FTC CELEBRATES ONE YEAR

It's been a great first year and we want to thank all of our readers who have shared the FTC word. In our second year we will continue to offer the best information available on Country Music Radio. From social media to programming and more. Thanks to Austin Keyes, who helped get us off the ground, Jessica Northey who joined in July 09, Bobby Knight and Loyd Ford. For grins, here's what the first article contained, we have made some strides as you look back at what was written a year ago, compared to today.

On this Memorial Weekend:

Loyd Ford w/ Social Media and your traditional world

Social Media & Your Traditional World
By Loyd Ford Americalist1@aol.com

If you want to create some buzz in this industry, talk to people about social media. In fact, some stations are doing exceptional jobs with social media on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. However, many broadcasters engage social media hopeful that it will replace traditional marketing. Their actual expectations are that they will receive the same kind of results with social media that they receive from television, telemarketing, direct mail or billboards. Others in our industry think social media is a waste of good time and energy. Neither is true.

Recipe for Social Media Success

It may be a far stretch to think that there is one recipe for everyone to get great results with Social Media, but like your Great Auntie’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, if you follow the directions you will not be disappointed. I am not saying that there is an exact science to Social Media but I guarantee there are certain ingredients that will make it taste good!

Ingredients

·         Goals

·         Participants

·         Usage

·         Design

·         Content

·         Best practices

·         Maintenance

·         Promotion

Consultants Make Great Sounding Boards

All About Country's vent section is lit up like Lilly Tomlin's switchboard about consultants. I truly respect consultants, especially in Country Music Radio. It seems the biggest gripe is about music, consultant's not letting stations play or suggesting they play certain songs. If this is the biggest bitch you have with a consultant, you need to get over it now.Country Music Radio consultancies are great sounding boards and most of these firms are run by great Country Music Radio programmers who teach the basics of great radio programming regardless of the format. you should be in sync with the consultant and you both need to be team mates. It really blows if the consultant is hired and brought in and their is friction at the start between the PD and consultant.

BOB KNIGHT'S WEDNESDAY MORNING MEETING

A COUNTRY STATION FOR THE NAKED COWBOY

I thought that by leaving the radio industry, people would stop asking me about formats, bands, personalities, and the like.  I was ready to assume a lifestyle  of suburban anonymity, pierced by the occasional trip to Costco and Target.  Five years later, I'm writing for FTC, and co-host a talk show on WOR in NY. So much for anonymity.  The best part of being an anonymous media buyer is when people find out that I had programmed country (they're less impressed that I followed Ryan Seacrest in San Francisco).

FTC Radio Jargon Conversion Guide

Out There	TO	Just give name is enough
Down There	TO	Just give name is enough
Over There	TO	Just give name is enough
Up There	TO	Just give name is enough
Outside	TO	Never say
Degrees	TO	Just temp will suffice
Thunderboomers	TO	Never say
Get outside today	TO	Never say - people work
Win That CD	TO	Artist name
Win That Cash	TO	Win our Cash
Head on over	TO	Never say
Lots of Chances	TO	Never say
More info on the web	TO	Just give URL
WWW	TO	Never say
On your Monday	TO	Never say
Cue to Call	TO	Listen to Win
Radio Remote	TO	Never say
Movie Trailer	TO	Movie sneak peek
Weather wise	TO	Never say
Break	TO	Never say
Stop by & say hi	TO	Never say
When temp is your
competitors frequency		Never say (round up/down)
I'll be here til'	TO	Never say
We'll have to see	TO	You aren't a palm reader
Keep it here	TO	Never say
Good Morning	TO	Never say
Highways & Byways	TO	Never say
Conveniently located	TO	Never say

Memorial Day Programming

We can't sit on our hands this Memorial Day Weekend. Pandora, podcasts or a wall of music will not be able to compete with your Country Music Radio station on Memorial Day Weekend. It takes you, committed to a journey this Spring, to reach out to the life group. The military and honoring the troops is one of the biggest home runs we have in Country Music Radio.

Stop Broadcasting and Start Communicasting!

The other day a friend of mine in the "Entertainment" industry asked me to "follow" them on Twitter.  Curiously, I took a peek at the profile.

At first glance I noticed how this person was only following a handful of people...and they were only broadcasting information about what they were doing and what they had to say. No interaction with others. Just a laundry list of THEM with no purpose.

100 Patriotic Songs for Memorial Day (all formats)

Have You Forgotten-Darryl Worley
Voice Of America-Asia
Give Peace A Chance-John Lennon
4^th of July-Shooter Jennings
Ballad of Uncle Sam-Paul Robeson
We Know You're Out There-Kory Brunson

From Harker Research - Wireless Arbitron

Arbitron Still Playing Wireless Catch-Up

The proportion of US households who have abandoned landlines in favor of wireless continues to grow. Yet Arbitron’s diary keepers and PPM panelists remain predominantly landline households.
According to the latest government numbers, in the Fall 0f 2009 25% of households were cell phone only, up from 20% in Fall of 2008. (Click on chart to view.) Unfortunately, Arbitron’s goal for 2010 falls well short of even last year’s numbers.

