Cool Radio Stories

Are you looking for that digital solution that can bring more local accounts into your business while also making your station attractive to young sellers looking for a career in digital media? Scott Murray just might have a solution for you. Over a decade ago, Scott left his radio station management position to start his company after he realized the strength of concept for a program, he was running on the stations. Today, Scott's firm, Big Deals Media, provides over 100 markets with a simple to execute digital platform that raises the radio station's presence in a crowded digital playing field and brings solid monthly cash to a station's bottom line His coupon business may be old in concept; however, Scott has modernized the old radio auction concept into a contemporary money maker bringing $100,000s of new revenue and dozens of new accounts back to radio in small markets just like yours. Give a listen as Scott shares his Cool Radio Story about taking a great idea, improving its execution, and scaling it to be an easy plug and play option for stations across the country. You will also hear how Scott's company has transformed the fundraising power of your station. SHOW NOTES Scott Murray BIG DEALS MEDIA 651-334-8015 https://bigdealsmedia.com/ Example of Beth Mann's Store: https://cadiz.bigdealsmedia.net/

Will Payne is a third-generation operator who now leads a family business of over 20 radio stations in Eastern Oklahoma and northern Texas. Will shares his evolving strategies on how you remain vital to your community for over seven decades. Though his commitment to local radio remains strong, he is also a visionary who sees the future of video streaming and its importance to his company's presence. Listen in as Payne takes us through the steps to achieving video success and how he charges 3 and 4x as much for his video products thus improving his company's overall bottom line by 30%.   The Payne motto has been. “Just go Out and Love People,” and for 70 plus years the communities the Payne family has served reflect that passion. Payne's radio story is cool but it is also informative. He refuses to rest on the station's laurel and continues to innovate with each day and new technology. Listen in to Payne's travails in the world of digital video and learn from his mistakes as you set out to explore this new world of Radio consecutiveness. Over the years, long-time broadcasters, the Payne family have assembled seven radio stations, six FM and one AM, with a combined area that covers nearly all of Eastern Oklahoma. SHOW NOTES email: Will@payneradiogroup.com Radio stations: http://paynemediagroup.com/ (http://paynemediagroup.com/) High School Football: http://hugofootball.com/ (http://hugofootball.com/) Mevo Cameras: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Mevo%20Cameras&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&ap=Y&gclid=Cj0KCQiAosmPBhCPARIsAHOen-MNvbnmQqAzEUp2kcuM2ay-s8OurprdEl2zAKS9NZZ8wFiw3nCeXJgaAqRwEALw_wcB (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Mevo%20Cameras&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&ap=Y&gclid=Cj0KCQiAosmPBhCPARIsAHOen-MNvbnmQqAzEUp2kcuM2ay-s8OurprdEl2zAKS9NZZ8wFiw3nCeXJgaAqRwEALw_wcB)

Lou Vito is a lifetime learner and on today's show, he shares a great deal of what he has learned as a radio leader for years. Find out how a background as a wrestling coach led to insights as a salesperson and how even today, decades into his career, he continues to learn new things. Vito shares his training regiment for new hires, as well as, a deep dive into is a foray into video production and sales for his organization. His sources for sales training might surprise you. The bulk of Vito's staff has been with him for thirty play years. Listen to him explain how this came to be and how you can build strong teams. Also hear how Peak of Ohio keeps it local, cause as Lou says “When we play a song, we cease to be local.” Show Links Email: lvito@vtcohio.com Radio station: https://www.peakofohio.com/ (https://www.peakofohio.com/) TV channel: https://www.peakofohio.com/pages/index.cfm?id=1639 (https://www.peakofohio.com/pages/index.cfm?id=1639)

If you only listen to one podcast this year, this is it. Are you responding to the COVID crisis by reducing your rates and hosting a fire sale? If you are, you might be missing a huge opportunity to grow your radio station business, so says Gordon Borell, CEO of Borell Associates the nations leading resource on marketing habits and trends of small businesses-in other words your clients. Gordon's history is of an early digital adopter who has grown an organization into the most important resource for radio stations looking to stay ahead of the curve. Find out why when your SMB clients say they use social media because its free, learn the real costs to share with them. Also, why does Gordon refer to Facebook and other social media as echo chambers? The COVID crisis presents the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LFBUrCUi_A (perfect storm) of opportunity or disaster. Gordon explains how to thrive in this environment and set your company up to succeed in the long term. Beware there is more to it than playing everyone's favorite song. SHOW LINKS: Borrell Associates-The Perfect Marketing Storm of 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LFBUrCUi_A (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LFBUrCUi_A) Borell Associates https://borrellassociates.com/promo/new2018/ (https://borrellassociates.com/promo/new2018/) SPECIAL $750 Research Offer-Local Advertiser Survey https://wordpress.borrellassociates.com/2020-local-advertiser-survey/ (https://wordpress.borrellassociates.com/2020-local-advertiser-survey/)

