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TOM LANGMYER President & CEO Great Lakes Media
Tom says the one word his team would use to describe him is “authentic.” Langmyer believes 2021 is going to be a great year for radio because we have experienced a seismic shift in our world, and “radio will absolutely be in much better shape as a result.” He says, “The radio business had been ever so slowly ripping off the band-aid. The business has been dominated by everything that has nothing to do with radio. Radio is not debt reorganization, stock prices, layoffs, selling assets, corporate reshuffling, hand-wringing about other ‘platforms,’ and more. Those are all important challenges for any business, but these topics had become the defining words for our business. “We’ve finally ended that horrible, slow, and painful process. Actually, to a larger degree, it was done for us. The pandemic and the economy ripped off the band-aid, but something or someone had to do it. When that happened, we had to learn new ways to operate our business, do it efficiently, make full steps ahead, and stop looking backward, so we can focus on our business of content, which drives connections that drive positive outcomes.” He adds, “Leading is best judged when times are difficult — or at the very least, different. This has been both different and difficult. Some of the most taken-for-granted things changed drastically and almost instantly. “The in-person dynamic went away immediately. At the time the pandemic hit, we were in the midst of a set of strategic meetings that had been planned as in-person gatherings to include outside partners and others. We were also in the midst of several market visits and other travel, all very critical. Our team remained fully engaged, business continued, but our unique mode of doing business had to adjust. Our very competitive ‘key attribute’ had to present itself in new ways. “When in a holding pattern on a few things for reasons beyond anyone’s control, a leader actually needs to work twice as hard. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion. My thoughts immediately turned to ways we could and would keep things in motion. How best could we keep the group informed, continually communicate status on progress, update our business partners, and forward discussions with those with whom we were in discussion?” Langmyer says he would most definitely be in radio if he were starting his career today. But he adds, “Of course, who isn’t going to say that, perhaps even if they don’t mean it? But let me tell you why I mean it. The world of audio content has actually expanded, not declined. Our world has gotten bigger, and communication and engagement have done nothing but grow. “Of course, my definition always was and is that radio is not a technical delivery system. Radio is an important personally connecting experience with audio-based content, driven by well-known, trusted, and often loved influencers. Other elements include events, community activation, being at the center of activity — and hopefully creating that activity. I also know that radio is fundamentally a local business.”
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