Programming Strategy

At any hour of any day, tune in any station in any market. What is on the radio? Sameness. Commercials happen at the same time on most stations. Promos are the first element in...

Programmers and managers spend sleepless nights tossing and turning, plotting programming enhancements to counteract moves made by other radio stations to capture listener attention. And you know what? Most of that energy is wasted....

It’s normal to freak out a little when a new station, personality or radio show comes on the air. After all, the radio pie is already sliced pretty thin. Head-to-head competition is more common...

The battle over most music rages on, though today's competition comes from new technology as much (or more) than from other radio stations. If programmers could find room to play 2 more songs every...

While watching some old home videos (yeah, we have a life), I learned a valuable radio programming lesson from my two year old son. Specifically, it reminded me of the two switch theory of...

You have a new competitor in town. They've challenged your position and are attacking your brand. Uh oh. Now what? Hopefully, you'll follow these 6 ways to win the battle. But even if you...

Personality radio is both art and science. And it should be performed in relatively equal parts. Often, programmers place so much emphasis on science, they miss the art. Or vice-versa. Personalities tend to disregard...

You may not have heard of the term learning theory, but understanding how the audience becomes familiar with and loyal to, brands will change how you program radio stations. Seriously. This is game-changing. In this...

Why do listeners choose your station? Do you know the most important reason listeners choose your station or show brand over others? If you know the answer to that question, you're equipped to develop...

Short attention spans demand clear, simple, worthwhile, short messages. Or, a longer, compelling story that unfolds with miniature payoffs leading toward a suspenseful end. Either way, the key is efficient, focused presentation. The problem...