Tag: Holland Cooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Dogs Are Having a Moment

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgNotice how often you see one in TV commercials, even when the product has nothing to do with pets? I see spots for a local building supply outlet, in which the owner’s dog ambles through every shot, then plops down – seeming to smile – among employees in the closing shot.

I am disappointed not to hear local radio spots – with a bark toward the end – for that same business. Does a retailer in your area appear in TV commercials with his or her dog? Can radio – the #1 in-car media – can take that business for a “RIDE???”

Dogs appearing in national ads convey loyalty and adventure. Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Target, Volkswagen, and Subaru are among brands that have used dogs to soften their image and boost attention. Why? Research demonstrates that “harnessing the ​universal ​appeal of man’s‌ best friend, these advertisements ​have emerged as ‍a powerful ‌tool ​for marketers‍ seeking to resonate with consumers on a deeply ‍emotional level.” Dogs evoke warmth and joy. They refine a brand, ‌making it‌ more relatable and trustworthy. ‌

“If only radio had pictures,” you say? We do, in social media posts and on station websites and everywhere else we can take a local advertiser. And beyond dog copy, think: dog content.

  • A number of news/talk stations I’ve worked with broker weekend ask-the-expert hours to veterinarians whose investment ROI’s big-time. The lines are jammed and smart stations extend such weekend warriors by repurposing excerpts. “Pet Pro Dr. Donna Stone has tips for helping your critters keep-their-cool during this long, hot summer” links to an aircheck clip that you Tweet-out and post elsewhere online. Include a picture of an adorable puppy and you’ll click like crazy. Music stations: Sell the vet spots-disguised-as informative features that invite listeners to see/hear/learn more in podcasts or videos or other content on your or the doctor’s website.
  • One of my client stations boosts adoptions each holiday season by featuring “The 12 Strays of Christmas” from the local shelter, sponsored by, you guessed it, a vet.’
  • Tchotchke opportunity: a station-logo’d tennis “BALL!” Toss ‘em around at dog parks and give ‘em away at appearances.
  • Brainstorm other opportunities.

I live at the beach — dog nirvana. It’s a sensory symphony: the scent of salt air, warm sun, sand to dig and roll-around in… canine bliss. On the beach here, dogs don’t have to be leashed; and when you let ‘em romp they sure do, chasing waves, and plunging-in to retrieve “BALL!”

In that wonderful moment, they are living like they will never grow old. Sadly, we know better. Thus The Farmer’s Dog tag line “Making old dogs feel young again;” and Blue Buffalo’s “Love them like family. Feed them like family.”

That’s the emotional space radio can own: warmth, loyalty, companionship, trust. Let’s create messages – and moments – that honor the joy and spirit our buddies bring us.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: The Fearless Cold Caller

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgOften, when visiting client stations, I ride shotgun on a sales call, and it’s always a masterclass. Retailers have a canny, insightful feel for their customers (our listeners). And accompanying these reps, I feel like I’m “Dancing With The Stars.”

Cold calling still rattles many new sellers, even some veterans. The fear is understandable: interrupting strangers to ask for their time sounds like a recipe for rejection. And seems old-school, but the cold call isn’t a relic – it’s a differentiator. Done right, it’s not a pitch. It’s about discovery.

Here’s what successful sellers I work with seem to have in common:

