Monday, Monday

50° - clear at 9:48pm

Good evening from Mid-Michigan.

Listening: Tonight to WKLH/Milwaukee's Steve Palec - and his (almost) new 7-9pm weeknight show "Legends of Rock". As the stream popped on, Steve was playing "Lady Writer" from Dire Straits (a "DK" all-time fav).

Dire Straits was followed by a "Legends" sweeper into Steve with a story behind the song "Marrakesh Express" by CSN, including a Graham Nash sound bite...segued into the song itself.

Great storytelling makes great radio. And classic rock has so many stories behind the songs and artists.

CSN followed by Steely Dan "Hey Nineteen" segued into "Come Running" from Van Morrison. Sweet! Check Steve out 8-10pm eastern time at www.wklh.com.

And thanks Steve too for the Timmy Thomas "Why Can't We Live Together" (plus the same tune performed by Steve Winwood...wow!)

Give Your Station Voice A Break. Well, sort of. Fred Jacobs wrote here this morning on using your on-air talent to its fullest:

"..it is ironic that clients often pay premium dollars for live reads by big-name jocks, but stations would rather use their anonymous Mr. Big Voice on most (if not all) key promos and positioners. If your airstaff can effectively sell dog food, cars, and new windows for advertisers, why wouldn't you regularly use the power and influence of their voices to highlight what's really important - your station and your brand?"

I couldn't agree more. Just using your star talent to voice promos (perhaps in combo with your "station voice" or solo) adds some variety and might just perk some ears up. And consider doing the same with your sweepers and imaging pieces. Just a couple times an hour a different voice will command some attention.

If you run syndication, consider those voices too! Think Bob & Tom (and Chick & Kristie - along with all the character voices), Alice Cooper, Little Steven, Nick Michaels, Paul Shaffer - whoever you run.

And listener-voiced sweepers are cool too - even if just call letters and slogan recorded off the phone. Getting off-topic, just brain-storming.

Back to Fred's post. Also writing:

"Most radio stations don't use their big names as effectively. Yes, many well-paid jocks have gotten the economic message in the past few years. They need to make a greater contribution than their 4-5 hours shows. As a result, many have stepped up, are spending more time at the station, while showing up for more outside events (with no talent fee)."

"But stations could utilize their big brands in a more compelling way. A number of years ago, we talked about the jocks making live, unsolicited calls to members of the email database. Imagine getting one of those out-of-the-blue calls from your favorite DJ, thanking you for listening, taking a request, and just spending a couple of minutes to schmooze with a station fan. It's a lasting impression, very buzz-worthy, and something that can cement a listener's loyalty for years."

Thanks to Fred for sharing a great post with the rest of us; a ping to his blog should be a part of everyone's breakfast.

Have a good night.