I saw a breakdown of why Donald Trump voters continue to choose him in spite of his bat shit crazy rhetoric.
Immigration pales by comparison to Trump’s ability to cut through the establishment that voters increasingly do not trust and challenge conventional thinking.
On the Democratic side to some extent Bernie Sanders’ Millennial supporters are tired of what they perceive as being worked by an old time politician from another decade with tons of baggage.
The media business is also suspect.
When viewers give more credibility to Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and John Oliver than they do the cable news channels, you know there is a problem.
Radio stations by and large sound like they did in the 60’s – although not as good due to cutbacks and a de-emphasis on personalities and air talent.
Radio thrives on denial.
They even institutionalize it through their trade organizations – The NAB and RAB.
Most radio companies are incapable of change.
They want to do radio their way not in the new way that listeners may want.
So you have talk radio today that sounds like the 70’s.
Music stations that are worse than their heyday because they are just a laptop in the closet with sweepers and no personalities.
And this – there has been no innovation in radio in decades.
So, while Trump has found a way to channel this contempt for business as usual, radio exemplifies it.
Now we hear CBS Radio is officially for sale – all of it.
Cumulus and iHeart will go bankrupt.
Entercom is a hanger on and not strong enough to carry an industry.
So now it is time for all those people who are NOT planning on selling their stations or filing for bankruptcy to innovate.
And by innovate I am not talking about making minor adjustments. I’m saying, reinvent radio the way radio reinvented itself when television came along.
That’s why I am doing my 7th annual media conference in Philadelphia, April 6th – for independent local operators who know they have to be the leaders in innovation to survive and hopefully thrive in the future.
This is for people who want it straight and want to get it right.
Not willing to sit back and see radio take its final bow because the people who run the stations are afraid of innovating.
That would be easy and predictable.
Take a look at the solutions that will be offered at this event and see if it makes sense for you and your people to stop doing radio as usual and let us fire up the creative juices that could bring a major turnaround.
It’s an Advanced Radio Management Program unlike anything else.
Outperforming a Slowing Revenue Trend
Learn how to compete against consolidators who are driving ad prices down in desperation to avoid bankruptcy by making it difficult for competitors to get paid what they are actually worth.
Getting Millennials To Listen
Discover the things that 18-34 year old Millennial listeners say they want from radio that they are not currently getting. Former Cox and CBS programmer Dan Mason joins us to help you begin a Millennial Radio Makeover that incorporates these needs.
Making Money From Digital
Learn why there isn’t a radio station in the country deriving significant ad revenue from their digital strategies and where exactly to focus limited resources to achieve a much better outcome.
Programming To Shorter Attention Spans
Learn how to rethink formats that are currently appealing to older audiences by adapting them to younger listeners who are distracted by mobile devices and social media.
Your New Competitor: User-Generated Content
Discover why younger money demos are now insisting on being their own “program director” which explains the popularity of YouTube and social media that allows them to be in charge. Once you know how to translate this need into radio programming, you’ll be riding the next wave.
Reinvigorating the Morning Show
Morning shows should deliver 50-60% of a radio stations total revenue but their chief appeal – personalities, news, traffic, weather – are no longer audience magnets. Learn how to pick up the pace of change for your most valuable asset – the one thing station’s must get right to succeed.
Repurposing 7pm to 5am
Voice tracking and syndication will not be enough to generate the extra revenue needed to stay on the road to success. Learn how these time periods are being used successfully to gain audience and revenue – sometimes in ways that are unorthodox.
Getting Around a Rigged Ratings System
Listen to researcher Richard Harker and talk show host Sean Hannity explain the study they did that discovered a majority of actual listening to Sean’s show was not credited by PPM. Engage them directly. Get answers to how to get around a rigged ratings system.
What To Do About Podcasting
Learn why podcasting may have a future as a radio format but not as a standalone business. Go beyond basic podcasting to pod-radio and explore all the details for making podcasting a radio station with all the revenue that would attract.
Finding New Revenue Streams
In a world where audiences click to buy apps (75% of which they never use) and access entertainment and information on-demand, radio now sees a model where paid subscriptions, product placement and other strategies are increasingly an option.
Changing the Way We Engage Audiences
Learn how radio can become more relevant to 86 million money demo listeners by sounding more Millennial. You’ll leave with a plan that will enable you to start teaching on-air talent to change the way they talk to their audience.
Eliminating Listeners’ Biggest Objections
Learn what to do to deal with the negatives of long commercial stop sets, repetitious music and morning shows that don’t do it for them any longer.
One day, April 6th at The Hub Conference Center in Philadelphia.
Not available on tape or by streaming.
Flexible format – you join the discussion.
Continued involvement – the learning and feedback don’t stop here, you can follow up when you return home to maximize what you’ve learned.
Jerry Del Colliano is your program leader – former radio, television talent, program director, author & publisher, speaker and professor at the University of Southern California now in his seventh year of presenting this annual executive media conference.
Consider the impact the Advanced Radio Management Program can have as you advance your career and lead your stations, media outlets or entrepreneurial company towards further success.
Register here.
Inquire about group rates.