For radio stations and companies struggling to find ways to be better than Pandora, XM, or that voicetracked station down the dial, sometimes it’s a simple as seizing the moment.
But in these times when programmers are hard-pressed to program because they oversee other properties, do an airshift, maintain the website, and host station events, this basic practice of reflecting what’s happening now has become something of a lost art.
In radio’s ongoing need to stay relevant and to continue to give listeners reasons why a great, connected, fun local station is superior to one’s iPod, look no further than WROR in Boston.
When the Rick Perry debate debacle happened, these guys were quickly on the air with a neat positioner that captured the essence of the moment – while cleverly reinforcing the station’s brand. Click the player below to listen:
But it goes beyond radio. If you attempted to update your Yelp app this past Thursday, you got this clever Perry-esque message:
Let’s face it – if you can make some as mundane as an app update fun, relevant, and buzz-worthy, you’re doing something right. And you can see the evidence of that in some of the comments about the Yelp app below:
Now when you live a bit on the edge, not every comment is going to make your audience happy. Yelp received some not-so-happy lines from some of those who still support the Texas governor.
But you have to give them – and WROR – extra credit points for taking something that was all on our minds Thursday and grabbing a piece of it.
Carpe diem.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Thanks for the kudos, Fred. At WROR we try to have fun and let everyone share/contribute ideas. Usually, that thinking produces this type of positioner. We challenge ourselves to be more than a jukebox. Thanks for your blogs that continually challenge us to stand out.
Thanks, Ken. And I appreciate you allowing me to use WROR as an example of doing it right. These are the things that radio can do to remind its audinece that you’re engaged and alive. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Who the hell is Rick Perry?