WPEN To Launch New Local Morning Show

4-14-15

According to numerous reports from Philadelphia newspapers, WPEN-FM/ 97.5 The Fanatic will have a new live and local morning show as of next Monday, hosted by former WIP afternoon sports talker Anthony Gargano. The show's co-host will be midday personality John Marks. The new show would replace ESPN's syndicated Mike & Mike in the Morning.

Gargano had been on WIP for 15 years, exiting at the end of this past December. This would be WPEN-FM's first local morning show.

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Pandora More Than Doubles Local Advertising Revenue

10-23-14
The Internet Pure-play reported Q3 revenue of $239.6 million on Thursday afternoon, which is an increase of 40% over the same three months in 2013. Mobile revenue increased 50% to $188 million and now makes up about 78% of Pandora's overall revenue. And the big number radio should be looking at was the local revenue number which is up 118% to $41.8 million. That's where Pandora directly targets radio's advertising dollars. Pandora also says it now has 9.06% of all radio listening in the United States. Pandora now has 109 local salespeople in 37 markets. An inside sales office addresses more than another 150 DMA's with more sales investment on the way. CFO Mike Herring said, "Our sales force is operating very well. Pricing has been very strong and we are hitting sell out points in certain markets as advertisers compete for prime positions.."

(10/24/2014 11:45:48 AM)
Wonder how much of that is coming directly out of radio's pocket?

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WIP Raises Over $290K For Local Kids

9-5-14

SportsRadio 94WIP and The Philadelphia Eagles raised $100,000 more than last year's total during the 2014 Eagles Radiothon, setting a new fundraising record for the event. Proceeds benefit Eagles Youth Partnership and its various programs that serve over 50,000 low income children every year with a focus on health and education programming. The three-day auction (Sept. 2 to  Sept. 4) offered Eagles fans and 94WIP listeners the opportunity to bid on unique sports and entertainment experience prizes involving their favorite Eagles players and SportsRadio 94WIP radio personalities.
?The kindness and generosity of WIP listeners and Eagles fans never fails to astonish me,? said Senior VP/Market Manager CBS Radio Philadelphia, Marc Rayfield.  ?Every year the donations we raise during the WIP Eagles Radiothon exceeds our expectations, but this year we set an all-time record.  Radiothon is a source of pride among everybody at WIP.  By working with Eagles Youth Partnership we?re able to help children here in the Delaware Valley through important programs that improve the local community.?

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BIA: Local TV Revenue To Hit $20 Billion

4-24-14

BIA/Kelsey is forecasting local television advertising will grow by nearly eight percent in 2014, after a slight decline in 2013. The firm projects combined local TV revenues (over-the-air and digital) to reach $20.7 billion. In 2013, BIA/Kelsey says local TV advertising took in $18.4 billion; $700 million was from digital. They are projecting $800 million in digital advertising to come in for local TV in 2014 and $1.2 billion by 2018.

The top four business category sources of revenue for local television in 2013, according to BIA/Kelsey's Media Ad View Plus Forecast, were automotive dealers ($3.5 billion), wireless telecommunications ($772 million), hospitals ($652.7 million), and full-service restaurants ($558.3 million).

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Local Radio In Syracuse Isn't Dead Yet

4-16-14

That's the title of a column written by John Hunt, GSM for FoxFur Communications in Syracuse at Syracuse.com. Hunt says radio hears about the demise of radio all the time. He says the truth is "radio has been an ongoing, dependable medium for listeners, musicians, advertisers, and other content providers like talk show hosts for over a hundred years. The medium has been more flexible than any other in the way it adapts to trends, fads, and community needs." Hunt goes on to describe both the winning and losing radio business models.

According to Hunt, the key to successful radio, radio with local impact, is to be true to the community. "To be true to the listeners who enjoy the content of their favorite station. To be true to the core audience who knows what is happening in the community and know their station will be a megaphone for what is important to them and people like them. When we hear of companies that carry crippling corporate debt, we know that in the end the upside-down business model will self-implode; because the focus at that point is no longer on the community, but on shrinking the debt above any other priority."

Read Hunt's full piece HERE

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They Are National. You Are Local.

