RadioInk Magazine 5/27/20

RADIO’S PREMIER MANAGEMENT & MARKETING MAGAZINE SM

VOL. XXXV, NO.6

5•25 • 2020

WWW.RADIOINK.COM

RADIO INK'S MIW LEGEND IS ... SEE PAGE 22 5 THINGS RADIO'S DOING RIGHT WITH PODCASTING ROY ON REINVENTION SURVIVING THE STORM

20 0 2 E TH ST MO IAL NT E U L F IN IN N E M WO IO RAD

CHRISTINE TRAVAGLINI

HOW SHE ROSE FROM SALES ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT

RI_p01_cover_5-25-20.indd 1

5/14/20 1:11 PM

RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 2

5/19/20 1:53 PM

FREE DAILY Sign Up Today!

Get the latest news and helpful columns by podcast experts every weekday in Podcast Business Journal.

Go to podcastbusinessjournal.com now to subscribe for free!

IN THE ISSUE M AY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 | V O L U M E X X X V, N O . 6

EVP/PUBLISHER Deborah Parenti dparenti@streamlinepublishing.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ed Ryan

edryantheeditor@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR Brida Connolly bconnolly@streamlinepublishing.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Rob Dumke rdumke@streamlinepublishing.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Alfonso Jones alfonso.streamline@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kenneth Whitney kenneth.whitney@gmail.com PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Nicolynn Kuper nkuper@streamlinepublishing.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS April McLynn amclynn@streamlinepublishing.com NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Tracey Homberg 248-330-4595 thomberg@streamlinepublishing.com NATIONAL MARKETING EXECUTIVE Carl Marcucci 703-670-2860 cmarcucci@streamlinepublishing.com ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANT George Wymer 937-609-6778 gwymer@streamlinepublishing.com

K ATZ R ADIO GROUP PRESIDENT CHRISTINE TR AVAGLINI

CHAIRMAN/CEO B. Eric Rhoads erhoads@streamlinepublishing.com Twitter: @ericrhoads Facebook: ericrhoads EXEC. VP/COO Tom Elmo

06 PUBLISHER’S BEAT

By EVP/Publisher Deborah Parenti Surviving The Storm

11

By The MIW Group

08 THE WIZARD OF ADS

12

By Matty Staudt 5 Things Radio Is Doing Right (And Wrong) In Podcasting

10

SALES

By Barry Cohen The Zen Of Radio

ADVERTISER SUCCESS STORY

By Associate Editor Rob Dumke Dealership Benefits From Radio’s Brand-Building Power

By Roy Williams The Wisdom Of Early Reinvention

09 PODCASTING

MIWS: STRIVE TO INSPIRE

14

COVER STORY

By Editor-In-Chief Ed Ryan Climbing The Ladder: From Sales Assistant To President Christine Travaglini

22 28

MIW LEGEND

Weezie Kramer

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN RADIO

CONTROLLER Jaime Osetek

jaime@streamlinepublishing.com

52

ON AIR

CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Sue Henry shenry@streamlinepublishing.com

57

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

EXECUTIVE EDITOR EMERITUS Dwight Case (1929-2019)

BOOKS

OUR MISSION Radio Ink’s role is passionately to empower radio management to be more successful by providing fresh, actionable, reality-based ideas, inspiration, and education in a quick, easy-to-read, positive, pro-radio environment.

62

Do What’s Right

By Larry Wilson

EDITORIAL OFFICES 331 SE Mizner Blvd.

Boca Raton, FL 33432 Phone 561-655-8778 • Fax 561-655-6164 E-Mail: comments@radioink.com

FEEDBACK: Send e-mail to edryantheeditor@gmail.com. Submission of a letter constitutes permission to publish that letter in any form or medium. Letters may be edited for space or other reasons. You can also leave comments on all of our online stories at www. radioink.com. Become a Radio Ink fan on Facebook at facebook.com/radioink; follow us on Twitter @radio_ink.

Copyright © 2020 by Streamline Publishing, Inc. and Radio Ink. All rights reserved. ® Radio Ink is a registered trademark of Streamline Publishing, Inc. Radio Central,™ RadioCentral.com, and QuickRead are registered trademarks of Streamline Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

telmo@streamlinepublishing.com

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Laura Iserman laura@streamlinepublishing.com

RADIO INK (ISSN 1064-587X) is published bi-monthly March & September. Monthly January, February, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, and December. Fourteen issues each year for $199 per year, Canadian and European subscribers $249 per year, by Streamline Publishing, Inc., 331 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton,

FL 33432. Periodicals postage paid at Boca Raton, FL, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Radio Ink, 331 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33432. All subscriptions, renewals, and changes of address should include address label from most recent issue and be sent to the Circulation

Department, Radio Ink, 331 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33432. Copying done for other than personal or internal reference without the express permission of Radio Ink is prohibited. Address requests for special permission to the Managing Editor. Reprints and back issues available upon request. Printed in the United States.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Phone 800-610-5771 Fax 561-655-6164

STREAMLINE PUBLISHING ONE OF AMERICA’S FASTEST-GROWING PRIVATE COMPANIES

4 RADIOINK.COM RADIOINK•COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_ TOC 5-25-20.indd 4

5/14/20 2:03 PM

PUBLISHER’S BEAT

SURVIVING THE STORM DPARENTI@STREAMLINEPUBLISHING.COM

EVP/PUBLISHER

STREAMLINE PUBLISHING

DEBORAH PARENTI

Normally, this column would center on remarkable women who are leading and inspiring our industry. This year is different.

As I write today, the world reminds me of the image of a finger stuck in the air, replicating a weathervane to determine what direction the wind is blowing. And while there is science behind this experiment, its accuracy depends on several conditions. For example, it doesn’t work well in hot, humid weather.

Which is somewhat like the situation we face now. In such an unprecedented time, even great medical minds have struggled to figure out the next phase. Is it really OK to go back into the office, are safe distancing and masks enough in the store, and oh, dear, what about haircuts?

Those who are dealing with the virus itself, either personally or with loved ones, are carrying a weight for which there is no comparison. People who have lost jobs and are strapped by dwindling resources face incredible challenges and enormous stress. We like to talk about the importance of being kind. More than ever, we need to walk that talk.

Of course, while everyone has been impacted by COVID-19, many have been more fortunate, more inconvenienced than threatened in the worst possible ways by this devastating virus.

There is a saying making the rounds:

we may all be living through the same storm, but we are not in the same boat.

Speaking of boats, there’s this: a rising tide lifts all boats.

Indeed, there is a tide rising, slowly, unsteady perhaps, but surely, as Main Street begins to crack open its doors again. Many businesses — from retail and restaurants to service providers — are ramping up plans that will, hopefully, get cash registers ringing once more. A good number will come back in stages, staying nimble to adjust for the safety and well-being of employees, customers, themselves, and their businesses, if and as necessary.

But there will be recovery. How well and how long it takes depend in great part on the actions we put into place now.

Even as grave as it is, this virus is still like many challenges. We cannot control it — at least not now — but we can control how we respond to it and to the collateral damage that has come with it.

Those riding out the storm on the boat of the “inconvenienced” need to step up and fill the gaps left by those on the more hard-hit vessels. The toll on some coworkers and staff may have been greater than on others. Never has teamwork been more important internally, as well as in outreach to clients as they begin the journey back to business life. This is a time when all hands need to be on deck

because with time and healing, the future of everyone in every boat is tied to how recovery is steered now.

As Broadcast Management and Technology CEO Jay Meyers advised in a Radio Ink Facebook Live recently (also available on YouTube), strategic planning should be ongoing now if it hasn’t been already. “First in is going to win.” Even if a client is not ready to advertise, having creative and a marketing plan locked in is not only smart preparedness but fosters a sense of relief that there is “light at the end of the tunnel.”

It’s also time to recap what radio has been delivering throughout the crisis: unique narratives capturing both local and nationally produced moments that have bonded our collective spirit, feeding, entertaining, enlightening, and providing companionship during lonely days of isolation. No media has done a better job, and it’s worth taking to the streets — from Madison to Main. If radio can deliver for a crisis, it can sure deliver for cash registers.

What happens in the critical months ahead will be a reflection on our actions today, personally and professionally. Let’s hope we choose wisely.

6 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_PubBeat 5-25-20.indd 6

5/14/20 1:13 PM

RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 7

5/19/20 1:53 PM

THE WIZARD OF ADS

The Wisdom Of Early Reinvention

ROY H. WILLIAMS

PRESIDENT WIZARD OF ADS INC. ROY@WIZARDOFADS. COM

A few years ago, Yvon Chouinard was asked, “How do you know if you’re making the right move? He said, “It’s a lot of gut instinct. If you study something to death, if you wait for the customer to tell you what he wants, you’re going to be too late, especially for an entrepreneurial company.” The last time I checked, Yvon Chouinard’s Patagonia was debt-free and selling $575 million per year. I like his track record.

But how can we know what “the right move” is if we don’t have enough information?

In the absence of a crystal ball, let’s begin with the assumption that this virus and the social upheaval that came with it won’t go away all at once. Now let’s speculate about what things might look like in six months.

It is Thanksgiving Day 2020. People are worried about a “second wave” of infections, and the unemployment problem hasn’t disappeared. Six months from now, when they look back at this moment, what will your clients be thankful they decided to do today?

Most of the businesses in America are effectively out of business because the underlying assumptions that sustained our business models are no longer true. This isn’t just “a moment” that will soon pass, it is a season that will be with us for a number of months, at least.

You didn’t want to hear that, and I didn’t want to say it. But it is precisely what you need to hear right now if your clients are going to look back and be glad of the decisions you helped them to make.

This is when the big fish quit eating the small fish. This is when the fast fish eat the slow. If your client’s plan is to “wait it

out until everything gets back to normal,” they are in danger of being the slow fish.

If you want to help your client, you must convince them to make it easier for their customers to do business with them. They must think big but start small. What is something they can do today?

I have a friend who owns a jewelry store in a town of about 115,000 people. When his state went into lockdown mode, the other jewelry stores sent their people home to “wait it out.” But my friend decided to answer the phone each day, just in case a customer had a need that couldn’t wait. He was laughing when he called me. “Roy, I’ve sold four engagement rings in the past five days because of this new, high-tech thing I’m doing called ‘answering the phone.’”

WOW 1 DAY PAINTING is one of the new international franchises of Brian Scudamore, the founder of 1-800-GOTJUNK, the largest privately owned junk removal service on earth. Prior to the public becoming concerned about COVID-19, WOW 1-DAY PAINTING was doing more interior painting than exterior. It took Brian less than 48 hours to create and distribute a new radio ad for all his franchise partners.

JAMES: WOW 1 DAY PAINTING BRIAN: can paint the exterior of your house JAMES: in just [pause] 1 [pause] DAY. [SFX Magic Sparkle] BRIAN: Your next-door-neighbor will drive to the grocery store, JAMES: and when they get back, [SFX Magic Sparkle] BRIAN: your house will be a whole different color!

JAMES: Seriously, we are THAT good.

BRIAN: We can give you a price during a live video chat.

JAMES: You can even PAY over the phone!

BRIAN: WOW! [SFX Magic Sparkle] JAMES: 1 DAY PAINTING BRIAN: is a precision team JAMES: of professional painters BRIAN: who plan JAMES: and prepare BRIAN: Perfection.

JAMES: Happy painters wearing uniforms!

BRIAN: Go to WOW 1 DAY dot com Next, WOW 1 DAY PAINTING is going to post all the thousands of available paint colors on their website. But that takes time.

Offering to quote a price during a live video chat and allowing customers to pay over the phone are things they could do today.

When reinventing a business model, ask yourself this question: “If the Wizard of Ads is wrong, and this virus goes away all at once, and everything goes back to exactly how it used to be, will I still be glad I made the changes I made?”

How can your clients tweak their business models to make it easier for their customers to do business with them? How much of it can they do today?

Zoom came out of nowhere to beat Skype, owned by Microsoft, and Facetime, owned by Apple, and what in the world happened to Google Hangouts?

Answer: Zoom made it easier for customers to do business with them.

They didn’t wait for customers to say they wanted something different. Customers usually don’t know what they’ve been missing until someone offers it to them.

Convince your clients to be the one to offer it to them.

8 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_5.25.20_08.indd 8

5/14/20 1:18 PM

PODCASTING

5 Things Radio Is Doing Right (And Wrong) In Podcasting A few years ago, I was lucky enough to come back to radio after having left my morning show to be on the startup team at Stitcher. I started podcasting for iHeartRadio in San Francisco, where we grew to 40 shows, all on music stations. I then got to do it for the rest of the country in all of our markets.

Since then I have seen a lot of companies getting on board with podcasting — but not always doing it right. Here’s what I saw that is working, and not working.

sell. We had great success with these in San Francisco.

4. Working out young talent through podcasts. There are just not a lot of opportunities these days for young talent to grow on air. Podcasts are the new way to get your part-timers and interns to improve and show what they can do.

5. Sports! There are so many great sports podcasts out there. Again, it’s great extra content and a place to work out young talent.

WORKING 1. Getting morning shows to offer their shows on demand. Most shows are doing this, and it’s really a great way to serve the audience. Whether we like it or not, people’s listening habits have changed, and we need to be there whenever they want content.

2. After shows and other specialty podcasts. Fans love these, and it gives hosts some time to do things they can’t on the air.

They also really help with show chemistry, and I have been told by many new shows it’s helped them grow as partners.

3. Live podcasts. I don’t see as many of these as I think I should. People love to come out to see a live taping, and events are something we know how to do and

NOT WORKING 1. Not paying talent for their podcasting efforts. This is tricky, but we need to do a better job of working revenue shares into contracts and paying folks for the work they are doing.

