I’ve been to a number of Don Anthony’s “Morning Show Boot Camps” over the years, but something was different about this one. Steve Goldstein – who presented with our Digital Dot Connector, Seth Resler – hit it immediately: the crowd was younger this year.
It didn’t take long for me to make the same observation. Not only was the conference well-attended, but it was teeming with Millennials as excited about radio in 2016 as we were decades earlier. This scene in the Grand Hyatt bar could easily pass for a Silicon Valley event. And the MSBC crowd could match an Internet startup for energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn.
Don does a nice job of keeping the panels moving, always featuring some of the top names in the business. The return to a radio gathering from writer/producer extraordinaire, Steve Stockman, talking about the fundamentals of shooting and producing quality video products, a buzzworthy “Women’s Forum” moderated by Dana DiDonato, and the always 
competitive “Battle of the Bits” – perhaps not Makers Faire worthy, but still a great exercise in creativity and spontaneity.
I especially enjoyed the “Masters of the Morning” hosted by Dennis Clark, featuring the venerable Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein (Q104/New York), Bert Weiss, John Ivey, Entercom/Seattle’s Fitz, and the Motor City’s Mojo. It was a great mix of grizzled veterans and the new guard of morning talent, mixing it up, and talking about management, preparation, research, and all the other variables that impact on-air success.
That panel and others were reminders of the mentoring spirit that is alive and well at Boot Camp. Seasoned veterans share their experiences with up-and-coming talent. But on the flip side, today’s rising stars are eager to talk about what it takes to succeed in a radio environment that has never been more challenging.
The Millennial generation so often gets an undeserved bad rap for any number of reasons. Yet, in many ways, their mission is so much harder than it was in radio “back in the day.” Business conditions are more precarious in 2016, there are more cooks in the kitchen, and the pressure to perform has never been higher. It wasn’t always that way. Most of radio’s current leaders and owners entered into broadcasting during the fat and happy ’70s and ’80s. Radio was a hot industry, there was easy fame and fortune to be made, and everyone wanted “in.”
Today’s emerging talent are being asked to do a lot more than “4 and out the door,” oftentimes for less money, fewer benefits, and lousier perks. Radio is bad-rapped in other media, in the advertising world, and even among their peers. And yet these young up-and-coming personalities are more energized and enthusiastic than we were to just be a part of the radio business. Their excitement for radio is contagious,
one of the many reasons why I always enjoy coming to this event.
I was part of a “visionaries” session hosted by Mike McVay, and featuring the aforementioned Steve Goldstein, Pierre Bouvard, and Daniel Anstandig. Believe me when I tell you I feel more pressure at these MSBC sessions because it’s nearly 100% talent in the room. Their “bullshit detectors” are turned on to “high,” and I always want to reach higher to provide the best level of guidance possible.
Mike smoothly guided the panel, as Steve pointed out the need for talent to use multiple distribution outlets to share content. Pierre provided insight about how live reads, and involvement in sales by talent will become more important over time. And I reminded the room that talent is the industry’s true “natural resource,” more important than scheduling perfect logs or writing clever liners.
Yes, there were many MSBC veterans in the house, from Gene & Julie to B.J. Shea to Rick Rumble, and it was great to see them all and reconnect. But the stars of the show were the talented members of radio’s youth corps, excited to learn, socialize, and collaborate about how to make great radio in their local markets.
I know there’s a lot of hard work being done to recruit youth to radio, from The Conclave to Dan Vallie’s “National Radio Talent Institute.” But Boot Camp produces that tangible buzz that makes veterans like me, Greg 
Strassell, Pat Paxton, Kurt Johnson, Tim Clarke, and other programming execs keep coming back to remind ourselves there’s a lot of talent, excitement, and desire out there. Now it’s our job to mentor and nurture it (as well as learn a few things or two from them).
It’s hard to believe Don has put these shows on for 28 years (and Art Vuolo has probably been videotaping them all that time). I hope this conference reminded him just how much he’s moved the needle with MSBC.
I always appreciate being on stage at this great event, in front of this inspiring crowd.
Thanks.
Tomorrow we’ll look at a new research initiative in public radio designed to gain better understanding of Millennials – their values, their beliefs, and their expectations of the media they enjoy and consume.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
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Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Love all of this! So spot on. When I started going to boot camp a few years ago, it was nerve racking not seeing a lot of people my age. Now it’s busting at the seams with millennials. Thank you for pointing that out!
Thanks, Miguel. A definite demographic shift this year, and it was noticeable. Appreciate the comment.
Spot on! was very excited to see the number of younger people who were there to learn and share about our craft. Much love to the companies who see the value and send their people! The future looks bright
And, of course, always great see you, Fred. Thanks for sharing your insights!
Rick, great to see you as well. As a long time MSBCamper, I know how gratifying it is to see radio’s growth youth movement. Thanks for the comment.
Fred, just last week I caught this Tweet from Grand Valley State University’s Len O’Kelly, who noted (with a bit of sarcasm): “Just checked: millenials are so disinterested in #radio that my Intro to Radio class only has 22 of 18 seats filled.”
https://twitter.com/LenOKelly/status/764186361691856896
Dan, great story! Please thank Len for the reminder that many of those stereotypes about Millennials are just flat out wrong.
You totally captured what MSBC was all about this year! This was my first year, and I couldn’t wait for the panels to start so I could sit in the front and learn absolutely everything that I could!!! Thank you for noticing!
Michelle, you’re very much the example of what our post was talking about – that unbridled enthusiasm for radio that we vividly saw at #MSNB28. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Here’s the point: “Most of radio’s current leaders and owners entered into broadcasting during the fat and happy ’70s and ’80s.” The scrappers from the 60s are now in their 60s or beyond. Many are retired, riding it out, already passed it along to the lucky sperm club or are part of the group still working hard to Fix the Fubar. Boomer Broadcasters are essential mentors, connectors, advisors, creators, curators and most still have our pipes, despite terminal RF! Boomers fix the Fubar, IF ageism, CYA and “We didn’t think of it, so it sucks” doesn’t get in the way! Radio is a very special learned life-skill that must be shared with and encouraged to new generations. Thank you for these great training opportunities. “Cue the organist.” – Firesign Theater circa ’66 Clark Smidt http://www.broadcastideas.com
As Boomers, it’s our responsibility to welcome and mentor today’s up-and-coming broadcasters. And it’s not just to help them, but to keep the radio industry vibrant and healthy. Thanks, Clark.