Viral, Anyone?

What do the words viral marketing or viral advertising mean?

Typically it describes any strategy that encourages individuals to pass on a marketing message to others, creating the potential for exponential growth in the message's exposure and influence. This week Alabama Filmmaker, Blogger and Talk Show Host Ladd Ehlinger Jr, found out what it was like to have the nation's eyes looking at his work.

Who are all of these internal candidates for jobs?

Talking with a round of programmers yesterday like RJ Jordan, Kevin Barrett and Nigel the Producer formally of  CC Fresno - We all want to know who the internal applicants for programming and talent positions are? Nigel was telling me he applied for a position and they told him relocation wasn't part of the package and he said fine, he still never heard back from them. Back in the day (what two years ago) you never heard of internal candidates for programming jobs, unless they were being courted and trained for programming positions. Applicants are being hired for programming positions with no experience. If they had the experience, they would be programming elsewhere. They are usually Stage 5 Clingers who have worked for a few years at the station and a market manager's pet or sacred cow.

Weds Afternoon Meeting (Better late than never) Bobby Knight

Had a little accident this morning, so BEHOLD: THE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MEETING!

 Goodbye business as usual. Many of us woke up today to the news that several incumbents lost their primary bids for reelection.   America is mad. America is tired of the same old business -as-usual attitude from Washington,  and business in general.

What's your radio station doing to break with the norm? Do your personalities connect with pop culture, with the political climate, with the technological revolution? Or, are they reading "10 in a row" liners?

You can be interesting, even in a PPM world.  So, play better music, air less clutter,  upgrade your imaging (all free stuff), and hire personalities who have a clue.... it's the key to both growth and survival.  And that will mean more revenue.

File this in "oops did I say that?"

Jessica found this nugget. Bob is out of pocket and 
will return next week. Remember 
what you post on FB and Twitter can 
be damaging to your station and management

can hold you libel for it.

Waitress fired for griping about tip on Facebook

(AP) – 6 hours ago CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina waitress is out of a job after griping on her Facebook page about the $5 tip she got from a couple who sat at their table for three hours. The waitress says the customers kept her at work an hour after she was supposed to clock out.

The Charlotte Observer reported Monday that 22-year-old Ashley Johnson felt slighted after waiting on the couple at Brixx Pizza.

So she blasted the couple on Facebook, calling them cheap and mentioning the restaurant by name.

Brixx officials told Johnson a couple of days later that she was being fired because she violated a company policy banning workers from speaking disparagingly about customers and casting the restaurant in a bad light on a social network.

Johnson says she has apologized to Brixx and is looking for a new job.
Information from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotteobserver.com/

Plan Now To Have A Hot Summer And Strong Fall - Jaye Albright

1. PROGRAM DIRECTOR PERSONAL

Goals:

- Demonstrating the knowledge and management skills necessary to run the Department
- Using the available tools and strategies, creating the plan to get ... to the next level
- Using interpersonal skills to create the passion and winning attitude among staff
- Train XXX to handle Asst PD (and XXX) to handle Music responsibilities

Is it live or Memorex?

Remember the old Memorex commercials from the 70's? With a glass cracking, is it live or Memorex. Now I play that game with radio stations while traveling. We all know the answer, they are all recorded via voice tracking. But I especially like the ones, where it's tough to tell.

Marketing

So … business is picking up and you’re looking at adding back some of things you had to cut the last couple of years. (If you’re thinking of adding a consultant, I’m available, and reasonable!:)

If marketing is on the agenda let’s look at some things to consider that may be basic to you, and some things that may not.

Building a Social Media Army

ar·my : noun

-a body of persons organized to advance a cause

Building a Social Media Army
When I decided to write this post I actually Google’d how to start an Army and was a little scared of what I found. In America forming your own militia is a constitutional right (2nd amendment) and is protected by Federal law. Treason, however, is illegal. I found that the main characteristics of starting an Army/Militia is to get them vetted, trained, paid and readied for action!

THE 35th ANNUAL CONCLAVE LEARNING CONFERENCE "FREEWAY TO YOUR FUTURE"

THE 35th ANNUAL CONCLAVE LEARNING CONFERENCE
"FREEWAY TO YOUR FUTURE"
DOUBLETREE PARK PLACE HOTEL/MINNEAPOLIS
JULY 15-17, 2010

I am so excited to be speaking at the Conclave this summer! It was a great honor to be selected and I cant believe that my time slot is between Gary Marince/Arbitron and Jon Zellner Sr/Clear Channel, Jimmy Steal/Emmis Comm, Tom Land/Journal Broadcast Group, w/Moderator John Gehron. I am humbled and grateful to Jay Philpott for making it happen!
This will be an amazing Conference and a ton of Broadcast information...I promise you will walk away from my Seminar having 'Aha' moments! Hope to see you at "Are You Being Followed? Social Media in 2010 & Beyond-Social Media Strategy that Gets Results with Jessica Northey!"

