Author: Jason Kidd

Plenty has been said about the decline of radio, as streaming takes center stage for music lovers everywhere. However, recent years have seen a revival of radio programming.

Thanks to the rise of digital radio, listener numbers have been steadily climbing, and radio is officially back. While now is a historically opportune moment to launch your own radio station or radio program, doing so is not without challenges.

You’ll be breaking into a crowded market, trying to grab the attention of audiences that are not always easy to reach.

With that in mind, here are some of the top challenges facing radio programs right now, and a little advice on how you can overcome them. 

Cracking the In-Car Audience

Even for online formats such as the radio podcast, the car is still king. Most Americans still listen to the radio most often when driving.

This means that you need to be able to connect with your audience when they are behind the wheel if you want to make your radio programming a success. If your radio station is online, you need to meet this audience in the middle.

This means making sure that your radio podcasting show or station is easily accessible via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. The easier it is for drivers to listen to you in their car, the better your chances of success will be. 

Grabbing Attention

As of 2022, there are more than 15,000 radio stations currently active across the US. This means that you are up against some stiff competition when it comes to your radio production.

You’ll need content that grabs the attention of your target audience. This means top-notch music scheduling and non-music content such as interviews that will cut through the noise and resonate.

It also means being consistent, with music scheduling that listeners can rely on.

For this, you can turn to professionals. We can schedule the right formats of content 24 hours a day, to give your radio station the strong identity that it deserves. 

Connecting with Younger Listeners

It’s no secret that the younger generations are tuning into the radio less than their older peers. However, this does not mean that you should write off Gen Z entirely.

Instead, you should go the extra mile to appeal to them, with thought-provoking content that appeals to their interests. You should consider the kind of music that younger people are listening to, and the tone of voice that would resonate with them.

Make sure to market your programming aggressively on social media, and stay on top of the content trends that will keep your station relevant. It might be a lot more work, but the results will definitely be worth it when this strategy pays off. 

Create Must-Listen Radio Programming Today

If you want your radio programming to make an impact, strategy is everything. This is where we can help. We offer a range of services to aid your production of radio shows.

We can help with formats, schedules, and voice talent, so that your show gets off to the best possible start.

If you’d like to find out more about what exactly we can do for you, do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly and professional team today.

Do you want your voice heard? Go on air and reach lots of listeners!

About 90% of Americans over the age of 12 still tune in to radio waves each week. This makes radio a great place to build your career. 

With a great idea and solid effort, you can make your dream a reality. Read on to learn five tips for success in becoming a radio show host!

1. Stick To Your Niche

A good radio show creates a specific niche and sticks to it. Everything, including discussion topics, on-air guests, music, and radio advertisements relates to this niche.

This may sound limiting. But people listen in because you caught their interest. If you drastically switch up the show every week, you will lose a lot of listeners.

Don’t worry. You can come up with endless topics within one niche.

2. Speak To Your Target Market

Like with brand advertising, radio shows develop a target market. Do the research to learn who yours is for your niche.

Speak to your target market whenever you go on air, and don’t worry about everybody else. Not everybody will love you. In fact, some might despise you. But if your radio station pleases a specific target market, then you nailed it.

3. Stay Current

The thing that wows your listeners today may bore them tomorrow. This has to do with the biology of our brains.

When we experience something new, the brain floods with a neurotransmitter called dopamine. This activates the reward center and makes people feel good.

Your radio show depends on this. Even sharing negative news can trigger pleasure centers, which is why tabloids remain popular. 

Watch current news pertaining to your niche and actually go out in your community. Let your listeners in on the who, what, where, when, and why of today.

4. Be Unapologetically You

Let your personality shine through on air. Do not try to act cool or like somebody you’re not.

People will smell out a fake and discard them. Your listeners will appreciate authenticity.

They want to know your quarks show after show. In the radio industry, they cannot see what you look like, so they might know you deeper than a pretty face on television.

As your voice and personality become familiar, listeners will feel like they know you. This familiarity builds loyalty.

5. Get Excited About Life

People love passion. They will want to listen to you if you sound excited about life.

The best way to do this is to talk with enthusiasm. Choose to talk about topics that light your fire.

Go even deeper by practicing genuine enthusiasm in your everyday life. Look at the world like a child again. Go into everything as if it’s an experiment, and revel in the wonders of it all. Living this way will shine through in your show.

Become a Radio Show Host

Don’t sit on your dream and simply think about broadcasting your ideas to avid listeners. Take active steps to become a radio show host!

We help talent reach its full potential. Contact us to get started.

Canadian experimenter Reginald Fessenden created the first version of a radio talk show when he produced an hour of talk and music for technical observers in 1906. The signal was transmitted from Brant Rock, Massachusetts, for anyone who might be listening. From there, radio took the world by storm and quickly became a hobby that many pursued.

