How do Candy Crush and Star Wars tie in to radio programming? Bob Quick will bring them all together in this week’s Programming To Win column! Quick shows how everyone is at a different point on the learning curve, when it comes to pop culture or knowledge of your radio station.
Bob Quick
By Bob Quick
Candy Crush.
Annoying Facebook requests to play Candy Crush.
I resisted. For a very long time. Almost two years from its creation.
I’ve got to admit, I’m hooked. Maybe this is dating me, but it reminds me of 20 years ago and my addiction to Tetris. Staying up too late, bug-eyed, playing a stupid game.
But aren’t all pop culture fads stupid?
Just goes to show you that many people are late to the party. The Today show’s Matt Lauer just admitted to never having seen Star Wars. Are you kidding me???? STAR WARS!!! J.J. Abrams just announced the cast of the seventh movie.
Lauer’s not that much older than me. 1977 was a formative year in my development. But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt because he was 18 and probably preoccupied by girls. And somehow he missed Star Wars. Then continued to miss it for almost 40 years.
Getting those late comers to the party up to speed quickly is important.
It’s exactly the reason why good interviewers reset who their guest is every two or three questions so anyone just tuning in knows what’s going on. It may feel silly to you, but it works and keeps your new listeners engaged.
Another example:
When you are talking up an 8 week-long promotion for “the book”…you should be just as excited and informative in week 6 as you were week one. After all, it’s probably the biggest thing your station will do all year and there will be avid listeners just starting to get it…even in week 6.
You know, the ones late to the party.
The last qualifier is just excited as the first (maybe more so because they were one call away from missing out.)
Same goes for the station name and positioner…sell then to a new listener every time you say them. There are new people discovering you every time you crack the mic.
It’s easy to forget that with the day to day demands of the job. But it’s true.
BTW…I’m stuck on level 29. Any tips?
Bob Quick is Chief Consulting Officer at Quick Radio Consulting. When he’s not playing Candy Crush he’s helping air talent and programmers make their shows and stations better. Join his growing list of clients by calling him at 706-358-9103.