  • — Their goal isn’t a cold close.It’s to open a conversation about helping a business grow. They are confident in what radio advertising – done right – can accomplish.
  • — They do homework beforehand, checking the prospect’s website, social feeds, Google reviews, and its other advertising. So, they can go in with something specific to reference. Some bring “an actual commercial that got results for a business like yours, somewhere else.” When I do a station sales meeting, I leave behind a thumb drive of successful spots from other markets. Retailers are wary of experiments, and curious for proven concepts.
  • — They lead with curiosity. Like a job interview, you are judged more by the-questions-you-ask than the-information-you-give. Productive questions I hear include, “How are you attracting new customers right now?” and, “What’s been working best for you lately… and what’s been frustrating?” and, “Have you ever used local radio to tell your story?” Ask, “What’s the biggest mistake consumers make when planning a kitchen remodel [or purchasing whatever else the prospect sells]?” And, “Why buy from YOU?” Entrepreneurs like to talk about their business. Let them, and take notes, recording on your smartphone.
  • — They present a no-risk offer that invests in the prospect’s growth. Hearing is believing, so “Let me take what-you’ve-told-me and bring back a message that tells your story, at no cost or obligation to you.” Rather than describing that story, spec spots demonstrate it. Note: “spots,” plural.
  • — They bring back two spec spots, so the choice is this-or-that rather than yes-or-no. Not two versions of the same concept, but two different approaches. One might be a live read mock-up; the other a fully produced commercial, incorporating copy points from the prospect’s existing marketing material, and from that first-call interview…
  • — If possible, they use the prospect’s voice. If he or she can read without sounding sing-songy, bring back a draft script. Here’s a straight pitchI wrote for the guy who maintains my home water system. More often, the most productive use of the prospect’s voice is unscripted sound bites lifted from the smartphone after that first call, wrapped with lean announcer copy, like this. Either way, spots like these can get people telling the advertiser “I heard you on the radio.” 😉
  • — If that doesn’t close, they offer to re-do the spec spot, based on feedback from that second call. This persistence demonstrates a partnership with the prospect’s success, and shares authorship of the final version.
  • — They anticipate rejection, and prep responses to common objections. They understand that “no” often means “not now.” Seeming super-appreciative for the prospect’s time, they thank him or her and ask “to check-back with you” in the future. They track attempts, conversations, and follow-ups.

Lately, I’m impressed by how reps are using Artificial Intelligence… not as a crutch, but to collaborate. Various vendors are hawking apps that will write – even voice – spots. Whenever I’m given a demo, I ask for copy about a restaurant my wife and I frequent. And what comes back is painfully generic – “in a relaxing atmosphere” – rather than capturing the experience. DO exploit AI. But ask it for copy concepts, and use it as a first draft, always to frame the prospect’s words.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Successful AI Product Creation

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgEvidence that your correspondent is a nerd: my airplane read for my CES back-N-forth was Successful AI Product Creation: A 9-Step Framework by Shub Agarwal (Wiley). If you haven’t got time for all 307 pages, here’s what I gleaned, pertinent to radio:

Strategic Philosophy

• AI succeeds only when it solves real business problems, not when used as a novelty.

• Begin every AI project with: “What measurable problem are we solving?”

• Align AI use with station strategy — audience growth, advertiser ROI, efficiency, or content quality.

Tactical Applications for Radio

• Show prep: summarize trending topics, generate local angles, suggest guests.

• Automate routine production (editing, scheduling, metadata tagging) to free creative staff.

• Voice tracking with guardrails — use AI to extend live talent, not replace it.

• News: Employ AI to summarize complex stories quickly for on-air and digital use.

• Sales: Personalize ad copy to make spots more relevant. Automate proposal and spec-spot creation to shorten turnaround time.

Think of AI as “augmentation, not automation.” AVOID making radio sound robotic. Use these tools to make radio smarter, faster, and more human. Enhance talent; don’t erase it. Protect authenticity and listener trust — radio’s enduring differentiator. Develop a station AI policy covering attribution, verification, and data privacy.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

CES2026: ICYMI

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgCars were some of the big stars at CES. Not flying cars, which were news there, years ago. But cars that drive themselves, and how the cars we still drive are safer and smarter — some smaller, very inexpensive — and electric cars that go longer between charges. Solar powered cars are coming, among other sustainability breakthroughs like farming with less chemicals and appliances that use lots less energy.

But the biggest buzz this year was Artificial Intelligence, the secret sauce in much, possibly most, of what’s new. There is angst about AI, forecast to eliminate as many as half of entry‑level white‑collar jobs within five years. In the session “Future-Ready: Shaping the Workforce in the AI Era,” employers were urged to “Reimagine, not adapt” workflows. “And put your employees at the center of reimagination.” It’s all happening quickly. One speaker quipped “ChatGPT is SO 2022.”

