Innholdsfortegnelse for May 25, 2020 i Radio Ink Magazine

Normally, this column would center on remarkable women who are leading and inspiring our industry. This year is different. As I write today, the world reminds me of the image of a finger stuck in the air, replicating a weathervane to determine what direction the wind is blowing. And while there is science behind this experiment, its accuracy depends on several conditions. For example, it doesn’t work well in hot, humid weather. Which is somewhat like the situation we face now. In such an unprecedented time, even great medical minds have struggled to figure out the next phase. Is it really OK to go back into the office, are safe distancing and masks enough in the store, and oh, dear, what about haircuts? Those who are dealing with the virus…

To those of you who sell radio: you need to know that this is not a zero-sum game. Everyone can win. I want to introduce you to an entirely new sales paradigm. Stay with me on this. Imagine there are no quotas, no budgets, no pressure — just the joy of helping someone else, and getting paid for it. What could be more enjoyable and fulfilling than that? Answer this. How would you do your job differently if that were the case? Think about that for a moment, and I will show you how it can be. Let’s play for the next several moments. Let’s create your new reality. Think back to when you first started your career in radio sales. Think back to your training program. We are all…

Opening by Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti Like the tale of the mailroom clerk who rises to the penthouse suite, the story that unfolds on the next pages centers on a woman whose life reflects in many ways the stuff of which dreams are made. But make no mistake: it’s no fairy tale. Rather, it speaks volumes about one woman’s talent and determination. And how she kept her eye on the prize. How she persisted. Christine Travaglini began her career as a Katz sales assistant. Known for a razor-sharp ability to prioritize and multi-task, Christine spent time perfecting the skills that would continue to serve her throughout her career, paying her dues, taking orders from others, and eventually rising to the executive suite. Over time, she became the first person…

A few years ago, Yvon Chouinard was asked, “How do you know if you’re making the right move? He said, “It’s a lot of gut instinct. If you study something to death, if you wait for the customer to tell you what he wants, you’re going to be too late, especially for an entrepreneurial company.” The last time I checked, Yvon Chouinard’s Patagonia was debt-free and selling $575 million per year. I like his track record. But how can we know what “the right move” is if we don’t have enough information? In the absence of a crystal ball, let’s begin with the assumption that this virus and the social upheaval that came with it won’t go away all at once. Now let’s speculate about what things might look like…

In March of 2020 Entercom announced that, after 20 years with the company and 40 years in radio, Weezie Kramer would be retiring.Kramer joined Entercom in January 2000 as a regional vice president, overseeing five markets, and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2014. Before Entercom, Kramer worked in sales and management, eventually landing at CBS Radio, where she worked for a dozen years and rose to vice president/ market manager.Weezie Kramer has been an influential figure for a very long time. She’s made an impact on many lives, mentoring too many people to count along the way. Following the CBS Radio / Entercom merger, Weezie Kramer took the lead in hiring Susan Larkin away from Cox Media Group. On May 5, 2020, Larkin became Entercom’s new COO. Here’s…

ANGEL ARISTONE EVP of Communications iHeartMedia Be compassionate. Support your communities. Radio plays such a vital role during unprecedented times like these, so it’s important to keep listeners informed with the latest information, while also finding ways to help those in need. Our industry continues to find creative ways to serve and strengthen communities throughout the country through so many great programs — from food drives and local business support efforts to benefit specials and celebrations for our first responders. I’m proud of our industry. RENEE CASSIS President-Owner RC Communications Marketing The one constant in this life is that everything changes. During times of adversity, you can get caught up in the negativity that is swirling around in your head. My advice is, don’t think about it. Get up every…

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to come back to radio after having left my morning show to be on the startup team at Stitcher. I started podcasting for iHeartRadio in San Francisco, where we grew to 40 shows, all on music stations. I then got to do it for the rest of the country in all of our markets. Since then I have seen a lot of companies getting on board with podcasting — but not always doing it right. Here’s what I saw that is working, and not working. WORKING 1. Getting morning shows to offer their shows on demand. Most shows are doing this, and it’s really a great way to serve the audience. Whether we like it or not, people’s listening habits have changed,…

This has certainly not been an easy year. It has tested our collective spirit and challenged every aspect of our lives, from the most mundane everyday routine to, sadly, for some, life itself. Every crisis, however, has its heroes — people we look up to, depend on, and aspire to emulate. Over the past months since COVID-19 struck, many of those have been women, including, for our focus, women in radio. They are women who have never shirked their responsibilities or commitment to the industry and leading their teams, all the while encouraging and consoling associates, families, and friends during an unprecedented time in history. And they have continued to do so in the face of two of the roughest months ever in the radio industry, this past March and…

Larry Wilson, the former CEO of Citadel and Alpha Media, was a successful radio broadcaster for decades. In his new book, Do What’s Right, Larry not only tells great stories about his days in radio and the successes and failures he experienced, he weaves in many stories about being a strong leader and manager that you will no doubt find helpful to your career today. He also reveals a few mistakes he’s made along the road to success. Larry’s career was truly a phenomenal roller coaster ride, and Do What’s Right includes so many great details from every step along the way, I’m sure you’ll find it as hard to put down as I did.…