4-16-14
Even though Pandora openly claims it is taking listeners and advertising dollars away from radio, and claims it is the number one "station" in some of the biggest cities in America, the FCC isn't buying it. Pandora now says it has 9% of all radio listening in the United States. The Commission argues they are a national product and there is no evidence they compete locally (FLASHBACK: Read how a local car dealer is using Pandora over Radio HERE).

The FCC's  detailed explanation why it's not allowing more deregulation is very specific about what radio is expected to deliver. In rejecting the NAB's increased competitive environment, the FCC points out that Satellite Radio and Internet Radio are "national platforms," not likely to respond to competitive conditions in local markets. And, no evidence was provided that either plan to become local. The FCC said, "only local broadcasters provide programming based on the unique characteristics of their respective local markets. As the Commission has stated previously, it is the competition between such rivals that most benefits listeners in a local market and serves the public interest."

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Local Radio Freedom Act Gains Support

3-11-14

Four representatives and two senators have added their support to the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution saying Congress won't impose "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for or broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings." The resolution was introduced in the House by Reps. Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX) and in the Senate by Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).

The LRFA is a non-binding resolution that's been introduced in Congress several times before; this iteration has 202 house co-sponsors, including just-added Reps Bradley Byrne (AL), William Enyart (IL), Dana Rohrabacher (CA), and Kurt Schrader (OR). In the Senate, new supporters are Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Richard Burr (R-NC), bringing the number of Senate co-sponsors to 14.

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BIA: Radio Will Get 11.5% of 2014 Local Ad Revenue

11-12-13

In its latest "State of the Industry" report, BIA/Kelsey says radio will be fourth in the race for 2014 local advertising dollars. Despite its dramatic fall from grace with consumers, newspapers will still outbill radio, with BIA/Kelsey projecting print will take in 16.1 percent in 2014. Direct mail is number one in the report, with 27.1 percent and TV is third with 14.9 percent.

BIA/Kelsey Chief Economist Mark Fratrik says, As we move toward 2014, it?s clear the radio industry has adapted to incredible competition from all sides, with streaming and other audio competitors taking audiences. Yet local radio is surviving, and in some instances, thriving, and poised to compete well in the new marketplace. Radio is also beginning to deliver other compelling digital services that help its local advertisers navigate promotional opportunities. With the right attitude towards the new reality of increased competition and strategic planning, local radio stations can prosper.?

?Local Radio Stations Profiles and Trends for 2014 and Beyond? is presented as a 65-plus-page report and a companion presentation.
The report includes the following analysis and information:
? Revenue history of local radio stations
? Overall industry growth
? Competitive threats to local radio stations
? Revenue share by format
? Radio's position in the new media marketplace
? Radio advertisers and competition for advertisers
? Radio's share with advertiser and business categories
? Technology changes in radio Industry
? Consolidation in the industry
? Digital sales transformation playbook

The report is available for purchase ($1,095 for the report and companion presentation, or $2,500 for the report, presentation and one-hour custom analyst briefing).
Find more information about the report and how to purchase it HERE or by emailing sales@biakelsey.com.

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Local Radio Freedom Act Gains More Support

10/24/13

Six members of the House of Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors for the Local Radio Freedom Act. The bill, which opposes performance royalties or other new fees for broadcast radio, now has 177 co-sponsors in the House and 12 in the Senate.

Adding their support are Reps. Wm. Lacy Clay of Missouri, Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, Ralph Hall of Texas, David Scott of Georgia, Fred Upton of Michigan, and Randy Weber, also of Texas.

The bill was introduced in February by Reps. Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX) with 71 additional co-sponsors. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced an identical bill in the Senate on March 6.

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Live And Local For 32 Years

10-7-13

Pierre Robert

WMMR Philadelphia
Format - Rock
Listen live at www.wmmr.com
His Shift - Weekdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Years at station: 32
Follow - @pierrerobert933

Pierre Robert began working at WMMR over 30 years ago when he packed his San Francisco bags, gathered up his $600 in savings, and moved to Philadelphia after the rock station he was working for flipped to Country. He had a few friends in Philly and figured he could roll into town and find a nice radio gig. Robert knocked on every radio door in town and was finding no brotherly love for his talents. He came up empty and took a job at a health food store on South Street. The upcoming issue of Radio Ink magazine includes a back page interview with Robert. Here's a preview of that interview which touches on his commitment to community, his love for rock music, and his thoughts on kids breaking into the business like he did. 