Watch/read/hear/download my week-long coverage from Las Vegas at HollandCooke.com. MUST-SEE: Video of the Caterpillar keynote.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

CES2026: Is Your Elevator Speech Too Long?

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgWe sell advertisers the attention we earn, and earning it has never been tougher. When we design client stations’ billboards, we’re not “writing a 60” or “a 30,” or even “a 10.” It’s a one-second spot. At a glance, someone driving needs to understand what the station delivers, and why to listen.

Showcase events here are well-catered and open bar (Media Relations 101). So, as we roam exhibits, both hands are already full, a challenge for exhibitors hoping we’ll stop, take a tchotchke, and take-in what they’re rolling-out. So I’m struck by how well the large-font messages on their booth signage distills whassup. 

Examples: 

Komutr: “Finally, Earbuds Your Won’t Lose!”

Stelo by Dexcom: “Glucose tracking made easy”

“Too busy to cook? Let a robot do it,” 500 dishes Nosh can whip-up.

“So your days don’t end up on your face,” Baronbio offers “The 4-Day Slow-Aging Challenge.”

Eloquens: “Automated Email responses that feel human”

“Mist + Wind = Instant Cool” with Aecooly, “the world’s first high-speed cooling fan,” hand-held.

Narwal’s V50 Cube Cordless Vacuum is “light to hold” and will “deep-clean every surface.”

Yarbo’s Modular Yard Robot: not just a lawnmower. “All Seasons Solution” doubles as a snowblower.

Kamingo’s E-Bike Converter switches from bicycle to E-bike “in seconds.”

We have learned – and taught advertisers – to boil-it-down to the proverbial “elevator speech,” a pitch you could spit-out between floors. How quickly does yours convey value? 

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

CES2026: Come for the Gadgets, Stay for the Power Struggle

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgHello from Las Vegas, where 150,000+ of us – from around the world — are swarming. Think: hand sanitzer. And comfortable shoes.

To give you a sense of the scope of what’s up, here’s a PDF link to the slide deck from the Consumer Technology Association’s perennial “Tech Trends” research reveal: https://www.cta.tech/media/chwotebs/ces26_techtrendsdeck.pdf

They click “Buy,” then they click “Return.” 

Now, Artificial Intelligence is cracking-down on E-commerce return fraud. In 2025, scammers cost us consumers an estimated seventy-six-and-a-half billion dollars, by applying for a product refund, then sending back something else of less value, like a cheap knock-off that can’t be resold. 

“Happy Returns” is a UPS-owned company accepting no-box and no-label returns…which scammers LOVE, because it offers immediate refunds. So a new Artificial Intelligence tool called “Return Vision” will flag suspicious returns by analyzing patterns — early or frequent return requests, linked email addresses and past suspicious activity that could evade human detection. So, scammers, no matter how-quick-you-click, AI is watching.

When U.S. senators show up here, you know that CES isn’t just a gadget expo. 

Broadband access is the new oxygen, and Artificial Intelligence is quietly creeping into the background of almost everything we do. Washington now sees consumer technology as a policy issue, impacting jobs, national security, and the USA economy. So lawmakers and high-ranking government officials come to CES to get face‑to‑face with companies building the tools they may soon be regulating; and to talk about new rules for how AI is used in phones, cars, and workplaces. 

Tech companies want a say in those rules — so this is where the negotiations happen. Most CES coverage you see features shiny new gadgets, but the real action here is the growing partnership — and sometimes tension — between Big Tech and Big Government. 

Help yourself to my 60-second CES reports.

They’re updated daily, for air all this week. Simply download from HollandCooke.com. No charge, no paperwork, no spot.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

CES2026: Potholes to Pizza Ovens

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgCutting edge technology is on display — and on wheels — this week here in Las Vegas.  

Your car could join The Pothole Patrol

General Motors is developing technology that collects data from navigation systems, cameras, accelerometers and all your car’s other sensors to spot roads that need repair.