2. Not selling podcasts. People who listen to their favorite show’s podcasts are what I call the P1s’ P1s. But I don’t see a lot of local sales going after sponsors for the shows.

3. Speaking of ads: playing spots recorded for radio on podcasts. I just think they sound terrible and are super distracting for listeners. Having a voice that records more laid-back podcast reads is vital to making them sound good.

MATTY STAUDT

PRESIDENT JAM STREET MEDIA

4. Not offering morning shows as ondemand content. We know they do not take away from ratings — and most shows that are doing popular podcasts are also the ones winning in the ratings — but there are still some old school folks who think people will listen to the podcast and not the show. People will always choose live when they can, but they shouldn’t be punished if they want to listen to parts of a show they missed.

5. Not putting a priority on producers. Great podcasts have great producers. We need to focus more attention on them, offer training, and pay them.

Radio has come a long way when it comes to podcasts. As more people flock to them, it’s important that we keep growing and work out some of these issues.

Matty Staudt is the former director of content at Stitcher, was radio’s first VP of podcast programming with iHeartRadio, and is now the president of Jam Street Media in Los Angeles, helping brands and people make awesome podcasts (jamstreetmedia.com). Reach him @MattyStaudt on social media or at matty@jamstreetmedia.com.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM RI_Staudt 5-25-20.indd 9

9 5/14/20 2:23 PM

SALES

The Zen Of Radio BARRY COHEN

MANAGING MEMBER ADLAB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

To those of you who sell radio: you need to know that this is not a zero-sum game.

Everyone can win.

I want to introduce you to an entirely new sales paradigm. Stay with me on this. Imagine there are no quotas, no budgets, no pressure — just the joy of helping someone else, and getting paid for it. What could be more enjoyable and fulfilling than that?

Answer this. How would you do your job differently if that were the case?

Think about that for a moment, and I will show you how it can be. Let’s play for the next several moments. Let’s create your new reality.

Think back to when you first started your career in radio sales. Think back to your training program. We are all familiar with role-playing as a training exercise. You probably engaged in roleplaying with either your manager or with your colleagues, right? But have you ever role-played with yourself? Probably not. That’s exactly what I want you to do. Yes, role-play with yourself, twice.

For the first exercise, you will play the role of the prospect. Then, for the second exercise, you’ll play the role of the radio sales rep. Are you ready?

Role-Play With Yourself Pretend you’re the prospect. Ask yourself these questions: 1. What do I need to have happen each day in order to sell more of my products or services?

2. What activities would I perform and what resources would I commit in order to make that happen?

3. What help would I seek from others in order to sell more?

4. How would I decide whose aid to enlist for that help?

5. What would I expect of them?

6. How would I hold them accountable?

Now, Switch Roles You are the radio representative. Ask yourself these questions: 1. How will I discover the prospect’s needs?

2. How will I devise a plan to help them?

3. What is my commitment to them?

4. What are my expectations from them?

5. How will I hold myself accountable to them?

There is nothing else and no one else.

Just you and the prospect. You serve; if they profit, you profit. Everything else is an illusion. Block out the noise. Nothing else matters.

Meet. Greet. Discover. Engage. Serve.

Repeat.

That is all you need to do. If you and the prospect are both committed to producing the desired result of achieving the prospect’s goals, you will both win.

Now, go and experience the pure joy (zen) of performing and succeeding.

Barry Cohen is the managing member of AdLab Media Communications, LLC (www.adlabcreative.com). He has sold both suburban and major market radio, served as a station manager, and conducted RAB workshops and webinars. Cohen is the author of the book 10 Ways to Screw Up an Ad Campaign and co-author of Startup Smarts (Simon & Schuster).

10 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_Barry Cohen Sales 5-25-20.indd 10

5/14/20 1:18 PM

MIWS: STRIVE TO INSPIRE The Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) Group is a volunteer organization created shortly after the publication of Radio Ink’s inaugural Most Influential Women in Radio issue. Several of those honored that first year believed their influence was best served when helping others achieve their career goals. The MIW Group’s mission is simple: we are committed to developing management and leadership skills for women in radio, and advocating for the advancement of women to senior positions within the industry.

We believe our mission and mentoring programs are worthy at any time. However, in these days of uncertainty and unparalleled change, the “inspiring” component seems profoundly meaningful. In that spirit, we offer a few examples from MIW Executive Committee members of ways in which to turn dark days into occasions of light.

Beth Neuhoff, CEO of Neuhoff Media, describes the Louise Neuhoff Educational Access Project, named in honor of the company’s co-founder. This educational initiative partners Neuhoff Media stations with Illinois public school systems to connect teachers to students with limited Internet access, and to encourage learning in a new and innovative way. Each day, specific periods of time on Neuhoff Media FM stations in Danville, Springfield, and Decatur are made available for teachers to present lessons, read books, and review classroom material on air.

As Beth explains, “We have unique opportunities as females and broadcasters in challenging times to show our values in action. Our educational access project is one of those opportunities when necessity was indeed the mother of invention. We hope our airwaves can serve the public in ways never imagined — and we can connect to future generations in a way that really matters to them.”

Sheila Kirby, SVP of sales acceleration, and Lindsay Adams, VP of national agency partnerships, share that Entercom launched #STAY CONNECTED, a company-wide rallying cry designed to focus the reach and power of the company’s broadcast and digital brands in a unified effort to help local communities remain connected. COO Weezie Kramer explains, “We keep them connected by delivering the content they crave, voices and influencers they trust

and love, and programming that is a daily habit — and today, a public service.” #STAY CONNECTED is only one of the impressive initiatives Entercom has launched for their community and their employees.

Tricia Gallenbeck, VP/GM of Reno Media, and her team are working relentlessly to serve their community, producing videos (from personalities or advertising partners) urging Nevadans to stay home and be safe and running free community messages on how to find businesses that may be open. Reno Media’s “Those Who Are There for Us” campaign encourages listeners to use a variety of platforms to publicly salute the people across Northern Nevada who are providing service to their community. “This collaboration reminds me why so many of us fell in love with broadcasting in the first place,” says Tricia.

On behalf of the MIW Executive Committee, congratulations to the 2020 Class of Most Influential Women in Radio!

We invite you to visit RadioMIW.com. When social distancing is no longer a trend, we hope you’ll join us at one of our networking events, be motivated by our annual gender analysis report, and learn more about our mentorship opportunities. Most importantly, whatever position you hold at your radio companies, wherever you are in your career … strive to inspire others. Especially in days like these.

MAY 25, 2020 RI_MIW Group 5-25-20.indd 11

11 5/14/20 2:23 PM

Dealership Benefits From Radio’s BrandBuilding Power

By Rob Dumke

Kent VanArnam

“There are pieces of radio that have changed over the years, but the core value of radio remains: it’s a great medium for building a brand through emotion, storytelling, and relationships,” says Kent VanArnam, a radio and marketing pro with 20-plus years on his resume. VanArnam is the director of marketing for Dick Hannah Dealerships, a 70-year-old business with seven dealerships in Portland and Vancouver.

To stay on top in the competitive world of automotive sales, VanArnam tells Radio Ink it’s all about branding.

Radio Ink: The automotive category has always placed at the top or near the top in money spent on getting the message out on radio. How does Dick Hannah Dealerships stand out in the crowd?

VanArnam: The Internet has changed

car buying, which is no real surprise.

With all the information online, every car dealer knows what every other dealer is selling their cars for. To stand out from other dealers is where the value of radio lies.

Radio has never been a great platform for delivering very specific details about selling a car. Prices, terms, disclosures, etc. — nobody can process that information while they’re traveling 65 mph down the road listening to radio.

Radio has never been a platform for granular pricing information. Instead, the value of radio is to impart an emotional reason why you should do business with the company that is advertising on the radio. It’s about branding.

Radio Ink: How does branding on the radio translate into business in a digital world?

VanArnam: The big thing for us at Dick Hannah is the value of the brand.

Because of the flat pricing of cars, it’s more important than ever to have a strong brand. If you do have strong brand recognition, when people hit Google, they will remember that brand and type that into the search engine.

Radio is intrusive, in a good way. In a digital world where you are trying to reach people based on what they are typing into a search engine, that is very difficult if you have a soft brand. You want to be more intrusive, so people will notice and react.

To me, radio today is about search. If I do my job as a marketer with branding, we will get our fair share of clicks. I think radio is a very powerful platform to influence how people feel about a brand, and that transitions over into search.

12 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_Ad Success 5-25-20.indd 12

5/14/20 1:21 PM

Dick Hannah Dealerships has seven outlets in Portland and Vancouver.

Radio Ink: What type of things do you do to build the dealership brand using radio?

VanArnam: What we do with our dealership is we actually say in our spots that all dealers receive the same cars from the factory. We then go on to say, however, when the cars arrive at our dealership, we add “nice.” Our slogan is “Believe in Nice.” In our spots, we articulate what “nice” means. Things like a lifetime warranty with no charge.

Also, we have this list of things we do for every car we sell. For example, we plant a tree for every car we sell.

We have already planted more than 200,000 trees. We donate cars to charity. We work with the local Humane Society on projects. We do all of these “nice” things linked to the sale of these cars.

If the radio spots can be super honest, have a USP (unique sales proposition), and if we can articulate that clearly, I think it is a great, great platform.

Radio Ink: We have seen a flow of ad dollars from radio to the Internet.

What are your thoughts on auto dealers using that digital space?

VanArnam: Ideally, in a perfect world, businesses today would spend half as much as they spend on Google.

Generally, most auto dealers will spend

three, four, or five times as much with Google than they spend on all of the radio stations in their market.

It’s massive, what every dealer spends with Google each month. It’s low-funnel sales stuff. I think dealers would like to be spending less. One way to do that is if you have more organic web traffic and less paid web traffic. They can do that if they can generate more organic web traffic, and radio can do that by selling a brand that people remember when they go to that search engine.

I think so many car dealers these days are focused on the lower end of the sales funnel that it’s a treadmill they are on, having to constantly pay for web traffic. The reason is they don’t have investment in the upper end of the sales funnel, where radio is strong.

Radio Ink: What type of formats work for you?

VanArnam: I think the mistake some businesses make is that they buy their favorite format, or just the formats at the top of the list in the market. Every format can work well, depending on the demographic. I’m a firm believer in reach. I’m pretty inclusive of all formats if they have the reach.

From a results standpoint, I’ve always believed the spoken word format has been the strongest-performing category.

Sports Talk in our area isn’t as strong as other areas with multiple, major sports teams. News/Talk, however, is always strong in our area. I tend to give News/Talk a larger share of our radio budget relative to their ratings. I do this because I believe the spoken word format is actually processed better by people listening to radio.

Radio Ink: What advice would you offer to a business considering radio advertising?

VanArnam: They first should step back and examine how their brand strength is — where are they in the pecking order in their market? Do they want to grow their brand strength?

Radio is like social media when it comes to building brand strength. Radio builds brands, but it’s a long-term play.

You need to make sure you have good messages. You have to have consistency.

You have to do all the right things over a period of time and you will increase your brand strength.

Thanks to Kent VanArnam, Director of Marketing, Dick Hannah Dealerships www.dickhannah.com Thanks to Cressy Walton, Director of Sales, Alpha Media www.alphamediausa.com

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 13 RI_Ad Success 5-25-20.indd 13

5/14/20 1:21 PM

By Editor in Chief Ed Ryan

Climbing The Ladder: From Sales Assistant To PresidentÂ

CHRISTINE T RAVAGLINI K AT Z R A D I O G R O U P P R E S I D E N T

RI_Cover Story 5-25-20 (8 pages).indd 14

5/14/20 2:29 PM

Opening by Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti Like the tale of the mailroom clerk who rises to the penthouse suite, the story that unfolds on the next pages centers on a woman whose life reflects in many ways the stuff of which dreams are made.

But make no mistake: it’s no fairy tale. Rather, it speaks volumes about one woman’s talent and determination. And how she kept her eye on the prize. How she persisted.

Christine Travaglini began her career as a Katz sales assistant.

Known for a razor-sharp ability to prioritize and multi-task, Christine spent time perfecting the skills that would continue to serve her throughout her career, paying her dues, taking orders from others, and eventually rising to the executive suite. Over time, she became the first person to go from being an assistant to a division president within the organization.

That itself was quite an accomplishment, but as big as that career climb might seem, there was one rung higher, one no woman had ever reached.

Until Christine. In March 2018, Christine Travaglini took over

RI_Cover Story 5-25-20 (8 pages).indd 15

the reins of Katz Radio Group as president, overseeing 14 offices that serve over 4,000 radio stations across the country.

Along the way, Christine has remained the same grounded, wellrespected professional, as well as a friend to many throughout the industry and beyond. She isn’t one to pull rank; rather, she pushes rank aside. The woman who once answered phones and prepped presentations for others has never lost her appreciation for everyone up and down the organizational chart. Steady under pressure, always first to smile, Christine Travaglini is both a born leader and the ultimate team player.

Although Christine was selected for the 2020 MIW cover before the coronavirus crisis hit, on reflection, there could not have been a better or more fitting choice. Calm, assuring, smart, steady, Christine Travaglini has radio’s back on the national stage and can be depended upon to lead it to better days in the months to come. Congratulations, Christine, Most Influential Woman and a real radio success story.

5/14/20 12:21 PM

Home and family: Christine Travaglini with (l-r) her daughter Laurie, husband Tom, and daughter Lisa

Radio Ink: How did you get your start as a sales assistant? What led you to Katz?

Travaglini: After graduating from University of Delaware, I moved to Atlanta from New York. A friend had recently joined Republic Radio, which Katz had acquired, and told me about an opening as a sales assistant at Katz Radio Group. At that time, I really knew nothing about Katz or national rep firms. I remember really wanting the job, but unfortunately, I was not hired.