(Listen to our audio interview HERE which includes material not found in this story)

After about six months of lugging around 50 pound sacks of rice, Robert decided to take a detour on his way home from work and go see a palm reader. She asked him what questions he had for her. I asked "What is going to come of my career?" She said, "You are going to get a letter within the next two weeks. Follow what it says very carefully." I swear the next day I got a letter from the WMMR music director which lead to me being his assistant in the music library. Within a few days, they needed someone overnight on the weekends.?

Robert would pay his dues early on at WMMR. ?My beginnings there, 32 years ago, was working in the music library all week long, going home on Friday night and coming back late Friday night and doing the overnight Friday into Saturday, riding my bicycle home, coming back on Saturday night, doing overnight into Sunday. Sunday morning, I would ride my bicycle back to my apartment, getting my cereal, and then riding back to work and working all day in the music library. That's how I started. I did that almost until poverty and exhaustion took over, almost a year later, and the overnight show became available. I did the overnights for 2.5 years. Then I got offered the midday."

Pierre is the heart and soul of WMMR. His love and respect for our listeners is recognized and reciprocated by his legions of fans. Most of whom he has personally met, shaken their hand and offered a sincere, ?Good Day, Citizen!? He?s the penultimate example of grassroots, street marketing and the reward of loyalty that results. Pierre?s warm baritone is a comforting balm for his harried, workday listeners  and his quacking laugh helps them recognize the joys of our shared experience.
.......WMMR Program Director Bill Weston

RI: Is it still as fun for you today as it was back when?
Robert: Oh yeah. Time after time, I go "Oh my god, this is great." There is no BS in that whatsoever. I am 58 and I go insane at Green Day concerts. I am in a mosh pit at The Offspring and at Rancid, which is a punk band that I love. Crosby, Still, Nash and Young are one of my favorite bands. I saw Graham Nash a few nights ago and he put on a magical show. I have gotten to know some members of the Pearl Jam camp and they are awesome. Each of these bands does something different.

RI: You are known for your community involvement. Why do you do all that?
Robert: Why wouldn't you, is the better question. You can't fix everything, but you can help. You can turn people onto things. Whether it?s talking about the breast cancer walk or the AIDS walk or broadcasting from the AIDS walk, which I did for many years, or just going out to a beef and beer for somebody or even mentioning it if you can't get there. It keeps you connected with the community. We have developed this bond with the listeners, which is why we are multigenerational. MMR defies traditional radio. We have listeners from 15-65 and everywhere in between.

RI: Do you believe kids can make it in the radio industry the way you did?
Robert: I don't know. It's tough. The people that come to us, come to us because they see what MMR is all about. Our intern crew and promotions crew is huge, and they are all young kids who grew up listening to MMR. They get it. I tell them, "Yes, it is tough. Get your degree. Get as many internships as you can. There are fewer and fewer stations like MMR, but there are some that are still out there. There are some great radio stations that are out there. The internship way, over the course of a college career can get you a lot of connections. I think they have to have the ability, the drive and not give up, plus a touch of luck.

Reach out to Pierre and congratulate him on a killer career in the radio business pierre@wmmr.com

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Live & Local – Radio's Mantra (Again?)

9-27-13
(by Dana Hall) According to CBS Radio President/CEO Dan Mason, that?s the direction he sees terrestrial radio moving towards, once again. Mason appeared on the panel, ?the State of the Industry,? at this morning?s Audio Industry Summit in New York. Emmis' Pat Walsh agreed, citing that competitively, ?radio can elevate brands through being local,? and adding that being local matters to agencies. 

Galaxy Communications? President/CEO Ed Levin notes that while companies like his own are going the live and local route, there are still two distinct radio business models. ?The two C?s (Clear Channel and Cumulus), clearly take the opposite approach ? and when you have two companies that are so prominent, in so many markets, with a different perspective, that becomes a commonly held perception about radio as a whole.

