Here are eighteen of the songs we’re watching on this short holiday week. For more insight on how we choose these songs or to get a sneak peek at some of the data we track on 500+ new songs across radio formats, email me at Andy@RadioStationConsultant.com.

Listeners are not tuning in for expertise. They are tuning in for engagement. Your job is not to be a lecturer, it is to be an entertainer. That single shift changes everything about how you choose and perform stories.

As listening patterns shift and festive moods kick in, now is the time to position your station as the “soundtrack of the season.” Whether you flip to All-Christmas or sprinkle in holiday favorites each hour, these proven guidelines will help you sleigh… er… slay the season.

Out of this week's data here are a few of the songs that topped those lists nationally in the US and Canada along with a few random specific markets. Presque Isle, Maine, Christmas: Brenda Lee "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (Overall #1).

You know what torpedoes most newscasts, entertainment updates, and “here’s what’s trending” segments? They sound like they were written by a spreadsheet wearing a tie. Big words. Complicated facts. Cold news. Delivered with all the warmth of a voicemail from your dentist.

When we’re on air, we want to instill elation in our listeners. We want them to get to work with a smile on their face after they just spent the last 20 minutes with us in their car. The last thing we want is to create sadness for their day. That being said, with the holidays, I think it’s appropriate to address the sadness some may feel this time of year.

Great radio doesn’t happen by accident. Winning stations follow a clear strategy, executed with discipline and passion every hour of every day. That begins with one essential tool: a Programming Format Playbook that defines exactly how your station sounds. When every member of the airstaff is aligned around a written Playbook, consistency becomes repeatable — and excellence becomes standard.

Here are seventeen of the songs we’re watching this week. For more insight on how we choose these songs or to get a sneak peek at some of the data we track on 500+ new songs across radio formats, email me at Andy@RadioStationConsultant.com.

No matter how good your content is, if your story stalls, listeners bail. Fast. You can feel it. There's that subtle drop in energy when a segment loses direction. Once momentum fades, attention tends to follow. Every segment needs a path to a payoff. Without it, you’re just talking and hoping not to confuse your audience.

Out of this week's data here are a few of the songs that topped those lists nationally in the US and Canada along with a few random specific markets. Jackson, Mississippi, Country, Cody Johnson "Travelin' Soldier" (Overall #1).