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ESPN West Palm Adds Michael Rizzo As On-Air Host

BSM Staff
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ESPN West Palm Adds Michael Rizzo As On-Air Host

Michael Rizzo is joining Good Karma Brands sports station ESPN West Palm as a new on-air host and content teammate.

Rizzo — the son of Cleveland sports radio legend and co-host of ESPN Cleveland’s The Really Big Show, Tony Rizzo — has previously worked at Peoria Sports Radio 101.1, where he hosted Primetime in Peoria with Mike Rizzo as well as The Jim Mattson Show with Mike Rizzo in the Illinois market. He has also spent time at his father’s home station as an intern early in his career.

“Can’t wait to get started with such a great team and couldn’t be more thrilled to be back with Good Karma Brands,” Rizzo said in a social media post announcing his new position.

It is unclear where Rizzo will fit into the station’s lineup. Currently, the only local programming heard daily is Theoretically Speaking hosted by Theo Dorsey from 5-6 PM. The station also hosts ESPN West Palm Tonight on Thursdays from 6-7 PM.

Premiere Networks President Julie Talbott: ‘It’s Wildly Important For Us’ to Have News/Talk Hosts at Republican National Convention

BNM Staff
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Premiere Networks President Julie Talbott: ‘It’s Wildly Important For Us’ to Have News/Talk Hosts at Republican National Convention

Premiere Networks has a strong delegation of its hosts live on location in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Clay Travis, Buck Sexton, Jesse Kelly, and Ben Ferguson are all in Milwaukee providing extensive coverage. Network President Julie Talbott believes it’s an imperative piece of their mission.

Clay Travis, Buck Sexton, Sean Hannity, Jesse Kelly, Jack Armstrong, Joe Getty, and Ben Ferguson are all in the Wisconsin city for the convention as they host their nationally syndicated programs and gather news for affiliates. Talbott told Barrett News Media the network hosts will always be where the action is.

“These are the playoffs of the Super Bowl and when you’ve got a personality like a Donald Trump, anything can happen and certainly the unimaginable did happen. We’ve just got talent that need to be where the action is, to be able to report back to all of their listeners,” Talbott said. “If you’ve ever been to any kind of awards (show), our listeners need to have a story. They want people to be there and give us the color of what’s happening down on the floor.”

Premiere Networks is affiliated with hundreds of radio stations across the country. And Julie Talbott believes it is the company’s duty to provide outstanding coverage to those stations and listeners.

“We represent a lot of radio stations. And it’s an expensive proposition. So for us, it’s just wildly important that we can share this experience with 500 radio station listeners. So it’s part of our responsibility to be able to provide this type of coverage.”

A photo of Premiere Networks hosts Buck Sexton, Clay Travis, and Ben Ferguson alongside Senator Ted Cruz.
Pictured left to right: Buck Sexton, Clay Travis, Dan Hauser –
Chief Strategist for Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Jesse Kelly, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ben Ferguson (Photo: Premiere Networks)

“Listen, we have two sets of clients — one are radio stations and two are radio listeners,” she later added. “And it is incredibly important for us to be there and to be able to provide back what’s what it feels like, what’s going on, and to get the perspective of the many Representatives and Senators that are walking the floor.”

But sending its hosts to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention is deeper than just hosting radio shows from the media center. The event allows hosts who are based all over the country — like Sexton, Travis, and Kelly — to spend time with one another. It also allows the company to have its hosts interact with current and prospective advertising clients.

The four-day event for Premiere Networks is ultimately the culmination of several months of planning, investigating, trial and error, and creating a system that allowed each host what they needed to succeed while broadcasting remotely from the Wisconsin city.

“This is a six to eight-month process. We had to build an entire platform. We have big talent down and big talent needs a big platform. So card tables don’t work for us,” Talbott joked. “So building platforms and ensuring that broadcasting facilities are there is a very long process. (iHeartMedia Executive Vice President News, Talk, & Sports) Chris Berry has been our boots on the ground. He’s been a great leader for us and all of our efforts and it’s just taken an enormous amount of time and energy from everyone.”