(9/29/2013 9:42:42 AM)
"Live and Local" is not a process that anybody is doing really well. Nor is it a switch that can be thrown. Station owners in every sized market run the risk of frustrating, boring, insulting and otherwise pissing off more audience and advertisers by attempting an amateurish rendition of "L&L" than if they were doing McRadio.
(9/28/2013 1:49:45 PM)
Small and medium market stations. Keep doing what you do good. Live, local, and community.
(9/27/2013 9:59:22 PM)
When you overpay for properties, you leave yourself only one choice to pay the bills...eliminate staff. For the "Live and Local" claims, it's not something new. It's what happens at the lower levels of radio. Just where are you going to find the talent at the upper levels of radio after you've eliminated and burned bridges with former employees? Hire some more newspaper people? Sad days for radio...
(9/27/2013 9:58:12 PM)
The column is right...live and local made radio! But the column is correct about Cumulus and Clear Channel...Dickey and Pittman think they can voice track, use cheap syndication... anything but investing in top local talent.
(9/27/2013 7:32:52 PM)
Wow, live and local! What a concept! (Again) So after beating the brand into the ground the way to make it grow again is by watering it with live personalities and local content. I would have never thought of that. I'm really glad those guys are in charge of such important properties. The bankers who call the shots must be happy with their leadership. Now, think about community responsibility.

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KISW, Local Distillery Unveil Worker's No. 9 Vodka

9-19-13

KISW/Seattle and Mischief Distillery have introduced Worker's No. 9 Vodka, "made the for the workingman." A portion of the proceeds from the vodka sales will benefit the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Benevolent fund. The WSCFF assists firefighters and their families, while the Benevolent Fund also gives money to organizations that help Washington State residents.

KISW PD Dave Richards said, "This new vodka starts at the heart of the Pacific Northwest?s working man. A vodka created in the spirit of a true, honest day's work, and we're proud to support the brave Washington State Fire Fighters, who epitomize  hard work."

KISW also partners with Elysian Brewing on The Mens Room Red Ale, an arrangement that has raised more than $300,000 for VA and JBLM Fisher Houses in Washington. More info at http://www.workersvodka.com/.

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Mobile And Local Driving Pandora's Revenue

8-21-13

Calling it the tip of the spear driving growth, audio revenue now makes up 60 percent of total revenue at Pandora. The company took in $116 million in mobile revenue in the quarter and the company is extremely pleased with how local salespeople are performing in the 29 markets they are now selling in. CFO Mike Herring said there's a lot of room to penetrate radio's $15 billion ad market, adding local is the fastest growing revenue stream for the company. "That's exactly why we're stepping up investment. Salespeople are executing well. We are getting a tremendous return on our sales and marketing."

When asked about why Pandora isn't getting a premium for its low-clutter geo-targeting, Herring said, "We think our service does deserve a premium. We are not discounting. We drive additional revenue through calls to action or digital revenue paired with audio revenue giving the advertiser a better experience with the consumer. We offer things traditional radio never has and never will be able to put out there." Herring also said testing back-to-back ads has produced positive results. Pandora is always analyzing how many ads is too many before the listener gets agitated.

For the quarter, Pandora reported Q2 revenue of $157.4 million, a 55 percent year-over-year increase. The company also reported that Q3 revenue is expected to be in the range of $174 million to $179 million. The cost to aquire content dropped from 59 percent to 51 percent.

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A Look Behind the Pandora Local Effort

8-14-13

In a lengthy interview in the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal Pandora Regional VP Gabe Tartaglia spoke to writer John Vomhof about the company's local sales presence, where he says Pandora is the number two radio station in that city. Pandora now has seven people in its Minneapolis office, four sales reps and three client-services reps. Tartaglia says Pandora has over 700,000 monthly listeners in the Minneapolis DMA. "If you take a demographic like adults between 25 and 54, we have about 400,000 listeners. That kind of scale allows us to compete as if we were the No. 2 radio station in the market or even up against some of the television stations."

Automotive is Pandora's biggest category in Minneapolis according to Tartaglia. "Currently, we have about 10 different local dealers. Some of the bigger ones are Maplewood Toyota and Morrie's Minnetonka Kia. In health care, we do a lot of business with Park Nicollet. In education, which has been really fantastic, we do continuing ed business with the University of Minnesota and also Globe University."

