John Lund
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If there were a magic button to grow audience without spending money, every station would already be wearing the paint off it. The good news? That button actually exists—and it’s called Promoting Ahead.
Contests work… when you actually work them. Here’s a practical checklist to make sure your contests deliver more than just legal headaches and a lukewarm winner reaction:
Sports Talk radio is very different from music radio, yet it shares many skills, structures, and strategies. If you program one or both of these formats, consider these similarities: Strategic Content Rotation. Both rely on the hottest hits. Sports talk replays hot topics, much like music radio plays hit songs.
When the contest's content engages listeners, they stay tuned for the resolution. And that’s the real prize. Contests built around strong listener engagement don’t just entertain, they drive higher ratings and increased TSL. Now that’s a winner.
At Lund Media, we talk a lot about the “perfect break.” Not because it’s mythical (like Bigfoot or a PD who loves meetings), but because it’s achievable when you focus on the right ingredients. A perfect break is the proper mix of branding, engagement, and commitment, measured not by what we like but by what the listener actually hears, remembers, and sticks around for.
AM/FM radio accounts for 56% of all in-car audio time according to Edison Research’s Share of the Ear study for the second quarter of 2025. This is more than four times the share of SiriusXM and six times that of Spotify’s ad-free subscription service.
What makes a radio station truly successful? A winning station consistently delivers on these key fronts.
Most stations run promotions during ratings sweeps to grow their audience. Even as PPM has changed how we promote, one truth remains: if your promotion doesn’t grab attention, it doesn’t matter how it’s measured.
Coaching improves talent performances. A major responsibility of programmers is to motivate, stimulate, counsel, and critique the staff. These intangible "show improvement" sessions should take priority in your organization's structure. Consider these guidelines for analyzing airchecks and offering guidance.
Many radio stations have bloated music libraries that negatively impact their programming. While variety is important, too many songs — especially the wrong ones — can dilute a station’s identity, weaken its brand, and reduce listener engagement. Does Your Music Library Need DOGE?
