PPM methodology has taught radio programming many techniques to improve their shows, including the morning show.  These lessons apply to all stations, including PPM and diary markets, and help radio programmers better understand their audience's needs with FM music stations.

Getting your audience to listen longer and for more daily occasions will dramatically increase your ratings.  While adding Cume with outside marketing is vital, increasing core listening cannot be taken for granted.  Aggressively ask for continued listening.

Your clients run ads on your stations to attract more customers.  How many ads do you run on your stations to attract more listening? 

Today’s successful air talent must become an “emotion personality” by creating a connection with the listeners.  This is the crucial bond that differentiates a compelling radio station from an “automated” sounding one. 

Air personalities know their audience and customize their on-air approach around the lifestyle of their listeners.  Visit the audience on their “turf” and observe their activities in your show prep.      

Today’s “e-personality” challenge is not to treat voice-tracking as work on an “assembly line.” Consider these tips on creating an entertaining show – whether voice-tracked or live – to make a great listener connection.  Also, this is an excellent list of programming basics.

Stop doing things on your show that you do only because you've always done them. Is there still a reason to do a particular feature?  If not...Why are you still doing it?  Inertia is a leading killer of radio programs.

We're often asked, "What new radio trends have staying power and will be successful?"  Answer:  Formats that have been researched for a particular market and demographic, from Rock to Country to Modern Adult Contemporary. Their cutting edge lies in marketing.  After programming and formatics are perfected, promoting aggressively, creatively, and cost-efficiently involves using the station itself as a selling medium. 

Quantitative research is good for measuring awareness, recall, and some images of morning shows; however, focus groups are better for digging into and discovering what people think about the show.  We’ve conducted many focus groups and provide the following major conclusions from watching people talk about mornings.

Writing and producing radio promos is an art.  Fun promos challenge the imagination and illustrate the synergism of the station and station attitude. Consider these Stationality rules for your imaging promos.