Tartaglia told Vomhof the key differentiator between Pandora and radio is that if you're listening to Pandora, you register by telling us your age, gender and zip code. "That allows us to do very finite targeting for a media campaign. So, if a local advertiser wants a very custom geography or wants to reach an exact age or gender, we can provide that exact demographic with 100 percent guaranteed delivery and zero waste. That's different from broadcast television or radio, where you're sending it out to the entire market, and depending on the format, they may know generally who'd listening, but they can't tell exactly the way we can with our listener registrations."

Pandora has local offices in about 29 cities today.
Read the entire article HERE

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(SOCIAL) Closeness & Connectivity With Local Listeners

8-14-2013

Is really connecting with local listeners a myth in 2013 or can you really focus your efforts and pull in the ?big haul? of real connection, more listeners, and active cheerleading for your show and your on-air brand with the listeners that are most valuable to your company?

Here are seven important ways you can increase the opportunity for real connection that moves the needle of growing closer to listeners in social media and making it count for the radio station.

1. Be authentic and stand for something. If you really want to connect with people in the real (local) world, focus on being authentic first on-air and in social media. Make your connection via something that bonds you to your audience. Choose a cause that is important. Do something for your community that matters to your target. The fastest way to mess that critical connection up is to be fake or be so generic that no one can tell you are even a real person. The quickest way to set yourself apart from your competitors is to zero-in on what is really important to passionate locals and put yourself out there.

2. Get rid of ?all about self.? It?s easy to be all about ?you.? The world is full of these people. Eliminate the word ?I? in your posts and comments and focus on the life of the listener, the interests of the listener, and connecting to them in the most emotional or useful way you can (or both).

3. Validate your friends (listeners). Especially today, people want and crave validation and most people don?t get it regularly. Life moves too fast. Take a second and roll over to their Facebook page when someone comments on your station page. Go comment on their interests in a way that is public and their friends can see on their page. This says, ?I am close, I see you and I am willing to step out there.? It also says, ?Hello.?  Most radio stations and on-air personalities are missing this in social media. If you really want to connect with local listeners, connect with them regularly on ?their ground.? It will change things if you do it regularly. Test it yourself.

4. Realize that social media environments are like real life and real friendships. They only become real if you are willing to step up and help your friends. Be there for them by paying attention to them and not just requesting they do ?stuff? for you. Reaching out to solve problems, giving tips on topics of interest to the local listeners you most want to attract is more powerful than you realize. Like the Beatle said decades ago:  ?The love you take is equal to the love you make.? Love your listeners and make it authentic.

5. Ask for advice and thoughts on significant issues on your radio station or show and reward engagement. The big companies want to know what is happening with their customers. A lot of radio has pulled back from this kind of engagement, but knowing your audience means putting yourself out there and allowing listeners to give you feedback and then following up on the advice if it is good. This says, ?We are connected.? And, yes, you should say, ?Thank you? to listeners who step up and critique you as well as those who praise you.

6. Try to even make posts about national content relate to your local market and tie it directly to local listeners' lives if you can do so regularly. Frequently lead them back to the station website, your blog, or on-air with the promise of more valuable content. Don?t make it simply another post about listening to you. Everyone wants to be listened to today. Be unique and offer something that listeners don?t usually get from radio. Play with their passions.

7. Don?t game listeners into playing contests or string people along without giving them ?the baby? (or content they desire). A big part of connecting is showing consistently that you deliver on what local listeners expect on-air and in social media. If you don?t know what your target listeners are interested in, spend time to find out. Don?t wait on the program director or someone else. You do it. Consistently deliver this content and you will find a growing appreciation for your influence in local listener circles. Word will spread. That can translate to powerful social media connectivity that really counts.

When it comes to connecting with a growing number of people in social media, why not start with these simple guidelines and make the most of your social media? 
Authentic connection comes from changing your focus from radio-focused to truly being listener-world focused.

Make it about more than the words and really work hard to engage them instead of inserting the radio station into their lives and you are likely to find more true engagement. That will increase closeness and connectivity because it is both.

Loyd Ford is the direct marketing, ratings and social media strategist for Americalist Direct Marketing and has programmed very successful radio brands in markets of all sizes, including KRMD AM & FM in Shreveport, and WSSL and WMYI in Greenville, WKKT in Charlotte and WBEE in Rochester, NY. Learn more about Loyd here:  http://about.me/loydford. Get his radio-social media content sent directly to your smart phone or email for free here:  www.rainmakerpathway.wordpress.com. Reach out to Loyd via e-mail HERE.  Visit his Facebook radio social media page HERE

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(SALES) Raise The Bar On Local Client Budgets

7-26-2013

These next few months are critical for broadcast reps trying to lock in 2014 local direct ad budgets. The question is, even in a recession, are you asking for enough or are you leaving money on the table?