And automakers are trying to keep cars themselves from roughing-up roads. Massive batteries can make an EV sedan weigh as much as a heavy-duty pickup truck. Cadillac’s electric Escalade weighs 3000 pounds more than its gas-tank version. Engineers are working on solid-state batteries that will be smaller, lighter, faster-charging and longer-range. 

And here’s a U-turn: Volkswagen is bringing-back…buttons! According to surveys, drivers don’t want to use touchscreens to turn-up the radio or turn-on the defroster. And studies show that scrolling can impair reaction time more than alcohol.

Artificial Intelligence stampede!

AI from AT&T will spare you from spam calls and save you from phone fraud. I’ve already set my iPhone to send calls from anyone not in my Contacts straight to voicemail, and that has spared me lots of interruptions. And we know not to say “yes” to callers who could be recording you, and use that as permission to make an unwanted purchase. This new system will interact with callers. Yes, your robot can talk-to — and reject — other robots…disconnecting spammers, or providing real-time transcriptions you can interrupt if you want to take the call. 

“Future-Ready” is a CES session about “Shaping the Workforce in the AI Era.” And we’re hearing bullish predictions about “future-proofing the next-gen workforce.” Chipmaker Intel is here forecasting breakthroughs for what it calls “efficient factories.” Radio is already, shall-we-say, dabbling, in these so-called efficiencies. And Hollywood is on-its-heels. Soon, your favorite actor could be an algorithm, as cinematic AI is approaching what some here are calling “its Citizen Kane moment.”

AI is being shoehorned into almost everything. Ooni’s Volt 2 is an all-electric indoor pizza oven. 850 degrees Fahrenheit, perfect pie in 90 seconds.

Help yourself to my 60-second CES reports

They’re updated daily, for air all this week. Simply download from HollandCooke.com. No charge, no paperwork, no spot.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: CES2026, Radio Can Relate

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgHello from Las Vegas, where I am both eager and anxious for CES2026. 

I am eager to witness what’s new, and to report each day this week here in TALKERS, and on radio stations across the USA and around the world. Help yourself to 60-second reports, updated daily, for air all this week. Simply download from HollandCooke.com. No charge, no paperwork, no spot.

And I am eager to witness the continuing evolution of this event, and its parent the Consumer Technology Association — formerly the Consumer Electronics Association — which does NOT want us calling this “the Consumer Electronics Show.” At the first one, in 1967, audio cassettes were disrupting 8-track tapes. And decade-after-decade, gadget-after-gadget, this organization and this show has represented an industry that makes products that come in boxes. Audio, video, computers, smartphones…stuff.

Back to the future: Artificial Intelligence doesn’t come in a box. And much – possibly most – of what’s unveiled this week here is AI-driven. For years before AI popped, this show, and this nimble association, has been pivoting, away from things to experiences. Sure, there are still monster TVs and flying cars at CES, and there have been for 10 years. But last year’s keynote by Delta Airlines’ CEO was a star-studded event at The Sphere, a dazzling display of how they’re reimagining your travel experience. Experiences, not things.

Like flight, radio is also 100+ years old. So I am also anxious, as our industry struggles to evolve. Radio was the first consumer electronic gadget. And, for most of a century we cornered the market on making audio. Now everyone does. Much of what I write each week here in TALKERS is about optimizing the listener’s and advertiser’s experience. Radio’s roots run deep. At CES I’m looking for clues as to how we can grow new branches. More here tomorrow.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Sound Thinking

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

Each week here, TALKERS affords me a voice in the career conversation we all share. Iimg appreciate this real estate, and your feedback.

To say thanks, publisher Michael Harrison and I have a stocking stuffer for you, an anthology of all 2025 “Monday Memo” columns. Included: additional pieces I filed on Tuesdays of holiday weeks when TALKERS didn’t publish on Mondays; and daily reports during the Consumer Electronics Show and NAB Show, both of which I have covered for this publication for decades; and additional reports on news and trends pertinent to you, my fellow storyteller.

