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Radio’s Holiday Period Is the Best Time To Prepare for a Strong Start to the New Year

Kevin Robinson
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Radio’s Holiday Period Is the Best Time To Prepare for a Strong Start to the New Year

It happens to all of us. In your house, garage, and car. It sneaks in slowly—almost unnoticed. It happens to your radio station too. Uninspired audio content, lingering rules in your music software, and tertiary categories unvisited for months.

Clutter Creep.

From an on-air perspective, the holidays are over. Christmas music is well underway, your tree-lighting remote is complete, and first-quarter planning has begun. As the holiday slowdown settles in, Gold-Based and Adult Contemporary stations get a rare Christmas gift: time. Now is the perfect moment in the annual calendar to clean house on-air and online.

While most people will use the remaining four weeks of 2025 to burn vacation time, this slow stretch in December means scrubbing tired promos, refreshing clocks, rules, and rotations, retiring and updating imaging, organizing digital assets, and de-cluttering the mess that quietly accumulates behind every air console and programmer’s computer.

As you work through this exercise, keep in mind what we shared in July 2024:

The average occasion of radio listening, according to Nielsen PPM data—whether you’re a Talk, Christian, or Country brand—is somewhere between 11 and 15 minutes. Whether you’re 1st or 31st, the average is 13 minutes. Combine this data point with the fact that attention spans have diminished 50% over the last two decades. Listeners behave more passively than ever.

Take a day to examine the “why” behind every on-air and online element:

Manage Your Music

Build a reputable format-specific panel in Mediabase. If you already have one, mix up the radio stations you monitor. Repack your categories and create a tighter list. The most common issue we encounter is categories that are too large. Even veteran programmers “tinker” throughout the year. When in doubt, leave it out.

Given that attention spans are way down, tighten your artist separation. Taylor Swift is scorching hot. So why—other than antiquated thinking—would you not play Taylor two or three times an hour? Classic Hits/Rock: why not spin Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama”—Classic Rock’s all-time tester—six or seven times a day? The No-Repeat Day, or Workday, is dead. Listeners complain about hearing songs they dislike too often. They don’t complain about hearing their favorites.

Reimagine Your Imaging

Year-end is the perfect time to write and rebuild recurring imaging pieces. Whether it’s music promos, morning-show feature audio, or ongoing sponsor announcements, fresh writing is likely needed.

When revisiting or rebuilding clocks this month, kill the “silent segue.” ID between every element. Some radio programmers argue it creates clutter or that “the listener already knows who they’re hearing.” Listeners don’t. Starbucks doesn’t print its logo on every third cup—brand impressions matter. With 13-minute listening occasions, if you don’t ID frequently, your audience won’t remember who gave them that experience.

Brush Up Those Benchmarks

Many of our contemporaries aren’t in sync with us on this idea. If a benchmark feature is a killer, why limit it to once per show? The 6:20 a.m. audience is not the 8:40 a.m. audience. Nielsen data shows that running a signature bit once at 8:40 a.m. each week is heard by less than 5% of your P1s. If it’s hot, repeat it throughout the morning vertically and across the weekday morning horizontally.

Reimagine current benchmarks and toss recurring features that no longer work. Disney often replaces rides in their theme parks if a ride feels dated, like their “Frozen” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” rides. Disney does the same with rides that have low attendance. If your “Second Date Update” or “Craigslist Missed Connections” fails to create buzz after years, dump it. The audience will tell you if they miss a dropped feature.

Show – Station – Client Promos

Cross-promoting the morning show “a few times a day” isn’t enough. Everyone fears clutter, but if only a sliver of your audience hears the message, it’s essentially not running. As Nielsen experts remind us, “Your cume is beehiving all the time.” It turns over every 13 minutes.

Television understands this. NBC, fully aware that viewers second-screen their way through programming, ran a minimum of six Winter Olympic promos or mentions during The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade last Wednesday. When NBC airs the 2026 Super Bowl, you’ll see the same tactic. Six. Per. Hour.

Air shorter promos more often. Push incremental details to your digital platforms. Increase the frequency of mentions for shows, events, and clients dramatically. Swap standard :30 promos for tight :10s or even :05s, and run them multiple times an hour. Drop them in stop sets the way television does.

Lead with the benefit. Don’t bury the hook. If you’re giving away a trip to Hawaii at your T-Mobile event, that’s your opening line—not the closer.