Radio shows and plays can be found on various stations, but with the saturation of the market, it has become harder to keep listeners engaged. A good radio show consists of various different parts, but the radio topics are what will keep listeners coming back.

So, keep reading to find out what you need to do to pick the best topics for your radio show.

Think About Your Listeners

While it is important to produce a show that you’re interested in, your listeners are what really matter. You need to understand what your listeners are interested in and what format will work best for them.

Finding out what your listeners want and understanding your audience is what will help you create a long-term fanbase. You need to be able to capture someone’s attention and build a relationship with the listener to keep them invested in the radio-listener relationship.

If you’re just starting out, you need to consider who your ideal listener would be. Once you’ve established that, you can make a list of their possible consumer behaviors, demographics, and interests. By answering these questions, you’ll be able to get a better understanding of your listeners’ preferences.

If you already have a radio show, you’ll need to do a deep dive into your current listeners to answer these questions. You can use tools like Google Analytics to help you with this.

Keep Them Engaged

Once you’ve done research regarding your listeners, you’ll be ready to pick a topic. You’ll be able to choose interesting and creative talk show ideas that will keep your listeners engaged.

But the topic of your show might not be enough to keep them coming back; you’ll also need a presenter that your audience can connect with. A skilled presenter will not only have the right personality for the show, but they’ll also match the style and be prepared for the show.

Presenters keep listeners engaged by linking the discussion to other topics the listeners are interested in. Presenters can also bring some levity to the show by adding well-timed and placed jokes that match your radio show’s brand.

Choose the Best Topics

Picking the best topics for your radio show can make or break your show. You can have the best radio DJ and presenters, but if your radio ideas aren’t up to par, you won’t see an increase in ratings. So take the time to properly plan out your radio topics to help your presenter shine.

If you’re looking for major market talent, feel free to contact Virtual Jock today. Our roster of talent consists of individuals with over a decade of major market experience and proven ratings.

Did you know that Howard Stern is one of the richest radio hosts of all time?

If you just started a radio show or have had one for some time, it’s important to learn how to engage your audience and build it over time. Without listeners, a radio show won’t have any room to grow. The good news is that there are tried and true methods that can improve your show across the board.

Are you wondering what you can do to boost your radio show’s success? Keep reading to learn all about 5 hosting tips to keep your audience engaged.

1. Develop a Unique Voice

When hosting a radio show, you have to be more conscious of your voice than ever. While some hosts are fortunate enough to be born with a golden voice, that doesn’t mean you can’t train your voice to sound special. The more unique your voice is, while also remaining clear, the more people will tune in to hear it.

Some voices inject the listeners with excitement while others can soothe them during hectic traffic. Having a repertoire is key.

2. Invite Guests

Yet another way to keep your audience engaged is by inviting intriguing guests onto the show. There’s no reason an audience should listen to your voice and no others. By getting other guests involved, you can increase engagement by a significant amount.

Just be sure the guests are relevant to your radio show. That way, you won’t throw your listeners for a loop.

3. Get Audience Input

One of the single best ways to boost engagement is by getting input from your audience. There are many ways to do this but one of the most effective strategies is to take phone calls.

People love the opportunity to have their voices heard and you can be the one to make that happen.

4. Open Up

If you want to reap the benefits of engagement, then you shouldn’t be afraid to open up as a host.

From sharing intimate stories to being honest about your feelings, openness will go a long way toward connecting with listeners.

5. Expand Your Reach

You probably have the goal of monetization in mind. If so, you can reach even more people when you record your radio segments and post them as a regular podcast.

That way, people who weren’t able to tune in can still enjoy the show.

Ready to Use These Excellent Hosting Tips?

Now that you’ve learned about 5 hosting tips to keep your audience engaged, you can increase your listenership like never before. You’re sure to have people tuning in all the time once you make a few key adjustments. Be sure to mix things up so that you don’t get too comfortable with a single formula.

We’re your best source for “on-air” DJs for your show. Instead of trying hard to find the right help, you can use our ready-made services. We also excel at programming for radio so everything runs like a charm.

Got questions? Feel free to reach out.

Video hasn’t killed the radio star! Nearly 25,000 Americans work as broadcast announcers and radio DJs. Their mean annual wage is $56,110.

If you want a lucrative way to make money in the music industry, you should become a radio DJ. But you can’t sit down in front of a mic and expect to be successful. You need to know a few tips first. 

What do radio DJs need to know? How can you come off as interesting and compassionate? What vocal techniques should you use while you are on the air? 

Answer these questions and you can become a successful radio DJ in no time. Here is your quick guide.