ESPN Announces Multiplatform Coverage of 2024 Summer Olympics

BSM Staff
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ESPN Announces Multiplatform Coverage of 2024 Summer Olympics

NBCUniversal is the official U.S. rightsholder of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, thus other networks aiming to cover the action, such as ESPN, are under video usage restrictions. These limitations begin on July 24, two days before the Opening Ceremony, and continue through the conclusion of the games through August 11.

Some of these restrictions include delays on when highlights can be aired, limiting how many highlights can be shown and restrictions on direct interviews of U.S. or International athletes directly. While the two companies discuss opportunities for ESPN to provide its viewers with complete coverage of the games, particularly on editions of SportsCenter, the network is still limited in what it can air before the conclusion of the NBC prime-time telecast each night. Moreover, ESPN is not able to present Olympic highlights on its digital platforms in the United States under these restrictions.

Despite these limitations, ESPN will still aim to provide comprehensive coverage of the Olympic Games with a team of 10 on-site reporters heading to Paris, France for the events. Sam Borden will cover men’s and women’s soccer while Coley Harvey will be assigned to track and field. D’Arcy Maine will be assigned to swimming and tennis, Alyssa Roenigk will be following gymnastics, action sports and breaking news, and Brian Windhorst is slated to cover men’s and women’s basketball.

Emily Kaplan will provide daily news and features, Connor O’Halloran will focus on international news and features and Jeremy Schaap is covering news and features for television. William C. Rohden and Marc Spears are both assigned to news and features for the Andscape vertical.

Ahead of the Olympic Games, ESPN’s website provided international coverage through both the trials and exhibition games leading up to the beginning of the Olympics. The platform has plans to disseminate daily news, features and reported trend stories for all days of the competition. Both the website and mobile app will also include scoreboards, medal counts, and additional statistics updated in real time.

ESPN International news platforms will have 15 reporters who are on location in France that will provide coverage for viewers in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Editions of SportsCenter on ESPN will report on these results and present information and features as well while also airing video from the games under video usage restrictions. ESPN shares a television reporting location in Paris with ABC News that overlooks the Eiffel Tower.

Rob King Named Radio Play-By-Play Voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers

BSM Staff
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Rob King Named Radio Play-By-Play Voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers

In an announcement made by iHeartMedia Pittsburgh, it was revealed that Rob King, who has been a part of the Steelers Audio Network pre-game and post-game broadcast team since 2014, will now serve as the Play-By-Play announcer for the team’s audio broadcasts.

For almost a quarter of a century, King has been a prominent figure in the Pittsburgh sports media scene. He takes on this new role after Bill Hillgrove, who held the position for 30 seasons, retired earlier this year. He will be joining color analyst Craig Wolfley in the broadcast booth.

“The Steelers hold a special place in this community and across the country,” King said in a release. “I’m thankful to Art Rooney II, the Steelers and iHeartMedia for giving me this incredible opportunity to be a meaningful part of one of the greatest organizations in professional sports. I look forward to getting started, doing the job well and bringing the enthusiasm of the games to people around the world. I could not be more excited.”

“We are very excited to announce Rob King will be the new play-by-play broadcaster for the Steelers beginning this season after the retirement of long-time broadcaster, Bill Hillgrove, earlier this year,” said Steelers Team President Art Rooney II. “Rob has done a great job in his 25-year career in the Pittsburgh market and is very respected among his peers in the business.

“We are excited for Steelers Nation to hear his unique perspective and excitement of making our fans feel they are in the stadium witnessing the action on the field. He has big shoes to fill with the legendary broadcasters that have come before him, but we are thrilled to have Rob step into his new role to bring Steelers football to our fans across the world.”

“Rob King has been a key part of our Steelers gameday broadcast team for over a decade, ” said Tim McAleer, Market President, iHeartMedia Pittsburgh. “We are thrilled for him to bring his passion for game calling into the booth and create an exciting radio broadcast for our audiences.”