Dive Into Digital

In every new situation, we encounter radio stations that have dated content or broken links on their digital platforms. Even worse, some have photos and bios of staff who have already left the building. Begin with a page-by-page audit and put several sets of eyes on your pages. Run a link-checker tool like BrokenLinkCheck.com to uncover outdated graphics and references to past promotions. Look for expired contests and talent no longer with you on sub-pages. This strengthens your digital credibility.

As with promo copy, tighten your writing while deleting long-neglected blog sections. Update outdated biographies and ensure every call-to-action leads somewhere useful. A clean digital presence projects a professional approach. Your audience is pummeled with up to 10,000 ad messages a day. Fast, error-free digital real estate is far more attractive and engaging.

An intentional and compelling brand is a great way to emerge from post-Christmas programming and a gift to yourself for the holiday. Listeners will hear—and see—a difference!

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.

How Text Lines Can Help Your News/Talk Radio Show — And How They Can Ruin It

Peter Thiele
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How Text Lines Can Help Your News/Talk Radio Show — And How They Can Ruin It

Your news/talk radio station likely has a text line.

Various services are offering this, and it can be another avenue for listener interaction with hosts, anchors, producers, and the brand manager.

The more ways to interact with fans, the better, right? Perhaps not.

Here Are Some Guardrails For You:

Don’t consider the text line to be an accurate representation of your station’s listeners. It isn’t. If your text line is like mine, there are a handful of people who reach out to the show or the station. This is an extremely small sample.

When is the last time that you texted feedback to any organization? I haven’t. I have a life, and your actual target listeners have a life as well. Anyone who is busy with a job is not texting your station. They just aren’t. When have you stopped doing what you have been doing to take a minute or two to text a radio station? This is a communications tool. That is it.

Do use it for actual purposes that help your show. Ask listeners to give feedback on a poll that is of interest and not necessarily a hot topic. Perhaps there is a disagreement with the team on the show — maybe if someone is in the minority of the argument — promote the number to get a feel for whether the outlier is an idiot. Trust me, people will come out to defend the stupidest take. Use it to make the person being made fun of into a hero. Believe me, people will hit it up.

Use the text line for an informal poll. Should all people given temporary asylum be re-evaluated and the problematic people returned to their country of origin immediately? For Christmas, is the main course turkey, ham, or goose? There are a bunch of healthy ways that will help you use your text line for good!

Here is What You Don’t Use Your News/Talk Radio Text Line For:

Don’t use it to replace phone calls where the host is reading texts instead of taking calls. We need to retrain people to call your show. If someone can just text you and get their thoughts mentioned on the air, you are defeating the meaning of talk radio. You could just call us text radio. That is boring as hell.

We have all misinterpreted a text from a friend or family member. A short sentence does not show the tone of the comment. I like the process of exchanging ideas. Yes, callers are a tool that makes your show sound bigger.

We are in show business! Train the listeners to call again. Is there a good acronym for this? TTLOCA? T – Loca may work. This may be out of my pay grade. I am, though, pretty good at giving nicknames. Usually, they are somewhat denigrating. Since I have moved into management, I have learned to be careful to tag someone with a nickname. But I am still good at it!

The text line should never, ever be used as a replacement for calls. The text line is just another touchpoint for the host and the listener. Text these nice people back and don’t validate trolls. For the uninitiated, “LOL! Trolls” are people who comment on social media or text you who are just seeking a reaction. They have zero interest in your show. These people are just focused on getting into your head. Too many hosts allow this. Don’t be thin-skinned. You are a mighty, powerful, and attractive member of the media. Some anonymous dope from a tenement on the poor end of town who works as a part-timer at the quickie mart stocking shelves is not worth it.

The last time that this man knew the delights of romantic attention from an actual romantic partner was before 1999. So why are you giving that person attention? Keep your eye on the prize. Focus completely on your station’s target demographic. If I hear another host tell me about how their listeners are different from the station’s actual fans, I will scream and throw up the now-digested holiday meal.

There are now several ways for you to interact with your listeners: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, text line, and calls. Never ever let these alternatives supplant callers.

Make sure that you recognize those who are communicating with your show. Just a quick reply that you can copy and paste. You can use terms like: Thanks, Good point, I appreciate you listening, etc. Your reply means that you read the message. It does not mean that you should read the message and change your show’s focus. The show always comes first. You can text back something like, call me on this with the station phone number. This is a total win for the station.