Almost every week I sit with local direct clients and help them come up with long-term marketing and advertising strategies. It?s interesting to observe how these business owners behave when you ask them for real money. They usually squirm in their chairs and then lean forward, as you now have their full, undivided attention. Why? Because like many of the client?s other vendors, you?re asking for real money, not chicken feed. Real money proposals get decisionmakers' attention.

We should be prescribing advertising budgets to clients, not the other way around. I just got off the phone with a television sales rep who called me looking for a creative angle for a local client. We came up with a great idea and the rep was excited about presenting it. Then he said, ?I?m calling the client right now to find out what his budget is.?

NOOOOOOO! When you have a client interested in a great new way to sell his product or service to your consumers it?s YOUR job to recommend the budget. Aim high, not low. Base your recommendation on what it would take for your client to own his category on your station. Kick-butt creative, combined with great frequency equals results. Perhaps due to budget constraints you might have to agree to a smaller amount, but at least the client now has a good understanding of what it would eventually take to own his/her product/service category on your station.

We gave the owner of a local home improvement store (45 percent gross margin of profit, average sale $300) a better way to advertise. Without scripts, he explains how easy and inexpensive it is to install your own hardwood floor. His new tagline is ?See? It?s easy! You can do this!? Other commercials discuss how to install a dog door, how to add your own ceiling trim, etc.

He supports his commercials online with step-by-step instructions. And, he tells the people that if they don?t feel like doing the project themselves, he has a list of qualified and honest contractors that will do the job for them. The client loved the idea. Then he asks how much it would cost. We suggested that he should spend in a week what he normally spent in a month.  He squirmed a little in the chair, leaned forward and we came to an agreement that far exceeded what he?d ever spent in the past.

We came up with an idea that a local homebuilder (gross margin of profit 20 percent on an average sale of over $250,000) just loved. He would talk to empty nesters and explain to them the logic of downsizing into a smaller, one-story new home. He would explain on air that smaller homes loaded with amenities is the new ?cool.? No more stairs to climb, no more maintenance issues. He would talk about the unnecessary cost of heating and cooling their current empty rooms and high-ceiling entryways. He would also tell consumers that he would help them sell their existing homes. When he asked how much the campaign would cost, we gave him a high number, higher than this station had ever asked a builder to spend before. He leaned forward, thoroughly engaged, tapped his pen on his desk, and took the schedule as presented. He bought it because he saw value in the strength of the idea and, based on his average sale and his gross margin of profit, because his calculated risk looked low.

Don?t forget that gross margins and average sales stay consistent regardless of market size. So smaller market stations have the right to ask for more as well. The important thing is that if you don?t get into the habit of asking for more you?ll never get more. So, ask, ask, ask.

Paul Weyland helps broadcast stations sell more long-term local direct advertising. He can be reached at 512-236-1222 or at www.paulweyland.com. Get Paul?s new book "Think like an Adman, Sell like a Madman" at amazon.com.

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The Zone In Omaha Goes All Local

7-18-13

With the addition of "The Nick Bahe Show," NRG Media's sports station "1620 The Zone" is now all live and local. Bahe replaces The Jim Rome Show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. GM Andy Ruback says, ?We really believe in the importance of providing Omaha listeners with comprehensive local programming content that is dedicated to our area?s most relevant sports franchises and the people making headlines."

Bahe, a former Creighton University basketball standout, is a graduate of Southeast High School in Lincoln where he earned multiple athletic awards as the 2003 Gatorade Nebraska Player of the Year, was quarterback on the All-State Football Team, and was nominated to the McDonald?s All-America team. Although he was always a standout athlete, he said the opportunity to return to broadcasting is his true passion.

Bahe most recently was an on-air personality at a radio station in Lincoln, Nebraska, and prior to that was co-host during mornings on 1620 The Zone. He said, ?Returning to 1620 The Zone is an exciting opportunity to talk with true Omaha and Nebraska sports fans who care as passionately as I about the local sports scene. I?m honored and privileged to return to 1620 The Zone and can?t wait to join in the conversations taking place about the Bluejays, the Huskers, the Mavs and the players and coaches that make these teams so relevant in our local market area."

