94.7 KNRK – Portland
FM 102.1 – Milwaukee
Alt 98.7 – Los Angeles
I’m Greg Beharrell.
I host drive on Live 105.
I stalk other radio stations.
PewDiePie is popular, yes, that’s a nightmare reality we’ve brought onto ourselves, but the true stars of the Internet are dogs and cats. KNRK in Portland seems to know this, as they regularly post station made vids, and pics of furry friends. Seems like an odd venture at first, and I even caught myself thinking “why would someone post this?” Then I clicked on 8.
This is a brilliant way to get listeners stopping by your booth at a live event: come see us and we’ll send you to something else. No tricks, no gimmicks, just a “here yah go.” Not to mention it’s a solid, “I’ve heard that band on the radio before” indie show. Not a “he just helped me buy a charger at the Apple store, and now he’s on stage with his band” indie show. Moreover, it positions the station as the “cool friend” who says things like “just have fun, that’s all I want in return,” and then you go and tell your other friends “that person is so cool,” and then you spend weeks gushing about him or her until it reaches a point where you spot your other friends are making plans that don’t include you. This anecdote is getting too personal to continue, but, still, giving away tickets with no hook is such a down idea. Sometimes I call things “down” because I think speaking like that makes me seem cooler than I am.
I don’t stay in a lot of fancy places. Most hotels I book have a number in their title. So when I even hear the word “penthouse”, I think of something out of my reach. But in the world of Alt 98.7, the penthouse is within reach for listeners. The Alt 98.7 Penthouse is Mike Kaplan’s mad twist on a live session: put bands on a roof, let LA be the backdrop, voila! The future of radio is healthy with cool ideas like this. Hey, if the Zune couldn’t kill us, then what can, right?
If you’re doing something cool at your station, email me: gregbeharrell@live105.com
If you spotted something cool at another station, email me: gregbeharrell@live105.com
If you’re my real Dad, email me: gregbeharrell@live105.com
Love (but not “in love”), Greg Beharrell