Push the interactions on the air above everything. You must be completely focused on those who can make your show more interesting and grow.

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.

ESPN Reporter Marty Smith Details Off-Road Experience To Secure Exclusive Interview With Lane Kiffin

BSM Staff
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ESPN Reporter Marty Smith Details Off-Road Experience To Secure Exclusive Interview With Lane Kiffin

ESPN reporter Marty Smith has built a reputation on his energetic storytelling and dogged pursuit of a good interview. Yet even by his standards, the lengths he went to on Sunday were extreme. He secured an exclusive conversation with Lane Kiffin just as the coach left Ole Miss for LSU, creating a nearly cinematic moment.

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Smith explained how a simple tip about flight activity in Oxford quickly turned into an all-out pursuit. According to Smith, word began circulating that two LSU-chartered planes were headed toward the Oxford airport. At the same time, Kiffin had stopped responding to text messages about when an interview might happen. That’s when Smith’s instincts took over.

“There had been a lot of information coming in that two LSU planes were landing at the Oxford airport, and I was still waiting to get this information from him on when we might do this interview,” Smith said. “Nothing. Crickets. So I look at my guys. I’m like, boys, we’re going to airport. My journalism antenna went up.”

The ESPN crew headed toward the airport and waited in the cold for hours. Eventually, Smith said he received a short message from Kiffin: “We’re on the way.” That was enough to trigger a full scramble.

Complicating matters was the vehicle Smith had been assigned for the holiday week: a massive conversion van he jokingly described as “a loaf of bread.” The oversized ride became the center of relentless teasing from colleagues. However, it turned out to be the only reason Smith and his crew could move fast enough to keep up with Kiffin’s movements.

“I had been given at the Birmingham Airport Thanksgiving night this conversion van,” Smith said. “Now y’all this ain’t no minivan. This is like a sixteen-person… like driving a loaf of bread. If I didn’t have that van in that chaotic moment where we’re running to get Lane Kiffin, there’s no way I can fit my whole crew, all cameras, all the gear, in one vehicle.”

As Kiffin shared brief position updates by text, Smith and his team raced toward the Oxford airport. They traveled in a bulky van. What happened next sounded more like a scene out of The Dukes of Hazzard than a routine reporting assignment.

“When we take a left off this highway, there is all these fire trucks that have blocked off the road,” Smith said. “I said, to hell with it. We’re ‘Bo Dukeing’ this thing.” Smith then drove the van off-road, cutting through a field, past farm equipment, and over ditches in an effort to reach the tarmac as Kiffin arrived.

Eventually, Smith crested a hill, steered the van toward the runway, and spotted the coach standing outside the aircraft. The decision to trust his instincts — and risk a little off-road improvisation — paid off.

The resulting interview aired across ESPN platforms and became the final on-camera appearance of Kiffin’s Ole Miss tenure. It also became another example of Smith’s relentless approach to storytelling, proving once again that the chase sometimes becomes the story itself.

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.

NBC News’ Steve Kornacki to Lead Solo Streaming Coverage of Tennessee Special Election Coverage

BNM Staff
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NBC News’ Steve Kornacki to Lead Solo Streaming Coverage of Tennessee Special Election Coverage

There’s a special election in Tennessee, and NBC News is plotting special coverage featuring Steve Kornacki on Tuesday night.

Kornacki will provide special election night coverage of the race. But he’ll be alone as the results come in.

In a post on social media, Steve Kornacki shared that he’ll be by his lonesome to provide coverage until a call in the race has been made.

“We’re trying something new and hopefully fun,” Kornacki said. “I’ll be streaming live from the Big Board — no frills, no guests, just results. It’ll go live at 7:45, 15 minutes before polls close, and I’ll stay until we’ve got a result. Hopefully the start of more nights like this!”

The coverage will be featuread across multiple NBC News platforms, including NBCNews.com, the NBC News App, and NBC News’ YouTube channel and Instagram account.

The special election is for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Former Rep. Mark Green (R) resigned the position in July. Matt Van Epps (R) and Aftyn Behn (D) are the nominees. In the Middle Tennessee district, Republicans usually garner 60% of the vote. But the result on Tuesday is expected to be very close. A Democrat has not represented the district since 1982.

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.

