The next five years could reshape the General Manager role more dramatically than any earlier period. AI, digital competition, and shrinking resources are rewriting the job description while the role itself is becoming more regional, with top seats becoming rarer market by market.
But the top market managers are already several moves ahead.
In our September issue, Radio Ink asked Radio’s Best Managers where they see the GM and market manager role headed over the next five years. The answers cut across strategy, technology, and the one thing no algorithm can replace.
“Over the next five years, I expect my role to shift: less about managing the work, more about building the conditions where good work happens without me in the middle of it…It’s about guiding us into a future none of us can see clearly, with a strategy we’ve actually thought through rather than reacted our way into.”
“Technology and AI will handle more of the routine work, but the most successful managers will still be the ones who build strong teams, strong relationships in their communities, and a culture that embraces change without losing the human connection that makes local media so valuable.”
“I believe we have to be a front-facing advocate for our industry. No one will tell our story for us. We have to be even more entrenched in our community, connected to our team, and be the most valuable resource to our customers.”
Curious about who said what? Radio Ink’s September magazine, featuring Radio’s Best Managers, comes out Monday, September 14. Subscribe today for as low as $3.33 per month. Click HERE to subscribe.
