Stuck In Traffic?

It's been a tough first quarter, with all the layoffs at CBS, Clear Channel and now Citadel, each still trying to grow by shrinking, by finding a way to put something -- anything -- on the air, as long as it's cheap and hassle-free.

Well, more bad news came out recently:

GPS navigation vendor TomTom today announced a new line of devices that will use real-world traffic data to produce more realistic calculations of the fastest driving routes.

When GPS systems are standard equipment, which they already are in luxury vehicles (and many cell phones) - and they will be in the very near future in your listeners' Corolla or Camry -- why should I listen to your traffic report, which may not even cover my route?

Why should your clients pay for that extra 15-second spot you've been running on top of the Metro sponsorship (yeah, your listeners noticed) when most people won't be listening to that traffic report?

We'd better be thinking of new reasons for listeners to need us ... and soon.

Do listeners really need your music? Do you introduce them to great new songs and artists, like radio did for you when you were 20?

How about information? They need your news updates, right? I mean, surely they don't check Google News at work.

Right.

Let me help a bit.

They need community.

They need escape.

They need emotional connection. They're desperate for emotional connection.

They need you to help them feel something no other audio source can.

Are you up to this challenge?

I've got lots of ideas; if you've got 10 minutes and an open mind...