In the 1980s and 90s, radio stunts were the gold standard for buzz. Last one touching the car wins it (The Hands On Marathon). Set a record for the longest kiss (bonus points if it’s strangers competing-The Lips On Marathon). Lock four strangers in a van. Listeners vote one out per week until only one is left standing. Stage a wedding between complete strangers. We thrived on larger-than-life promotions that became a spectacle. Fast-forward to today, and that crown has been stolen. Not by television. Not by TikTok. By a 20-something kid from North Carolina named Jimmy Donaldson better known as MrBeast. He’s following strict guidelines and has built an amazing brand using many of the things that used to be radio’s sweet spot. It’s time radio learns their own lessons from the MrBeast Playbook.
The MrBeast Playbook: What Radio Can Learn from YouTube’s Biggest Showman