Here ya go, an instant E-book download: http://getonthenet.com/SoundThinking.pdf

And here’s to 2026!

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: AI Headlines, Local Dollars

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgAt the very first CES in 1967, audio cassettes were disrupting 8-track tapes. Back to the future: Artificial Intelligence now threatens to disrupt almost everything.

Each January, this event – which we-who-cover-it are under strict instructions to no longer call “the Consumer Electronics Show” – attracts national news coverage for a week. “Shark Tank” will be holding auditions there. Expect to read, see, and hear lots about Artificial Intelligence and how all sorts of technology is changing our everyday lives. I will be there, covering with daily reports here in TALKERS… and on your station.

Again this year, help yourself to daily locally sponsorable 60-second reports, FREE, for air Monday through Friday January 5-9. I will post the-night-before, in time for next-day morning drive. Simply download from HollandCooke.com. There’s no national spot, so you can sell a local sponsorship. Pitch to local appliance retailers, home security installers, HVAC, computer repair shops, vision & hearing aid centers.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

“2025: Top Ten Findings”

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgIf you missed yesterday’s webinar, look for the replay which will be posted today at EdisonResearch.com and which explains these trends well.

If you’re in broadcast radio, reading this list – which presenters offered “in no particular order” – you might feel like you’ve missed a memo… or a decade:

  • #10: Video is redefining the podcast landscape.
  • #9: YouTube is the top platform for podcast consumption and discovery for Gen Z.
  • #8: TikTok is a platform for discovery for music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
  • #7: Podcast fandom goes beyond listening.
  • #6: Women’s voices matter in podcasts and music.
  • #5a: Majority of all daily listening time is spent with ad-supported audio.
  • #5b: Time spent with streaming music shifts from free to paid streaming music platforms.
  • #4: In-car audio shifts to digital.
  • #3: Shifting ad budget to podcasts can increase reach.
  • #2: Smart speaker adoption varies by country.
  • #1: Consumption of AI-narrating audio is increasing.
  • “Bonus Finding:” More than 30% of Americans are awake by 6:00 am.

Recommendation for radio broadcasters: Make #4 our Priority Number One, defending a hill radio still holds. Audit your station’s app experience. And consider that Bonus Finding evidence that morning drive survived the pandemic shutdown after all.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: AI Collaboration

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgNews people I coach reckon that my epitaph will read: “Consequence, not Process.”

Too often, news copy – while factually correct – is arcane minutes-of-the-meeting stuff, rather than emphasizing impact on the listener’s routine.

Process: “The Transit board revised its fare structure.”

Consequence: “Riding the bus will cost 50 cents more starting Monday.”

Process: “The district reallocated Title I funds.”

Consequence: “Some after-school programs could be cut.”

Process: “The committee advanced a bill on short-term rentals.”

Consequence: “Airbnb hosts may soon face new rules – and fees.”

Process: “The planning board approved a variance…”

Consequence: “Construction can now begin on that apartment complex near the campus.”

Unwrap the package. To illustrate, here’s a video I am playing in client stations’ conference rooms – and it’s a dang clinic in impactful local news reporting.

The back-story: If I say “Hasbro,” you might think Monopoly, Scrabble, Mr. Potato Head, Play-Doh, G.I. Joe, and Transformers. Eventually it added Star Wars and Marvel action figures to its repertoire. Hasbro became a major player in video games, TV, and movies. This 100-plus-year-old company has outgrown its Rhode Island roots and announced it is moving to Boston. In any-size state – let alone the smallest – losing 700-plus jobs hurts.

Here’s the video: https://getonthenet.com/Hasbro.MP4

After playing that, I sometimes hear “But TV has more manpower than a radio station.” Yes and no.

Management confirmed to me that this reporter was in MMJ mode that day, meaning “Multi-Media Journalist.” Translation: She worked alone, no videographer, no producer. Praising her work when I requested the video, I was told that “she did a great job executing what we brainstormed in the morning meeting.”

And THAT’S the advantage TV has over most radio news operations: There is more than one person in the newsroom to have that meeting. We’re radio people. We think aloud. But with whom, when you alone, ARE the news department?