King previously had filled in for Hillgrove in 2019 when the Steelers announcer was out due to having back surgery. He called four games that season and did two more in 2020. King has also previously worked games with Wolfley as the two worked high school games together in Western Pennsylvania.

King’s first game behind will be on Friday, Aug. 9, when the Steelers start their preseason against the Houston Texans.

Barrett Media Convention Coverage: Republican National Convention Day 3 Recap

BNM Staff
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Barrett Media Convention Coverage: Republican National Convention Day 3 Recap

The Republican National Convention hit day three of its event Wednesday evening, with several prominent figures speaking in primetime.

Recently tabbed Vice Presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) took the stage to address the party. The 39-year-old shared his life story and also took a moment to introduce his mother, who previously struggled with addiction issues before spending the past decade sober.

In his speech, Vance railed against policies enacted by President Joe Biden, each to an expected applause. He also railed against “multinational corporations” and credited running mate Donald Trump as someone who “will stand up for American companies.”

Many news media figures had high praise for the orator.

Also resonating with viewers, media members, and convention attendees was the recognition of Gold Star families. In August 2021, 13 U.S. service members were killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. Several family members of those killed in the attack took the stage in Milwaukee with several having harsh criticism for Biden. “Joe Biden has refused to recognize their sacrifice,” said Christy Shamblin, the mother of Army Sgt. Nicole Gee. “Donald Trump knew all of our children’s names. He knew all of their stories.”

Another family member who lost a child claimed “We have another son in the Army. We do not trust Joe Biden with his life.”

Many observers called the moments on stage at the Republican National Convention the most powerful of the event thus far.

During the portion of the evening when the Gold Star families were speaking, MSNBC cut away from the action for an interview, which caught the ire of several media members.

In another military moment, 98-year-old D-Day veteran Staff Sgt. Bill Pekrul spoke on behalf of former President and current Republican nominee Donald Trump.

The World War II veteran said “If Donald Trump were elected Commander-in-Chief, I’d re-enlist today and I would storm whatever beach my country needed me to,” to a raucous applause.

Security at the Republican National Convention became a concern for many after Trump was struck by a bullet at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday. 850 KOA host Mandy Connell, who has featured several videos of her experience in Milwaukee, took to social media to share just how many layers of protection have been put in place surrounding the convention to ensure safety remains a top priority for not only the politicians and delegates but also the average attendees.

Overall, through three days, the convention has received praise for its speaker schedule and for the unity the party has shown.

WAAV Morning Host Nick Craig Departs

BNM Staff
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WAAV Morning Host Nick Craig Departs

WAAV morning show host Nick Craig has announced he has exited the Cumulus Media Wilmington news/talk station after three and a half years in the role.

Craig hosted Wilmington’s Morning News for the station, which has subsequently been replaced by The Fox News Rundown and America In The Morning in the station’s lineup.

“My relationship with Cumulus Media and WAAV radio has come to an end. It was a fantastic opportunity and I will always be grateful for it,” Craig wrote in a post on social media. “It has been an absolute pleasure informing the residents of southeastern North Carolina for the past three and a half years. I have the most incredible audience in local talk radio, and cannot thank you enough for your support.”

Nick Craig added that his future is “bright with opportunities”, noting that he is “excited to share what comes next.”

With the exit of Wilmington’s Morning News, WAAV now features a completely syndicated lineup. After the two news programs, the station airs The Chris Plante Show (9 AM-Noon), The Dan Bongino Show (12-3 PM), The Sean Hannity Show (3-6 PM), The Mark Levin Show (6-9 PM) and then programs from The Daily Wire hosted by Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, and Michael Knowles in one-hour increments from 9 PM-Midnight. The station also airs The Will Cain Show at midnight, which recently was offered to radio stations through Fox News Radio.

Josh Klingler Bids Farewell to 610 Sports in Kansas City

BSM Staff
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Josh Klingler Bids Farewell to 610 Sports in Kansas City

It was the end of an era on 610 Sports in Kansas City Wednesday, as longtime morning co-host Josh Klingler ended his run with the Audacy-owned sports station.