The Money Pit Radio Show to End Operations

BNM Staff
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The Money Pit Radio Show to End Operations

After more than 25 years, The Money Pit Radio Show is ceasing operations at the end of the calendar year.

The end of the show comes after the passing of show owner and host Tom Kraeutler earlier this year.

“I want to thank our loyal affiliates and sponsors for believing in us, going back to when we first started some 25 years ago,” said Kraeutler’s wife, Sue, who helped co-found the show’s production company. “This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s time that we closed the Squeaky Door.”

In the aftermath of Kraeutler’s death, the show was helmed by former co-host Leslie Segrete.

The final edition of the show will be broadcast on December 27th and 28th. The home improvement-focused program has aired on hundreds of radio stations across the U.S. Most recently, the show had featured more than 400 affiliates.

The show is distributed by Talk Shows USA.

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.

Daybreak Entertainment Releases 2025 Morning Show Holiday Sampler

BMM Staff
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Daybreak Entertainment Releases 2025 Morning Show Holiday Sampler

Daybreak Entertainment is marking a milestone. The company has released its 2025 Morning Show Holiday Sampler, a project that has quietly grown into one of the most relied-upon seasonal tools for morning shows nationwide.

Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the sampler continues its mission: giving programmers, producers, and hosts a curated vault of Christmas music that works on air, in production, and in show imaging.

Each year, Daybreak Entertainment assembles a fresh collection of holiday tracks that stations can use for seasonal airplay, bumper music, or music beds. The 2025 edition stays true to that formula. However, it also reflects the expansion of the sampler’s reach and the evolving needs of morning shows competing for listener attention during one of radio’s most crowded stretches of the calendar.

This year’s sampler features more than 30 new and classic Christmas cuts. The lineup spans genres and eras, offering stations flexibility no matter their format or tone. It includes tracks from Dan + Shay, Gabby Barrett, The Eagles, Hannah Ellis with Nick Wayne, Harper Grace, Herb Alpert, Kylie Minogue, LeAnn Rimes, Alicia Witt, Lee Brice, Mannheim Steamroller, The Pretty Reckless, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Sarah Reeves and Clark Beckham, Scotty McCreery, Warren Zeiders, and Yachtley Crew, among others.

For stations, the draw is the breadth. Morning shows often look for music that can match different segments, moods, and pacing without sounding repetitive or off-brand. Daybreak’s sampler answers that challenge by offering a range of contemporary, country, rock, pop, and instrumental holiday selections that can rotate easily throughout December.

To receive your free code to access the sampler digitally contact Alan Rommelfanger at Daybreak Entertainment – alan@daybreakentertainment.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.

iHeartMedia Names Jill Strada Program Director of 103.5 The Beat in Miami

BMM Staff
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iHeartMedia Names Jill Strada Program Director of 103.5 The Beat in Miami

iHeartMedia has announced that Executive Vice President of Programming in Atlanta Jill Strada is adding PD stripes for the company’s 103.5 The Beat in Miami.

In a post on social media, Strada shared her excitement for the move.

“I’m now stepping in as Program Director for 103.5 The Beat Miami,” Strada said. “I’m ready to elevate the brand and my team to new and unstoppable levels! This is a homecoming with purpose — full circle energy in every way.”

She will continue her work leading the operations at iHeartMedia in Atlanta, in addition to her new role at 103.5 The Beat.

Strada is no stranger to Miami radio. She previously served as Director of Operations in the market for the Cox Media Group cluster, including time working as Program Director of Hits 97.3 She also worked in Miami as the PD of Power 96.

Other stops in her career include time at Hot 97 in New York, Hot 96.9 in Boston, and Power 95.3 in Orlando.

Jill Strada joined iHeartMedia in September 2024, replacing Country Radio Hall of Famer Meg Stevens in the role in Atlanta.

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.

Premiere Networks Announces ‘After Midnite With Granger Smith’ Christmas Special

BMM Staff
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Premiere Networks Announces ‘After Midnite With Granger Smith’ Christmas Special

Premiere Networks announced that After MidNite with Granger Smith will once again offer a holiday treat for Country radio listeners with an exclusive Christmas special.

The four-hour program is titled After MidNite with Granger Smith Presents: A Smith Family Christmas Special. It features conversations with Country music stars, including Miranda Lambert, Cole Swindell, Zach Top, and Ella Langley. Smith and his guests share personal holiday memories, favorite gifts, and family traditions, with a mix of Christmas-themed and Country music.

