Innholdsfortegnelse for July 20, 2020 i Radio Ink Magazine

According to those who follow trends, the pandemic that has swept the world has managed to compress the timeline of changes in our society, especially those tied to technology, from what was projected to be a 10-year plan down to a little over 10 weeks and counting. Nowhere is that reflected more than in the workplace. It’s estimated that anywhere from 25% to 30% of employees will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021, according to Global Workplace Analytics. Based on cost savings alone — which can add up to $11,000 annually for the employer and $4,000 for an employee — the potential benefits translate into more than job satisfaction and greater productivity. We’re talking cold, hard cash. For radio, this changing work environment…

Vince Benedetto is the founder, president, and CEO of Bold Gold Media Group, which owns 14 radio stations throughout Pennsylvania and New York. Benedetto is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, a former Air Force captain, and a onetime Air Force OSI special agent, working on counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and felony-level investigative efforts for the Department of Defense. Benedetto finished his Air Force service in his late 20s and began his entrepreneurial endeavors, which included the creation of Bold Gold Media Group and the acquisition of his first four radio stations for $4 million. He had no radio experience and had to figure out how to scrape together the money. During his tenure as a young radio CEO, he’s already successfully worked through two very big challenges: the…

My radio career included time at a number of indie operations, so this issue’s theme speaks to me. My first radio sales job was at a small station that was part of an independently owned chain of small-market stations. When my manager left, he took me with him to an even smaller standalone AM daytimer. After that, I worked for a well-run suburban standalone AM/ FM combo. I later worked for another locally owned standalone AM/FM combo before accepting a position as a general manager of a standalone AM daytimer. So I feel qualified to address the challenges and the satisfaction of independent broadcasters. The Minuses Most of us are familiar with the challenges of operating an independent station or group. First, indie operators usually have limited financial resources, which…

In thinking about the current state of business, it’s valuable to try to reset the relationship between programming and sales. What is the ultimate win-win? How can better collaboration yield more monetization — without negatively impacting ratings? Part one of the reset is about creating an internal culture that is obsessed with making clients feel like partners, not just advertisers. This path requires 100% buy-in from a station or cluster, in every department of operation. Every opportunity to document success in the relationship should be maximized, whether it be in audio, video, or written form. There needs to be a newfound internal pride when it comes to sharing these success stories. In addition, there must be a commitment to making the advertiser feel good by keeping them constantly informed with…

What are your hobbies? Writing and recording music. Studying American and world history, military history, and visiting historic places. Who is/was your role model, and why? First and foremost, my parents. They have always been a shining example of love and support. From history, my role models are George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill. Each of these statesmen found a way to lead and inspire others during unimaginable crises. When you study leadership and statesmanship at the level they exhibited, every challenge you face seems small in comparison. What are you reading right now? The Churchill Factor by Boris Johnson. What is your favorite movie? Darkest Hour. What is your favorite TV Show? Happy Days. What have you recently binged on Netflix? The Man in the High Castle. Twitter…

The junkyard dogs of radio are the misfits and mavericks, renegades and rebels, innovators and improvisers who know that traditional wisdom is often more tradition than wisdom. Junkyard dogs get things done. But because they are focused on the outcome rather than the process, junkyard dogs are always messy. Note to GMs: Junkyard dogs are a lot of trouble, but if you choose to keep them anyway, you’ll be glad you did. Junkyard dogs worry about accomplishment. Show dogs worry about appearances. When the weather is calm and the water is smooth, the show dog owns the horizon. But when the storm is upon you and people are about to die, you want a junkyard dog at the helm. The storm is upon us, don’t you think? The son of…

Many talent and producers who have found themselves out of a job recently are looking for new life in podcasting. Creating podcasts is fun and can be rewarding, but launching them and making them successful as moneymakers is very hard. You’ll have to do some jobs that were covered by others in your radio days; you are not only the talent, but also the sales team, promotions team, and analytics team. Here are five things to think about before stepping into it. 1. Marketing. You can make the best content in the world, but if you don’t have marketing, no one will hear it. Understanding how listeners are best acquired, knowing where to spend your money and when, and finding places to promote your shows are vital. With so many…

The coaching talent receive can make a big and immediate difference in a station’s ratings. Unfortunately, too many program directors either spend too little time coaching an on-air personality — or they over-coach and attempt to control every element of a show. You’re not directing a movie. You’re guiding a personality as they work extemporaneously. Here are the key tips I apply when coaching talent: • Focus on the forest and not the trees. When a PD is too far into basics and bits/features, the talent feels as if they’ve lost control of the show’s content, and they stop being genuine and become contrived or manufactured. • The show has to be about more than the basics. The basics are important, but no one listens for the basics. They listen…