Klingler’s final show as a member of Fescoe in the Morning was Wednesday after spending more than 14 years paired with the host.

“I don’t have the ego I probably should for this business. And it’s served me well at times and it’s probably hindered me at other times,” Klingler said in his final moments on the program. “I don’t want any of this. You asked me even yesterday ‘What do I wanna do’ last night. I don’t want wanna do anything. I wanted to do a Wednesday show. That was my full intention.”

Josh Klingler added that the recognition he has received since announcing his departure has been a lot to handle.

“All this has been a little bit overwhelming over the last six weeks,” he admitted. “Because I was prepared to be shown the door when I said that I’m not coming back and it’s been far from it. That just doesn’t happen in this business. That part of it’s been really weird, and surreal, and cool.”

Klingler thanked listeners as well as his cohorts at 610 Sports and Audacy for their admiration during his departure. While he is exiting Fescoe in the Morning, he’ll remain a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network.

Michael Kay Has No Plans to Stop at ESPN New York

Demetri Ravanos
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Michael Kay Has No Plans to Stop at ESPN New York

Nothing stays the same for very long in radio. That’s definitely true in New York. While Michael Kay has managed to remain a stalwart for ESPN New York, his show has certainly changed and so has the station.

This week, The Michael Kay Show celebrates 22 years on the air in The Big Apple. Kay, along with his co-hosts Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg, have found a way to evolve while delivering a consistent product every afternoon.

“From the very first show to the show today, yeah, it’s completely different,” Kay says. “I think it’s the same sensibility to kind of mix fun and sports and pop culture, but I think it’s evolved to a finer version of that over the years.”

When the show launched, Kay admits that he and La Greca had different ideas and maybe were given different directions by their bosses. La Greca always believed he was coming in to co-host. Kay was told that his new partner was only there “just in case.” If his line dropped out while he was on the road or if he needed a voice to bounce an idea off of, Don was there, but he didn’t have to be involved in every segment of every show.

After some trial, error and evolution, Kay now realizes how hard it would have been to get to 22 years under his belt if he insisted on being a solo act. He certainly knows that without Don La Greca by his side, a lot of people would think of him and his show differently.

“I think it’s fair to say that Don has evolved into the most important part of the show,” he says, adding that it’s possible that La Greca is still underrated. “I think people relate to him more than they probably relate to me. They look at him as the everyman. He’s perfect for sports talk radio. He’s got the emotion.”

A 22-year run is full of highlights and Kay remembers his fondly, but he tries to stay focused on the future, because of all the aforementioned change. It’s not just in his own hallways. 

ESPN New York’s chief competition, WFAN, has seen some big changes over the last calendar year, starting with the exit of Craig Carton, the launch of a new weekday line up, and earlier this year, the exit of program director Spike Eskin. WFAN is now lead by Ryan Hurley, who was Kay’s producer and then his program director until last year.

Hurley lost his job at ESPN New York in a cost cutting move. For that reason, Kay is happy to see his old friend get another shot to prove his worth in this business, but he admits that the situation is strange and maybe even a bit uncomfortable. 

“Ryan was phenomenal. It’s kind of weird knowing that he kind of knows the state secrets of our show and now he’s our competition,” he says.

There’s also been a big change in the way Kay thinks about his show’s success. There was a time when the only thing that mattered was the Nielsen ratings. Now, that isn’t necessarily true.

Nielsen still uses its formulas to estimate how many people are listening to what station, but those numbers, however accurate they are, don’t matter to Kay’s bosses like they used to. Good Karma Brands, which now operates ESPN New York, measures its success through more tangible digital metrics.

That’s great news for Michael Kay, who as the voice of the Yankees, has people all over the world that want to hear what he has to say.