Have that collaborative conversation with ChatGPT or MS Copilot. Brainstorm story angles and interview prospects and questions. At client stations, we have asked – and AI apps delivered – actual coverage timelines. Try it. The interaction feels surprisingly human – like having a sharp, tireless producer who’s always ready to riff, reframe, and help you make it matter.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Subliminal Sleigh Bells

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgBy now, a music station in your market – hopefully in your cluster – is all-Christmas-music-all-the-time, a great perennial franchise.

How other stations can sound in-tune-with this special season: Hang a strip of jingle bells in the studio. Or set up a hotkey.

Associate that sound with your weather forecast, a hook valuable to a station of any format, especially news/talkers, which should own the market’s information images. In local hours, you might ring ‘em as you announce the present temperature at the end of the forecast. In non-local hours, have ‘em in the background under your standard forecast intro language.

HOW special is this time of year? People are singing “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” in every country on Earth…except one. In Panama, it’s “I’m dreaming of a wide isthmus.”

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry News

Monday Memo: Gobble Gobble

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgRunning a successful radio station, hosting a show, or producing a podcast is a lot like hosting Thanksgiving dinner. You need a plan. You need to deliver something satisfying to a crowd with varying tastes. And most of all – if you get it right – you’ll have leftovers you can turn into even more value long after the main event.

The Menu is the Strategy. You don’t just “wing it” on Thanksgiving. Same goes for your content. Who are you serving? What do they expect? Your content calendar is your shopping list. Your team is your kitchen crew. And if you’re still deciding what’s on the menu the morning of, don’t expect rave reviews.

Timing is the Secret Sauce. Get the turkey in too late, and the sides suffer. Hit “record” without a clear rundown, and the show flounders. Publish an episode at the wrong time? Lost in the noise. Stations, shows, and podcasts are all about flow and timing. Great pacing, clean execution, smart transitions. Just like the perfect meal, everything needs to hit the table hot and in the right order.

The Turkey is your Centerpiece. For a station, it’s your format or your tentpole talent. For a show, it’s the host or the day’s big segment. For a podcast, it might be your story structure or your featured guest. Nail the turkey, and people forgive a few lumpy mashed potatoes. Miss it – bland, dry, underwhelming – and no one remembers the green bean casserole.

The Sides are the Supporting Elements. News, weather, traffic, and imaging turn a decent meal into a memorable one. Great intros, tight sound design, and a well-timed punchline make your core content shine.

im

Different Tastes, One Table. Uncle Edgar wants deep-fried turkey. Your cousin’s vegan. Grandma’s still mad you skipped the marshmallows on the yams. Your audience is just as varied – P1 loyalists, casual browsers, podcast subscribers who never miss a week. You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can build a spread that makes multiple types of listeners feel seen. Know your audience segments. Serve accordingly.

Table Setting = Delivery Platform. Whether it’s FM, a podcast app, a smart speaker, or a website, presentation matters. Is the user experience smooth? Is the stream clean? Is the podcast art appealing? Are your links working? A cold plate on fine china is still cold. Don’t let great content get lost in clunky delivery.

Leftovers = Repurposing. You spent all that time prepping and recording. Don’t just serve it once. Chop up segments for social. Turn interviews into blog posts. Republish as “Best Of” content. Archive it smartly so people can find it later.

Leftover content, when handled right, can fuel long term engagement. Don’t throw away anything tasty just because the initial serving is over.

Thanksgiving reminds us that people crave connection, comfort, and a sense of occasion. So does your audience, whether they tune in live, stream on demand, or binge your podcast during a road trip.

So, plan well. Deliver hot. Serve generously. And whatever you do, don’t forget the gravy.

Happy Thanksgiving. Pass the ratings.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: The Power of Pause in Local Radio

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgIn an industry built on speed – breaking news, live liners, commercial deadlines – “pause” can feel like a luxury radio can’t afford. But Kevin Cashman’s The Pause Principle: Step Back to Lead Forward (Wiley) argues the opposite: pausing isn’t weakness, it’s a competitive advantage. For local radio leaders, the message couldn’t be timelier.

