December 11, 2020
It’s been a very difficult year on several fronts, what were a few positives you can take out of 2020?
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Bartel, WKTU: Seeing everyone come together, while still social distancing during challenging times. A mild fall, it’s been rather warm in the northeast. 70’s on Thanksgiving! Being able to still play music for our listeners and keep the beat going during these tough times. Lee Abrams, mediavisions: There was The Great Depression, World War II and the crazed late 60’s, and with the added magnification provided by electronic media, odd conspiracy theories and mass insanity, 2020 was just another historic time of unrest. As in the previous times of crisis, we’ll prevail…a different Life MO, but one that holds promise for those in harmony with life.
Mike “OD” O’Donnell, WKRZ: First and foremost, I was able to spend more time with my family which was great. It also was nice to see people helping people they didn’t know as we’ve gone through this whole COVID mess, and I did see a lot of that this year. And finally, I’m glad you’re asking me this question in December because 2021 is only a few weeks away!
Valentine, WBHT: In 2020 we were all forced to slow down and take a chance to smell the roses. We’ve always been in go-go-go/work-nonstop mode, and this year we found more time to grow as human beings. We learned new skills and new perspectives, and learned so much more about ourselves and those immediately around us. It made us appreciate the little things much more. Kobe, WZNE: I was able to work on my non-radio skills to provide for my family during a long layoff. I also entered a whole new format I have never worked before, and growing every day!
Bob Patrick, WXLK: Finally got engaged to my #1 girl Keesha! |
JB King, KLUC: That I was able to spend extra time at home with my wife and kids. And, that we are expecting another little boy in February.
Josh Wolff, WAEB: In 2020, B104 and our morning show were both #1 18-49 every month thus far! Jammer, WEZB: That people still listen and love radio. As long as we continue to make it important, we WIN! R Dub! Z90: 2020 was a year of gratitude for me. Every time I felt frustration mounting, I just counted my blessings…there are so many. With vaccines being released, I feel very hopeful for all of us in 2021.
Buzz Knight, Buzz Knight Media: A renewed appreciation for the little things in life, such as nature and the outdoors, appreciation for great music as well and gratitude for good friends! Drew Heyman, Y100: It was a very tough year personally but I learned alot about being patient and just honing it in and breathe.
Adam Rivers, WKCI: Health – look at the big picture! Mike McVay, McVay Media: There’s nothing positive that can overcome the negative of the loss of lives during this last year, but some things this year did magnify the good in people and their willingness to help others. There were food drives as soon as early April with radio stepping up to help others through Feeding America, St. Jude relaunching their focus on continuing to raise money so that no child will die in the dawn of life, and companies like Cumulus Media launching Project Shine with Volunteer Match and using Ed Roland of Collective Soul to create a special version of the song “Shine.” Many broadcasters discovered that air-talent can work remotely. That they need not be in the studio, or even in the city of license for a radio station. We learned the audience still depends on radio for information, guidance, companionship, comfort and entertainment. The value of radio is greater than what many believed it to be. Personally, it was an opportunity for me to be home more, around the family more, to enjoy my house more, and to experience how people with what would be considered normal lives…Live. |
Joey Brooks, WKSS: Moving back home and being closer to my family was a big positive for me personally. Professionally, our stations have done a lot of great work with the community and supported many charities throughout the state. Being able to utilize all of our resources to help the community in such positive ways has definitely been very rewarding.
Jonathan Shuford, WRVW: I got a chance to reprioritize my life and take stock of what’s really important. Dom Theodore, Radio Animal Media Strategies: Beyond the pandemic, this year started off for me with a cancer diagnosis, the removal of my kidneys, and dialysis. Then, finally, a kidney transplant that has fully restored me to health. So, as much as there were many very difficult moments, those moments led to an amazing outcome and a new sense of gratitude. I take nothing for granted. I’d say that’s a positive from 2020. Rick Vaughn, KENZ: I got to spend more quality time with my kids!
Java Joel, Javajoelmurphy@gmail.com: A few positives for 2020? Finished my podcast, “This Week In The 80s” – where I talked about all 4100+ songs that hit the pop charts in the 1980s. Get it wherever you get podcasts! Also- happy to see my final ratings book as PD of Kiss/Cleveland go UP, not down (like so many other CHRs). More than anything, I’m thankful for the extra time with my family this year. Don’t know what I’d do without them! Rod Phillips, iHeartMedia: Lots of positives in 2020 including extra family time, a nice ratings run for our iHeartCountry stations, bonding time with your COVID crew safely in the confines of backyards with cold brews…and fewer miles on my jeep! |
Alex Tear, SiriusXM / Pandora: It was a very gratifying year from a programming perspective. As a programmer you really try hard to connect with your audience and create a community especially during a crazy year like 2020. Having a staff meeting with air-talent and resetting them on how to be a companion and then having them deliver during a time of quarantine is ana mazing feeling. We provided that human touch that the audience craves. I truly feel that our service provided a “town hall” atmosphere for people to visit and check in with to get a feeling that things are okay and as normal as you can get given the oddity of the time. We were a credible escape for them.
Beata Murphy, KIIS: Not having to sit in Los Angeles traffic 2½ hours a day Monday-Friday and more quality time with my husband and Little Man.
Joe Breezy, WNFN: Overall I’d say our willingness to support and encourage our neighbors has been really telling. As humans, we’re all obviously very different in a lot of ways, but when we all get on the same page and can work together, remarkable things can happen.
Jon Zellner, iHeartMedia: Spending a lot more time with my family. Getting to see many of my Peloton instructors more regularly. Actually “seeing” more of the people I work with on a regular basis because of Microsoft Teams.
Buster Satterfield, Q102: Promotionally, its challenged us to find new ways to represent our brand and basically create a whole new playbook on how to expose it. I’m proud that our team has done a really creative job of that this year.
Erik Bradley, B96: The key word for me in ’20 has been gratitude. Gratitude for my & my loved ones good health. Gratitude to Todd Cavanah and my Entercom Chicago co-workers for being able to keep it going strong at B96 and Jams and gratitude to Michael Martin for his confidence in me to be a part of the AMP in Los Angeles team.
Randi West, WRMF: Refocused on what is important and what isn’t. Spending more time with my “fur” people (kitty and dog) and my close family. The ability to spend MORE time focused on my product as I started a new job.
Rich Davis, KDWB: Getting the chance to spend some more quality time with my wife and kids was priceless this year. Oh, and family TikToks!
Toby Knapp, WASH: I believe we’re learning that what we do doesn’t define us. What we do means nothing in the eyes of a global pandemic, and, what is more important isn’t where we’ve worked, what call letters are on a resume, who we’ve interviewed, what shows we’ve seen, what artists we’ve introduced on stage or what platinum plaques we have on the wall. From time-to-time life reminds us that living isn’t about what we do, it’s about who we are and how we’ve lived, and I think, knowing now how fragile life is, we’ve returned focus to what matters. Hopefully we’re paying attention. Life is teaching us a few lessons… ones we need to heed.
Jana Sutter, WXXL: Two huge positives for me in 2020 have been to spend more time with my daughter and focus on my physical and mental health. All of this extra time at home has made that possible.Next Week’s Question Of The Week:
What are you looking forward to the most (and/or hoping for) in 2021?
e-Mail your responses to: jodorisio@deanemediasolutions.com or bburke@deanemediasolutions.com