“We get phone calls literally from Australia, from Israel and places like that,” he says. “I think that the world that we live in right now with downloads, podcasts and streaming, every show has a reach that you could not even imagine ten years ago. I mean, we’re kind of a national show, so I think it’s up to the people that run the station and people that sell to somehow monetize the fact that we reach such a wide, wide swath of people. It’s not just the New York metropolitan area. We don’t change the show that we do because people listen in California or Colorado, but I think that there is definitely something there that smart people can monetize and turn into profits because the reach is incredible.”

As we celebrate the start of a new year of shows for Michael Kay, it’s important to remember that we almost didn’t get here. Retirement was heavy on his mind last year, when he was working on a new deal. When you do radio five days a week and then call a full season of Major League Baseball games on television for YES and ESPN, it’s understandable to take stock of what stays and what goes.

The subject came up again, this time in relation to his play-by-play duties, earlier this year when he watched his friend and longtime colleague John Sterling decide he was done as the radio voice of the Yankees.

“It really hit me because we’re so close. And then I started thinking about my professional mortality as well. But then I started to think, ‘you know, John is 23 years older than me,’ right? So, I don’t think that I’m at that point right now,” Kay says. “You know, you do think about it. But I still think I’m an infant in my head, so I’m physically, I’m older than I was, but as long as I feel and think young, yeah, I’m going to continue to do it. And as long as I can continue to carve out the most important thing, which is time for the kids and the family then it just makes that really, really easy. Then I’ll continue to do it.”

For now, Michael Kay isn’t worried about retirement. He has two kids, a nine and an eleven-year-old. He realizes that the day may come where he may have to say goodbye to radio in order to get all the time with them that he wants, but that day isn’t today. Today, he judges his radio future in a simple way.

“I still feel good. I still feel I have stuff to say. We still have it,” he says. “I judge it this way: When I do the show, are we having fun? Does it go fast? And most of the time I have fun and it goes fast.”

Until Michael Kay stops having fun, he isn’t making any plans for what comes after radio.

Kayla Burton is Back Home at NBC Sports Boston After Growing at ESPN and NFL Network

John Molori
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Kayla Burton is Back Home at NBC Sports Boston After Growing at ESPN and NFL Network

Earlier this week, NBC Sports Boston announced that host/reporter Kayla Burton has joined its roster of on-air personalities. The regional network plans to use Burton’s versatility and talents across several shows, platforms, content, and new initiatives.

Burton has done some really fine work as a reporter both for ESPN and NFL Network. She has a very comfortable on-air style with a presence that dominates the screen. Burton grew up in a family with strong media and sports impact and influence but has truly paid her dues.

The national audience has become familiar with her at ESPN and NFL Network, but Burton has also worked with Western Massachusetts News based in Springfield, MA. Burton is part of a growing wave of young female reporters who are taking sports media by storm. Think Jackie Redmond, Ariel Epstein, Amina Smith, Joy Taylor, etc. The traits they share are drive, determination, and utter fearlessness.

First and foremost, Burton is a worker. On ESPN, she could often be seen patrolling the college football sidelines looking for stories, as opposed to waiting for them to come to her. Similarly, on NFL Network and its related multimedia outlets, Burton took on numerous and diverse roles and assignments. I view her as a true professional – all about doing the job and gaining experience.

Perhaps this stems from her deep sports and media roots. Her father, Steve Burton, has been a fixture in Boston sports broadcasting since 1988 and is the longtime sports reporter, anchor, and director at WBZ-TV CBS Boston. In fact, the Burtons are one of the first families of sports in Boston and New England.

In 1960, Kayla’s grandfather, Ron Burton, became the first ever draft pick of the New England Patriots, then the AFL’s Boston Patriots. He played six seasons with the Patriots and eventually moved onto an even higher calling. In 1985, he founded the Ron Burton Training Village, a camp with the mission of training youth to achieve their purpose and overcome challenges through education, leadership, physical wellness, social advancement, and spiritual growth.

Kayla Burton’s uncle, Phil Burton, also worked in sports broadcasting, and her sister Veronica currently plays for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.