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Local Focus Sold to Genesis

7-8-13

Genesis Media Holdings, which owns McGavren Guild Media, has acquired Local Focus from Kay Olin and Dave Demer. McGavren Guild and Local Focus will operate independently under the Genesis Media Holdings umbrella. Local Focus founder Kay Olin (pictured) will act as a consultant to Genesis Media.

Kevin Garrity is joining Genesis to a newly created position of Manager. Garrity has 26 years worth of radio experience. Garrity was most recently Director of National Sales at Cumulus Media. Prior to his time at Cumulus, where he also held the positions of General Sales Manager for their Westchester, NY stations, and Northeast Regional National Sales Manager, Garrity spent 20 years at Interep, the last five of which he was President of ABC Radio Sales.

McGavren Guild Media President Lisa Sirotka-Sonnenklar said: "I am extremely excited to be working with Kevin to further build McGavren Guild Media.  I look forward to the additional support I will gain from his depth of industry experience.?

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(SOCIAL) Get Attention For Local Radio In Social Media

6-28-2013

Radio talents always want to know: How can I show that social media has real value? How can I really get attention in social media?

1. Think creatively about your content before you post on any social media. Don?t just think about the message you most want to communicate. Social media is about engaging people.That means back and forth. To do that, you have to have a listener-first focus and you always have to think about how to get listeners to take actions to engage you on their chosen social media platform and on your assets, including your on-air show. And you should always try to be the fun one at the party (when appropriate).

2. Put yourself in the shoes (or eyes and ears) of your listeners (or the listeners in social media that you most want to attract). Do you know your local listeners? Do you know who they are? Where they work? What is happening in the average listeners? life in your market? The best way to do this is to have a ?listen first? policy about your social media activities. That means, see what is happening and fit into it. Don?t always think: What can I say? Think: How can I be helpful?

3. Build your engagement around emotion and include fun twists about the fun job listeners all think you have today. Most listeners do not have jobs they think of as fun. In fact, if they are adult listeners, they are operating on everyone else?s schedule. Their kids, their boss, their wife or husband, their parents (sometimes), their extended family, co-workers, bills, chores around the house, problems. Give these people someone who cares about them and focus your content on emotion because that drives attachment. By the way, if you don?t think problems can be fun, you?ve missed the point of why historic television shows such as Seinfeld, M*A*S*H, Friends, the Brady Bunch, the Cosby Show and more have been big hits. They twist problems into fun. That?s because they are in the entertainment business?like you.

4. Give them a taste and tease them to find the rest on assets that your company owns, including both your website and on-air whenever possible. You don?t have to give them ?the whole baby? (many times you will want to deliver all). Sometimes you just want to give them a tease. This is all part of having an overall social media content strategy. Do you have one? If not, you should get busy building one and make sure you include a wide variety of rich content so you can be helpful, fun, interesting and engaging and not just be ?on Facebook and Twitter.?

5. Use pictures and video to include listeners. Please. Just force yourself and your team to begin using pictures and video in a wide variety of content. Why? Because people are much more likely to engage those ?attractors? than just simply words. You want participation. You want people to engage your PEOPLE and then your brand. Light them up with entertaining video and photos (focused on them and content that would be interesting to them, please). As I leave you with a final thought, we will let that be video. This is about sports and you will notice that there are no plays, no analysis, no boring insider information that viewers don?t care about.  These are promos about ESPN that don?t involve taking themselves too seriously. People have even collected a bunch of them and reposted (fans doing the work).  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgjg5XszAiM

Wildly popular. Why? Because they are fun. And your social media should be fun, too. Do that and you will discover for yourself ways to get attention in social media that counts for your brand.  Now go have some fun with local listeners and make it count!

