The Small Market Radio Podcast

Johnny Schad, along with Debbie Kribell, is the second generation of leadership at SMARTS Broadcast Systems, probably the most popular traffic/billing/automation company among small-market broadcasters. Headquartered in Emmitsburg, IA, where the Schad family had the radio station that got John…Read more →

Adams Radio Group CEO Ron Stone is the driving force behind the recent “Radio Cares” radiothon, which raised over $500,000 to feed those put at a disadvantage by the pandemic. Host Jay Mitchell gets an update from Ron about Radio…Read more →

National business has always been a problem for small market broadcasters, but Devon Shuman wants to change that. She's the senior VP of sales at Gen Media Partners and she has a real passion for small market radio. She shows…Read more →

Lou Vito is about as wired in as you can get. The owner of four stations and an active website in Bellefontaine-Urbana, OH, he's in touch with dozens of broadcasters every single day, and as much as anybody, he has…Read more →

In this episode, we talk with a true idea factory. Dick Teimer is the guy behind the popular Time Capsule radio feature, and as such he is in constant touch with creative broadcasters all around the continent — and he…Read more →

A couple of weeks ago, The Small Market Radio Newsletter sponsored a couple of “Idea Swap” webinars, in which about 100 broadcasters each time shared ideas about coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuing from our 4/22 episode, host Jay Mitchell…Read more →

A couple of weeks ago, The Small Market Radio Newsletter sponsored a couple of “Idea Swap” webinars, in which about 100 broadcasters each time shared ideas about coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. For this outing, host Jay Mitchell picks some…Read more →

Mary Quass, founder and CEO of NRG Media, doesn't let her lofty position in the industry get in the way of the fact that she is a true “radio rat,” who loves and understands this business like few others. Jay…Read more →

We revisit our discussion with Pat Bryson concerning the steps broadcasters can take to help their advertisers survive and thrive. In this part of the discussion, Pat gets specific about why this is so important and specifically how to accomplish…Read more →

This time out, we're talking equipment with Hugh Price, sales coordinator at Broadcasters General Store (BGS), a favorite vendor of small-market broadcasters. Hugh talks about ways that priorities have shifted since the pandemic, and what we need to do to…Read more →

Ron Stone, CEO of the Adams Radio Group, has an idea to, as he says, “bring independent broadcasters to the table.” He just might be onto something that would benefit our particular segment of the radio industry. Listen, and decide…Read more →

In addition to being half of a popular syndicated morning radio show, Sheri Lynch has a degree in social work … and you have to hear her insights about how to relate to your audience in the midst of these…Read more →

Pat Bryson is unusual among sales consultants because she is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and hit the streets. Because of that, she has a truly real-world perspective on what radio clients are going through at any given…Read more →

To kick off the week we welcome voice artist and station owner Randy Lawson, who shares an idea to rally local business people to support medical professionals at the big regional healthcare facility. Then, host Jay Mitchell shares a fun…Read more →

We are relaunching our podcast in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis with a new mission and a new format: to help broadcasters with ideas and inspiration, in short bursts (10 minutes or less), three times a week. Today we…Read more →

Our guest this week began his career in Danville, IL, and he worked his way up to COO and executive vice president of Neuhoff Meda, where he works and resides in – Danville, IL. Not only has Mike Hulvey achieved…Read more →

This time we conclude (for now) our series, “Inside the RAB,” with the guy who helps us get it done – Senior Vice President of Professional Development Jeff Schmidt. He and his team are responsible for helping salespeople, sales managers,…Read more →

This time out, we chat with RAB's senior vice president of digital services, Dave Caspar. Dave and his team adroitly translate all of the RAB information and services into websites and apps that member stations can use to make real…Read more →

This time out, we chat with RAB's senior vice president of insights, Annette Malave, whose team generates and organizes all kinds of data about radio, other media, and scores of business categories. Annette makes a bewildering mountain of information into…Read more →

This week we kick off our four-part series focusing on the features and benefits of the industry's sales support and advocacy organization. Our guest, Brooke Williams, senior vice president of membership, provides an overview of what the RAB provides to…Read more →

RadioMax is a provider of elegant, intuitive radio station apps. Sun & Fun Media provides products and services to radio stations for barter. Now the two companies have teamed up. Things could get really interesting, as our interview with RadioMax's…Read more →

In the second part of our interview with Talk Radio consultant Holland Cooke, Holland tells how your station can take full advantage of today's current-events climate – including some little-known tips and tricks to help your hosts engage your audience…Read more →

Interviewing today's guest is kind of like trying to capture lightning in a bottle. Consultant Holland Cooke streams nonstop nuggets so quickly and so furiously that you'll be listening again and again to make sure you don't miss anything. One…Read more →

This time out, we have two very special guests. We conclude our must-listen interview with advertising gadfly Bob Hoffman, and the useful facts and observations come so fast that you'll find yourself constantly rewinding and replaying so you can capture…Read more →

In this outing, we chat with one of my heroes, veteran advertising “mad man” Bob Hoffman, an iconoclastic figure who's not afraid to call BS on the nonsense that seems rampant in advertising today (especially digital). But Bob is more…Read more →

This week we conclude our conversation with Elliott and Sandy Hurst, cofounders of SoCast, the provider of all things digital to radio stations large and small. In this segment, the talk turns to how SoCast helps its clients make money…Read more →