Cashman defines pause as the conscious act of stepping back to gain perspective before moving forward. Leaders who constantly react miss opportunities for growth and innovation. Those who pause, he argues, engage with more clarity, creativity, and authenticity.

Think about the daily grind in local radio. The PD is juggling ratings pressure, expense challenges, talent issues, and a half-dozen urgent emails from corporate. The sales manager is chasing month-end, writing copy on deadline, and fielding calls from advertisers. In that swirl, it’s tempting to equate motion with progress. Yet, as Cashman warns, constant motion without reflection leads to burnout, blind spots, and missed chances to connect.

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For broadcasters, pause can take many forms:

  • Programming: Instead of cranking out another promo, take time to ask if the message really resonates with the community. What do listeners need from us right now?
  • Sales: Before pitching another rate card, pause to explore the client’s true business challenge. That deeper understanding can unlock bigger, longer-term partnerships.
  • Leadership: In staff meetings, pause to let quieter voices contribute. The next big idea might come from someone who usually doesn’t speak up.

Cashman links pause to authenticity. When leaders slow down enough to be present, they foster trust. In local radio, where credibility is everything, that authenticity builds loyalty with both audiences and advertisers.

He also reminds us that pause is not about inaction. It’s about deliberate action. A well-timed pause before responding to a crisis on-air, before agreeing to a questionable promotion, or before rushing through a strategic decision can be the difference between a misstep and a breakthrough.

For local stations, the takeaway is clear: The pace isn’t going to slow down. The emails will keep coming, the ratings will keep posting, and the deadlines will keep looming. But leaders who carve out moments of pause will not only preserve their sanity – they’ll make better decisions, inspire their teams, and serve their communities more meaningfully.

Pause. Reflect. Then lead forward.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: “What NEXT???” is The New Normal

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgIf you’re a news/talk station, be known-for-knowing what’s happening. My client stations routinely invite tune-in “for a quick [name of network] news update, every hour, throughout your busy day.”

Then, when The Big Story blocks-out-the-sun:

If you automate syndicated shows, who will get alerts and can take the story wall-to-wall joining continuing network coverage?

    • Got station news HR? What’s your plan for covering a major local event? Stations I work with are “news partners” with local TV stations. Radio simulcasts TV coverage…and takes them where TV otherwise isn’t, in-car. Win-win.

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  • If you’re a music station with a news/talk cluster mate, gauge whether an event warrants promoting that the brother station is on-the-story, or if you should simulcast.

Regardless of format, think car radio. People near TV will likely be watching.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Costs Are Criminal. And You’re on the Case.

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

The number of Americans asking Google for help with debt is way up. Delinquencies are surging. Credit scores are falling at the fastest pace since the Great Recession. Consumerimg Confidence is down. Costco is mobbed.

Gasoline, eggs, now coffee. What DOESN’T cost more? Seen beef prices? Hamburger Helper sales are up double-digits year-over-year.

A client station asked me for something to pitch to a local credit union. So, I called-in “The Deal Detective.” He’s a frugal flatfoot, the lieutenant of low prices, a savings sleuth with a barcode scanner. He reads receipts like rap sheets. And he’s a stack of 60-second features.

Special for TALKERS readers: Help yourself, here.

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They’re FREE, no paperwork, no national spot. Sell a local sponsorship and keep the money. It’s your license to bill. OK to use as stream cover-up spots, or on your station website (help yourself to the graphic). NOT “available wherever you get your podcasts.”

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is?

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgPossibly not – beginning Sunday – unless you live in Hawaii and Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) or American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Everywhere else, clocks will change when we “fall-back” on November 2.

It’s uncanny how just that one-hour shift impacts listeners’ lives. So, it’s a BIG topic of conversation. Plan now to empathize with the emotional and practical adjustments they’re confronting, including…

Increased Morning Light:

  • Positive: With the clock set back, it becomes lighter earlier in the morning, which can help people wake up more easily and feel more alert, especially for those who need to start their day early.
  • Negative: For people who start their day later, they may not notice much of a change, but the adjustment period can still be disruptive.

