Classic Rock Rules - from Fred Jacobs

"Music that has stood the test of time"

Read Here

(I love stuff like this - share it with your programming and sales staff !!!)

Monday Morning Quotes

53° - clear at 8:15am

Good Morning from Okemos.

My oldest (Tyler, pictured left) turned 13 yesterday. Everybody says it - but its true: time passes way too fast with kids.

Labor Day Weekend coming up. I promise to run down special programming in the next day or two. What have you got planned? Please share!

Some quotes seen over the past couple days - first from Fred Jacobs:

"And yes, if it was a radio programmer running the Obama campaign, that text would have gone out at 7:20 Thursday Morning."

Fred - writing about Obama...and "whats the digital application?". Makes for a great read and food for thought for your radio station. Here.

A quote from Greater Media VP/Program Development Buzz Knight:

"As programmers, we have to understand that cultivating new air talent is critical to the future of our business. We have to be sensitive to how we are grooming new talent, a challenge for every company."

"Great talent adds great value to your brand. It is incumbent upon us to create talents that are great brands. We have to evolve with the times in our thinking of how to develop strong personalities. We as managers have to play significant roles in that process."

That's part of a great interview with Buzz in the current issue of FMQB. Read here.

Next from Dave Martin:

"...The six-word job description of the PD remains "Deliver numbers to the sales department." The PD is advocate for the group(s) formerly known as the audience. The four-word job description of the SM remains "Convert deliverables into cash." The SM is advocate for the paying customers."

"In the most effective organizations PDs and SMs are involved in an ongoing creative collaboration. The work is akin to the real-time improvisation one finds integral to jazz. A mix of equal parts art and science. Each player has a deep understanding and respect for producing results. Accordingly, there is art in commerce. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."

Dave reviews the classic product vs. sales debate here.

And from the brilliant mind of KEZK-KYKY/St. Louis PD Mark Edwards:

"I think sometimes management doesn't let talent do what they were hired to do. Whether its a big money morning man, a rookie weekender, or a PD, you have to let your people do their jobs. I have a tremendous amount of respect for great Air Personalities, partly because I was never that good on the air, but mostly because I've always tried to build a team with people who are specialists in what they do."

"When you clamp down on any kind of talent, you don't let them do what you hired them to do, so I'd rather let them do their "act", critique when its necessary, and make sure they know their limits, whether it be what they can talk about or how long a bit should be. Great local talent will always be broadcast radio's best weapon, and you have to let them be themselves as well as good station ambassadors on and off the air."

Mark is interviewed on Rick Kaempfer's Chicago Radio Spotlight here.

More later. The day job awaits...

Political Fun in Denver

With the Democratic National Convention in town next week, Denver should be abuzz with politicians, tv, show biz, music and other celebrity-types.

Classic Rock KRFX morning drivers Lewis & Floorwax are taking advantage of the party by offering listeners cash prizes for getting the famous on the air with "Political Cellout 2008".

"If you can get them on your cell phone, and on our show, you'll have a chance of scoring cash, and our eternal respect and admiration."

An idea that can be adapted for other big events that might be happening in your town!

See more at The Fox website here.

The Weekend Classic Rock FM

80° - light rain at 11:27am

Good Morning from downtown Lansing.

My 9-year old. For the past couple of weeks, he's been roaming around the house singing/humming "Carry On My Wayward Son"...courtesy of Guitar Hero.

Last weekend, I got him a CD of the Kansas album "Leftoverture"...perhaps he'll discover the rest of the album. My classic rock kid!

Even more PPM explained. Last week I passed along a link to Paragon Media Strategies - explaining the first ten of "20 More Things You Need to Know About PPM", as presented at the Morning Show Bootcamp.

Paragon's now posted narrative for another five of the twenty. Here.

Being an old album rock guy from the 70s - one caught my eye: "The art of the musical segue will be re-born in PPM. Keep ‘em listening, and don’t give ‘em reasons to tune out."

President of Radio. I've been following Fred Jacobs and his very clever and much needed session/discussion at upcoming Jacobs Media Summit. Fred has announced two more names for the panel; plus has published the entries for the 10th panelist (or "President"). Great stuff.

See the ideas here. Details on the session here.

Good Read: "Radio Law Is Meant To Be Broken (Strategically)". Edison Media's Sean Ross writes here.

Your station website. Earlier this week Broadcast Attorney David Oxenford posted a great piece on his Broadcast Law Blog regarding websites and localism. Copy and take to your next website strategy meeting. Here.

Bob & Tom TV. Randy Michaels and company brings some of radio's best to the tube via WGN America beginning in November. More here.

New AC/DC. Bob Leftsetz writes a great review here. Having read Bob's blog for several years now, I know his enthusiasm is genuine.

Have a great one.