I stayed in touch with a few of the people I met — and just two weeks later, they had another open position and offered it to me. This was my first professional lesson on timing, persistence, and patience. I was so excited; I accepted the job without even asking about the salary! I just knew I wanted to join Katz and dive into media sales.

development. I knew I wanted to become an account executive with Katz, and in order to earn that opportunity, I would have to be a great assistant first.

Very few people know I actually worked for Roslin Radio as an AE early in my career for a short period of time between my Katz tenure, and learned a lot from Alan Korowitz, who was the New York manager at the time. I gained valuable sales experience and within six months was rehired as an AE at Christal Radio.

Four years later, I transferred to the New York office, and my ambition grew with more exposure to our senior leadership team. I was eager for new opportunities within the company. Tucker Flood was my Christal New York manager. He really believed in me and encouraged my future leadership development.

Radio Ink: Did you ever imagine you would one day become president? Or was that your goal from day one?

Travaglini: There is no way I could imagine I would be where I am now back when I was 22 years old, but from day one I did have the goal of growth and personal

Radio Ink: With all that’s been happening the past several months, how much damage do you believe has been done to the world of advertising, and how will that impact radio?

Travaglini: I keep a quote in my new home office that says, “Being positive in a

negative situation isn’t naive — it’s leadership.” I believe that wholeheartedly.

The marketplace is fluid; we are all learning how to grow and adapt.

Advertisers are seeking to do what makes sense for their businesses, and radio, as the largest reach medium in this country, remains critically important in our communities to connect advertisers with their customers.

As the country gradually works to get back to “normal,” advertising will be more important than ever, and radio is in a great position to play an even bigger role as businesses return, reinvent, and reopen.

Radio is the only medium that has both reach and local messaging capabilities.

And radio is able to respond to creative changes almost instantaneously and provide local solutions that can be scaled.

Historically, radio usage grows during times of crisis; research shows it’s the most trusted consumer medium, and we’re seeing that listeners are turning to radio even more right now — whether that be from their computers, mobile devices, house radios, or smart speakers. AM/FM radio is one of the number one activities

16 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_Cover Story 5-25-20 (8 pages).indd 16

5/14/20 2:30 PM

The Travaglinis visit Copenhagen in November 2019 (l-r): Laurie, Tom, Christine, and Lisa

on smart speakers, and we are also seeing an increase in overall podcast listening.

Radio Ink: How has the role of the national rep changed over your years in the business?

Travaglini: Now more than ever, Katz is blending transactional excellence with business development and audio advocacy. We continue to hire, train, and develop top sellers in our industry. Today, we are also hunters — focused on growing revenue for our broadcast partners by providing audio-based solutions for our advertisers and agency partners.

We have expanded our toolbox to include a full-service creative team, activation team, and a multitude of data and analytic tools for attribution and insights. We have also adopted and developed better technology to embrace automation, reduce friction, and provide more ease of execution for local broadcast buying.

Radio Ink: What do you find most challenging in working with stations?

What do they sometimes not “get”

about the rep business that might help getting more of that “unfair share”?

Travaglini: I’ve seen our broadcast partners evolve over the years, and we have strong relationships built on trust and performance. A lot of the station leaders today were national sales managers in the past. I believe our partners value our team, and we are most successful when we are considered an extension of their own sales teams.

Radio Ink: That said, what make a great client? Is it always a numbers game at the national level, or are there other elements that are important to getting a station considered?

Travaglini: Our great clients are partners and solution-focused. They overcommunicate expectations and hold us accountable. We win as a team and lose as a team. They invest time and resources in growing national business with us. They help us tell compelling stories — we very much sell market by market and station by station every day. Strong station partners collaborate and help us overdeliver for our biggest advertisers.

“Christine is both a well-respected radio industry leader and a longtime trusted partner for Katz’s clients and their advertisers, and her strong reputation for building winning sales teams and driving innovation continues to fuel Katz’s continued radio advocacy efforts.

She brings vision, insight, and enthusiasm to our industry, and her valuable work with the Alliance for Women in Media supports and inspires women across every stage of their career.”

Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO, iHeartMedia, Inc.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 17 RI_Cover Story 5-25-20 (8 pages).indd 17

5/14/20 12:24 PM

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Christine for over 20 years. Early in our careers we competed, and I can tell you it’s no fun! Christine is the epitome of a strong leader — driven, smart, incredibly hardworking, and leads by example with integrity.

There are very few people you meet in your career who are universally respected.

Christine is one of them.

I’m proud to have her lead our radio team and see her receive this welldeserved recognition.”

Mark Gray, CEO, Katz Media Group

At the Gracie Awards (l-r): Mike McVay, McVay Media; Scott Borchetta, Big Machine Label Group; Christine Travaglini; Becky Brooks, AWM; Heather Cohen, The Weiss Agency; Deborah Parenti, Radio Ink; Eric Weiss, The Weiss Agency

Radio Ink: How can radio bring more advertisers into the industry?

Travaglini: Radio is about companionship. Consumers listen to the radio because the voice on the other side sounds like a friend. Radio is a live conversation medium — it’s social, it’s unpredictable, and listeners have deep, trusted relationships with the shows and the personalities they listen to every day.

The biggest challenge is the misperception within the advertising industry. While today, broadcast radio is the number one reach medium among adults in the U.S., with more than 90% weekly reach, including strong millennial and Gen Z reach, some marketers are just not fully aware. So as an industry we have a lot of education to continue to do with the marketing community. Radio needs to continue to highlight its unmatchable strengths with advertisers, drive positive business results, prove that we can be highly targeted with mass reach, and continue to deepen our relationships and increase demand.

Radio Ink: What drives you to be successful?

Travaglini: I think my parents have been

the biggest factor. My mother moved to the United States from Mexico and always worked. Once we were all school-aged, she began working in my elementary school, first in the cafeteria and eventually as the administrative assistant to the principal for the pre-K program in our town. To me, she was running the school.

She was very connected to the families, and since she was bilingual, the superintendent created a new position for her as the district Hispanic liaison. At the same time, she started a nonprofit organization out of our house, benefiting the Hispanic community in Great Neck.

She became the first elected Hispanic town councilwoman for the town of North Hempstead, and accomplished all of this without a college education.

My father worked for his father in commodity sales — and also served as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army. He volunteered as a firefighter in our town and saved lives. He was elected and served as an officer and chief for the Great Neck Alerts. Together my parents also served in the vestry in our church growing up.

My parents were always hard-working, but more importantly, fully committed to

18 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_Cover Story 5-25-20 (8 pages).indd 18

5/14/20 2:30 PM

“I have known Christine for close to 25 years. Over those years, we both have held various jobs along the way, and she has remained a trusted colleague, ally, and friend.

If you know Christine, you will know her to be bright, quick-witted, and courageous. She’s also a great mom and a lot of fun on the ski slopes!”

Kim Guthrie, President/CEO, Cox Media Group

“Christine’s passion, dedication, and commitment to her clients and the radio industry is unwavering. She continues to raise the bar and lead by example with class, dignity, and professionalism on a daily basis. It is an absolute privilege to have her represent our company on a national level.”

Caroline Beasley, CEO, Beasley Media Group

their work, community, and family. They raised three daughters to believe they would be successful if they focused on education, followed their passions, and served their communities.

Radio Ink: Who were your top mentors along the path in your career, and can you give us the specifics about how they helped you?

Travaglini: Kim Guthrie, CEO of Cox Media Group, was an early mentor for me. She is an exceptional, smart, supportive leader and someone I have always admired. We met when she was the GSM for KSTP-FM in Minneapolis and I was an AE at Christal New York. She had her third daughter at the same time I had my first daughter, so we talked a lot about career growth and the concept of stay-at-home-dads before it became well known. As her career continued to advance, she helped pave the way for me and many women in achieving a successful work/life balance. She is a solid business partner that I continue to go to for advice.

To this day, my best “sale” is having my husband, Tom, decide to “retire” and stay at home when I became GSM of Christal Radio. He is a great partner and my best friend that I can always count on for support and encouragement.

Mark Gray, CEO of Katz Media Group, continues to be a mentor who has helped me grow and learn how to lead. He is an excellent boss who leads by example, has strong relationships built on trust, and is smart and direct. He’s brutally honest, transparent, hardworking, and challenges me and everyone in our company to raise the bar, bring more value, evolve, and embrace change. He’s taught me a lot about the importance of creating a positive company culture — which is very important to everyone at Katz. Mark has been very supportive, collaborative, and gave me a lot of opportunities to grow and take on expanded responsibilities for our company over the years.

Radio Ink: Are there enough women in management in the radio industry today? Or is this a tired question we should stop asking?

Travaglini: I think it’s finally changed.

With more women in leadership posi-

“I have worked with Christine for a very long time. She is super smart and super talented. Her ability to constantly work at max capacity and consistently remain optimistic and enthusiastic makes her an extraordinary person. Christine’s abilities positively affect people personally and professionally. She is truly a dynamic force in our industry.”

Tucker Flood, President, Eastman Radio

“Travs is a superstar in this business, and she also happens to be one of the nicest people on the planet.

Christine is always smiling and positive, and behind that smile is a shrewd businesswoman who knows this business like the back of her hand. She is a champion for her clients and always finds a way to get things done.”

Ginny Morris, CEO, Hubbard Radio

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 19 RI_Cover Story 5-25-20 (8 pages).indd 19

5/14/20 2:31 PM

“Christine is truly a trailblazer and a consummate leader. As important, however, is that she embodies the best in humanity as someone who reminds us there is good and kindness in this world.”

Deborah Parenti, EVP/ Publisher, Radio Ink

“I am so incredibly proud of Christine and her many accomplishments and contributions to our industry. You could not have selected a more deserving person to be recognized on this list of extraordinary women leaders. I’ve worked with Christine for over 20 years and she exudes professionalism, intelligence, and charisma at every turn.

Truly, she has raised the bar for everyone in the industry, regardless of gender.”

Bob Philips, Chief Revenue Office & President/Entercom Audio Network, Entercom

Beasley Media CEO Caroline Beasley, Katz Media Group CEO Mark Gray, Katz Radio Group President Christine Travaglini, and Townsquare Media CEO Bill Wilson at Radio Ink's Forecast 2020 event

tions for our industry, we are seeing more women in management. Now more than ever it’s about talent and opportunity.

Radio Ink: You are extremely active in the Alliance for Women in Media, having served most recently as chair of the organization. Knowing how precious your time must be, what is it about this organization that inspires you to be involved at that level?

Travaglini: Being on the national board and most recently serving as chair for the Alliance for Women in Media has been an honor for me. AWM is about recognizing, connecting, and educating women across all media platforms. It’s been a great way to give back and to help pull up the next generation of women in our industry. I believe the work we do helps provide so much value for women at every stage of their career — from college to the C-Suite.

Serving on the national board has been an honor. It also created the opportunity to expand my media network beyond radio and gain more leadership skills as I took on more responsibilities for the organization. The Alliance for Women in Media provides opportunities and rec-

ognition that inspires us all to stay committed to growth and supporting each other as we balance the boardrooms and leadership in media.

Radio Ink: What keeps you up at night?

Travaglini: For me, it’s more what wakes me up early. I often wake up at 4 a.m. with thoughts about what else I can be doing to make sure our people have what they need to be successful. I care a ton about our company — our people, our values, and our future. Technology continues to evolve, disruption in everything needs to be expected, and I often spend time thinking about how we can remain indispensable to our partners.

Radio Ink: What are your hobbies?

How do you de-stress?

Travaglini: I like to exercise every day.

I love to run and try to run two or three times a week outside. On other days, I use my elliptical early in the morning.

My family has a cabin in the Adirondacks where we ski, snowmobile, hike, kayak, golf, fish, and go boating together. I also love to read.

Since COVID-19 hit, I’ve been able to

20 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_Cover Story 5-25-20 (8 pages).indd 20

5/14/20 12:29 PM

“In the years that I have worked with Christine Travaglini, she has consistently exemplified true leadership with an ever-evolving passion for the industry! She has excelled in every role that she took on, while setting the standard for women in media to follow. Highly respected by former and current employees, her impact on their careers can be seen across the country and throughout the industry.

She is truly a trailblazer professionally and is personally inspirational, as she seems to have found the balance in life that we all look so hard for.”

Shari Lynch, Director of National Sales/Northeast, Townsquare Media

“Christine is one of the few people I have ever met that I am convinced can do it all and do it all really well. She is a great leader, strategist, and friend.

Christine managed to take the Alliance for Women in Media to a whole new level these last two years as chair (despite her busy day job). She is incredibly humble and kind and makes everyone she meets feel important.”

Heather Cohen, EVP, The Weiss Agency

spend more time with my two daughters who moved back home, Lisa and Laurie.

Together, we are doing puzzles, cooking, and Zoom calls with family and friends to stay connected and de-stress!

Radio Ink: What advice do you have for anyone reading this who wants to achieve greatness?

Travaglini: Make sure you wake up every morning wanting to do what you are doing, and then put everything you can into doing it the best you can.

Radio Ink: Tell us something about yourself that nobody would know.

Travaglini: I didn’t start to run until I was in my 30s — and I ran the New York City Marathon twice after turning 40.

“Christine Travaglini is one of the best representations of the most influential women in media.

I have had the opportunity to work with her for many years in various roles, including as chair of the Alliance for Women in Media board of directors. Her leadership led AWM through reimagining our future. She is inspiring, hardworking, and knows how to make any circumstance fun. I am grateful for having worked with her to gain wisdom she is always so freely willing to share.”

