Radio gets into your bones. After more nearly 20 years with one company, a good friend recently made the decision to leave radio and pursue a career outside of the industry. Seeing her be nostalgic made me feel nostalgic and had me thinking about the things I still miss in small, specific ways.
Lately, I notice something else too. Even people who work in radio full time say the same thing. It is not quite what it used to be.
The Energy of a Station Coming Alive
Walking into a station on a Monday morning once had its own rhythm. Station vehicles lined the parking lot after a weekend full of events. Listeners stood at the front desk picking up prizes. Once inside, you might run into news producers scrambling between studios. Meanwhile, music played down every hallway from the programmers’ offices. I miss that buzz more than I expected.
That energy also taught me a lesson. Great radio sounds effortless because a team prepared for it. In other words, prep is the real show. Listeners hear the magic, but the work happens long before the mic goes live. Worker bees behind the scenes each did their part, then came together for a single mission.
The People Behind the Mic
Above all, I miss the people. Radio is a team sport. Hosts, producers, promotions staff, programmers, and sales all pulled the same rope. I have met some of my all-time favorite weirdos in radio. A radio station staff is like The Muppets, a mishmash of characters who play off each other wonderfully. Early mornings and late nights, often in the same day, create a special bond.
Moreover, working that closely teaches you how much credit matters. Share a win out loud, and your team remembers it. Likewise, treat the intern like a future boss. In this industry, careers move in circles.
The Controlled Chaos of Event Day
Leading the Summer Jam team for six years taught me how fast a plan can change. Artists ran late. Weather could turn quickly. Something always broke.
At HOT 97 Summer Jam in 2019, Cardi B was about to take the stage just before 10 p.m. Then lightning struck in the area. Leadership from the station and MetLife Stadium had to ask almost 50,000 Hip Hop fans to leave their seats and shelter in the concourse. It was a tense moment that could have gone awry. Let me tell you, that early summer storm came through strong and fast.
I was upstairs checking on the suites with guests DJ Buck, DJ Mijo, and Remy Ma. I credit our Market President, Charlie Morgan, and our incredible staff for how flawlessly the crowd exited and returned. Many of that 2019 HOT 97 team had been together for a handful of years. The pandemic and sale of the station to MediaCo certainly changed things. But Summer Jam 2019 was peak for my HOT 97 experience, and I will always be nostalgic for it. That staff’s quick communication on social media, on stage, and throughout the building made the difference. The storm passed, Cardi B took the stage, nailed her performance, and the crowd danced at their now soggy seats.
I miss that adrenaline. The quick decision making. Calm leadership gets a team through the storm and the details matter. Listeners never see the checklists, yet they feel the result, especially when something unexpected happens. In radio more than anywhere else, you must expect the unexpected.
The Instant Connection With Listeners
Few jobs let you hear from your audience in real time. Back in the day, it was when a phone line lit up. Or a fan shouted across a parking lot while you sat in the station vehicle. Today, someone can comment within seconds on your latest social post. Either way, the connection is instant. It is a shared love of music, sports, news, community, etc. that keeps your audience coming back.
I know that instant feedback can also be frustrating. Everyone’s a critic until they’re in the seat. But I dare say, I even miss that because how many businesses can you have such a wide group of friends who are admittedly sometimes more like frenemies, but who all share such a strong sense of community?
The Good Old Days Are Not Just a Memory
Here is the part that surprises people. You do not have to leave radio to miss it. Friends who still work in the business tell me the same thing. The job feels different now.
For one thing, the pace has changed. Teams are leaner, and everyone wears more hats. As a result, there is less time for the hallway banter and the long brainstorms that once sparked our best ideas. Similarly, the industry moves faster than ever. New platforms and new metrics demand attention every week.
Nostalgia can be unfair, of course. Radio always had stress and tight budgets. However, the sense of a station as a family feels harder to find today. Many of us miss that feeling even while sitting in the building.
The Lessons That Outlast the Job
Radio also taught me how to handle change. A layoff hurts, but it is not a verdict on your talent. Titles come and go. Skills and relationships stay with you.
Therefore, keep your network warm before you need it. Say yes to side doors, too. Freelance projects and one-off events often lead to the next chapter.
What Radio Still Gives Us
Radio has changed, and it will keep changing. Even so, the heart of it still beats. Local connection, trust, and showing up for listeners still matter.
As for my friend, I could not be prouder of her. Leaving a place you love takes courage. Still, she carries the best of radio with her. She knows how to work a team, think fast, and treat people well. Those skills travel anywhere.
In fact, that may be radio’s greatest gift. It teaches you things the industry cannot take back, even when you leave it. Her next chapter will be better for what these years gave her. Mine has been, too.
Finally, if you work in radio today, enjoy the small moments. Savor the shared wins and the last-minute fixes. They feel routine right now, but you will miss them later. Then call an old radio friend, because they miss it too.
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