Making Radio Stronger In A Disaster
Lisa Miller - "How I Got Into Radio"
CBS Radio President Dan Mason
For those of us who are lucky enough to be in the radio industry, we meet new people every day. Whether it’s on a sales call, meeting with a vendor, interviewing a new employee, or just walking through the halls of the station or the offices in which we work. Our industry is ever-changing, and by the time we've reached the milestone of several decades in the business, we've met hundreds of people. The one thing we all share is the story of how we found our way into “the business."
Saga President and CEO Ed Christian
When I began my career as an agent, Ed Christian was one of the first people I met at an NAB in the 80s. He was so nice to me that I wanted to do business with him just to spend time with him. I quickly learned that before owning stations he had worked in a similar career as me and knew a great deal more than I did. What Ed taught me was to know my client and know the product. It wasn’t long before our paths crossed and one of my clients went to work for Saga Communications.
Lincoln Financial Media CEO Don Benson
I honestly can’t remember the first time I met Don Benson, but it's like I’ve known him forever. He’s hard to miss, with his warm smile and charismatic style. A soft-spoken Southern gentleman who never takes himself too seriously, but everything he does professionally is serious business. His leadership is evident by the enormous effort he puts forth on behalf of the NAB, RAB, and Arbitron Advisory Council, along with the stations he heads up for Lincoln Financial Media. Don is not one to brag, boast, or rave about himself, which makes him the perfect leader for a heritage ownership.
ESPN Senior Vice President Traug Keller
In 1994, I was representing The Fabulous Sports Babe whom we had just taken to ESPN Radio. As the first female hosting a show for the testosterone-driven ESPN, the Babe made quite an entrance. ESPN Radio was in its infancy and the addition of the Babe drew attention to the first national sports radio network. The studios and offices were filled with energy and employed some of our industry's most respected professionals. Among them was a young man who stood tall and had a grin that seemed to span the entire island of Manhattan. Never stressed, always calm, impeccably dressed and never shaken, Traug Keller was a breath of fresh air amongst the chaos that is a staple of New York.
President of Programming Emmis Communications - Rick Cummings
Since I started Miller Broadcast Management, I have worked with Rick Cummings. The 1980s acquisition of the NBC stations added a large group of major-market stations, all of which needed premium talent. But, on December 7, 1987, I conducted my most bizarre negotiations with Rick.
Sr. VP of Programming Entercom Pat Paxton
Pat has always reminded me of someone who could have lived in the '50s. He is a suave and debonair charmer who walks through the room as if he was accompanied by Frank and Dean. But as the head of programming for Entercom, he is always working well into the future. Pat is unique in that he is very serious about his business, yet he has a wonderful sense of humor.
Cumulus NY Market Manager Kim Bryant
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Kim Bryant for the past 15 years. When she was market manager for Clear Channel in San Francisco, we met on a regular basis as I negotiated contracts and she ran the juggernaut of stations that dominated the market and owned the female audience. As one of the few female market managers in radio, Kim has the distinct honor and demanding responsibility of demonstrating that women can provide the same, if not better, leadership than the men.
How Digital Changes The Lives Of Talent
I thought the world became a better place with e-mail. It was fantastic; I’d write something at my desk and within a minute or two, I’d get a response. No Telex, no Twix, no fax — nothing with an “x,” just e-mail. But then I saw what happened when people didn’t edit their comments, and thoughts that would never have left their mouths were leaving their fingers.
What’s In A Name? It’s Your Brand.
There was a time when you could work for a station with one on-air name, then move across country or across the street, change your name, and become a completely different person. Those days are long gone. Your name is your brand, and your brand is more crucial, and more global, than ever. Station owners, GMs, and PDs are only a few clicks away from finding out everything about you -- your successes and failures, your impact or lack thereof. Like Coke, Pepsi, McDonald’s, or Disney, your name defines you.
Have We Reversed Radio's Role?
Listeners used to set their day around the schedule on the radio. Now radio bases its day on the schedule of the listener. But are we doing things backward? Yes, we need to give listeners what they want. We’ve learned a lot about the habits of the listeners and have made smart adjustments to be more effective and efficient.
The Next Great Format
Every day I’m asked: “What is the next great format, and when will it be here”? The answer: It’s already here. What’s its name? I’ve heard every type of description, definition, and clever alliteration proposed as a moniker, but I’ll call it Contemporary Talk.Yes,Talk.
Are You Listening?
What happens when you don’t listen to your station? How do you sit in front of a prospective advertiser and express your conviction that your station is a “must buy” when you don't even listen? Who is the morning host? What benchmarks or features can be sponsored? How does the audience feel about the station? What are the strengths of the station?