Becky Brooks, Executive Director, Alliance for Women in Media

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 21 RI_Cover Story 5-25-20 (8 pages).indd 21

5/14/20 2:32 PM

WEEZIE KRAMER 2020 RADIO INK MIW LEGEND

RI_MIW-Legend 5-25-20 (6 pages).indd 22

5/14/20 1:24 PM

In March of 2020 Entercom announced that, after 20 years with the company and 40 years in radio, Weezie Kramer would be retiring.

Kramer joined Entercom in January 2000 as a regional vice president, overseeing five markets, and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2014. Before Entercom, Kramer worked in sales and management, eventually landing at CBS Radio, where she worked for a dozen years and rose to vice president/ market manager.

Weezie Kramer has been an influential figure for a very long time. She’s made an impact on many lives, mentoring too many people to count along the way. Following the CBS Radio / Entercom merger, Weezie Kramer took the lead in hiring Susan Larkin away from Cox Media Group. On May 5, 2020, Larkin became Entercom’s new COO. Here’s what she had to say.

“Weezie is a remarkable leader.

She has inspired and impacted so many people in our industry and company, although none more than me. She cares deeply about this industry and is continually moving us forward.

I’m grateful for her leadership and mentorship. I can tell you so many employees at every level in our company credit her for their personal and professional growth, and she has made significant progress in promoting women to leadership roles.

Weezie has the ability to identify talent, be a successful coach, and find the best role for that person to realize the most success.”

Weezie Kramer is Radio Ink’s 2020 MIW Legend.

RI_MIW-Legend 5-25-20 (6 pages).indd 23

5/14/20 1:25 PM

Radio Ink: What are your thoughts on what the radio industry is going through with this COVID-19 crisis? How do you feel the industry has done covering the crisis and serving communities? When this all passes, how do you think the industry will come out?

Kramer: While COVID-19 has completely upended our business, our industry is incredibly resilient. We often do our best work when tested, and this pandemic is no exception. There are three things that stand out to me.

One, of course, is how we are able to continue serving our communities. Our News and News/Talk stations continue to be a trusted and reliable source of information. Our stations and talent inform, entertain, calm, connect, and support better than any other local media.

Every day local radio demonstrates its commitment and connection to the community: millions of dollars have been raised, millions of meals have been delivered, and millions of hearts have been touched by our local stations and talent.

This is in addition to the support for essential workers, local businesses and advertisers, and industry-wide commitments to airing informative PSAs. Recent Nielsen research underscores the power of the medium, with over three quarters of all listeners saying radio helps them through the crisis.

The second is how quickly our teams have adapted to remote working. We are all learning new skills and adopting new norms. Moreover, with the advantages of videoconferencing, we are more connected than ever, even while social distancing. We are collaborating, networking, and sharing information better than ever.

Finally, I believe that our business (and others) will look very different coming out of this. No one knows what the future holds, but we will hopefully retain a lot of the muscle memory we are developing to shape how we operate in the future.

Smaller footprints, perhaps a leaner, meaner, better version of our current self that leverages more shared and centralized coaching and management, less travel and socializing, but higher touch through technology. Certainly, our advertiser base will evolve, with some industries and categories going and others emerging.

Weezie Kramer wears Pittsburgh Steelers gear

Our promotions and event businesses will need to adapt to new social distancing conventions. Perhaps the “remote� will finally be put to rest in favor of smarter, more modern ways to connect with our audiences.

The pandemic will accelerate what was already occurring. Transactional business can be handled by fewer sellers, and the pivot to total audience selling (selling our audiences across multiple platforms) with attribution will move even faster. Our sellers will need to be more proactive than ever. Local sellers will be better supported through centralized ad sales marketing teams that will enable the sellers to be more productive and effective.

The crisis is also encouraging listeners to adopt new habits, including accessing our content through smart speakers and other devices, that will likely continue when we start to migrate away from shelter-in-place rules.

Radio Ink: Was your plan from the start of your professional career always to be in radio?

Kramer: I was an English major and a marketing minor with a keen interest in consumer behavior. I was highly

competitive and liked that sales is a performance-based business that allowed one to excel if they delivered.

While doing informational interviews my senior year in college, I met the general sales manager of a television station, and I knew that I had found my calling. I would have taken any media sales job, but the first opportunity that came my way was radio, and the rest is history.

Radio Ink: How important was mentoring along the way?

Kramer: When you think about personal development, there are really three pillars.

One is education — either personally sought or through a third party. Two is experiential learning. And the third is mentoring. All are important, but a mentor helps guide, coaches, shares experiences, helps troubleshoot decisions, and augments confidence. I have been fortunate to have many people to lean into over the years. As I think about my next chapter, I hope to pay it forward by mentoring others in our company.

Radio Ink: How do you mentor people now?

Kramer: Mentoring is helping to develop

24 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_MIW-Legend 5-25-20 (6 pages).indd 24

5/14/20 1:25 PM

“Weezie is an extraordinary, inspiring leader and a fiercely determined, tireless competitor and strategist who has built an outstanding record of success throughout her career. She is deeply admired and respected throughout the industry for her uncompromising standards, her spirited leadership, and her decency. On a personal note, it has been an enormous privilege to work with her over all the years and I am thrilled that she has joined our board of directors and will remain connected in our work.”

David Field CEO Entercom

Weezie Kramer with guests on a client golf trip

others, in one-on-ones or in coaching moments. I try to ask questions, listen, and share experiences or perspectives that one might not have thought of. It is important to understand the mentees’ personal and professional goals so you can help them achieve them. I have always been very candid and transparent and work to build trust in others so they believe I can genuinely help them. At this point in my career, helping others is really what it is all about.

Radio Ink: Why do you think you’ve been as successful as you have in this industry?

Kramer: I made a decision in my 20s to seek knowledge and growth over income.

I was lucky to work for people that valued development and was able to take advantage of consultants, executive education, and mentoring. I always raised my hand for extra work and usually took initiative to do the job without being asked. I never asked for reward, just opportunity. As a result, I was given responsibilities that one might not have given someone so young or inexperienced.

When I was forced to quit my job to take care of my dying mother (no FMLA back

then), I chose to move to Chicago, and that put me on the “major market” stage. There wasn’t much business development going on at that time, in the early 1980s, and we were able to build some really terrific sales teams that were grounded in customerbased selling and delivering marketing solutions before it was the norm.

I joined Group W, which also invested in people’s growth, and that gave me a corporate platform from which to grow.

The rest is luck and having some incredible bosses that believed in me.

Radio Ink: Knowing what you know, what advice do you have that could help others avoid mistakes and rise to the top as you have?

Kramer: I think it is OK to make mistakes.

That is how one learns. Making the same mistake twice — well, that is not so great.

If people are afraid to take chances, there will never be innovation. I think there has never been a better time to take some risks than now. Let us innovate and lean into change. If we are not breaking some eggs, then we are not pushing hard enough.

First, do your job really well. To the extent that you can, become indispensable.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 25 RI_MIW-Legend 5-25-20 (6 pages).indd 25

5/14/20 1:26 PM

“Weezie personifies all the qualities of a true leader. It has been an honor and a privilege to collaborate with her over the years. I have always found her to be passionate, committed, and authentic. She’s full of grit and grace, plus she has a wicked sense of humor. The RAB has benefited tremendously from her guidance as a board member, while she was chair, and as she has continued to serve on the RAB Executive Committee. It goes without saying we wish her nothing but the best as she readies for retirement; however, we have no doubt she’ll stay closely connected to radio.”

Erica Farber President/CEO RAB

L-r: Pat Paxton, Bob Philips, Deborah Kane, Andrew Sutor, David Field, Richard Schmaeling, Mike Dee, Weezie Kramer, J.D. Crowley, Chris Oliviero, Ruth Gaviria, and William Field attend the Entercom Bell Ringing Ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange on November 20, 2017.

Go above and beyond what is asked of you.

Stretch and stay curious and keep learning.

In addition, always initiate. If you see a void, step in and fill in. Make things happen, and do not become stagnant.

Radio Ink: What worries you most about radio moving forward?

Kramer: We are too slow to change “how we have always done business.”

We have a big opportunity to embrace the entire audio ecosystem, podcasts for example, and make our audio content relevant no matter the platform and make radio more “digital-like” to buy.

Radio Ink: To be a great leader/ manager in radio today, what skills should people try to perfect?

Kramer: 1. Communication: you have to be able to convey your vision to others — the why, the what, the how.

2. Integrity and transparency: authenticity matters, and you need to gain trust.

3. Empathy: you need to understand what people are thinking and feeling at all levels of the organization.

4. Edge: like it or not, you will have to

make some tough decisions, and you need to have the courage to pull the trigger.

5. Energy: you need passion and the ability to inspire people to accomplish what they might not think they can. You will need to be a pacesetter and energize the team around goals.

6. Execute: do what you say you are going to do, and keep score.

Radio Ink: What would you consider to be your top three radio career successes?

Kramer: 1. Hiring Susan Larkin and working with her on the transition to succeed me as Entercom’s chief operating officer.

2. Building an amazing sales team in Chicago that delivered unbelievable results. We were ranked 20-plus in audience and delivered the No. 1 local billing rank by changing our go-to-market strategy.

3. All the people that I have hired or led who have acknowledged my impact in their personal development. I am beyond gratified and humbled to know that perhaps I made a difference in their success.

26 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_MIW-Legend 5-25-20 (6 pages).indd 26

5/14/20 12:46 PM

Radio Ink: You recently decided to retire. Why, and what are your plans?

Kramer: For those that really know me, I have “threatened” to retire multiple times. Not because I don’t have tremendous energy or passion for the business or the work, but because I fundamentally believe that it is important to pass the baton to the next generation of talent.

When I started in radio, I did not know anyone over 50. I wondered where they went after a certain age.

Therefore, I went to a financial planner at 25 so I would be prepared to retire at 50. Meanwhile, I continued to work, grow, and thrive. My husband retired a number of years ago, and he has been incredibly supportive of my career.

Frankly, because of his support, I have been able to give 100% 24/7. I promised him that I would step back a few years ago, but the merger with CBS Radio occurred and it was an opportunity I could not refuse. Thus, I signed up for three more years, which comes to an end this year.

I am confident that our transition with Susan will be seamless and that she will take Entercom to even bigger and better places. While I won’t be on the team, I will remain in the game as a member of Entercom’s board of directors and will spend time working on various strategic initiatives and a few other passion projects. I am excited about the future of the company as well as my opportunity to reconnect with my husband, family, and friends in ways that I have not been able to during these all-consuming years.

Weezie Kramer and CEO David Field are presented with “Keys to the Station” by Jeff Federman during an Entercom Los Angeles Town Hall.

Radio Ink: Any regrets?

Kramer: While everyone wouldn’t mind a few mulligans, I never will regret anything that I have done or not done. It is what it is and while far from perfect, I can look at myself in the mirror and feel good.

Radio Ink: What will you miss the most?

Kramer: That is easy. The people, their passion, and the work that we do. But mostly, the incredible people I get to interact with every day.

A very young Weezie; Kramer grew up in Louisville, Kentucky.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 27 RI_MIW-Legend 5-25-20 (6 pages).indd 27

5/14/20 1:26 PM

THE

most INFLUENTIAL women IN RADIO

This has certainly not been an easy year. It has tested our collective spirit and challenged every aspect of our lives, from the most mundane everyday routine to, sadly, for some, life itself.

Every crisis, however, has its heroes — people we look up to, depend on, and aspire to emulate.

Over the past months since COVID19 struck, many of those have been women, including, for our focus, women in radio. They are women who have never shirked their responsibilities or commitment to the industry and leading their teams, all the while encouraging and consoling associates, families, and friends during an unprecedented time in history.

And they have continued to do so in the face of two of the roughest months ever in the radio industry, this past March and April. For that reason, we asked honorees only one question this year: What is the best advice you can give others in this industry about dealing with and succeeding through adversity?

The women who responded on the following pages are just a sample of the legions of women who make radio a little prouder and a whole lot better for their contributions. For 21 years, Radio Ink has been proud to recognize these Most Influential Women, their accomplishments, and their glass ceiling-shattering achievements.

And so, we take a moment now to celebrate and to thank the 2020 honorees. Not with the usual fanfare or revelry — there will be time for that later — but with somber acknowledgement and sincere appreciation for all they have done, all that they do, and all they will continue to do as we join with them in looking hopefully for brighter days ahead.

Because a little sunshine can provide an important break, if only for a moment, from the clouds of crisis. And a reminder that it is people who make a difference in our industry and our world.

Here are the 2020 Most Influential Women in Radio.

Opening by Radio Ink EVP/Publisher Deborah Parenti

28 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 28

5/14/20 1:29 PM

t

n

MARY BERNER President/CEO Cumulus Media

CAROLINE BEASLEY Chief Executive Officer Beasley Media Group

ANGELICA “ANGIE” BALDERAS SVP Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto Entravision Things are never as good as you think they were or as bad as you think they are. Trauma or adversity you can flee, freeze, or fight. I chose to fight, and I think the biggest takeaway right now is that your clients and employees need to know you are on their side to fight alongside them.

The best advice I can give others in the radio industry about dealing with and succeeding through adversity is to focus forward. While challenging, adversity can provide an opportunity for us to recreate the way we do business and get back to our roots by connecting with our audience, advertisers, and the communities we serve on a daily basis.

I also believe it’s important to stay connected with your employees.

At Beasley, our employees are the heart and soul of our company.

Times like these are never easy.

With everyone working from home and located in different parts of the country due to the unanticipated circumstances, people can often feel isolated. Communication is critical in order to make sure they are up-to-date and have the ability to reach out to their managers if they have questions or need additional support. It’s more than just business, it’s the right thing to do!

