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September 10, 2019
VP Of MagicYears ago, the late Steve Rivers and I were having a conversation about the things that made the difference between good and great radio stations.
Mostly non-musical things, even then, that were hard to adequately define but which clearly made one station better than all the others in the same market.
Consolidation, like the general American economy, has been spectacularly great for a few, but left most of the rest of those in radio struggling to survive.
And when you're in survival mode, you're not as likely to raise your head up above those around you. It's safest to be quiet, do what you're told, fit in, play the game.
The very personality type most likely to create magic on the air is the one also most likely to be terminated, seen as too disruptive, or perhaps even threatening, to some title holder in the corner offices above the station level.
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September 3, 2019
#463 Content Is Crap!Steve Allan created the best Oldies station in America not that long ago. WBIG won a Marconi and lots of other awards. More importantly, it won the hearts of enough listeners to make the long-established Oldies leader in D.C. quit the format shortly after WBIG's ...
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August 27, 2019
Radio's MoonshotFifty years ago this summer, Apollo 11 landed on the moon. No other nation over all these years has made the attempt. The reason the United States is the only nation on earth to have landed men on the moon and returned them safely to earth is because we had a leader ...
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August 20, 2019
Hooked On A FeelingI'm a fan of The Story of Telling. And I am a huge believer in the insights Bernadette Jiwa brought to this post: "See all those people whipping out their smartphones as soon as they stop at a red light, or when they miss the bus, or are standing next to another ...
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August 13, 2019
How Much Good?In the wake of what seems to be weekly catastrophes, I've been thinking of how much good Radio does in its local markets, and how rarely we hear those stories. Every station I've ever worked with feels a deep sense of connection with its community of listeners. When ...
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August 6, 2019
The Price Of ContentIt's clear that television spends billions of dollars creating and marketing its content. And now that Netflix, Amazon, FX and Hulu have joined HBO in creating their own original content, that figure is sure to rise. These streamed services, which don't require cable ...
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July 30, 2019
Radio's Top 5 Creativity KillersI've never heard anyone say there's too much creativity happening inside their building. Creation, the act of creating, is a bit mysterious. People like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk are so rare we tend to think that all creativity is rare. I think we, as parents, as ...
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July 23, 2019
A Different Kind Of Show"I like shows that go beyond being passive entertainment and spark conversations after they are (heard) because ... (they) transport you." That's Jackie de Crinis, speaking to AdWeek recently. She's Chairman of NBCU Cable Entertainment and she was talking about her ...
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July 16, 2019
Strangling Our BusinessI want to share a quote from the Harvard Business Review with you: "The financial sector's influence on management has become so powerful that a recent survey of Chief Financial Officers showed that 78% would give up economic value and 55% would cancel a project with a ...
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July 9, 2019
The Word MasterHis indomitable will and courage saved the free world. At one point, he stood, virtually alone, against the most powerful military machine ever faced. He rallied his country. He spoke to their, and our, emotions. He connected with our hearts. Listen, and hear... "The ...
