May 13, 2019, Issue 652
Take This Job & Love It
by Sue Wilson We read a doomsday article about radio seemingly every week, the latest being a USA Today feature listing the Top 25 Worst Jobs in America. Broadcasters in general and DJs in particular came in at Nos. 8 and 7, respectively. Many of the listed jobs received their low ranking based on three factors: overall quality of the work environment, stress levels and income potential. We asked several radio pros how they feel about their jobs and (shocker!) the feedback was incredibly positive and worth adding to the conversation. Platform Choose: The most prevalent recurring theme revolved around making a difference and helping the community. No survey can fully capture what that means in Scott Donato radio’s day-to-day. “Nothing beats the high of making someone’s day a little better, and being their number one source of happiness,” says WGTY/York, PA’s OM/PD Scott Donato. “Everywhere I go, someone tells me how much we affect their life. How many people get that at their daily gig?” But wait, there’s more. KUPL/Portland’s MD/middays Danny Dwyer: “Being in radio gives me a chance and a platform to help people in my community. We Danny Dwyer can’t always see what is happening in people’s lives, but if I can provide a smile or chuckle, it may make a difference in someone’s life that moment, that day or even that week.” KFRG/Riverside’s APD/MD/middays Heather Froglear: “What other job allows you to play music for a living, meet new people every week, go to concert after concert, wear jeans on the job, and gives you a 50,000-watt microHeather phone to be the voice for local organizations Froglear who have none? I’m blessed!” (continued on page 5)
Wish You Were Beer: The Sony/Nashville team raises their longnecks to celebrate setting a new one-week add record with 149 for Luke Combs’ “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” Pictured (l-r) are Steve Hodges, Christy Garbinski, Lyndsay Church, Shane Allen, Lauren Thomas and Bo Martinovich.
Winter Winter Chicken Dinner
Nielsen’s Winter 2019 diary ratings bore more than a few notable success stories, and two are examined below. Programmers celebrating big books can drop a line with their story here. ‘BEE Happy: Entercom WBEE/Rochester, NY remained at No. 1 in the market but experienced an 8.1-9.9 share growth from Fall 2018 to Winter 2019. VP/Programming Bob Barnett says the overall number reflects growth within key demos, as well. “WBEE had a strong performance, including No. 1 in 18-34 Adults, 25-54 Adults, 25-54 Women and nearly every meaningful daypart in our target demo,” he says. “It felt like the prevailing reaction from the team to this book was a combination of accomplishment and relief.” Relief? That seems an interesting reaction for a station firmly atop the leader board. Turns out, while the station did not launch any major Bob Barnett promotions, make staffing changes, or host
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