As the poet Robert Frost proclaimed: “The only way out is through.” If there ever were a more apt truism for the times, I don’t know it. And, with that in mind, the best way I have found to move “through” adversity is to focus on what you can control. A lot of what we hear today is around what we don’t know and what we won’t be able to control about COVID-19 and its impact on us personally, on our business, on our communities, and across the world. But that doesn’t mean we’re helpless in the face of all that uncertainty. At Cumulus Media, we are focusing on the immediate jobs to be done — what we can control — as opposed to getting paralyzed by a swarm of unanswerable what-ifs.

Of course, knowing what to do won’t get you anywhere if you don’t do it well.

And that means you have to work with conviction, with trust in the plan, hope for the future, confidence that your hard work can pay off. And, in our company, that all translates to a “we got this” attitude. That attitude has carried us through tough times before, and we know it will get us through this crisis.

In the process, we have continued to fulfill our vital mission of keeping our programs on the air to inform and entertain our listeners and to provide a connection between them and advertisers who want to reach them. Now among these advertisers are many who have been effectively shut down by this crisis — and when those businesses, our past and future clients, are themselves ready to rebuild that connection, we will be right by their side with our “we got this” attitude to help them move on through.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 29 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 29

5/14/20 12:50 PM

EMILY BOLDON Vice President, Programming and Stratus Music Cumulus Media

HEATHER BIRKS Executive Director Broadcast Education Association The hope is that you have a little time in your favor to make sound and calculated decisions as you move forward. Having just planned a virtual convention in less than five weeks: if time is not on your side, try to give yourself a few days to process the situation. Chances are your brain will be so overloaded that you might have trouble processing anything, so during that time make sure you are surrounded by people you trust and can have candid conversations with. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and share any and all worries and ideas. Remind yourself often that you have a support structure and take each day as it comes. And try to get sleep.

What a crazy, uncertain, and volatile time it is ... not just for radio, but for the world. No one could have imagined — even just six months ago— what our lives would be like in the spring of 2020. Yet here we are!

In order to deal with adversity like this global pandemic, and hope to come out the other side successful, the first key is work for the right company, a company that puts its people first. In a world where we read daily about terminations and skyrocketing unemployment, Cumulus has formulated a plan to navigate these uncharted waters without cutting away at its greatest resource: its people.

As I begin my 15th year at Cumulus Media corporate, I am so proud of our leadership team and how they are prioritizing our people first.

The path to success in radio during these turbulent times requires three specific traits: versatility, adaptability, and a sense of humor.

Never before could we imagine entire morning shows broadcasting remotely from their individual homes, yet creating compelling and unforgettable content. I have seen studios in closets, bathrooms, and basements. I have seen personalities taping bubble wrap and sleeping bags to their walls to create sound insulation. Those who can be versatile and adapt to this “new normal” are the ones that will get through this time with their sanity — and their connectivity to their listeners — intact.

And a sense of humor is mandatory. I have heard babies crying, dogs barking, toilets flushing, you name it, I have heard it in the background of these home broadcasts on major market stations. And it is fine. Because it’s real. Trying to pretend that things are normal is disingenuous. Embrace the craziness and the day-to-day unknown, and it will resonate. Your listeners will team with you because they know we are all in the same boat.

KIM BRYANT Executive Vice President, West Coast Sales Westwood One During this current COVID-19 crisis and time of disruption, adversity is our new norm.

It has been critical to identify the company and our clients’ priorities in an effort to see success on the other side of this crisis.

With teams now working from home, overcommunicating and consistent messaging are critical. Weekly meetings to discuss company updates, client feedback, clear expectations, and best practices need to be consistent as they are more important than ever. Collaboration with all internal verticals on communication and protocol will help the entire enterprise continue to move forward.

Staying connected with strong communication will help build and fortify morale through these turbulent times.

It’s equally important to have transparent conversations about what success will look like internally and with clients after this pandemic is over. A clear understanding of those goals will keep everyone on task, working in the same direction. We are all in this together and stronger together.

With the rapid dissemination of information from the press and media today, clients are having to be nimble. Moreover, with so much misinformation out there, being a trusted source for your clients is essential. Providing weekly industry insights and daily relevant articles allows us to support our clients and stay nimble as well.

Again: Overcommunicate.

Set clear expectations.

Stay well informed.

Learn a new skill.

Stay healthy/exercise.

Be kind and have empathy.

We will get through this crazy time. Teamwork is more important than ever.

30 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 30

5/14/20 1:29 PM

LINDA BYRD Division President iHeartMedia Orlando

Linda Byrd with her son, Riley

Keep calm. We are each having extremely difficult and emotional moments right now, from a professional as well as a personal standpoint. But our families and our teams are looking to us for emotional guidance. We can’t unravel.

At the same time, it’s our job to be supportive but to also continue holding our teams accountable for the jobs they need to do. Tough love is more than a saying. We’ve got to, in some ways, save them from themselves by insisting that they continue mentally coming to work every day. Processes and circumstances are clearly different, but the expectations must remain the same or as close to the same as possible. It’s a balance — and the great leaders will know what to do to weather the storm. Stay positive, but be grounded in reality. Our team is not looking for blue sky — they just want to know that we are there to lead them through the tunnel side by side. Good luck everyone, and Godspeed.

We salute all of this year’s Gracie Award recipients.

Celebrating programming by, for and about women MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 31 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 31

5/14/20 1:30 PM

HEATHER COHEN Executive Vice President The Weiss Agency I am proud to be part of an industry that has done so much good during this incredibly challenging time. It is heartening that most broadcasters have handled maybe the most difficult conversations they have ever had with kindness, empathy, and respect.

Everyone is going through something right now, whether it is our staff, audience members, peers, or competitors. Large portions of our audiences have had their lives changed forever. Being there for your audience means everything. The community outreach has been remarkable. Keeping local personalities on air wherever possible means the world to the listener who is lonely and needs that friend for comfort, guidance, and even an occasional laugh.

To recover, we really do need to work together, share ideas, and help each other with common goals.

Negativity will just make our recovery that much harder for everyone. There are some truly great leaders emerging right now, and they have done a great job keeping their teams calm while working through solutions. Hopefully, some of the extraordinary efforts that broadcasters have made and their sacrifices will bring a renewed loyalty to radio.

32 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 32

5/14/20 1:30 PM

JEANNE-MARIE CONDO EVP/GM Skyview Networks We are in unprecedented times that are very difficult to navigate. Trust yourself. Care for your health and well-being, and know you are not alone. Turn the day in a positive direction by staying close to those in the industry. Use this time to reach out to new contacts, and be the one to introduce key people to each other. Create a business-connection happy hour. Being the person to create inclusion is something all those around you will remember.

CEOs are answering more e-mails and LinkedIn than ever before — it’s a true time to activate.

In all this, remember to keep perspective and balance. Know that our industry stands by you today, tomorrow, and always.

Jeanne-Marie Condo

Executive Vice President, General Manager

Congratulations

Dana Cortez

Host, The Dana Cortez Show

On being named as one of

Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women for 2020 We salute your commitment to inspire and lead every day.

The Skyview Networks Team

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 33 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 33

5/14/20 1:30 PM

Mo

JANA COSGROVE President Entercom Radio Sales Katz Radio Group BJ Corriveau and her mom, Marlene Cohen

BJ CORRIVEAU VP, Member Services and Operations Industry Affairs National Association of Broadcasters In dealing with and succeeding through adversity…

Breathe. Focus on what you can control, but be flexible. Be grateful for your work and home families, and show it. Call your mom (mentor, friend, etc.).

Order from a local restaurant. Find the positive — what can you learn? How can you look at something differently?

Who can you help? What can you make better? Give yourself a break (literally and figuratively)!

Find your inspiration.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

— Maya Angelou, writer and civil rights activist

By far, COVID-19 has been the most interesting experience in my 30-plus years in radio. The things I have focused on during this experience are: 1. Be positive as a leader — try to remember that your team is dealing with a lot and they need you to be upbeat and motivating.

2. Take time to really engage with your employees and customers — listen and learn about what they need and how you can help.

3. Think about the possibilities, even while this is a difficult situation and people are adversely affected. What businesses will emerge as a result?

How will life be different, and what will consumers need?

4. Be optimistic — change is inevitable, but it can be exciting.

Embrace what is happening, as there are positive outcomes. While it sounds like it a cliche, there are silver linings. For me it has been about real connection with my team, my co-workers, my customers, and my family and friends. I want to remember the importance of real engagement in my communication in all aspects of my life.

STACIA PHILIPS DESHISHKU Vice President & General Manager ABC Audio I’m a planner. It’s how I make sense of chaos. But no matter how well I make plans, life always has a way of changing them. Accepting that life isn’t a straight line, and instead is full of twists and turns often paved with adversity, can be hard for us planners. I frequently find myself thinking that the road to success has to be a well-thought-out, goaldriven plan. But it’s through adversity, or broken plans that are abundant at the moment, that I am forced to lean on patience and a bit of self-discipline as I wait for what is around the bend in the road. I know that the time for executing those plans will return.

But for now I have to embrace the chaos with calmness, kindness, and compassion and remember that there are always others who are in a worse predicament. I hope that during this time everyone remembers to take that step back and be extra kind to themselves too.

Congr

Rad

C

34 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 34

5/14/20 1:31 PM

ABC Audio Salutes the Most Influential Women in Radio

Congratulations to ABC News’ Stacia Deshishku and Heidi Oringer

Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women 2020 Creating an environment of inclusion, growth and equality in the workplace.

2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 35

5/14/20 1:31 PM

MELISSA FORREST President iHeartMedia San Diego

MICHELLE DUKE President National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation Many employers are facing the difficult decision to furlough and/or lay off employees.

Although those employees who keep their jobs may feel fortunate to be employed, the stress and (sometimes) guilt associated with losing their colleagues and/or taking on additional responsibilities can be challenging. Check-in calls and outreach from senior-level managers can go a long way toward assuring your team that you appreciate their efforts and that you are sensitive to their concerns.

For professionals who have been on the receiving end of a layoff or furlough, now is the time to sharpen your skill set.

Several organizations are offering discounted or free online training. Try to take advantage of any extra time by adding a few tools to your talent box.

Also know that others care.

Resources may be thin, and your family may be suffering as a result of the current climate.

Try to stay in touch with peers and connect with encouraging individuals who can offer an ear or positive feedback.

ERICA FARBER CEO Radio Advertising Bureau Here is what I am reminded of these days. First, always remember to breathe. It is a great equalizer. Next, remain as calm as possible. This is not always easy but so important for your own health, and critically important for everyone around you. Strong communication skills are needed more than ever. We all need to have solid information, and we need to be able to verbalize and share information with others as often as possible. During times of adversity, there is no such thing as overcommunicating. It is important to maintain a structure in your day, always have a plan, and continue to set goals.

And lastly, absolutely make time for you, separate from your work and your family and friends. The care and feeding of your soul is critical. If you have a clear head and an open heart, you can continue to conquer the world!

The best advice I can give others is to assess and form a plan quickly. Act nimbly. Then constantly measure the environment and be prepared to move to a new version of business and management with what you have learned.

March and April have certainly shown all of us which of our team members thrive from working remotely and which may not. We have seen the adjustment to connecting with our audiences and our clients through use of video applications. We have seen the creativity of the connections through virtual happy hours, virtual trivia, and virtual dance parties. We have witnessed increased forms of radio consumption through streaming, and smart speakers as an alternative to cars. We see the use of earbuds instead of telephones when we virtually connect. The bottom line is this: we adjusted, remained connected, and continued to seek solutions in an ever-changing environment.

While we have created these solutions to connection and a potential path to the “new normal,” we have also seen unemployment rise from 4% to 24% in most places. We have seen many businesses forced to shut down, and those that remained open have had to adapt their business models. Even the open businesses are often struggling. My biggest piece of advice here is this: we must continue to support our local businesses in any way we can.

We must look for ways to recognize them through programs like iHeart’s “Businesses Doing Good” and our station resource pages pointing out the restaurants and businesses that remain open. We look for ways to give back, like providing masks for nurses through “Make Happiness Happen.”

It is up to us to lead from the front and be the voice for the community if we wish to overcome this adversity. It is up to each of us to help our communities and businesses rebuild. We must be that dependable, strategic, forward-thinking resource that is ready to lend a hand and a solution.

36 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 36

5/14/20 1:31 PM

SARAH FRAZIER Senior Vice President and Market Manager Entercom Houston Humans respond so differently under pressure. Someone I very much admire said the other day that she doesn’t worry about things, she just does the best she can each day and then puts it away. I wish so much I was like that. I’m not. My mind is constantly going, my concerns and fears constantly competing for space with everything else in the forefront of my brain. These are the things I’m doing to manage through, and would be the advice I would give others on how to succeed through this adversity: Focus on who you are at your core: your strengths, your passions, your values and your purpose.

Reach out to your peers. The market manager role can be a very lonely place, as we sit between corporate and the market, holding the two together.

Find joy wherever you can find it.

Let yourself feel. The range of emotions has been extreme, both personally and professionally. It’s really too much to deal with at times, so I’ve taken breaks to sit in my emotions and work through them.

Keep a schedule. I get up, work out, get ready, and go to work.

Check on your people.

Create safe zones.

Have fun.

Seize the opportunity. There is an opportunity here to rethink everything.

Take time for you.

VALERIE GELLER Broadcast Consulting/Training Geller Media International

CAROLYN GILBERT Owner/President NuVoodoo Media Services

We are right there with our audiences. Being honest is crucial. I’m reminded of this every day as people are isolating in their homes, alone or with friends and families, radio is, and continues to be, a friend, companion, and a lifeline. These are dark days. It is not just the radio industry, it’s the entire world. Radio remains one of the most powerful mediums in the world, and radio stations that truly serve their listeners will always win.