Shorter Evenings:

Positive: The extra hour of light in the morning might be useful for early morning commuters, outdoor activities, or children heading to school.

  • Negative: On the downside, the sun sets earlier in the evening, meaning it gets dark sooner. This can affect evening activities and make commutes home feel less pleasant or even more dangerous due to reduced visibility.

Disruption to Sleep Patterns:

  • Positive: The “fall back” of the clock gives people an extra hour of sleep, which many enjoy.
  • Negative: Some people experience disrupted sleep patterns and may feel temporarily groggy as their bodies adjust to the new time.

Health and Mood:

  • Positive: For some, the extra morning light can improve mood and reduce symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
  • Negative: The early evening darkness can lead to feelings of fatigue, a drop in energy levels, or contribute to “winter blues” or SAD. especially as daylight becomes limited.

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Impact on Productivity:

  • Positive: People may feel more productive in the morning due to earlier sunlight.
  • Negative: However, the earlier sunset could reduce motivation to engage in activities after work or school, potentially leading to a decrease in evening productivity.

Safety Considerations:

  • Positive: More daylight in the morning can make commuting safer for drivers and pedestrians during rush hour.
  • Negative: With darker evenings, there’s an increased risk of accidents, especially for people who are walking or biking.

Energy Consumption:

  • Positive: Energy usage patterns may shift as a result of less artificial light being used in the morning.
  • Negative: However, people tend to use more lighting and heating in the evenings, which may counterbalance the potential energy savings.

Impact on Schedules:

  • Positive: Some people enjoy having the extra hour in their day when DST ends.
  • Negative: For parents and workers, adjusting children’s or personal routines to the earlier darkness can be challenging.

What’s a radio station to do?

  • Bump with or play songs related to time (Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time,’ Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time”).
  • Explain the history of DST.
  • Ask listeners’ opinions on DST. Do they love it or hate it? You’ll hear both.
  • “How will you spend your extra hour?”
  • Give away nostalgic items (like retro vinyl records or vintage tech).
  • Sleep tips from health professionals and mental health experts.
  • Advertisers offer “10% off for the extra hour! Sale only valid from midnight to 1 AM.”
  • Coffee or breakfast gift card giveaways.
  • Pertinent commercial copy hooks, i.e., “It’s time for a new ___!”

And please note: It’s “Daylight Saving Time,” not “Daylight Savings Time.”

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry Views

Monday Memo: USA Facts

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgMicrosoft CEO Steve Ballmer retired with enough do-re-mi to indulge two passions. He bought the NBA Los Angeles Clippers (for a record $2 billion). And he built USAFacts: “a not-for-profit resource rooted in publicly available data, free from spin or politics.” From its mission statement:

— “Find the numbers: We tap into hundreds of databases at the federal, state, and local level. If it’s tracked, we’ll find it. If it’s not, we’ll tell you that, too.”
— “Put them in context: A stat without context is no better than an opinion. We analyze trends over time so you can see the whole story.”
— “Bring them to life: We turn the numbers into insights you can actually use. No jargon, no spin. Just charts, graphics, and data.”

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With so much of talk radio and cable news and social media pandering with affirmation, actual actionable information can differentiate your show or podcast from others that merely entertain outrage. Well-worth a bookmark in your show prep routine.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Podcasting Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgThe most common mistake podcasters make is assuming the microphone alone creates an audience. Too many would-be hosts hit Record without a clear strategy for WHY they’re doing a show, WHO it’s for, and what makes it DIFFERENT from millions of other podcasts.

Here’s where radio people have an edge. They already understand what makes audio work, fundamentals instructive to pure-play podcasters:

Know your listener. The #1 podcasting error is failing to define the audience. A show that tries to appeal to “everyone” ends up resonating with no one. In radio, you wouldn’t program an AC station to please hard rock fans; the same logic applies here. