A friend pulled me aside last week to talk about this blog. He commented, “You’re really on a tear this year.”
And my response was that for radio, it’s already been a tumultuous quarter. A lot has been going on in and around the radio business. Much of it is, shall we say, sub-optimal. Or more to the point, ominous and foreboding.
Many are paranoid about the onslaught of Chat bot AI technology and how it might affect the industry and its personalities. AM radio is under attack by the auto industry, the moguls that helped put portable radio on the map a century or so ago. And the RIFs continue, taking place at a wide cross-section of stations all over the country, in markets big and small.
So, if I come off concerned or even jaded at times, hopefully you’ll understand. I’m trying to look at radio as clear-eyed and realistically as possible under fast-moving, challenging conditions.
But in this whirlwind of change, it would be a mistake not to notice some of the good things that are happening, thanks to radio in the U.S. (and Canada). And this week, it’s on display in Orlando.
This group of 10 kids you see at the top of today’s post are the champions of the week – and it’s only Wednesday.
Paul and I are spending the better part of this week in the Disney universe for Children’s Miracle Network’s Hospitals Week. It’s the 40th anniversary of this amazing organization that has partnered with local radio
for decades. It was started by a group of four that includes celebrities Marie Osmond of “Donnie & Marie” fame, and John Schneider who you might remember as Bo Duke from “The Dukes of Hazard” TV show.
But the show’s real host was comedian, author, and motivational speaker Josh Sundquist (pictured). He was a CMN Hospitals “Champion” alum back when he was a kid growing up in Virginia in the 90’s. Josh lost a leg to cancer back then, but has emerged stronger as a result. In addition to his career accomplishments, Josh is married and expecting his first child later this month.
As master of ceremonies last night, Josh was the perfectly relatable “grad” of a program no kid aspires to be a part of. But for those who need this incredible care, it can truly be a life-saver in every sense of the word.
Hospital Week is an annual celebration for the thousands of hospital workers, media people, and participating retailers who work together to support this amazing organization. Paul and I were lucky enough to go to work for CMN Hospitals back in 2019, right before the pandemic hit. We’re back on track, working closely with this organization that is all about supporting 170 local hospitals throughout North America.
And of course, there are the kids. The driving mission is CMN Hospitals’ slogan:
“Change Kids’ Health. Change the Future”
We often run across organizations – including radio stations – that don’t always know their missions, or certainly can’t articulate them. Not the case here. This isn’t just a tag line in commercials or on T-shirts. For the many constituencies that work in harmony in and around this organization, they all know why they show up for work every day.
Last night was the big awards dinner and ceremony where Osmond and Schneider, along with Sundquist, hosted the extravaganza. CMN Hospitals honored many of its long-time participating, high-performing sponsoring companies, among them Ace Hardware, on-board since 1991, along with Dairy Queen and others.
But one of he emerging sponsors is Club Car Wash, (pictured) headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, emblematic of local retailers who want to get in on the action of supporting hometown children’s hospitals and the kids and families they serve.
Paul and I spent yesterday with hospital administrators and “program directors” (yes, they use that title at hospitals), and got a great education about how arduous it’s been not just during COVID, but in the months that have followed the pandemic. It’s not just the physical health of kids but also their mental well-being. One of the honorees last night was the Montreal Children’s Hospital that offers a special eating disorder program. As their chief officer reminded the more than 1,000 in attendance, they’ve been at full capacity trying to keep up with the rising number of kids who need their care and support.
If you follow this blog, are a Jacobs client, or participate in our research, you know the consistent themes – the formula, if you will – has long been personality, local, and community. That last one has always been important, but has been amplified since the onset of COVID – a global pandemic with local implications. People all over America may have been thinking about Wuhan or New York City, but their focus was on their hometowns – where to get tested, which stores required masks, details about area schools, and vaccine availability. Who’s on your school board, who’s running your city council, and what your state rep stands for became focal points.
And so did the health and welfare of communities, whether impacted by unsafe drinking water, train derailments, severe weather, or the health and well-being of local kids.
As so many radio stations have been stripped back by budget cuts and staff reductions, community involvement becomes a north star of inspiration and hope. As Paul and I have learned these past four years with Fleur Voruz and the CMN Hospitals media team, supporting these hospitals and the children and their families they are dedicated to serve is an honor for local radio. And so many stations from myriad companies have stepped up big time to answer the bell.
Last night, the Cumulus country duo in Dallas/Ft. Worth – KSCS and KPLX – received CMN Hospitals’ highest honor for media partners. This is a brilliant collaboration between cluster stations who put aside their competition to collaborate on raising serious dollars for their local hospitals. On hand were station execs Al Farb and Mike Preston (pictured) to accept the award. Late last year, they collectively raised more than $1 million in their “Country For The Kids” joint radiothon.
Along with KIST in Santa Barbara, featuring a Mexican music format, scores of radio stations across America and Canada are prime players in Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ fundraising activities.
While the tried and true radiothons continue to work, raising millions, it was impressive to see so many other fundraising mechanisms in place. Some retailers like Love’s and Ace utilize “round-ups” at the check-out counters, “Play Yellow” is the new handle for burgeoning golf tournaments around the continent, while video gamers are key players in the brilliantly named “Extra Life” program. Aside from the kids who are being cared for by these amazing children’s hospitals, it is impressive to see diverse, young gaming enthusiasts giving their all to raising money.
Interestingly, some of the most successful radio stations in the country – measured by ratings and revenue benchmarks – are also sponsor stations in CMN Hospitals fundraising activities. One of the shining examples is the collaboration between WDVE and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and their brilliant Director of Cause Marketing, Joey Warren (pictured). This collaboration is proof positive the combination of local radio, connected personalities, and an engaged hospital can raise millions. And help build radio station brands. iHeart’s Jon Zellner deserves a shout-out as well. His tireless support and energy on behalf of CMN Hospitals is a tribute to his company and his industry.
Suffice it to say, Paul and I are inspired by who we’ve met and what we’ve experienced on our journey with this organization. It has helped restore our faith in radio as a positive agent of change, a community force like no other, and a beacon to retail businesses who are looking for involvement in their regions and municipalities.
This last element is key. Participating stations in this amazing CMN Hospitals’ fundraising effort will tell you they’re doing well by doing good. By working with their local children’s hospitals, they’re making an impact on their local communities, as well as benefitting with hometown retailers looking to expand their community involvement.
In 2023, there really is such a thing as a win-win-win-win for radio, station personalities, local children’s hospitals, and Main Street retailers.
Not to mention all those “Champions” – the kids and their courageous parents whose spirit and tenacity is just what the radio industry needs right about now.
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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These kids, their families, and radio can all benefit from regular doses of “warm and fuzzy.” I’ve worked in radio for several years now, but have a BSN–U of Mich.–and worked as an RN in adolescent psych for 30 years. I get both sides and admire your contributions to each.
Appreciated.