The words we see listeners repeat most often in research of the CCM format are “Positive” and “Uplifting.” These two words STAND for something that’s dear to our listeners, who are tired of Politics, and weary from months and months of the worst pandemic in a hundred years.

We are (or at least, should be) a “safe harbor” from mean-spirited social media postings, arguments with friends and family members, and a general feeling of not being ‘grounded’ like we once were.

Let’s take “uplifting” and look deeper into the execution of projecting this on the air – both live and in our stations’ Imaging.

If it sounds hollow, phony, or insincere, it won’t work. Period.

But if it sounds “over the top” – too syrupy or like some self-help seminar – it won’t work, either.

As a leader, you’ve experienced gaps. We all have – those gaps between what our expectations are and what reality is, like the time when a team member was upset that he had not been consulted about a logo redesign. Even though his role in the organization had ...

Let me make it clear that there is a message here, but I don’t want it to come across as scolding. It’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, as a result. I heard this the other day, in an Imaging piece, a listener saying: “God played the right song at just the right ...

While driving to the radio station the other day I decided to hit scan and check out our local radio landscape. After hitting the scan button eight times I heard no less than five Christian radio stations and only one was mine. At first I was a bit taken back by the sheer ...

Engagement is the name of the game when it comes to growing a radio station or business. People need to feel listened to, after all. It’s no fun to spend time with a radio brand that only toots its own horn. Consistent and authentic engagement is the best strategy for ...

Every once in a while, the subject of doing teases comes around again. Such was the case recently with one group of stations I work with. So here are my “do” and “don’t thoughts… DO tease: A chance for me (the listener) to win something. A feature of the ...

Everytime a new digital media channel is released that involves the distribution of audio content, the radio world takes special notice, as it should. The debate begins with whether to create an account, create content strategy and then tell your DJ’s to hop on the ...

Excellent chance your listener has no idea what format your station is, unless they’re industry nerds like most people who have eyes on this. They either like and connect with what you do, or they don’t, no matter what your format is labeled. Professionals like us (me ...

I talk a lot about “crayons” – meaning, that just like in elementary school, learning how to use each crayon results in a different picture. In radio, “more crayons” is about finding more variations on a theme. The two most typical endings for Content on a ...

In over 20 years of coaching people in the CCM format so far, I’ve worked with a lot of incredibly good air talents, some to refresh and regroup so they can STAY great, and others to simply help them grow even more. The flip side of that is working with people in the ...