Burton’s move to NBC Sports Boston will further strengthen this long history of New England accomplishment. While some may view the move from a national network to a regional network as a step down, this is actually not the case. Local networks are not exactly local anymore, and NBC Sports Boston’s reach of over 4 million households in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont exemplifies this.

The network features top-flight programs like Arbella Early Edition, Boston Sports Tonight with hosts Michael Felger and Michael Holley, Boston Celtics and Connecticut Sun game broadcasts, Quick Slants with Tom Curran, and Football Day in New England, among others. The network also has a strong online presence at NBCSportsBoston.com and @NBCSBoston on social media.

Moreover, at NBC Sports Boston, Burton will be allowed to spread her wings as a reporter, host, and commentator. While much of the free world largely despises Boston, it remains the nation’s hottest sports city in team performance, history, and provocative personalities. Over the past 20-plus years, no sports market has had more major sports championship teams. Boston sports media has also been a pipeline for national talents like Elle Duncan, Gary Striewski, Jenny Dell, Kathryn Tappen, the aforementioned Amina Smith, and many others.

So, in taking the opposite route, what will Kayla Burton bring to New England? For starters, she possesses on-camera charisma matched by her ever-developing reporter chops and experience growing up in sports media. The fact that she achieved success at heavyweight outlets like NFL Network and ESPN in a short time and at a relatively young age is remarkable.

Burton is truly a rising star in the business and has all the tools to achieve whatever level of success she seeks. She also has an innate knowledge of New England sports that I’m sure will be utilized on NBC Sports Boston’s multimedia platforms.

In fact, it’s not so much what NBC Sports Boston can do for Burton, but what Burton can do for NBC Sports Boston. While the network has flourished with local programs and the NBA World Champion Celtics, these productions are predominantly hosted by veteran reporters or ex-players who have been around the Boston or national media scene for decades.

Burton will bring wider appeal to a more diverse audience. She brings a youthful effervescence that will shake things up at the network. Boston has long been a very parochial city when it comes to its sports media personalities. While Burton has this somewhat covered with her local background, she will be an exciting, new, and fresh face on the Boston media landscape.

In a press release announcing the hire, Burton stated, “I am truly honored and excited to be working with NBC Sports Boston, where I’m back home covering the sports city of champions.

“Being born and raised in the Boston area, I have a sincere passion for its fan base, community, and sports franchises. As a journalist, I enjoy storytelling with accuracy and authenticity. I love it here and cannot wait to get started.”

NBC Sports Boston’s VP of Content Creation and Strategy Kevin Miller added, “We are thrilled to have Kayla join us as a member of the NBC Sports Boston team. Kayla’s infectious energy for storytelling and her passion for the area as a Boston native, combined with her multiplatform experiences, will be essential as we continue to evolve our content and connect with our audiences.”

Press release quotes are like San Diego weather, always bright and sunny. Don’t get me wrong, Burton’s New England contacts and background will no doubt help her as a reporter and interviewer, but it is my hope that her national experience will allow her to offer a different perspective from her new colleagues, many of whom who have only worked in the Boston area.

Conversely, I also hope that NBC Sports Boston uses Burton’s budding talent wisely. Let her experiment with commentary and opinion and find the right vehicles for her reporting prowess. Working the sidelines for major college football and the NFL is not easy. In fact, some people still look at the role of sideline reporter as unnecessary. Burton has shown in her short time in the business that this is not true. She has been excellent in gathering information and relaying it to viewers.

Burton has grown into a capable reporter, commentator, and personality. She has also taken advantage of social media to show her personal and professional sides. There is no doubt that she will have future national opportunities, so it will be interesting to see if NBC Sports Boston is sharp enough to hold Burton’s interest and use her engaging talent in a mutually beneficial manner.

