How to Make Radio Cool Again Wednesday, April 27, 2011 By Jerry Del Colliano Can radio become cool again? Not the way most stations broadcast these days.  I think we all get that live and local would help and that personalities are what listeners crave.  That local artists would distinguish a radio station from Pandora. But we’ve said all of that. This article will reveal 7 specific additional things that radio stations can actually do – some can be started right away with no expense –- to make radio cool, desirable and more interesting to young and old listeners alike. 1.  The way to know precisely what your audiences crave and no, I’m not talking about buying a research project. 2.  How stations shoot themselves in the foot during the first 5 minutes of each hour – maybe even the first 3 minutes. 3.  How radio stations increasingly make their audiences feel inferior – that’s right, inferior – and how to put a stop to it next hour. 4.  What does fantasy sports teach radio about what it can do to become cool again? 5.  The one radio station website no station ever does that it ought to do to become relevant to listeners overnight. 6.  Why do young listeners like NPR so much when it doesn’t cater to short attention spans or stupid dj banter?  Anything we can learn from it.  You’ve got it – right here. 7.  Radio’s best friend is …  Do you know?  Do you know that I estimate that 85% of America’s radio stations are not employing this strategy to regain a foothold with today’s listeners? If you would like to read this story, have access to my entire archive (over 1,200 pieces) and get the next month of my writing included, click “read more” for your choices.  Read more at Inside Music Media Lew Dickey's Royal Wedding Wednesday, April 27, 2011 By Jerry Del Colliano No, not Lew Dickey himself, the newly crowned king of all radio consolidation. But Kate and William’s royal wedding that looks like it will be turned into a Cumulus attempt at a bad sales promotion and relevant and timely programming. The Three Stooges are at it again. The royal wedding is Friday. Cumulus stations were notified Tuesday that they are sending a jock to the U.K. to cover the wedding for all Cumulus stations. Nice local programming. So stations get arguably three days notice to prepare. Jenn Hobby from the Bert Show in Atlanta (where else?) is going to, as Cumulus Programming Magician Jan Jeffries says, “cover the Royal Wedding and report back to all Cumulus stations with on-going up to the minute color and play by play of the wedding procedure and ceremony.” Now understand most Cumulus stations have been gutted of live personnel over the past few years.  And the great majority of the survivors have not had raises in years and it has been forever since a cost of living increase was awarded to a Cumulus employee – unlike the Dickeys and their minions who get special board approved bonuses even when they fail. Did I mention that most Cumulus part-timers are making minimum wage? That from their employees’ own description, they are constantly reminded that they can easily be replaced. Okay … now that I got that out of the way, let’s look at the lunacy of what the soon to be second largest consolidated radio company is doing. 1.  An “urgent” memo you won’t believe from programming chief Jan Jeffries to his stations dictating his terms for the royal wedding – talk about a monarchy! 2.  What radio audiences really want when a TV event captures the public eye. 3.  Why the Dickeys are leaving their affiliate stations at the altar. 4.  The main reason today’s big, powerful media businessmen (and “men” seems to be an accurate description) don’t know how to connect with listeners or advertisers – even when a special event is handed to them.  If you would like to read this story, have access to my entire archive (over 1,200 pieces) and get the next month of my writing included, click “read more” for your choices.  Read more at Inside Music Media You are receiving this email because you are a subscriber to Inside Music Media Click here to unsubscribe or manage your account.