In this episode, Cool Radio Stories provides you the second part of designing a digital strategy for your radio station. (https://coolradiostories.com/home/digital-strategies-for-radio-stations-part-1/ (PART ONE HERE)) In this conversation with John Wanzung, President and CEO of RadioMax a leader in Mobile App production for Radio stations, we cover mobile Apps and the essence of tying all three parts of your digital strategy (Websites, Social Media and Mobile) together for an effective digital presence that engages your listeners and adds value to your advertising clients. We begin today's podcast with a look at the state of mobile Apps for radio and how Tune IN may not be the best place for your station to be streaming today. We also delve into the elements of a Mobile App that listeners and users are using and how you can use your station's app to connect with them in all the places they are using the core strengths of radio-Connecting to the community. In the end, we tie all of the conversations together to share with you how the three pillars of digital should be used to maximize your station's presence online and on air. Show Notes: Radio Max  https://www.radiomax.co/ (https://www.radiomax.co/)

John Wanzung is the President and CEO of RadioMax a leader in Mobile App production for Radio stations. In this exclusive conversation, Cool Radio Stories provides you a two-part podcast on designing a digital strategy for your radio station. We will tackle the three pillars of a digital strategy-Websites, Social Media, Mobile Apps. Then a final conversation on how to tie them all together. In part one, we tackle the need for a station website and what the minimal content should be plus some ideas on how to get the site automated with content to keep your listeners engaged. What are your listeners looking for? How do you provide it for them without significant financial commitment? The second part of our conversation tackles Social Media. Should your station invest time, energy, and money on Facebook, Twitter or others? If you commit to a social media plan what should your content strategy be? When should you boost posts? How do you engage your P1 listeners and get them to share your content? Who should be responsible for the station's social media presence? Radio Max  https://www.radiomax.co/ (https://www.radiomax.co/)

Is it possible to succeed in a measured market with only two AM signals? Terry Barber not only says it can, but he is also doing it. His Cool Radio Story that started on February 10, 1979, is an important one for any radio station owner trying to figure out how to have success when the odds appear to be stacked against you. Terry tends to see those competitive disadvantages as advantages for him. His experience working for the nation's largest radio companies has lead him back to one of the country's smallest radio companies-Little Engine Broadcasting. And just like its name, Terry's stations are the engine that can. Helping his community understand the current pandemic as well as giving a helping hand as well, Terry exemplifies the word local in all he does. In this episode, you will learn how Terry: Develops long term contracts with clients with branding packages that never expire. How Radio creative is the secret sauce of his success. How his station connects with people and changes consumers' behavior. His hiring advice is simple-don't be a PR department It's a story of succeeding against the odds and considering yourself blessed in the end. Terry Barber's Cool Radio Story is well worth the listen. SHOW NOTES: Terry's Company: https://littleenginebroadcasting.com/ (https://littleenginebroadcasting.com/) Radio Partner https://archesaudio.com/ (https://archesaudio.com/) Ask John Segment: Attorney John Garziglia https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia Digging Into Digital: Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/

What do you want to be when you grow up? When Beth Mann was 8-years old she answered, "I want to own a radio station." Her wish came true and she now owns one of the premier small market radio operations in the country. With just one FM license and two AMs in a border town between Kentucky and Tennessee, Beth has built a multimedia powerhouse driven by local initiative and a company motto of "Don't Accept Average." Listen to this podcast at your own behest as you you will find the ideas and resources in this conversation mind-boggling and life-changing. Beth's Cool Radio Story will awe you and make you appreciate what is truly possible in our medium. Included in this episode, Beth details her company's COVID response and why she insists that this is the moment that will ignite a heyday for radio. She breaks down how she built her "other radio station," the company's multifaceted Digital Department. Learn how she combines digital billboards, a 25,000 name email lists, and a Deals program together with online contesting to secure her place in her community's eyes. All while investing heavily in personnel and time on-air to one thing- NEWS. It's all here. The inside story of a 3 -time Marconi winner and a true institution in the industry. Listen and learn from Beth Mann. Show Links: Beth's Radio Station https://www.wkdzradio.com/ (https://www.wkdzradio.com/) Deals Program http://bigdealsmedia.com/ (http://bigdealsmedia.com/) Second Street https://lab.secondstreet.com/ (https://lab.secondstreet.com/) Ask John Segment: Attorney John Garziglia https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia Digging Into Digital: Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/

