I’ve always remembered and often talked about my first aircheck session. It was 1982, with the then-owner of WOL radio, Dewey Hughes. He and my father were great friends.
Looking back, it’s wild to think about where I am in my career now, because before that meeting in Dewey’s office on Wisconsin Avenue, I honestly didn’t know what he really did. WOL and WOOK—especially after WOOK transitioned from AM to FM—were the first temptresses that lured me into the business. The Moon Man, Gene “The Rock Star” Phillips, John Turk, and the late, great Wes “Party” Johnson were the voices that hooked me.
I don’t remember every detail of that session, and I’m sure it didn’t last long. But what I do remember—vividly—is Dewey telling me:
“Your friends and family are going to tell you what’s great about your aircheck. I’m going to tell you what’s wrong with it.”
The rest is a little fuzzy, but I know this much: that conversation made me a better on-air personality.
That said, I’m no longer a fan of airchecks. I do believe critiques were valuable, especially for new on-air personalities. Back in the day, if you were a weekend jock looking to move up to full-time—at your current station or somewhere else—a critique from your PD (or a PD in the industry) could make all the difference.
But for me, the emphasis has shifted. It’s no longer just about what you said—it’s about what you say. As a brand manager, I wanted to take a more proactive approach in one-on-one meetings with talent. I wanted their buy-in—or, more importantly, their understanding-of the brand and branding. I also wanted them to have a stake in the station’s success.
My goal was to get them to think ahead about their breaks, not only what to say but also how to say it in a way that served our overall brand goals.
Being on air today is, or at least should be, more thoughtful than in the past. Think about all that goes into a single break: time, weather, station promotions, appointment-setting, who you are, a cultural reference, brand differentiation, relevance, back-announcing music (does that still happen?), and any number of other things.
A few years ago, I gave a presentation where I introduced something I called a “pre-shot routine.” Much like in my golf game, I try to keep it simple: just the basics. But before you open the mic, you’ve got to run through those key points in your head. As you can see, there’s a lot to think about.
Today’s on-air personality also has to be a content producer and editor. You’ve got to comb through social media—both national and local—along with influencers, celebrities, and artists.
As the saying goes, I’d be hard-pressed to be a personality today. I understand what it takes, but the last time I hosted a major market morning show, I had a co-host, a sports guy, a news anchor, a producer, and an assistant producer.
Now, even as an afternoon host, you’ve got to come armed with more than you might ever use—just to be prepared.
If there’s one last point I’ll make about today’s on-air demands, it’s this: Pace yourself. There’s a lot to take in to be truly prepared for a shift. Some might say it’s too much, but in today’s competitive media landscape, that level of preparation is necessary.
You’re up against the very outlets you’re pulling prep from. Unless it’s an exclusive or a paid service, your listeners can access the same information.
But think about this: the New York Times gets quoted and referenced every day, yet not everyone has a subscription. Yes, it’s a lot, but having more than you need is better.
A PD once told me that a good director always shoots more film than they need, then uses the best parts and leaves the rest on the cutting room floor.
The aircheck, in my opinion, should be relegated to a memory—a critique of on-air work from a memorable PD or with a memorable personality.
Those one-on-one conversations should be forward-thinking strategy sessions designed to bring out the best in your brand ambassadors—and your brand.
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Ken Johnson is an Urban/Hip-Hop columnist for Barrett Media. Born and raised in Washington DC, his career experiences include serving as VP of Urban formats for Cumulus Media, holding the Director of Urban Programming post at ABC Radio Networks, and programming stations in Birmingham, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City. He has also managed affiliate relations for the Nick Cannon show, and worked as the Executive Producer of The Hughley Truth Podcast hosted by comedian DL Hughley. Ken currently runs Mean Ole Lion Media, a content creation company and podcast network. He can be reached by email at ken@kenjohnsonmedia.com.