That said, looking back in time, historically things sometimes have to completely, devastatingly break apart before they can be put back together, hopefully in a better way.

Broadcasting, like so many other industries, has been broken apart. But even so, new ideas are cropping up — who ever thought you could attend an international press conference from your kitchen table or broadcast your entire airshift from your closet? — yet it’s happening, and working.

What radio has always had going for it is the powerful, intimate one-on-one connection with listeners, and using imagination. I am so very proud to have dedicated my life to working in radio. I believe in this with my heart and soul because radio works. Radio is magical. Radio informs, entertains, inspires, pers uades, and connects. And radio can sell anything!

Trust your instincts. Do what you know is right. Step up and lead.

And remember that this isn’t happening to you. It’s happening to us. Everyone is in the same boat. If we implode into our own heads, we are lost.

Face the facts that you must, and work the solutions you can.

Take care of your people. This is yet another time of fundamental change, yet there are still great opportunities for creative, bright people to excel.

I’d always say to push the envelope, learn the rules so you know where you can bend them, and consider the fact that “it’s always been done that way” might be the worst reason to do things — especially now. Use this opportunity to reinvent.

Especially in this time of COVID, we need to throw things up against the wall and see what sticks. The people we remember are not the people who followed the crowd. Leaders understand the intelligent risk. And act on it. If not now, when?

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 37 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 37

5/14/20 1:32 PM

SUZANNE GRIMES EVP Marketing, Cumulus Media President, Westwood One I’ve lived through the bursting of the dot-com bubble, a recession, and two corporate bankruptcies, and there is no playbook for navigating the personal and professional adversity we are all facing today. As corporate leaders, we need to be focused, principled, empathetic, and tireless. We need to be extraordinarily strong communicators, relating the good and the bad, the certain and the uncertain. We need to be data-driven and decisive, and cautious about falling prey to over-optimism, as seductive as it may be.

We need to be egoless in finding solutions and brutal in eliminating the unnecessary. We need to trust ourselves and our teams to be capable of doing critical things in new and different ways, rising to the challenge with creativity and resourcefulness. We need to understand that mistakes will be made in the uncertainty of COVID-19, and we need to move past them. We need to preserve and perpetuate a real human connection with our teams and our talent, our partners, and our advertisers.

And perhaps most difficult of all, we need to make a commitment to feeding and fueling ourselves, for strength and endurance, with exercise and nutrition, gratitude and grace.

SUSIE HEDRICK President/COO vCreative

KIM GUTHRIE President/CEO Cox Media Group Tough times can be a true defining moment for leaders and for broadcasters. There’s the old adage “Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor,” and I think that’s incredibly true.

Anyone can lead through good times.

It’s times like this that we can shine if we can remain calm as leaders and provide hope to our employees.

Our audiences need timely information, entertainment, companionship, and comfort — and uncertain times like these offer broadcasters an amazing opportunity to step up and be counted as a leader in all of those capacities.

Hours before we went to press it was announced that Kim Guthrie was leaving her role at Cox Media Group. Guthrie has been extremely influential in the radio industry and has made an impact on many lives over the years, so we believe it’s appropriate to include her in our 2020 MIW issue.

My advice is the same in good times and in hard times. Do the right thing.

Ask questions, be compassionate, and make fair decisions.

We have incredibly smart and talented people in our industry and no shortage of problems to solve. The trick to working through times like these is to dive right into the tough stuff. Be fearless! Don’t wait for the phone to ring, make the call.

Look for problems, no matter how small, and solve them. Every conversation can become an opportunity to do the right thing, to make a difference.

On a side note, I am fortunate to have worked with some of the best people in this industry and can say, without a doubt, that my most treasured and lasting relationships are those that have been tested. The ones where we teamed up to tackle something difficult and came out on the other side.

2020 is certainly testing all of us, but the creativity and caring we have witnessed this year is proof that we will be stronger, smarter, and more resilient than we were before.

38 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 38

5/14/20 1:32 PM

Michelle Portner with her family

MICHELLE PORTNER North Regional Manager Salem Media Group My advice is not to panic, and to put things in perspective. To say that working and living in the New York City area has really been challenging is a huge understatement. We all have to keep going and know in our gut that this will pass.

We have a mantra here at Salem that starts all the way at the top, and it is a simple premise: Be warriors.

So my advice is to put things in perspective. This is a pandemic, and we are all feeling things are a little out of our control. But we can control how we react and how we move forward. I am thoroughly enjoying the extra time I have with my husband and children because it reminds me why I work so hard.

Hopefully that is something that I will keep in mind when our country opens up again and we are all back being the warriors that we are.

DEBBIE KENYON Senior Vice President and Market Manager Entercom Detroit

LAURIE KAHN CEO Media Staffing Network This is the third recession we have gone through, and what has helped us is our ability to be flexible, to be open to new challenges and create solutions for them. Be positive, think out of the box, and go for it.

No matter how effective you were as a leader yesterday, today and tomorrow will make new and different demands. It is important to reinvent and adapt so you and your organization will successfully get through the pandemic.

Now like never before, you need to be an excellent communicator. Overcommunicate to your team. Be transparent, real, and positive.

When communicating, have three clear points so your message is streamlined and memorable. Remind them daily that each day that goes by gets us one step closer to normal.

The pandemic has brought our staff closer together and has fostered a collective spirit of endurance. #DetroitForward.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 39 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 39

5/14/20 1:32 PM

WEEZIE KRAMER COO Entercom See MIW Legend profile on page 22

MARIA LAING Senior Vice President Mr. Master

JINNY LADERER Founder & CEO vCreative Embrace it. Both professionally and personally. Adversity, while not pleasant, always pushes us to be more innovative. Adversity is the catalyst of change. It is the thing that punches us in the gut and forces

us to stop, re-evaluate, and adjust.

It’s a time to shine or decline. It’s a time to reach out to offer help where you can, and to reach up for help when needed. It brings us together, forces us to reprioritize and reinvent. In three years, we will look back and see how it changed us and made us stronger.

No one can predict what tomorrow will bring; it is out of our control. What we can control is our response and how we choose to handle the challenge before us. While we may not know what tomorrow holds, we do have today. Each of us needs to ask ourselves, “What can I do today?

What can I do to make things better today?”

Once you know how you can use your personal gifts to help, show no fear. Don’t be afraid to speak up and share your opinion. You may be the one with the vision that changes paradigms and offers solutions. In times of adversity, people grow.

This unprecedented time has also proven that sometimes things are bigger than any one of us, and just how interconnected we all are. We are all truly in this together. No one is left untouched by the times. Therefore, we must work as one to navigate these uncharted waters. Our sense of community is our strength. It is how we will rally to overcome this.

40 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 40

5/14/20 4:17 PM

TO

MARIA LAING

SUSAN LARKIN Chief Operating Officer Entercom This current situation is likely the toughest we have faced in our time as a country. As a company, it’s important that our teams feel safe, supported, and armed with resources as we navigate this together. At the same time, it may also yield the greatest opportunity to move our industry forward in transformation as well as realizing our value.

We know that our communities and audiences rely on us daily, and especially during times of adversity. They want information, entertainment, engagement with personalities and brands that they feel attached to and can relate to, and comfort. This is truly what an engaged impression looks like.

Our future opportunity is obvious. For example, I may be consuming more OTT now, but that doesn’t mean that as time evolves there’s anything stickier for me than the actual incremental content served up. For those of us in audio, particularly now with the increase in digital streaming and at-home listening, we have an opportunity to drive more long-term engaged impressions. It’s a great time for ideation and experimentation.

We measure our success through how we handle adversity, not while we are in the thick of it. We will likely look back at this time and reflect on the things we did to make a difference. The decisions and actions that moved our teams and industry forward. We need to think about that today and make sure we use the time wisely.

2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 41

MICHELE LAVEN President, Strategic Partnerships Group iHeartMedia Adaptable, nimble, and spontaneous are the first words that come to mind. Over the last couple of months the need to be flexible, responsive, and urgent with unplanned situations has been critical to being able to pivot in real time and ultimately success in the long run. No one likes to make mistakes. Building a sense of comfort with uncertainty, and at times failing, is a difficult mindset; however, it’s important to embrace it in our current environment.

To counter the uncertainty, I’ve added a little more humor into the daily flow to help shift the balance away from the frustration that the uncertainty causes and toward optimism. Humor, empathy, and compassion strengthen relationships and unlock innovation to be resilient and tough, especially during this period of time.

5/14/20 1:33 PM

2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 42

5/14/20 1:33 PM

MAIRE MASON VP/General Manager WSKQ & WPAT-FM New York City

ERIKA MARRERO MALDONADO VP/Network Audio Sales Entravision Communications

JENNIFER LEIMGRUBER Executive VP/Entertainment Programming Premiere Networks Believe in your people. Share as much information as you can, good and bad, and work with them to find new ideas and opportunities. I am never more impressed and inspired by the team I work with than when the chips are down!

We are dealing with the most challenging times, in my opinion, the media industry has ever faced. On both professional and personal levels, the past months have really tested our limits. However, I am a firm believer that we must rise to the occasion and continue to strive for optimism. We must push each other toward positivity and remain hopeful for the future. After all, adversity is what truly measures a person’s success, and the obstacles faced along the way.

Author Robert McKee said, “True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure — the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character’s essential nature.” So, here’s to light at the end of the tunnel!

Succeeding through adversity has always been a favorite topic of mine. As a native New Yorker and radio industry veteran, I’ve led radio groups to success after the 2008 financial crisis and 9/11. While there are huge differences between those tragedies and the current crisis, there are also similarities: fear, uncertainty, opportunity, and possibilities. Turning a crisis into an opportunity requires new ways of seeing, thinking, and responding. Staying focused, being nimble, and adapting to the new normal are key.

Another piece of advice for employees is to remain positive and reframe difficulties as possibilities. For advertisers, my hope is that they continue to market and keep an open mind to using our resources in a way that resonates with new consumer behaviors.

Undoubtedly this event will reshape us, but I’m optimistic. Ultimately, as in the past, the radio industry will show its resilience and emerge stronger and savvier than ever.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 43 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 43

5/14/20 1:36 PM

GINNY MORRIS CEO Hubbard Media

MARY MENNA Vice President & Market Manager Beasley Media Group Boston

As an industry, we have dealt with adversity, but the effects of a world in a pandemic were not imaginable.

Be early. Identify trends, analyze risks, and mobilize quickly.

Be flexible. As the situation unfolds, assumptions, needs, and realities change, and so should your strategies and actions.

Be sympathetic. Your employees, partners, and clients are all experiencing different hardships, emotions, and needs.

Be helpful. Identify needs and figure out how you can best help your team, clients, partners, and communities.

Be positive. Try to keep everyone’s spirits up. This is easier to do during a sprint rather than a marathon, and this crisis is a marathon, so it is more important than ever to lead with positivity. Some days, you have to dig deep to find it.

Be strong. We will get through this together and emerge stronger and more resilient as a team and as an industry.

THEA MITCHEM Executive Vice President Programming Program Director, WWPR-FM (Power 105.1) iHeartMedia It is a challenging, unprecedented time, but our focus must be to serve our communities and to continue to deepen our relationships with our partners.

I know it’s hard to not focus on the challenges of the day, but we have to exert our energy on what we can control. Keeping our audiences informed on key information that directly impacts their health and welfare, shining a light on how we all can assist those on the front lines and in our communities who are in the greatest need. Providing a lifeline to our listeners to share their fears and hopes and, equally important, providing listeners an escape, a break from it all.

Radio is that friend, that companion you can depend on who will always rise to the occasion to inform, inspire, and entertain. In this moment I’m most proud to be part of the radio broadcast community.

Beth Neuhoff with Dianna Galia, a member of Neuhoff Media’s Fast Forward team and graduate of RTTR

BETH NEUHOFF CEO Neuhoff Media There is a great quote from Churchill that comes to mind in this time of uncertainty: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Business is in bad shape right now, and it’s easy to feel defeated — I’ve felt it. But I had to adjust my attitude. I asked my extraordinary team to reimagine how we do everything. And we have! When you operate with sincerity and conviction, those around you will do the same. So, keep going. We’ll get through this!

44 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 44

5/14/20 1:37 PM

2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 45

5/14/20 1:37 PM

KRISTIN OKESSON SVP/Market Manager Connecticut Connoisseur Media

SUSAN PATRICK Managing Partner Legend Communications and Patrick Communications Cody, Wyoming

First, if you don’t have the best people on your team right now — go find them. Having a group of passionate, adaptable, committed, and smart employees forging through adversity with you is key. Second, as a leader I think it’s important to offer frequent and honest communication to your team and customers. Be authentic.

And third, in business you’re bound to face adversity at some point or another. Remember that the great thing about adversity is that with every situation you go through, there is a lesson to be learned or, more importantly, an opportunity to be discovered.

As it relates to COVID-19, if we are able to deliver tailored content, whether that is informing a listener or supporting a client, we will make a difference, which is always the goal. The team should never wonder what is going on or what the plan is — you can never communicate too much. And it will be important to look back once we get through this to determine what we learned so we can always be making improvements to our organization.

I try to remember that my reputation as a leader will not be judged by the difficult times, but by how I recovered and how resilient I was toward what I couldn’t control.

These past few months have, more than ever, forced us to examine how we deal with adversity both personally and professionally. As a radio station owner, I have found that, first and foremost, it has been important to put the safety of our employees first, and we have revisited most aspects of how we do business with this in mind. We also made a commitment to maintain our staffing levels and we did not lay off or reduce salaries.