A few episodes ago we titled the show "Be The Mayor," Well this week's guest had already done that. Rick Herrick is the owner of KBHR FM radio in Big Bear Lake, CA, and he is also the town's mayor. This week he shares his Cool Radio Story with us. The winner of every major radio station award including- NAB Crystal, Marconi, and the Service To America Award- Rick truly understands the meaning of connecting to the community. Learn how he navigates the tricky hiring process in a resort town where residents can be transient. Also how he bodes into each employee's individual strengths and uses that to build cohesive teams. We ask Rick how he is faring during the COVID 19 crisis and his answer will truly surprise you. His station and town are not just surviving but thriving behind a huge community effort he and the radio station helped create. Rick's Station https://kbhr933.com/ (https://kbhr933.com/) Show Link: Ask John Segment: Attorney John Garziglia https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia Radio Partner: Big Deals Media http://bigdealsmedia.com/ Digging Into Digital: Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/

This week we hear the Cool Radio Story of Dave Richards, In 1990, Dave began working at a small market radio station that he loved so much he bought it. Since that time he has managed to turn a stand-alone AM/FM in a market surrounded by large-rated market radio stations into a profitable entity by over-serving the town of Woonsocket (pronounced oneSOCKet), RI. In this podcast, Dave shares his Four Rules that guide his staff toward success by encouraging communication and creativity. He readily admits the station's webpage will not win any design awards but it has what his locals need in an easy to find manner. Dave believes his town is the center of the universe and treats it as such on the air and with the station's digital assets which he says are vital to overall success in the market and yet he has only one advertiser on the webpage. Dave's lasting motto is "If its hard for you, its good for your listener." Give a listen as Dave delves into his Cool Radio Story with incredible nuggets of wisdom. Show Links: Ask John Segment: Attorney John Garziglia https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia (https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia) Radio Partner: Big Deals Media http://bigdealsmedia.com/ (http://bigdealsmedia.com/) Digging Into Digital: Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/ (https://www.radiomax.co/)

Gabe has spent two-decades in radio all at the same place and as a result, he has achieved some great things in some very small towns. Gabe is GM at Paragon Communications in Western Oklahoma. His operation offers advertisers a variety of ways to market including a near dozen video streams of high school sports, various promotional events like Fishing Derbys and classic car shows, and believe it or not a print publication. All driven by the 6 radio stations he oversees in two small markets. Gabe acknowledges managing people can be a real challenge especially the creative ones, because as Gabe says "Creatives will be creative." He shares his secrets to the hiring process plus the real hands-on training they receive. Listen to learn what he teaches- "precise radio skills." He calls himself a real "spark plug guy" and it shows in his energy and his success. Gabe is someone doing it all- using modern technology tools combined with old school media while thriving in small market radio.

Revenue is Job #1Today's Cool Radio Story is from Joe Schwartz. Joe Schwartz has worked for many of the country's premier ownership groups since the mid-1970s in large and medium-sized markets. He rose to national prominence in radio circles during his 13-year stint as President/CEO of Cheery Creek Radio- a media company focused on small to medium-size markets that Joe started from scratch. He is an expert at growing people and companies. Joe emphasized one thing in his years as Radio station owner and that was Revenue. He stressed it throughout the organization as not just the top priority but also numbers 2, 3, 4, and so on. To get there, Joe's companies invested heavily in training. He insisted upon it for every seller, in every market. In this podcast, Joe shares his recipe for training that included general sales techniques as well as market-specific, and research-driven sales tools that he armed his sellers with. It was qualitative over quantitative. Joe says radio stations today are challenged to survive but they can do that by reinventing themselves as more full-service media companies. Joe contends that a station in a small market has a leg up on the competition and can use their goodwill to own the digital landscape in their towns as much as the broadcast airwaves. You can subscribe to Cool Radio Stories on https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cool-radio-stories/id1511606803 (Apple Podcasts), https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vY29vbC1yYWRpby1zdG9yaWVz (Google), https://open.spotify.com/show/0ge2ZBLcY4NKzNArzYrzst (Spotify), https://overcast.fm/itunes1511606803/cool-radio-stories (Overcast), or wherever you get your podcasts. Show Link: Ask John Segment: Attorney John Garziglia https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia (https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia) Radio Partner: Big Deals Media http://bigdealsmedia.com/ (http://bigdealsmedia.com/) Digging Into Digital: Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/ (https://www.radiomax.co/)