After the Flood....A National Answer to the Challenge of Local Weather Reporting

Sean Ross always has us thinking of better ways to improve our products and on this week's ROSS ON RADIO, he explores a way to have a nation weather team for radio companies that can gather and report local storms and disasters. Here's what Sean has to say:

BOB KNIGHT'S WEDNESDAY MORNING MEETING

I saw this piece over the weekend on Boston.com.  Will this mean more Country live groupers with meters?  Will secondary market low-performing country stations eventually flip to Spanish?  This is a MUST read...

What if we programmed Country like an AC?

I can't believe those words came out of my mouth? Those who know me, know I love the straight-ahead, full-throttle sound design that goes with an entertainment -based Country Music Radio station. This has to do with emulating AC/Hot AC's music clocks. I was chatting with Radio Crunch's Anthony Acampora last week and he said, "What if we looked at our clocks in Country a different way?" We are still dealing with the disconnect.

THE RULES OF RADIO - Recapping the Regulations

RECAPPING THE REGULATIONS AND OTHER DOS AND DON’TS OF A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RADIO

Last week I listened in on another great Conclave Webinar.
Wednesday 5/5's Conclave webinar – covered the "The Rules of Radio” and recapped the important Regulations. Hosted by Jay Philpot along with Peter Gould, a communications attorney with the firm of Lerman-Senter in Washington DC - tackled important questions: Do you know what's legal and what is not, regarding your radio station? What is a Legal ID for an HD station? What is the exact process you must go through before airing a phone call? Is it ever OK to air one of the "seven words"? Are you and your staff up to speed on how to run an EAS test, are you running the correct contest rules and is your public file in order? How much will it cost if you are wrong? During this webinar, basic and important knowledge on DOZENS of the very important rules and regulations radio broadcasters must follow, or face fines from the FCC, were discussed.

5-09-10 Safe List Movers and Shakers

CLAY WALKER 22-15 Medium

JERROD NIEMANN 29-24 Light

BLAKE SHELTON 56-45 Night
LUKE BRYAN 19-14 Medium
CARRIE UNDERWOOD 58-34 Light

See complete list by clicking SAFE LIST above.

Ego - From Jaye's Breakfast Blog

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Ego

* A nationally-known morning personality recently confided to me that years ago when he was a part of a major market-leading wake-up crew their program director at the time preferred to take all of the remotes, talent fee appearances and concert emcee duties for himself rather than letting his morning show (and, hopefully, other personalities too) have a share of those cherished, high-profile, well-compensated duties.

Revenue Ideas

It seems none of us in the Broadcasting business can take a breath these days without reading about or hearing about the need to maximize our Internet presence and revenue opportunities.

 With few exceptions every “expert” seems to think we’re all doing it wrong, or not doing enough.

Twitter Usage In America & Social Media MAYhem

If you haven't checked out the latest study from Edison Research/Arbitron Internet and Multimedia Research you can download here:
Twitter Usage In America: 2010
Hope you get plenty of use out of this report!

As you know Social Media has the power to take your communication one step further – to the listener’s turf. With this power...comes great responsibility...just kidding but seriously you now have the power to FIND them where THEY are....and bring them BACK to YOU!

It's Getting Better All The Time - Chuck Geiger

We complain about a "disconnect" musically with the audience and not enough live talent, but we continue to excel in many areas. Country Music Radio imaging is getting better all the time. With the borrowing from Top-40 and PD's managing Country Music Radio from other formats, we are building sonically speaking.

BOB KNIGHT'S WEDNESDAY MORNING MEETING

IT'S OUR TURN

For as long as I can remember, the country music industry has supported radio for just about every station event, fundraiser, or half-baked promotion.  Now, it's our turn to return the favor.  Nashville has been slammed with record flooding that will undoubtedly have horrible effects on the health and welfare of those who are involved in the music industry or its allied partners.  Basements will become moldy, clean drinking water will become a commodity, and many businesses will be interrupted.  Nashville needs a fundraiser; our stars need our help.  Radio can mobilize better than any other media. Here's the game plan:

The Great Music City Flood Of 2010

from the desk of Larry Pareigis:
Normally I use this space to brag about our artists; this week I’m writing about the damage that’s been done to this great city and what you & your stations can do to help.

Believe it or not, it’s worse than these pictures even indicate and there is genuine suffering going on in this city, our city, MUSIC CITY USA.

Some of the information below is from me, some from ace SocialMediologist Jessica Northey.

Read on, and help if you can. Thanks in advance.

What You Can Do To Help Nashville Right Now!

All Metro Nashville official relief efforts will run through Hands On Nashville. Go HERE to sign up to be notified when volunteer opportunities are approved by the city, and follow them @HONashville for minute-by-minute updates. All relief efforts must go through Hands On Nashville to receive FEMA aid.