(By Mike McVay) I recently read a quote from an on-air talent who is retiring. They offered up the advice they would give someone new to radio. This personality said, “I’d tell them to have fun and enjoy their work … because when you enjoy it … it isn’t work.” Loved reading that quote. She was someone who loved their job, realized their career was special, and appreciated what they’d accomplished.
It was refreshing to read the quote. You don’t read a lot of positive comments these days from people as they depart radio. Most thank their former employer. Thank their listeners. Say with a tone of positivity that they’re excited about what’s next. I always hope it’s true. It’s usually just “putting on a good face.” The retiring employee’s quote was so different from what we normally see, that I believe the honesty in the statement.
This is not a rant about “how bad this business is” … because it’s not. There is a lot of excitement to be found in our industry. It doesn’t require a scavenger hunt to find it. It’s all about the culture. If you want to create a fun culture that encourages creativity … apply these five steps to a better workplace.
- Remember that this is Show Business. Most of us got into this business to “put on a show.” It was to be a part of the show. We want to be in or around the spotlight. Create a Show Business-like atmosphere for your employees. People don’t have to be on-air to want to be in Show Business. You don’t take a job in media without wanting to be a part of the circus.
- Make the workplace look and feel like it’s part of the entertainment industry. Too many radio facilities look like insurance agencies. (No offense intended to the insurance industry). This is especially true in those stations that have many “Work from Home” employees who only visit the building one or two days a week.
The entrance to iHeart Media’s corporate offices greets visitors with a tunnel of lights, mist, and radio stations that change as you walk down the hall. Come off the elevator at Audacy’s HQ and you see a wall of many colors that moves with the music like a digital VU meter. There are more examples of what “show biz” looks like. Unfortunately, not enough.
- Encourage your talent to remember that when they walk into the studio … they are on stage. It’s a Show. It isn’t a shift. Create a positive atmosphere where your talent can perform. It’s not work. It’s play. Don’t make them “punch the timeclock.” Encourage them to put on a show.
- Share the wealth. Meaning the tickets, the events, the meals, the fun, and the unclaimed prizes. It does no one any good when expired tickets are found in someone’s desk drawer. Share beyond the sales department and the on-air personalities.
- Respect and reward your on-air talent, your best sellers, the production team, the admin team, and all members that go beyond the call of duty … including the promotion team, the traffic department, the engineer or IT teams … all who keep your business up and running.
Your radio station will prosper to a greater degree if you can create a culture that encourages creativity versus snuffs it out. We’re in the FUN business. Don’t forget it. Schedule fun. Create fun. Have fun.
Mike McVay is President of McVay Media and can be reached at [email protected]. Read Mike’s Radio Ink archives here.
That article and your 5 steps took the words right out of my mouth. Kitty and I are still at it and refuse to give up. Thank you Mike, here’s hoping I get to see you again soon. – Ken Anderson
21 years of syndication! My whole brand is FUN! I have gotten away with it because stations do carve outs called “specialty programming” and I fit right into that. Truth be told, most of the people above the PD’s don’t want the personality aspect and the fun factor. That cost money. Maybe AI will be the answer for the next round of slashing. Seems like your buddy Daniel at Futuri here in Cleveland is on the leading edge of making that happen.
You have mastered on-air FUN … in Caps. You always put on a “Show.” You get it and have success to show for it. I remain a fan. I do think of Daniel as my buddy. As I do you. Respect for you and your accomplishments.
Mike, when I talk to radio folks I notice a couple of things that concern me. I’ve been told by so many people that they’re just trying to hang on until they have the resources to get out. Maybe that’s a result of the constant layoffs or RIF’s that permeate the industry. It’s certainly not conducive to success. What I loved about radio was the “If we can dream it, we can do it” attitude. I don’t hear that level of creativity and fearlessness today. So much of our success came from an attitude of “hell yes we can do it.” That confidence and swagger was evident at all successful stations. Where has that gone?
Culture starts at the top. It comes from the very top of the company and rolls down to everyone in the company, whether that culture is great or toxic.
As a person who truly loves radio and was fortunate enough to make a great living doing what I loved, I am concerned about the future direction of this great medium.
Thank YOU, Mike. I appreciate your concern. It’s real and warranted. Culture cannot be overlooked as being at the core of success or failure.