Loyd Ford is the direct marketing, ratings and social media strategist for Americalist and programmed very successful radio brands in markets of all sizes for years, including KRMD AM & FM in Shreveport, WSSL and WMYI in Greenville, WKKT in Charlotte and WBEE in Rochester, NY.  Learn more about Loyd here:  http://about.me/loydford.  Reach out to Loyd via e-mail HERE.  Visit his Facebook radio social media page HERE

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(SOCIAL) More Local Listener Loyalty

6-10-2013

Think of each social media platform as a club of sorts. Of course, individuals are going to favor certain social media platforms over others. Spend some time watching what people do in different social media environments and jump in to be part of the conversation. It?s tempting to just selfishly share something that asks listener to tune in. Get in the stream of things before engaging. Consider some of these things when you start to comment, post visuals, and utilize content assets that you want to ultimately use to lead local listeners back to your station. 

1. Engage listeners by first validating them. Listen first. When you see something interesting happening on Facebook or Twitter with local listeners, drop in and comment with something that is relevant to what they are talking about. I am a big fan of posting as personalities and not as ?the station.? That?s because people connect to personalities better than brands. Try to trace the local listener back to their Facebook page or engage them directly on Twitter. Going a step further and posting on their page or sending a message directly to them really does engage them. They see that you see them. It makes a bigger difference to people when they see you care about them, their thoughts, and what is important to them.

2. Blogging can be useful to bring listeners closer. Think about this: The use of a blog can allow you to bring written content, pictures, and video content back to something the station or broadcast company owns. You can use a blog by posting it in a variety of social media environments. Use the right tease or the right picture or video, and have subject matter that is important to the local listeners you most want to attract, and you will be instantly successful in bringing these listeners closer to you and your radio station. Just don?t forget to focus your content on an important subject to your listeners. Importance could be based on a local cause, a recent or future concert, fun listeners are known to have entertainment-based interaction with radio personalities, and music artists (if you are in a music format). Or it could be purely funny. But make sure if you are going for funny that you are?.really?.funny.

3. Use INSTAGRAM. Does your morning show use INSTAGRAM to post pictures during the show or post pictures related to show content? Do you use INSTAGRAM to post concert pictures, backstage pictures, pictures of artists and listeners having fun at a radio event? You can use pictures as an informal invitation to join you ?back at the station? because listeners can see the kind of fun that attracts them. That brings people closer to you to see if they can ?catch the fun vibe? where things always seem to be happening.

Radio has always essentially been interactive. Traditionally listeners have moved through contacting radio stations and personalities by phone, fax (who faxes anymore?), text, email, Facebook, and Twitter. Social media is about communication, helping others, and having fun. Some stations work to always promote their station on social media platforms. You?ll see their posts are always, ?Me, me, me, me, me!? Look for ways to bring your social media efforts together and point listeners to your own assets as much as possible without it being purely promotion of tune in.

Don?t always go only for ?likes? on your Facebook page. Use your creativity to draw listeners to your personalities and your on-air brand, but we always have to start by looking at the local listeners we most want to attract for individual radio brands and work to engage those listeners on the social media platform of their choice with content that attracts them.

You don?t always have to be talking about the ?station? or "tune in" on social media. In fact, you should be talking as much about the community as about the station and as much about the format assets (if you are in music, this means the ?stars?) as you are the station itself. If we do focus in on the goal of bringing them back to your own over-the-air and digital assets by showing why we are fun, why we are relevant, and that they are missing out on the ?party? at our station, we will be impacting loyalty because we will attract these listeners to our original content and overall ?vibe? (which should mirror what is important to them) and our programming will keep them engaged for longer listening.

People do what they want. Find out what they want in your market, mirror that, engage them after you listen first in different social media environments. Validate them as people in social media and follow them back to their Facebook pages. Make sure they know you care about them and the things that are important to them. Do these things and have fun and you will grow participation on different social media platforms and then on your own assets. Be consistent with your content, both written and visual, and make sure you deliver every time these listeners tune in and you will grow loyalty and become more dominant against your strongest competitors. Isn?t that the point?

Loyd Ford is the direct marketing, ratings, and social media strategist for Americalist and has programmed very successful radio brands in markets of all sizes in the U.S., including KRMD AM & FM in Shreveport, WSSL and WMYI in Greenville, WKKT in Charlotte, and WBEE in Rochester, NY. Learn more about Loyd here:  http://about.me/loydford. Get his radio-social media content sent directly to your smart phone or email for free here:  www.rainmakerpathway.wordpress.com. Reach out to Loyd via e-mail HERE.  Visit his Facebook radio social media page HERE

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