Radio Ink Coronavirus Daily Update

What's the most effective focus and tone your messaging should reflect now and post pandemic? Dave "Chachi" Denes, president of Benztown, offers insights on that and shares ideas on how stations are navigating the crisis across the country.

Brian Mayfield, Executive Vice President of Ramsey Media, shares tips on steps they have taken in reopening their offices and how they continued to work with their affiliates and advertisers during the COVID 19 crisis.

WBAL/98 Rock Baltimore General Manager Cary Pahigian tells us how his salespeople are calling on clients, what new categories have emerged for his stations, how the state of Maryland is slowly working toward recovery and much more.

That's what we asked MacDonald Broadcasting Director of Sales John Bouwhuis in Lansing Michigan on episode #50 of our daily podcast. Michigan has extended it's stay-at-home order to the middle of June. We asked John how his team is working with clients, what those advertisers are telling him about the situation and how he's keep his people motivated.

On Wednesday, Radio Ink Editor Ed Ryan hosted a webinar with D.J. Williams, Author of "soundBAIT: Creative Weapons of MASS Distraction." Clients are ready to get back on the air. How do you approach them and what should you pitch them? DJ shared his ideas and tips to help make what you have to say be received with enthusiasm when you make contact with clients in this new world we're living in.

Amador Bustos, President and CEO of Portland-based Bustis Media, shares thoughts on how the pandemic will shape advertising revenues the balance of the year. What's in store for 3rd and 4th quarter? What category has been especially active during the quarantine on his stations and why? Listen and find out in today's Radio Ink Coronavirus Podcast.

With stations in New York, South Carolina and Florida the folks at Community Broadcasters have seen it all. Community Broadcasters co-CEO Jim Leven fills us in on had bad the revenue hit was, how May and June are looking and whether the company plans to make any permanent changes as a result of lessons learned from the past two months.

How has the Coronavirus impacted political advertising for radio? What markets will be hot, and when politicians can't "shake hands," will more dollars shake into radio coffers ? All this and more on Radio Ink's Coronavirus podcast with Katz Radio Group SVP/Political Strategies, Patrick McGee.

Kevin Garrity, CEO of Gen Media Partners, reflects on radio's role during the COVID 19 crisis, how its ability to provide companionship to listeners and nimble adaptability to meeting advertiser needs have served it and its constituents well.

Pamal Broadcasting Market Manager Bruce Feniger says business is down between 30% and 60%, depending on the month, since the pandemic hit. The good news is he's seeing signs of business returning in June. Bruce runs the Hudson Valley market for Pamal which is right near the hotspot of the virus. Check out how he's making the best of this horrible situation for his team and the company.

Jesus Laura, President of Univision Radio, talks about the impact of COVID 19 on programming and serving the unique needs of Hispanic audiences during this time. He also shares his perspective about the impact of the crisis on radio moving forward.

Educational Media Foundation CEO Bill Reeves tells us about how his team is dealing with the coronavirus crisis, and, he details the new launch of the EMF podcast network. Plus Bill shares a little breaking news.

Dennis Wharton, EVP of the NAB, talks about how the organization's support of broadcasters in serving their local communities, especially in face of the COVID 19 crisis, continues to make a difference. And he shares some highlights of his 24 years as part of the NAB, which represents radio and television's interests in the nation's capitol.

The impact of COVID 19 was not the same for all markets and formats. Find out which ones defied the law of averages for Salem Media Group along with Broadcast Media president Dave Santrella’s “Four V” steps to recovery from the crisis in today’s Radio Ink Coronavirus podcast.

Today on the Radio Ink podcast....Former Citadel and Alpha CEO Larry Wilson talks about his new book, his thoughts on the radio industry during the COVID crisis and why he got fired from Alpha Media.

As president of The Cromwell Group, Bud Walters has insights in both larger (Nashville) and small (Mattoon, Il, among others) radio stations. He shares how the COVID 19 crisis impact on ad revenues has been different based on market size - and why - in today's podcast.

Consultant Rick Fink from Ens Media joins us to discuss what salespeople should be doing as states start to open up again. What about remotes? And, what do advertisers think about the number of commercials radio stations play every hour?

According to Jeff Warshaw his company credo has always centered on three "C's" - community, clients, and colleagues. How those principles have guided their stations during the COVID 19 crisis as well as Jeff's thoughts on the future of the industry are the subjects of today's Coronavirus podcast update.

Having faced hurricane disasters in the past, JVC Broadcasting's stations in Long Island and Florida were probably better prepared than many when COVID 19 hit. Even so, there have been new challenges in this situation. President/CEO John Caracciolo shares some of those, along with his optimism for the future and what categories, new and returning, he sees as potential prospects in the advertising pipeline.

Steve Goldstein, Amplifi Media, pulls no punches with some frank perspective on radio, podcasting, and how both have handled the pandemic crisis. He also offers some smart speaker listening tips every radio station needs to consider to better compete on that platform.