It’s Not About You or Your Radio Show, It’s About the Listener

Peter Thiele
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It’s Not About You or Your Radio Show, It’s About the Listener

We often think that our radio show or radio station is at the center of the existence of our listeners. It’s not. You are a choice for your audience. We must understand the lives that people navigate on a day-to-day basis. These events are very likely more important than you. So, here is my semi-exhaustive list of issues and interests that your audience encounters:

Traffic: The drive to the office and back home is a real pain in the butt. Your listener has an 8 o’clock meeting. It’s 7:45 and there was an accident on a major artery in your city. Are you discussing this outside of the traffic report? I think that you should be taking calls from the poor people stuck in this. Is your show nimble?

Work Issues: Even in the best of employment situations, there are deadlines, challenges, and aggravations. Understand the real-life circumstances of your listeners. Is the project completed? Did Sales miss their quarterly goal? Are co-worker frictions creating unnecessary drama in the office? The boss is demanding a report that you have never heard of. You asked about how to do the report and she suggests that you google it and have it completed by Thursday. Eight to ten hours a day in the office. This is a huge part of their existence. How often are you addressing this?

Romantic Issues: Perhaps your listener has a spouse that makes that honey-do list total hell. Maybe there is some angry texting going on. Focusing on the workday is now complicated. If you are having a conflict with your spouse or partner, your productivity at the office is likely impacted and not for the good.

Home: The water heater is out. The AC stopped working and it is 95 degrees. Your listener is worried about this, and it will interrupt her/his day. Did the lawn service show up? If your listener is a do it yourself type, how does that person schedule this chore?

The Kids: Parent must take the kids to school, camp or other activities. How are the kiddo’s grades? The kid was caught with weed, booze or cigarettes. The kid had an incident with a classmate, neighbor or instructor.  What problems are kids having? In a busy world, how do parents make time to spend with the kids? Seemingly, parents are driving kids to activities but not spending a lot of quality personal time with their children. This is a concern that every parent has. When is the last time that the family had dinner together with no screens or interruptions?

Costs and Budgets: The price of everything has gone up dramatically in the past few years. Salaries have not kept up with costs. Your listeners are being squeezed. In many states, it is becoming difficult to get insurance. I have a friend who has lived in his home for over a decade, his home insurer just dropped him. Interest rates are stifling your listeners. There are people in your audience who need a larger or smaller home. The interest rates are a hindrance to buying a different home. Just think, downsizing a home could be more expensive than staying put because of interest rates. 

For the middle class, this year’s vacation plans are likely scaled back. They are enjoying staycations with day trips. The people that are traveling are either well-heeled or adding to personal debt. The average American household has over $8,400 in credit card debt.  If you include vehicle loans, it is over $22,000 per household. Gen X has the most credit card debt. Those are your listeners. I have been in credit card debt; it is a vicious cycle that is very tough to get out of. According to Google, 60% of Americans have used their personal credit card to purchase groceries. Many of these credit card lenders are predatory. How often are you discussing this? 60% of your audience has charged groceries. Think that through.

Hobbies: Your listeners have more interests than just politics. Your community may be different. Check the data. Opening of fishing, how many people get fishing licenses? Hunting? Camping, how big is that for your listeners? Gaming, playing video games is not just for the kids. Adults are spending a large amount of time gaming. Radio has really missed the boat on this. A new Madden will sell over 5 million copies.  I have a friend who is constantly being nagged by the wife over how much time he is spending on gaming (he is 50). Going to local events, is this a big deal for your people? I have lived all over the USA in my nomadic radio life. Every community is different. Your job is to know what your audience is doing.

A temptation for all of us is confirmation bias. If I do this, everyone else does it. Here is a common, real-life example of confirmation bias: do you notice how many people are driving the make and model of the vehicle you drive? This is very common. We psychologically need affirmation that we have made a good and popular choice. You must dive into the data.

How many people per household? What is the average age of a human in your community? What percentage of people have a college degree? What is the average household income in your community? How long is the average commute? How many times a week do people go out to eat? Do you listeners drink Bourbon, Beer, Wine or something else? In the coming months, we will be tempted to focus on the play by play of national and local elections. Often those discussions become inside baseball. You must strive for a Listener-Focused Experience every day. It’s never about you.

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