This week we feature Part One of our interview with the two brothers who began with a social medium for musicians and turned it into a full-fledged set of digital tools for radio broadcasters. Along the way, the founders of…Read more →

This week's episode continues our exploration of cutting-edge technology – in this case, a new approach to broadcast automation. Our guest, Michael Dalfonzo is the vice president of business development at Sync Harmony; he describes how his company developed its…Read more →

This week we conclude our interview with group owner and entrepreneur Rick Murphy, who shares some immutable laws of selling and a great idea for locking down appointments. Host Jay Mitchell shares the upgrade in studio equipment he recently made…Read more →

 We're back after some delays in getting our new studio set up … and we're back BIG with a pair of industry leaders from whom you'll learn a lot: PAT BRYSON shares one of her favorite sales tips. Pat reminds us,…Read more →

This week, we conclude our interview with super-consultant Valerie Geller, who reveals the key to the transformation from average jock to powerful communicator. (Hint: it's all about storytelling.) Jay's Sales Tip this week is all about objections — how to handle them without…Read more →

This week we begin a true journey of discovery as we air Part One of our interview with Valerie Geller, a very bright person who will change the way you look at radio, talent, and making a solid connection with…Read more →

This week Jay Mitchell completes his discussion with killer radio app developer John Wanzung, including a walk-through of the dashboard used to control every aspect of the listener experience. Also, Jay talks about what we can learn about marketing from…Read more →

We at SMRN have been on a quest to find the best app for small market radio stations – and we might have found it. Our guest this week, John Wanzung of RadioMax, has one of the most comprehensive apps…Read more →

This week we conclude our interview with digital rock star Beth Mann, who shares with us how her operation has become optimized for success selling three radio stations, and 17 digital products. In our last word, Jay Mitchell reveals the…Read more →

This week we feature someone at the top of our “get list,” Beth Mann, who is known throughout the industry as one of a rare breed – a radio operator who is killing it with digital. Listening to Beth will transform your digital…Read more →

This week our Promo Check is a multi-platform winner from Beth Mann, Edge Radio, Cadiz, KY. Then Jay talks to Andrew Curran, DMR/Interactive, one of the most passionate proponents of local radio — and he has the facts to back up that…Read more →

This week's super-sized podcast features NAB EVP and small market broadcaster Steve Newberry, who talks about what we have to do to be everywhere our listeners are. “The current model does not work,” Steve says. Host Jay Mitchell tries very hard not…Read more →

In this week's podcast, we focus on how new technology can enhance our goal of providing great live local radio to our listeners. First, we talk with Local Radio Network's programming vice president and their chief information officer to find…Read more →

This week we conclude our chat with broker and station owner Larry Patrick, and this is where it gets really good. Larry breaks down the economics of ownership — where to go for funding, what they're willing to lend, and the…Read more →

This week, host Jay Mitchell chats with broker and group station owner Larry Patrick, who has much to say about compensating your people, building wealth through station ownership, and the right time to cash out. And we feature a sales…Read more →

This week we feature a unique interview with someone who is in over 35 million homes and growing. It's Amazon Echo's “Alexa,” who's going to fill us in about the ins and outs of the Echo, her “skills,” and how…Read more →

This week we chat with Malachi Clark, who makes a living cracking companies' security, inside and out. Much of what he says you probably know already – but Malachi will scare you straight. This week's Promo Check comes from station…Read more →

With all the negative attention on Facebook — users jumping ship, market value plunging, new privacy revelations almost daily — should you get out, too? Katie Wagner's eponymous company advises Fortune 500 clients on social media, and in this week's interview, some…Read more →

In this episode, Jay Mitchell resumes his hosting duties after a bout with a particularly vicious cold. But it's worth the wait, because this week's guest is a real “get” – small market broadcaster and industry leader Paul Tinkle, who…Read more →

In this supersized episode, Jay interviews “Dr.” Phil Bernstein, who bills himself as “America's Finest Advertising, Marketing, and Media Consultant.” Phil is not only a consultant, but a student of sales who is constantly improving his knowledge of the craft so…Read more →

This week, host Jay Mitchell and prominent broadcaster Bud Walters conclude their discussion, focusing on translators, translator interference, music licensing, NextRadio and other distribution platforms. This week we feature a Sales Tip with a colorful way one guy handles objections —…Read more →

This week, SMRN Publisher Jay Mitchell talks to group owner and industry leader Bud Walters in Part 1 of a wide-ranging interview that touches on everything from operating a successful small market group to the single biggest challenge facing broadcasters…Read more →

In this week's podcast, host Jay Mitchell talks with group broadcaster Dave Crooks about selling, sales management, and good community service – including a surprising example of courage under fire. This week's.Last Word deals with the sorry state of emergency…Read more →

In this episode of the Small-Market Radio Podcast, host Jay Mitchell interviews the interviewer's interviewer, Jim Bohannon, who reveals he's not that far from his small-market roots. Jim shares some anecdotes from his career, talks about his show-prep process, and…Read more →

In this week's episode, Jay Mitchell concludes his chat with RAB chief Erica Farber, including the big surprise for radio broadcasters at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. In our Last Word, Jay exposes bogus patent-holders for the blood-sucking leeches they…Read more →