Secondly, we have seen the reinforcement of the important role radio plays in the lives of our listeners and our communities.

Our radio stations are located in smaller communities and have always played an important role in providing news and information. During the initial days of the pandemic, we hosted community leader after community leader with urgent information on the health and safety of our residents.

We have honored first-line responders and local “heroes” who have stepped up every day. We have sponsored food drives for the less fortunate in our communities and gift card challenges to help local businesses. We’ve been there with serious and important health updates and information, but we’ve also tried to be entertaining and uplifting. It can’t all be doom and gloom. I’ve been incredibly proud of our radio station teams. I know our company will look back on these days knowing we stepped up when it mattered.

HEIDI ORINGER Executive Director Business Strategies, Programming, and Distribution ABC Audio After so many years in the radio business, I’ve developed a personal toolkit that helps me overcome adversity of all kinds. At the core of that kit are determination, empathy, and a sense of humor. I also have a rule that I never react to a situation with my first response. I find it crucial to always take a step back, allow my emotions to pass, and develop a clear perspective so I can respond with constructive solutions.

I also believe that trust is the bedrock of all relationships. It takes time to build, but it is what will ultimately get you through the tough times — well, that, maybe a good joke, and a cheesecake...

46 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 46

5/14/20 1:38 PM

ALISSA POLLACK EVP/Global Music Marketing and Strategy iHeartMedia With the unprecedented adversity we have faced these last few months, the definition of success has changed for so many people. Some days success means you made it through a 10-hour work day, others it means a good homeschool day, and others it means you stretched your tight budget through another meal.

There are two keys to success through adversity: attitude and the ability to ask for help. Adversity has the power to bring out the best of our character or the worst (and maybe even both in the same day), but the one we focus on is our choice. Staying positive and having faith in your strengths can turn obstacles into opportunities and provide a chance to create an alternate path or discover a hidden bridge to success.

It’s important at a time like this to keep a positive mindset and open mind so you can pivot, plan, and lead from a place of strength, not fear. We all face disappointment, have moments of doubt, challenges, and even heartbreak in our personal and professional lives, but when we learn not to fear adversity, but actually embrace it, is when we grow and thrive.

Additionally, never be afraid to ask for help. The greatest source of strength in difficult times comes from the people we surround ourselves with. We are no different than our listeners, who count on radio in times of crisis as their source of information, companionship, and community. Be that source for co-workers and friends and let them be that for you. We are all in this together, and through kindness and cooperation we will triumph together.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 47 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 47

5/14/20 1:38 PM

CLAUDIA PUIG President and General Manager Local Media Miami Univision Communications During adversity, first and foremost, we as broadcasters are responsible to ensure the employees are safe and that we are doing all the right things to protect the license. Equally important is to engage the public and help them stay safe and informed.

Provide talent with the tools and safe environment they need to continue creating content that is useful, relevant, and appropriate. Protect our brands to further strengthen their engagement and service to the community.

With adversity also comes opportunity, giving us a unique time to connect and provide a positive contribution to our clients in a different way. Help them navigate these changes, whether it be in the economy, lifestyle, or the ways they conduct their business. Work alongside them, going that extra mile when they need us the most. Help them adapt and innovate to keep their businesses relevant, with ideas and messages that address their particular circumstances.

In many cases, we can serve as a conduit and facilitator across industries, bringing together public and private, providing that access that can help our marketplace overcome adversity and prosper. These difficult times allow us to cultivate more meaningful and longer-lasting relationships.

STACEY LYNN SCHULMAN Chief Marketing Officer Katz Media Group

MARY QUASS President & CEO NRG Media While none of us ever would have expected COVID-19 to happen, in a way we have been given a great gift. While we seem to be on “pause” in our business life, use this time to reevaluate what success is and look for ways to change adversity into opportunity as we come out of this. Crafting a plan for what we need to know and what we will do with the knowledge can change a time of uncertainty to a time of renewal and anticipation — both of which are good for all.

My great Aunt Minnie — who emigrated to America from Italy in the 1920s — told me just before she died, “Stace, life is 20% what you make it and 80% how you take it.” As a young professional just hitting her stride in our industry, I thought she had it wrong. Surely effort and ingenuity to “make” your success should count for more than 20%! This is America! But as I’ve grown older, navigated more challenges, and seen crises come and go, I know she had it right all along.

Preparation is great for what we can rehearse for and control, but life is more often than not a series of surprises. How we react and lead in these moments is critical to our success, however you want to measure it. I’ve found that I tend to err more on the softer side, choosing to lead through empathy and personal connection to my team. The business strategy and solutions have got to be there, but if we can’t motivate our teammates to overcome their own fear and doubt in order to rise to the occasion, we can’t accomplish anything.

48 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 48

5/14/20 1:41 PM

DIANE SUTTER President/CEO ShootingStar Broadcasting SUZANNE SIMMS Senior Executive Vice President Business-to-Consumer Products and Services Ramsey Solutions Two quotes from Winston Churchill come to mind… “We should never waste a good crisis,” and, “An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Right now there is so much noise and fear everywhere. Yet there is a real opportunity to set your station or business apart by offering

the alternative — hopeful and helpful advice.

Don’t be just one more station with 24/7 coverage of the same data every other station is barking.

You can spend time building relationships with new clients and strengthening relationships with existing clients. Look for the industries with money to spend (they’re out there!), and tell them about the opportunity they have to reach your audience during this time. Think completely out of the box!

This isn’t the first, or second, time our industry has been hit hard with challenges. But perhaps this one is the greatest test for us all, as this is a global crisis and the length and breadth of this challenge is still unfolding. But this crisis may also be an opportunity that requires us to look at the world differently. As leaders we have to look at where we go from here, using a “learner’s mindset.”

It is unlikely that things will go back to the way they were.

Rather, we should be looking

to create a new future using the things we have learned over the last few months. And the solutions will need to come from a renewed confirmation of our purpose. Why do we do what we do? The answers, and the solutions to “Where do we go from here?” need to be grassroots, with bottom-up decisionmaking that can unite and empower a team.

And as we have all learned, we are all in this together.

That means we have to replace shareholder-only supremacy with a stakeholder mentality.

Until our entire ecosystem is healthy, it is nearly impossible for a single organization to survive, much less succeed.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 49 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 49

5/14/20 1:42 PM

ELISA TORRES Executive Vice President National and Network Spanish Broadcasting System

MELODY TALKINGTON Vice President Affiliate Relations Reach Media JULIE TALBOTT President Premiere Networks In difficult times like these, it’s important to stay positive and continue looking for opportunities to succeed.

Start by reaffirming your goals with the team.

Our new motto started immediately: optimism, visibility, and reinvention.

We also added regular videoconferencing to our normal communication to keep up camaraderie and engagement — it’s a great way to maintain morale and “face-toface” interaction so we feel more connected. As we move forward, we constantly highlight and search for successes, small and large, to keep our team motivated and remind them that we’re all in this together.

These are certainly difficult times to work through, and so many have been affected both personally and professionally across the industry. Staying healthy and doing your part for family and co-workers is key on the personal side.

Professionally, the challenge is navigating through adversity while remaining effective and productive in your company role. Most are working remotely now, including myself, so adapting quickly without missing a beat for clients and affiliates is a must. Our goal, while continuing to provide excellent customer service, programming, and support, is to find new ways to step up and help our customers any way we can. Doing more with less while not losing focus is where balance comes in. Social distancing and new challenges are the norm right now, but I truly believe we will come out of this with a better way of doing business in our new world.

Maya Angelou once said, “Stand up straight and realize who you are, that you tower over your circumstances.” That’s exactly what radio has proven to us during these challenging and unprecedented times. Despite the circumstances, radio continues to be the leading mass reach tool through its consistent listenership. We work in a beautiful industry that informs, entertains, and provides companionship to its audience through the good and the bad. Radio is our north star.

Even though our world has been shaken to its core, we must remain strong, resilient, and optimistic. While it is important to feel and process everything that is going on, it’s equally important to find light in darkness and to wake up with a purpose. We must never forget that there is opportunity in adversity. Now is the time to dig deep and work harder than we’ve ever done before.

Find ways to make this situation work for you. Take this time to reflect and learn. Reach out to someone you admire. Connect with family, friends, mentors, and colleagues. Push the limits. Give new strategies a try. You’ll be surprised by how much you can grow from this situation.

We have to be pragmatic and innovative to make it through these times and work (virtually) together with our teams and partners to continue to be there for each other and our loyal listeners. This too shall pass, and we’ll be greater personally and professionally as a result. Let’s show this pandemic who we are and tower over it. We have to be ready for the comeback, because it’ll certainly be greater than the setback.

CHRISTINE TRAVAGLINI President Katz Radio Group See cover story, page 14.

50 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 50

5/14/20 1:15 PM

2RI_MIW main 5-25-20 (pages 28-51).indd 51

5/14/20 1:45 PM

ON AIR ANN MARIA CANSECO Sun Latino

LAURA BERMAN Compass Media Networks

DANA CORTEZ The Dana Cortez Show Skyview Networks I’ve always felt blessed to work in this industry, and if you’ve been in the game more than 10 years, you’ve seen changes.

But saying this is a tough moment for radio is an understatement. This time’s different. Radio will forever change, and every day I wake up grateful to still have a job to put food on the table. The people we talk to every day are also going through layoffs and uncertainty through no fault of their own.

My advice is, if you’re privileged to still have this platform, use it wisely. Here’s your chance to make a real difference with the very people who afford you the opportunity to make a living doing what you love. Not only now, but moving forward, don’t take this position for granted and always strive to use your influence to positively impact the lives of others.

LORIANNE CROOK Executive Producer/ Broadcast Personality Crook & Chase Media Most of all, be thankful that we are in an industry that has the power to so deeply and positively affect our communities and the nation.

Our friends and neighbors are tuning in for a complex list of reasons and needs that we can satisfy: presenting the latest news and how it affects their daily lives, as well as offering encouragement, entertainment, engagement, and empathy.

When it feels like the sky is falling, you can’t allow yourself to go down with it.

Rather than lamenting what has been lost, you absolutely have to find what you can gain. Put any negative energy into new approaches, different ideas, and innovative actions. The past few months have focused a bright spotlight on numerous ways that caring people and companies all around us have created something wonderful and inspiring in the worst of times. Keep your focus on “the good stuff.”

ELLEN K The Ellen K Morning Show

DELILAH Premiere Networks These are the times in which being your best self, your true self, is so important.

Look for the right opportunities to be more present in the lives of your listeners, and find ways to share your joy, as well as your concerns.

Most importantly, be a source of hope. In your personal life, offer to do more than what’s expected of you and help those who need it.

Increase your communication with your family and close friends, and those who rely on you — it’s more important than ever to take care of your loved ones.

As we all adapt to changes in the industry, our already close team has grown even closer. The same is happening with our listeners. We communicate on a deeper level — we laugh harder, cry more, celebrate bigger, and love what we do on an even deeper level.

This crisis brings a full appreciation of radio through its live connectivity — the trait I’ve always loved the most.

My advice is to let your listening family express themselves on every platform. Ask them meaningful questions, and respond to them in a truthful way that leaves them feeling hopeful and enhanced.

And remember, there is always a way through — always.

52 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 52

5/14/20 2:05 PM

MOREtechnique MOREtact Ad-Jul1

MORE technique.

MORE tact.

MORE client retention.

When you know exactly what to do and exactly how to do it, you can be MORE successful. At Szabo Associates, we’ve spent decades learning and refining the tricks of our trade. So when clients come to us for help collecting media receivables, no one can do MORE than we can.

There is considerable technique and technology involved in collections.

We have the largest media accounts database in the world containing information on over 600,000 media advertising companies.

We can immediately access this data, check payment histories and patterns, analyze them and plot the exact strategy needed to maximize collection. No one else has MORE information and MORE knowledge on how to use it.

Tact is equally important.

This doesn’t come from a computer or a manual. It only comes from experience.

Knowing when to be firm and when to be gently persuasive can make all the difference.

Not only can MORE of the debt be recovered, but valuable client relationships can be preserved. At Szabo, our job is to recover your money without losing your clients. We have the technique, the tact and the experience to do both. It’s why Szabo can do MORE.

Szabo Associates, Inc. 404-266-2464 www.szabo.com info@szabo.com

MORE is better than less.

MOREtechnique MOREtact Ad-Jul16.indd 1 RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 53

7/11/16 10:55 AM 5/14/20 2:17 PM

ON AIR

LIA KNIGHT Westwood One

DEDE MCGUIRE DeDe in the Morning Compass Media Networks Service Broadcasting

KRISTI LEE News Director/Co-Host The Bob and Tom Show My advice during these turbulent times would be to learn to be adaptable, wellinformed, and don’t underestimate your importance with listeners. In uncertain times, people love familiarity, and you bring comfort to those who rely on you.

SHERI LYNCH Bob & Sheri Show

First, pray! Then, I think everyone should keep calm during times of adversity. Cooler heads will prevail. I think you should find the most important priority and focus on it. My priority right now is people. My focus is on my family, team, the listeners, and clients. Leaning on people you trust and each other is a huge way to get through moments like this.

The reward is in serving people.

Focus on the positive. Help people cope and heal through humor. If humor is a part of your morning show brand, don’t be afraid to be funny. Be sensitive to the times, but know that humor will help us all cope and heal.

Once again we want to congratulate our own Kristi Lee for being named as one of the Most Influential Women in Radio.

54 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 54

5/14/20 2:17 PM

RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 55

5/14/20 2:17 PM

ON AIR

CONNIE SELLECCA CEO/Host Intelligence For Your Health It’s obvious that if we continue to “doom scroll” all of the latest news on the pandemic, then fear, trepidation, and even depression can easily dominate our thoughts. The threat of sickness is real, but if we continue to be held hostage by what psychologists call “hypervigilance,” it will consume us. Every challenge we embrace, including the consequences of this pandemic, strengthens not only our will, but our confidence. And then we can apply that confidence to confront future obstacles.