Know Your Music

As you might imagine, successful radio DJs know a lot about music. You can specialize in a particular genre of music like pop, or you can focus on a specific artist or time period. Whatever you choose to talk about, you should know everything about it.

Listen to the radio stations in your area and see how they cover your subject. Then think about ways you can present that material in a refreshing way.

Understand Your Listener

You should know as much about your listener as you do about your music. You should know why they listen to you and what they are looking for from you. Some listeners like to hear commentary about music while others just want to listen to the music. 

You can run surveys or ask employees at your radio station about your listeners. You can also ask for advice on how to be a radio DJ. 

Try to find work as an on-air radio DJ at a station you are a fan of. This lets you use your knowledge of the station to enhance your career.

Create a Connection 

Listeners want to feel like their radio DJs know them and care about them. While you talk, try to project your voice so you are easy to listen to.

Modulate your voice to underscore things you are saying. When you are talking about a sensitive issue, you can soften your tone and speak a little slower. Don’t say things like “you all,” which can make you seem disconnected from your audience.

However, you don’t want to strain your voice too much. Take care of your voice by resting it during the day and drinking plenty of water.

Show Your Personality

An easy way to be yourself while you are on DJ radio is to talk about your connections to the music you are playing. You can mention what your favorite songs are and where you heard songs for the first time. 

Let your enthusiasm be clear and obvious. Feel free to laugh and make references that only die-hard fans would know.

But you don’t have to be gregarious if you don’t want to. You can be more deadpan, or you can avoid telling jokes entirely.

Become a Phenomenal Radio DJ

To be a great radio DJ, you must master a few things. You need to know a lot about the music you are presenting on air, not just your favorite tracks. You need to empathize with your listener and give them content they will like. 

You must do interesting things with your voice, like changing your pitch. Yet you must protect your voice and take breaks from speaking. The most important thing is to be yourself and seem enthusiastic about your material.

Get help to succeed on the radio. Virtual Jock helps aspiring DJs get noticed. Contact us today.

Did you know that more than 71.2 million adults aged 18-34 listen to the radio every month? Radio is still popular despite the myth that it’s losing popularity  from streaming services and podcasts.

Don’t feel pressured to choose your radio station name despite this statistic. There are endless opportunities to find the perfect name without feeling like you need to please your audiences.

Radio station names can seem daunting to choose, but with the right strategy, it can be a fun and simple process. 

If you’re looking to find the perfect name for your radio station, look no further. We can help you get started.

Don’t Try Too Hard

One thing that could turn listeners away is trying to stay “edgy” or “in-the-know” with a younger generation. It can often times come off as tacky and not appeal to a younger audience. 

When you’re on air, the name should be effortless, fun, and something that will grab the ear. It shouldn’t sound like you’re trying too hard to appeal to a specific demographic. Your audience will gravitate to you—the name is just a catchy way to draw them in. 

Be Creative With Your Radio Station Names

Creativity is key when it comes to the radio. When using a creative route, whether it’s for a radio talk show or a radio station, your audience will feel more compelled to tune in.

You can use a word generator like this one for radio station names to help you generate ideas. Using words to describe what your show or station will be about will give you the best options for a name. 

Creativity and being unique go hand in hand when it comes to creating a name. Be unique, and have fun with it!

Always check for availability once you feel like you’ve found a name that fits exactly what you want. 

Think Happy

Think about your favorite radio station or radio show. The name of the show or station always made you feel happy or comforted. The most iconic radio stations and shows had a jingle with their name, which accumulated a happy feeling around singing that jingle.

In the hustle and bustle of our modern world, radio can be a solace for a lot of people. You want your audience to feel happy when they tune in to your station and/or show. If you choose words that create a happy or calming feeling, your audience will be more inclined to listen regularly. 

If your name brings happiness to you, it will certainly bring happiness to your intended audience.

When you feel like you’ve found the best name, don’t doubt yourself of your choice! Feel confident that the name you’ve chosen is the best one for your station or show.

For everything you need to know about hosting or running a radio station, check out our blog.

Ready, Set, Tune In! 

No matter if you’re looking for a radio station name or a name for your new radio show, you have everything you need at your fingertips to be successful.

Using a name generator, checking for the availability of radio station names, and using creativity will ensure your radio station name will stick. 

We have more tips and tricks on our blog for all of your questions and concerns about your radio show or station. 

Finding the perfect radio station name is just one step in your journey of bringing joy to people across the country. Once you’ve got your name, you’re ready to rock on! 

We all know the lyrics: “video killed the radio star.” But even today, that is not true. The radio is still the top-reach medium in the U.S., with 92 percent of Americans being reached every week. 

This is followed by TV reaching 87 percent of the U.S. population and smartphones reaching 81 percent. 