Hal Widsten has programmed top radio stations across the country as well as owned stations along the fringes of major markets. In this podcast, he shares "his moments of happiness and his moments of terror" He speaks to the ways you can separate yourself when your broadcast station is in the shadows of large market behemoths. Hal lays out the three primary objectives of building a new station from the ground up. 1-Take new people around town- a bus tour 2- Show you care about your town 3- Make a profit His insights into the three things he looks for when hiring and his strategies for how to build effective teams. Hal's advice for handling a crisis like Coronavirus COVID 19? Look for alternative sources of revenue that may exist at the government level, help local advertisers anyway you can, and don't just say you care-show people, how you care. SHOW NOTE LINKS: Ask John Segment: Attorney John Garziglia https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia (https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia) Radio Partner: Big Deals Media http://bigdealsmedia.com/ (http://bigdealsmedia.com/) Digging Into Digital: Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/ (https://www.radiomax.co/)

Today's Cool Radio Story is from Chris Fleming. Chris has been involved with a handful of small to medium-sized market radio stations for multiple decades across America. From The heartland of Indiana to oil country in West Texas. He's been called a big thinker for small markets. Chris' motto is "if a station is broken, I can fix it." In the podcast he shares his tales of his mending procedures that can work in any market. You will learn what the US Army can teach you about building better teams. Chris believes radio is not getting its fair share of the advertising pie because sellers don't ask for more. He shares a remarkable sales tool he calls- MOM- Monthly Order Minimum- A great way to get your salespeople motivated to get more dollars from clients and helps clients see the error of their way. He has a novel answer to the often asked "What's your rate?" Chris is studied in the psychology of sales and shares some helpful books and philosophies for improving your station's billing as well as unique approaches to building successful teams inside your building. Chris Fleming YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjjd8W4rrNUhkhvEnWp22A/featured (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjjd8W4rrNUhkhvEnWp22A/featured) Chris' blog: https://chrisfleming.substack.com/ (https://chrisfleming.substack.com/) email-chrisfleming@usa.com Phone: 765-250-1183 Ask John Segment: Attorney John Garziglia https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia (https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia) Radio Partner: Big Deals Media http://bigdealsmedia.com/ (http://bigdealsmedia.com/) Digging Into Digital: Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/ (https://www.radiomax.co/)

A Two-time winner of radio's highest honor- NAB Crystal Award- Bob Faehn oversees and owns KXLG Watertown SD. Listen to this podcast to found out how they manage to bill $1.5M in a market of 22,000. Bob shares his company's secret for creating a successful proposal every time - Think Tanks. He chats about the various elements and how his organization embraces digital advertising like stream pre-rolls and RDS feeds on car radios. Bob offers helpful insights into "Hiring for Attitude," and where you might find the best people to hire in your town. Bob is very positive for radio and anticipates the industry coming out of the Coronavirus crisis stronger than ever. He is already seeing some positives signs in his home state of a pent up recovery. Show Note Links: Attorney John Garziglia  https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia (https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia) Big Deals Media http://bigdealsmedia.com/ Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/ Town News web service https://townnews.com/ (https://townnews.com/)

Our guest today is Ron Stone, President and CEO of http://adamsradiogroup.com/ (Adams Radio Group). In his position, he oversees 20 plus radio stations in markets from Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Las Cruces, New Mexico. In addition, Ron was the brainchild and chief organizer of the massive https://radiocares.org/ (Radio Cares Radiothon) held at the end of April 2020 that had over 1000 radio stations participating as a fundraiser for Feeding America. The radiothon helped raise enough money to provide over 5 million meals across the country during the Covid-19 crisis. Ron shares his story about how a CPA fell in love with radio and eventually became a radio seller and then owner in small markets. Ron encourages radio station managers to be that guy that whenever anything is going on in your town, they turn to you first. He details how to accomplish that presence in your market. Ron has also had a number of individuals follow him around the country from job to job and he is very candid about why that is and how you can make everyone in the building feel like an owner. Attorney John Garziglia https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia (https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/people/john-f-garziglia) Big Deals Media http://bigdealsmedia.com/ Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/

Our guest today has been involved with a handful of small-medium size markets radio stations for multiple decades. I couldn't think of anyone more suited to launch our podcast with then the Dean of Small Market Radio himself. -Dean Sorenson On today's show, the radio legend tells us about his endearing commitment to community service. "Its a necessity." He encourages all members of his staff to get out into the power structure of your towns. As Dean says "you must be in the Front Row." You can gain respect by being present but even more by exerting yourself into the process. "Respect is earned, not yearned." is a phrase Dean lives by, and his advice for radio station owners and managers for survival during the Covid-19 crisis is vital, urgent, and positive. Big Deals Media http://bigdealsmedia.com/ (http://bigdealsmedia.com/) Radio Max https://www.radiomax.co/ (https://www.radiomax.co/)