Radio has always been about forging a personal connection, and I recognize that in the midst of global challenges, like COVID19, we members of the media must bear the responsibility of not only reporting the latest updates, but of finding a way to encourage our listeners.

One hundred years ago, those threatened by the Spanish flu faced the same desperate uncertainty we do today. However, many families in rural America who could not afford the price tag of a radio remained unconnected and consumed by fear.

One hundred years later, the world is hurting once more, but now radio has afforded us all a chance to connect and bond with people over this shared experience. We’re all in this together, and we will all emerge together and more durable than ever.

SHIRLEY STRAWBERRY The Steve Harvey Morning Show Premiere Networks I think certain life experiences should give people compassion. You have to put yourself in the shoes of others to understand and appreciate what they’re going through. I also think having gratitude for where you are and what you have in life keeps you grounded. I always say count your blessings because there is someone out there who is much worse off than you.

It’s been my pleasure to work in an industry I love.

As a radio host, you want to relate to people, and connect with them on a genuine level.

You do that by being authentic, transparent, vulnerable, and open. In times like these, the one common denominator is that we’re all human, so I encourage everyone to be the best human you can be and treat others how you would like to be treated. Embrace yourself, accept people for who they are, and be kind.

I would say to my colleagues, I know it’s hard. We are living in some of the most difficult of times. However, I’ve learned not to fret about the things I can’t control and instead focus on the things I can control. Being prepared, believing in myself, having faith and a positive attitude, building and nurturing relationships — these are the things that will make a difference moving forward.

ANGELA YEE Co-Host, The Breakfast Club iHeartMedia/Premiere Networks

SUZYN WALDMAN New York Yankees Radio Broadcaster WFAN-AM & FM What I have found during this terrible time is that radio still plays an incredibly soothing and supportive role in helping everyone through a crisis. Doing shows during this quarantine, I have heard fans and listeners say, “I’m so glad to hear your voice. It just makes me feel better.”

If you are on the air, know that the sound of your voice is helping someone during this time. Your passion, emotion, and truth are making it easier for someone to get out of bed, continue to go about his or her day with a friend, a familiar voice to make the isolation easier to bear. Keep going; someone is listening and depending on you. That is the power of radio, now and always.

I would advise others in the industry to use this time wisely. This is when you can connect with people and send a note to check on them, figure out how you can be of service to others, and also be honest about your needs and concerns. So many of us are dealing with loss, sickness, and grief. Take care of yourself physically by making sure you continue to exercise — that can mean taking a walk or doing some virtual workouts — and eat better, because we see how important our immune system is.

I know I personally feel like I’m unproductive if I’m not doing work, but it’s also fine to spend a day on the couch watching TV or getting some much-needed rest.

Right now, creativity is at an all-time high as people are coming up with ways to make money from their homes and with limited resources. Make sure you continue to plot and hustle for the future, so when we move past this pandemic and into “the new normal,” you’re ahead of the curve.

56 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 56

5/15/20 10:16 AM

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

RENEE CASSIS President-Owner RC Communications Marketing

ANGEL ARISTONE EVP of Communications iHeartMedia Be compassionate. Support your communities. Radio plays such a vital role during unprecedented times like these, so it’s important to keep listeners informed with the latest information, while also finding ways to help those in need. Our industry continues to find creative ways to serve and strengthen communities throughout the country through so many great programs — from food drives and local business support efforts to benefit specials and celebrations for our first responders. I’m proud of our industry.

The one constant in this life is that everything changes. During times of adversity, you can get caught up in the negativity that is swirling around in your head. My advice is, don’t think about it. Get up every day and do what you need to do. Believe in who you are.

Believe you are strong, and you will be.

You can’t control anything around you.

You can control how you respond.

If you keep going, keep doing, chances are you will succeed. It may not be what you envisioned, or happen as fast as you hoped, but you will achieve something, and you’ll have more confidence for it. Adversity forces us to look at ourselves and the world differently.

It presents an opportunity to learn and to grow. I used to have a sign on my desk of a little boy staring down two big lions. The caption read: “True character is revealed in the face of adversity.”

ANN MARIE CUMMING Senior Vice President, Communications National Association of Broadcasters A critical leadership trait for overcoming adversity in these challenging times and beyond is empathy. Everyone experiences adversity throughout the course of their careers, but the COVID-19 pandemic really puts things in perspective.

Ultimately, the more we try to understand the struggles of our colleagues, members, listeners, and advertisers, the better positioned we are to help.

Appreciating others’ points of view generally leads to deeper engagement, from which innovative solutions tend to flow. Empathy also builds stronger relationships and more positive outcomes for yourself as well as others.

Radio is a business built on relationships with listeners and advertisers, and weathering this storm will require that those relationships be stronger than ever. To be sure, succeeding through adversity also requires sacrifice, creativity, and resilience — one of radio’s most enduring qualities.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 57 RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 57

5/14/20 2:18 PM

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

LISA DOLLINGER CEO Dollinger Strategic Communication Keep your head up, face forward, assess the situation, make a plan, and take action. Look for the opportunities and optimize them. Look for risks and minimize them to the extent possible. Use your resources creatively. Tap into the power of strategic partnerships. Have faith that things will get better.

And never give up. As Winston Churchill said: “If you’re going through hell, keep going,” and, “It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” That takes courage, a steel will, and hard work. You must be relentless in your pursuit of excellence. Churchill also said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” I believe that with everything that is in me.

WENDY GOLDBERG Executive Vice President Chief Communications Officer iHeartMedia

LEAH KAMON Sr. Vice President, Marketing and Communications Radio Advertising Bureau Remember that you’re not alone and that you have a tremendous support system to help you through it. So go ahead and lean on your colleagues, family, and friends. And as Dave Ramsey so brilliantly stated in an April RAB presentation, “This too shall pass.” Take a moment to remember that, and it’ll help you through the adversity and lead you to continued success by building your resiliency and ability to power through.

58 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 58

5/14/20 2:18 PM

JENNIFER MORALES Sr. Director/Corporate Communications and Public Relations Entercom

DENYSE SMITH MESNIK, APR President The Mesnik Group Whether in crisis-management mode or, like today, in an extended landscape of uncertainty, it’s best to pause, breathe, analyze, and then address the situation. Have confidence in your skills, surround yourself with like-minded colleagues, identify your goals, and stay focused on executing the tasks that will achieve them.

Both internal and external messaging should be consistent, concise, and frequent. Staying connected to your team, clients, listeners, and community members strengthens your ability to navigate tough days and sets the stage for successful, brighter days that surely lie ahead.

In both my professional and personal life, when adversity hits, I strive to keep my faith and to follow a Dalai Lama quote that stays on my desk, “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.”

During times of crisis, remain attentive to the human element.

At home, we were taught to greet everyone — family, friends, co-workers — with good morning, como amanecio? A simple way to start the day by checking in on those you care about. Staying connected to your team, your family, and friends by listening and being aware of what is happening in their surroundings will not only keep you grounded, but will also help you lead and act with empathy. Leading with empathy becomes central to your response as a business both internally and externally. As employees, we want our employer to take an interest in us as people, and as consumers, we want brands to do the same.

To help me navigate the current climate, I do my best to live in the moment. I begin the day with a great cup of coffee, then a walk with my dog, followed by 10 minutes of writing in a gratitude journal — all of which serve to remind me to remain focused and grateful for all of my many blessings.

Cheers and Congratulations to our warm and wonderful spokeswoman, Denyse Mesnik.

Thank you for all you’ve done on behalf of the Mentoring and Inspiring Women’s group as a leader and mentor.

You’re an inspiration to us!

Your Executive Committee: Kay, Erica, Sheila, Corinne, Mary Beth, Val, Valerie, Lindsay, Tricia, Angie, Beth and Ruth

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 59 RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 59

5/14/20 2:19 PM

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS YVETTE PACHECO Vice President Corporate Communications Univision

RACHEL NELSON Director, Public Relations Premiere Networks Sometimes the greatest opportunities come from adversity. It’s hard to see it when you’re in the midst of survival mode, but that’s where you find the strength to dig deep, get creative, and find solutions. Every successful company or individual has had to struggle at some point, but the way you handle it will shape your future. The keys are to stay positive while surrounding yourself with a good support system; work hard and don’t be afraid to ask for help; and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. There’s always something to be thankful for — and more than ever these days, it’s about the fundamentals: health, safety, our loved ones, and the wellbeing of our communities.

HEIDI RAPHAEL Chief Communications Officer Beasley Media Group

MONICA RABASSA Vice President, Marketing, Promotions, and Operations Univision Local Media — Miami During the past few months we have faced unprecedented challenges affecting all industries across the world. We’ve had to innovate and adapt within these big shifts in our economy, our operation, and the way we do business. Our first priority has been protecting employees, our audience, and our clients, providing them clear directives and useful information to keep them safe and help them navigate this new reality.

Reach out to your clients and work together to help their brands stay relevant, useful, and top-of-mind as they shift the way they communicate with their customers without face-to-face interaction. Help them craft a new message and tone that aligns with the new circumstances, mood, and changes in consumer behavior. Let your clients know that you have their backs — ready to collaborate, adapt, and overcome. Help them prepare and be ready once the recovery begins.

Finally, let empathy and consideration lead you in finding ways to help your employees, your community, and your clients.

The best advice I could give to others about dealing and succeeding through adversity or uncertainty is to look ahead and have a plan or structure in place that addresses best- and worst-case scenarios whenever possible. This will enable you to immediately focus on situations that may arise that you didn’t anticipate and allow you the ability to quickly shift your plan accordingly.

Communication is also critical. It’s imperative to make sure that, as a leader, you communicate with your management team and employees on a regular basis and provide support. From timely e-mails and video messages to your employees to ongoing updates and weekly calls with your management teams, it’s not an option, it’s essential. Working closely with your leadership team is a must!

Within our company, Caroline Beasley and our managers have done a great job leading by example and keeping everyone informed with timely and important updates across the organization throughout the pandemic. Our employees have been absolutely incredible as they continue to adapt to the situation and find new ways to reinvent the way we do business as a company.

During times of uncertainty, employees trust and count on their leaders to provide them with real direction, transparency, and hope. Uncertainty can be devastating.

It’s imperative, as a leader, that you are truly present, have empathy, and provide a real working plan to lead your company through a crisis or situation.

60 RADIOINK.COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 60

5/14/20 2:19 PM

SHOSHANA SHAPIRO Vice President, Corporate Communications and Initiatives Cumulus Media Whenever I face something that’s out of my control — and this global pandemic is certainly an example of that — I remind myself that while I can’t change the situation, I can change my reaction to it.

Working from home while pregnant and co-parenting an active toddler who believes a video call is a personal challenge to her claim on my attention is not for the faint of heart. But instead of beating myself up about the number of meals Stella is eating on the couch in front of the TV, I’m focusing on gratitude for the fact that my husband and I have so much time with our daughter, at a unique time before Stella will be sharing us with a sibling.

And instead of bemoaning my lack of energy from working long hours, I’m focusing on the gratitude for the role I get to fill at Cumulus, and the opportunity it gives me to help our thousands of employees get through situations like this by providing clear and consistent communications about what is going on in the company and what it means to them.

ESTHER-MIREYA TEJEDA Senior Vice President Head of Corporate Communications & PR Entercom Today’s world is like nothing we could have ever imagined. There is loss and struggle happening all around us across all parts of our lives — personally, professionally, and everything in between.

We are, and will forever be, changed as a result of what is happening in the world right at this moment. My advice and my hope is that we make sure that the change is for the better and that we come out on the other side of this pandemic as more humane leaders, conscious corporate citizens, and stronger, kinder people.

We are all working from home, sheltering in place, and practicing social distancing, managing our households and our families, while also leading businesses and working harder than ever to meet our goals and succeed despite the many challenges. And, by and large, colleagues from all over the industry have stepped up to the plate, giving it all they’ve got, while finding new ways to make it all work.

MAY 25, 2020 RADIOINK.COM 61 RI_MIW On-Air & CORPORATE 5-25-20 (pages 52-61).indd 61

5/19/20 12:34 PM

A Book Worth Reading

By Radio Ink Editor Ed Ryan Larry Wilson, the former CEO of Citadel and Alpha Media, was a successful radio broadcaster for decades. In his new book, Do What’s Right, Larry not only tells great stories about his days in radio and the successes and failures he experienced, he weaves in many stories about being a strong leader and manager that you will no doubt

find helpful to your career today. He also reveals a few mistakes he’s made along the road to success.

Larry’s career was truly a phenomenal roller coaster ride, and Do What’s Right includes so many great details from every step along the way, I’m sure you’ll find it as hard to put down as I did.

AT HOME AND AT WORK,

YOU INSPIRE US EVERY DAY Congratulations Jinny & Susie!

The vTeam is proud to have two influential women leading the way and moving radio forward!

62 RADIOINK.COM RADIOINK•COM MAY 25, 2020 RI_Book 5-25-20.indd 62

5/14/20 2:04 PM

( ( !"( % # ( ( ( ( '( ( & #" $ ( (" ( ( !!# ('( ( !"( ( " !( ( ('( ( !"( # " ( ( ( ( '( !( #"# ( ( !(

THE WAIT IS OVER!

The story of a phenomenal rollercoaster ride through the wonderful and troubled times of a real entrepreneur.

larrywilsonstore.com There is a limited amount of First Edition Hard Cover books available.

If you order now for yourself and friends, the first 400 books will be personally signed.