Smith, host of Premiere Networks’ After MidNite and Mornings with Granger on iHeartCountry, brings music, storytelling, and personal insight to the holiday special. He also hosts the Granger Smith Podcast, regularly tops iTunes music charts, and shares family life through his YouTube series The Smiths.

Smith has spent 24 years as a platinum-selling, award-winning Country singer-songwriter. He built “Yee Yee Nation,” earning over 12 million social followers and one billion video views. He also runs Yee Yee Apparel and wrote the New York Times bestseller Like a River.

In 2023, Smith concluded his farewell Like a River tour and shifted his focus toward ministry. He now serves his local church under pastoral guidance while pursuing a Master’s degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Smith has also embraced public speaking and continues to connect with audiences through authorship and media appearances.

Unlike typical syndicated programming, the special is barter-free, allowing stations to air it without commercial restrictions. Affiliates and open markets can broadcast the program anytime from Dec. 17, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026. If you are interested, contact affiliates@premierenetworks.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.

Dick Vitale, Charles Barkley Team up for Two College Basketball Broadcasts

BSM Staff
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Dick Vitale, Charles Barkley Team up for Two College Basketball Broadcasts

Basketball legends Dick Vitale of ESPN and Charles Barkley of TNT Sports are set to join forces for two highly anticipated college basketball telecasts this season, offering fans a rare pairing of the game’s most iconic voices.

The first broadcast will feature No. 25 Indiana facing No. 19 Kentucky on Saturday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, with play-by-play duties handled by Dave O’Brien. The duo will reunite in March to call their first-ever NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament game. This will air during TNT Sports and CBS Sports’ First Four coverage.

Vitale and Barkley bring complementary styles to the broadcast booth. Vitale, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball and Sports Broadcasting Halls of Fame, has been with ESPN since 1979. He has called more than 1,000 games over 46 years. His boundless energy, memorable catchphrases, and storytelling have shaped the college basketball experience for generations of fans.

Barkley, also a Hall of Fame inductee, has spent 25 years as a fixture on TNT Sports’ Inside the NBA. Known for his humor, candid insights, and authenticity, Barkley has become one of the most recognizable voices in sports television. He has transcended the court to become a cultural icon.

“Dick and Charles are two of the most entertaining and iconic voices in basketball, so having them together on the same broadcast is a true gift for fans,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN’s President of Content. “We are thrilled to have it come to fruition, especially for a marquee college basketball rivalry game like Indiana-Kentucky in primetime on ESPN.”

Craig Barry, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer of TNT Sports, echoed the excitement, saying, “This is a unique opportunity for Dick and Charles, two of the biggest personalities in the game, to be side-by-side calling games for the first time. This is great for the game and the fans, and we can’t wait to see what unfolds.”

CBS Sports’ Harold Bryant added, “Dick has meant so much to the game of basketball, and we have long felt he deserved an opportunity to call an NCAA Men’s Tournament game. We are delighted he has finally agreed following several offers. Having him call the game with Charles will be must-see TV and a great way to tip off the First Four.”

The collaboration is being hailed as a milestone moment in sports broadcasting. Fans can expect Vitale’s signature enthusiasm and deep knowledge to blend seamlessly with Barkley’s irreverent humor and sharp commentary. Together, they promise broadcasts that are entertaining and insightful, appealing to both longtime followers and casual viewers.

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.

AM 1440 KODL Flips to News/Talk in Oregon

BNM Staff
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AM 1440 KODL Flips to News/Talk in Oregon

AM 1440 KODL in The Dalles, Oregon, has flipped to news/talk with a focus on nationally syndicated shows.

The station will feature Glenn Beck from 6-9 AM, The Lars Larson Show — which originates from nearby 101 KXL — from 12-3 PM, and The Mark Levin Show from 3-6 PM.

A local show, hosted by Al Wynn, will remain in middays.

In addition to flipping to a news/talk format, AM 1440 KODL will also remain the home of Oregon State University athletics and Seattle Seahawks broadcasts in The Dalles.

Previously, the market featured a news/talk format on 1300 AM/103.9 FM KACI. However, Bicoastal Media flipped that signal to country in September.

KODL is also heard on 99.1 and 100.7 FM in addition to its originating signal on 1440 AM.

The station officially made the switch to news/talk last Wednesday.

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.

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