How Personal Stories Can Make Listeners Love You

One key to becoming more endearing lies in The Novelty Penalty. The idea is simple: People gravitate toward familiarity over the unknown, especially when forming first impressions. Personal Stories can make listeners love you if they connect, but you have to craft them to be relatable, not self-absorbed or internal. 

Radio Update Top 10 Content

According to our internal data, these are the top ten things you all clicked on this week. If you’d like to create content for Radio Update email Submissions@RadioUpdate.com.

#1 Songs This Week

Thanks to the market level song data we look at daily at Radio Station Consultant we’re able to see exactly what songs are connecting with audiences overall, in all radio formats and in individual markets. Out of this week’s data here are a few of the songs that topped those lists nationally in the US and Canada along with a few random specific markets.

Radio Job Openings March 28, 2025

Click the Jobs tab to browse openings or submit a job for free! You can also email your job listing to jobs@radioupdate.com.

Tighten Your Programming

Looking to spring, tighten the formatics and the library through an Internal Marketing plan.  Use your station to sell more listening and audience benefits.  Consider focusing on these programming elements.

Companies That Are Great at Social

One recent example was their timely shot at the Dallas Mavericks for the Luka Doncic trade. The DFW based airline used it as a way to soften the blow after they made a policy change, charging for bags, that upset some of their customers.

Radio Job Openings March 26, 2025

Click the Jobs tab to browse openings or submit a job for free! You can also email your job listing to jobs@radioupdate.com.

Think Smarter, Not Harder! It Doesn’t Have to be More Work!

Simply being a great on-air talent isn’t going to cut it anymore. Hell, it hasn’t “cut it” in a long time now!

The “U” Factor

What’s “U?”  It’s the major benefit that core listeners derive from the station.  “U” is what the station means to them, what’s expected, and the biggest attribute of listening.  It’s likely the music or some other quality.

New Music Mondays March 24, 2025

Here are fourteen of the songs we’re watching this week. For more insight on how we choose these songs or to get a sneak peek at some of the data we track on 500+ new songs across radio formats, email me at Andy@RadioStationConsultant.com.

Use AI To Engage Audiences, Generate New Revenue, And Find New Listeners

Broadcasters who have not yet found ways to leverage the power of AI to enhance their brands are falling behind those who are unlocking time-saving, audience-building, and revenue-generating opportunities. You don’t have to be an AI expert to start use AI if you understand a couple of simple concepts and use the right tools.

Radio Update Top 10 Content

According to our internal data, these are the top ten things you all clicked on this week. If you’d like to create content for Radio Update email Submissions@RadioUpdate.com.

Artist to Watch: Lola Young

Lola Young is unapologetically herself, which makes her music that much more powerful. You may have heard her song, Messy, on Tik Tok, but there’s a full lifetime of experience in this young package. 

Cumulus Cuts Seven 24/7 Westwood One Formats

Yesterday Cumulus announced that seven of their twenty 24/7 Westwood One syndicated formats will be shut down in thirty days. The formats that will be eliminated as of Sunday April 20th include Variety Hits Pop, Variety Hits Rock, Hits Now, Classic Hits Gold, Classic Rock X, Rock 2.0 and Good Time Oldies.

#1 Songs This Week

Thanks to the market level song data we look at daily at Radio Station Consultant we’re able to see exactly what songs are connecting with audiences overall, in all radio formats and in individual markets. Out of this week’s data here are a few of the songs that topped those lists nationally in the US and Canada along with a few random specific markets.

Why Your Radio Station Needs a “Website Program Director”

Much like a Program Director drives on-air success, a Digital Content Director ensures your online presence resonates with listeners and advertisers alike. If you want your station’s digital arm to be more than just a place to find the stream link, it’s time to give the same level of thought and care to your online content strategy.

Giving The Audience What They Want

The big thing many radio programmers get wrong is they think that they know what the audience wants better than they do. Here’s how we change or eliminate that mindset for music and talk programming.

Three Minutes vs Five Minutes

The three minute qualifier versus the five-minute qualifier has shown to improve ratings across the board. Last year, Nielsen announced the time qualifier for a station to get credit for an average quarter hour.

Make Your Imaging Work Harder

Station imaging sells continued listening and listener benefits.  Here are ten imaging suggestions to make your station sound great.

Endorsements: What’s Old is New Again

The strength of personal endorsements is POWERFUL, and radio personalities have long been a force in that area. Whether hugely popular on a national scale, or having a small but loyal audience, radio DJ’s are tremendously influential in selling product. Combined with their social media pages, these campaigns can really move the brand’s awareness and the consumer’s purchase intent needle.