others, attend a few sessions and absorb the mood and camaraderie of the crowd, I have no doubt they’ll quickly sense a true feeling of community and commonality unlike anything they expected.
“Remember, most of those in attendance are people behind the mic. They’ve all experienced, firsthand, the ultimate power of radio. And now they’re elbow to elbow with hundreds of others who relate to that experience.”
“I’ve heard from numerous first timers on how nervous or intimidated they were with meeting so many top air-talent and programmers, but after a couple of days, they begin to realize they’re all part of the same team.
Created By Talent, For Talent
Morning Show Boot Camp is where talent runs the show.
“We have a very energetic, I call it younger, mostly below 40, really diverse crowd. A good mixture of young, old, men, women, newbies, legends, people who have been on the air for a long time.”
“You feel their energy the minute you walk in the room. The sessions are very engaging. The hallways are interesting. Every person takes away something different. But the one thing that people will be most excited about is the enthusiasm. There’s a real positive vibe.”
When Disaster Strikes
I commented to Anthony that I was happy to see that this year’s agenda included a session titled “Dealing with Disasters.”
“I felt remiss in not adding something given the tragedy that took place in Texas, and the fires in LA, the hurricanes in North Carolina. It’s not just about hearing stories, but also other angles.”
“One of the people we tried to get was trapped in a radio station for over a week during Hurricane Helene. That story got international coverage. When he got back to his home, there was a lot of damage. It was the Broadcasters Foundation of America that actually helped.”
Anthony emphasizes that while radio is a vital link to the public during emergencies, the people behind the mic often carry deep emotional and logistical burdens.
“Many have to get in the car, get to the station, be on the air, and sometimes spend the night there. Radio becomes a real lifeline, and those people are right in the thick of it.”
Focusing on the Future: Self-Reliance and Innovation
MSBC focused on what’s next. The theme running through this year’s program is self-reliance.
“Talent has to start thinking more like a franchise. Being more in charge of their own destiny. Doing things that lend well to today and their future.”
That means creating new revenue streams, such as voiceover work, merchandise sales, speaking engagements, and even writing books. It also means embracing technology from video to podcasting to AI.
Specifically speaking to AI, Anthony said, “Since three years ago, when we first started talking about it, people were fearful. Now, most are using it in some way. It’s about using it more effectively to make your content better.”
Surprise Standouts and Emotional Moments
Knowing that it was likely an impossible question, I asked Anthony if he could pick out one or two standout moments over the 36 years.
“My experience has always been that sometimes the session you didn’t expect to get the most attention was the one that got the most comments.”
One such moment occurred three years ago, when MSBC hosted a panel on “Managing Your Mental Well-Being.”
“People got on the stage and told personal stories. I saw people coming out of the room with tears in their eyes. The stories were so compelling and so raw. It just took the breath out of a lot of people.”
Another memory involves longtime attendee and radio legend, the late Bob Rivers.
“Two years ago, he was on stage doing a shtick, funny and engaging. Last year, he was walking around like everything was normal. And then only a few months later, to hear of his passing, that definitely affected me.”
Face to Face Still Matters
COVID changed everything. But if the pandemic taught Anthony anything, it’s that radio people need each other.
“We only did one virtual event during COVID,” he says. “It became crystal clear to me: our group likes being together. They want to see face-to-face. They want to interact.”
Like any radio convention, the networking and late-night conversations are some of the most loved times.
“We always tell people the biggest event at our camp is around the bars at night. Not because of drinking, but because of the conversations. They usually chase our groups out of the bars, because they’ll spend hours just talking shop.”
Why You Should Go
Anthony makes a promise.
“If you haven’t been to Boot Camp before, and you’ve heard a lot about it, I would say without a doubt it will not fail to live up to what you’ve heard.”
“It’s something created by talent. It’s something they’ve put together. And it’s something that still has a lot to offer in today’s radio world.”
Find out more about Morning Show Boot Camp 37 here.
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.
