Back On The Job

33° - clear at 10:10pm

It's been a long week. Not yet caught up on rest. And the blog!

A couple of highlights from the Great Lakes Broadcast Conference and Expo held in Grand Rapids on Monday and Tuesday: One was a session on station websites "60 in 60: 60 Web Ideas In 60 Minutes", hosted by Fred Jacobs and Tim Davis of Jacobs Media along with Chris Brunt of Greater Media's Detroit cluster.

My only regret was not being able to see the entire presentation with my conference responsibilities. But there were plenty in the almost-packed room feverishly taking notes. Thanks to Fred, Tim and Chris for making the trip from the Motor City - and congrats on a great hour of website ideas.

The other highlight was the Tuesday Night Broadcast Excellence Awards. It served as a reminder of the many great stations still doing all things local and doing them well. In both large, medium and small markets in the State of Michigan.

Lee Abrams teamed up with Randy Michaels. During the Michigan conference I had a rare chance to check my email and there it was in a R&R news bulletin.

All I could think is "wow". Lee - on his blog (here) writes about Randy:

"He’s possibly the smartest guy I’ve ever met He MIGHT be crazier than me…at least I won’t have to fear being too out there. We ARE going to re-write the future of media. He’s the kinda guy you want to do it with."

First Randy and now Lee. Tribune is one to watch in the coming year.

Congrats: To WKLH's Steve Palec. The longtime host of the station's Sunday Morning "Rock 'N Roll Roots" program adds weeknights 7-9pm to his schedule with the "Legends of Rock". A very cool move.

And speaking of WKLH. I can't help but love this graphic around Bruce Springsteen's appearance Monday Night in Milwaukee. Monday is St. Patrick's Day!

More congrats: To the legendary Tom Kent - who's just launched The Tom Kent Radio Network. Listen for his programming to come to an oldies/classic hits station near you.

Somewhere in my collection I have a quick aircheck of Tom on WHBQ/Memphis in the early 70s. Very few could match the combination of talent and extreme high energy that Tom displayed night after night back then.

And oldies. Edison Media's Sean Ross takes a look at "The New Oldies". A good read here.

I'm still catching up on my reading.

Steal This Post

50° - clear at 10:54pm

Steal from me and you steal twice. And this was stolen with nothing but the most respect for its author. Blogs are all about spreading ideas. And I like spreading great ones.

The brilliant Dave Martin "put to ink" some great words today - on his blog - that I would encourage you to steal and spread:

"The play's the thing. We need to put more play into the everyday. Play will put the show back into show business. Broadcast has spent the better part of twenty years focused on the business at the expense of the show. Without the show, there is no business."

"Play is an important part of the hard work that is the creative process. Play enables, empowers, encourages the creative, the spark."

"Play is what brings the real creatives to the gig, they come to play. Play needs a positive environment, a stage."

"Play requires an advocate and sometime defense attorney."

And then there was more. Clicking the "comments" link below Dave's post, there's more on the topic from the legendary Tom Kent:

"Young Dave is so correct on "the play is the thing". Maybe that's what drove so many of us to get into this crazy business. It's a job that you can do with fun and pleasure and it doesn't seem like a job at all."

"The paradigm must shift from sales first to the show first and then we will witness how dramatically the bottom line will improve. When we put money first, money will elude us. When the greater mission is first and is driven by passion and talent, watch the money pour in."

"The future of radio is bright and here's a great big fat raspberry to all you naysayers."

Thanks Dave. Thank you Tom. Dave's entire post - and Tom's complete comments can be found here.

Wednesday Blogs

90° - cloudy at 1:30pm

Good afternoon from Michigan

From my blogosphere:

David Martin: "What would have to happen....for us to be rated #1?". Dave makes a strong case for asking your staff that question (and a few others). Here.

Congrats to Dave on signing the legendary Tom Kent for representation.

Mark Ramsey writes about the difference between listening and hearing. Some thoughts in the PPM world.

"One of the things radio critics regularly ignore is that radio is only partially designed for "listeners." It's also designed for "hearers." And anyone who cares enough to criticize what they hear on the radio is not a "hearer." A great read here.

Dave Lange. Dave writes about a recent Bridge Ratings study on the "New Influentials" - those in your audience likely to "spread the word".

Dave also offers his suggestions about your marketing plan and the innovation of your product. Read here.

Fred Jacobs. Check out his thoughts on the online video revolution and how that should impact your stations website. Here.

Paul Jacobs: Paul has a great piece this morning on "the keys to building brands." Here.