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3 Easy Ways To Tell If You’re Putting Listeners First
October 28, 2021
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Great on-air talent makes a huge difference for radio stations, something that streaming services lack. Yet, when talent put themselves above or before the listener, chances are that time spent listening and occasions will begin to erode.
As I coach nine radio shows, and about to embark on a tenth, there’s a common theme that weaves its way between them. None of the shows want to waste the listener’s time. We constantly talk about how long an on-air break feels as opposed to the actual length of the break.
BRETT MAY BE ON TO SOMETHING
Brett does middays on a station in Michigan. He has set personal goals for his stop down breaks (the ones not up song intros) to be no more than forty-five seconds long. He and I do chat about not sacrificing depth and connection just to get done quickly. But I love that he respects the power of the music, forward momentum, and simply his role as “good company” in the middle of the work day. Brett understands that it’s not all about him as he strives to put the listener first.
HERE’S THE TAKEAWAY
Whether you’re a PD or on the air yourself, here are 3 easy ways to evaluate if you and your team are putting listeners first.
- The topic passes the “does the listener care” filter. No one wants to be stuck in a conversation with someone who just wants to talk about themselves.
- Word economy helps you make your point or share your story using the least possible words.
- Don’t repeat yourself in the break. Say what you need to say and nothing more.
As you respect the listener’s time in a sea of wordy podcast episodes and other DJs who love to hear themselves talk, you’ll stand out and leave listeners wanting more.
Todd Stach is the Contemporary Christian Format Editor at AllAccess.com. He also coaches and consults with his business, Beyond615.com, where he strives to help others build confidence with clarity and creativity. He and his family live in the (615) area code, aka the heart of the CCM industry.
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