Radio has remained a staple to our media consumption. However, it didn’t start off as a means of entertainment. 

Keep reading to learn more about the history of the radio!

The Discovery of Radio Waves

Radio waves have the longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.

In the late 1880s, Heinrich Hertz proved the existence of radio waves. He essentially attached spark gaps at the end of an induction coil and the receiving end of an antenna. The waves created were picked up by the antenna, and sparks would jump the gap between the two. 

The Wireless Telegraph

Approximately a decade later, Guglielmo Marconi used the knowledge of radio waves to create the first wireless telegraph. He successfully sent a message from England to Newfoundland—across the entire Atlantic Ocean. 

The wireless telegraph worked by tapping Morse code onto a telegraph key, creating a message of electrical pulses that could get picked up at a certain frequency.

Marconi won a Nobel Prize for his work on wireless communication. His work kickstarted the way in which we use the radio today, which began to sell commercially in 1900. 

The early uses for the wireless telegraph generally consisted of military communications. 

The History of the Radio as We Know It Today

It wasn’t until 1914 that a Canadian by the name of Reginald Fessenden discovered a broadcast wave strong enough to transmit voices and music. He worked with General Electric to build alternators that could sustain a wave as powerful as this across thousands of miles.

By 1919, General Electric bought Marconi’s wireless telegraph resources in order to form the Radio Corporation of America.

It was the perfect time for an application of this sort to be invented, as news of World War I could be dispensed much more efficiently. It became a necessity to stay up-to-date and entertained. 

With this invention, the world became unified — for better or worse. Information could get presented immediately, which changed our society’s way of life.

Political leaders influenced public opinion with this device. Both Adolf Hitler and MLK Jr. presented radical ideas to the masses—sparking huge points of history. 

The most common use of radio is for entertainment in the car. People pursue careers out of this line of work. We can listen to music, advertise our businesses, and hear the news 24/7. 

The Radio Industry

We’ve come a long way since radio waves were first discovered. The history of the radio contains good and bad moments, but we aim to make more good out of this fine invention. 

If you’re likeminded and wish to become a proponent of radio services, contact us! We do the programming for radio stations and provide On Air radio DJ’s for station all across the country. 

The radio industry as we know it today got its start all the way back in 1919. Every successful radio station since then has had a common denominator that led to its success: great equipment. 

No matter how many listeners your studio has, it’s important to understand the basics of radio equipment. After all, the best radio station equipment serves as the foundation for all of your content. Here’s a quick guide to every single tool a radio station needs.

1. Microphone

Every DJ needs a solid microphone if they want their voice to be heard, and there are a couple of options available. Dynamic mics and condenser mics are most common for radio broadcasts.

Both have pros and cons, so make sure you understand your individual needs before purchasing. For the best audio quality, find a microphone with some additional qualities:

• Filters background noise
• Able to be shock-mounted
• Pop filter friendly

A great mic is where it all starts for a radio station, so find one that suits your goals. 

2. Mixing Board

With every microphone, there needs to be a mixing board. Having a great mixing board gives you the ultimate control over your sound. 

Not only can you control sound levels for you and/or guests, but mixers can also improve your sound quality ten-fold compared to raw audio hookups.

Mixers should arguably be the best radio station equipment in your studio, as they greatly influence the quality of your final product.

3. Soundproofing

Another great way to ensure your audio quality is top-notch is by purchasing soundproofing equipment. Most common are soundproof panels that can be mounted on the walls of your recording space. 

Soundproof panels come in many varieties including:

• Acoustic foam
• Acoustic panels/boards
• Fabrics
• Floor underlayment

No matter what material you choose, soundproofing is invaluable to any DJ since it reduces background noise and echoes. You can keep your audio sounding clean.

4. Headphones

Of course, every great DJ needs great headphones. Keeping track of audio levels is a must for every radio station, and headphones help accomplish that task. 

Over-ear headphones work best as they help to block out background noise. In doing so, you can stay focused on the signal playing back into your ears and keep track of the smallest audio details without any trouble.

5. Custom/High-Quality PC

In today’s day and age, broadcasting is a digital industry. That means you need a computer that can handle all the software needed to produce, record, and distribute your radio broadcast.

As is the case for any digital media, a fast computer makes production possible. Consider building/buying a custom PC to meet your individual needs.

If that’s not an option, research which computers are best for broadcasting and find a brand that works for you. Computers streamline your entire production process.

Get Started and Work Better With the Right Radio Station Equipment

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a newbie to the radio world, we hope this short radio station equipment guide helped outline the important things every radio production should have. At Virtual Jock, we can take your broadcast to the next level.

We offer services in production, voice talent, and successful music formats so that your radio idea can thrive. Contact us so we can help you produce a quality radio show today!