Founder and CEO of BIA Advisory Services, Tom Buono, shares his firm's research and analysis of how COVID 19 has impacted advertising, in particular radio, and what it looks like for the balance of the year. He also offers valuable insights on business categories stations should be focusing on as Main Street starts getting ready and make plans for reopening.

Carolyn Gilbert offers some interesting insights from research NuVoodoo has been conducting about radio habits during COVID 19 and how they have been affected by the COVID 19 crisis. She also shares what their studies are revealing as to the level of awareness and concerns being expressed by Americans and how radio can best serve listeners in that way.

Need a 15 minute sales meeting? Matt Sunshine from The Center for Sales Strategies shares some great tips on how to manage sellers remotely, what businesses should be in your sales pipeline now, and how to make sure you're calling on advertisers with the right message.

How is one of radio's best all-news station covering the coronavirus pandemic? WTOP's Director of News and Programming Julia Ziegler takes us inside the WTOP newsroom to explain how this crisis has changed the way the station operates.

Brad Philips is the Head of FM Radio and Vice President for Corus Entertainment in Canada where he oversees more than 20 stations. Brad fills us in on how our Canadian friends are dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

Chesley Maddox-Dorsey shares how AURN, the nation's leading African American audio network, is using their vast news and entertainment resources to help stations provide information that best targets the communities they serve. She also offers her perspective on how the radio landscape might be altered after the pandemic.

What is life like in a college town when the majority of your population leaves? We'll find out from Ben Downs who, among other things, tells us revenue is down 40%, but, all of his employees are still working.

Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti interviews NRG CEO Mary Quass. Mary Quass offers her reflections on how her stations are serving listeners during the current crisis and how the new normal will be different tomorrow, including marketing. She defines two phases, going from "oh my, what happened" to "how do we move forward" and what that means in terms of working with Main Street.

Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti interviews Legend Communications CEO Larry Patrick. Larry tells Deborah that while advertising was course down, there were surprises - some new advertisers that started using radio and others who had increased their spend.

Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate discusses his experience with disasters, why he's such a strong supporter of radio and the reasons he's pushing the FCC to get behind Geo-Targeting.

Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti interviews Neuhoff Media CEO Beth Neuhoff about how her team is working through the coronavirus crisis. They also discuss "The Louise Neuhoff Educational Access Project."

Jeff McHugh from the Randy Lane Company. Jeff provided top-notch advice on how to keep your audience engaged during the coronavirus crisis. He told great stories using examples of talent across the country and had excellent resources.

Ron Stone is the President of Adams Radio Group. In addition to filling us in on how his company is dealing with the coronavirus crisis, Ron has put together a plan for independent broadcasters to team up to feed America.

Bonneville has over 1,000 employees at its 21 stations across 6 markets. We find out erxactly how the company is dealing with the coronavirus crisis in this interview with Bonneville President Darrell Brown and Communications and Content Manager Candice Madsen.

KJ Allen is the President of The Oconne Radio Group in Georgia. Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti interviews KJ about his team is handling the coronavirus crisis and what the company is doing to help local advertisers stay in business

Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti interviews Cox Media Group EVP of Radio Bill Hendrich about how his team is working through the coronavirus crisis.

Pacific Media Group CEO Chuck Bergson has 20 stations, all in Hawaii, which is dependent on tourism. Chuck tells us he's working through the coronavirus crisis with ad revenue down 60%.

Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti interviews the Chief Operating Office at Spanish Broadcasting Systems to see how that company is working through the COVID-19 crisis.

Galaxy Media CEO Ed Levine made a pledge to his employees during this Pandemic -- No Layoffs! Here's what else Levine has to say about this economy-breaking crisis. Radio Ink Deborah Parenti hosts episode #16 of our Coronavirus update.

Roger Lundeen is the General Manager for four stations in Galesburg, IL. The company Roger works for is Galesberg Broadcasting and it just so happens that the owner of the company is also the Mayor.

Chaz tells us how the WPLR team is covering the coronavirus crisis. WPLR is owned by Jeff Warshaw's Connoisseur Media.

Vince Benedetto is the Founder, President, and CEO of Bold Gold Media Group, which owns and operates fourteen radio stations throughout Northeast Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.

Jay Stevens was the SVP of Programming at Radio One from 2007 to 2018. He's worked in Lansing, Rochester, NY, New Orleans, Phoenix and Washington, DC. He also worked for CBS Radio for 16 years.

James Derby is the Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Programming for Federatd Media. The company has radio stations in Indiana, one of the early states to institute the stay at home strategy to combat the virus. Let's find out how Federated Media is working through the crisis.

MBC Grand Junction Broadcasting has 11 stations. Dave Beck has some great advice for managers all across the country. We really want you to stay tuned to the end. His final answer is awesome.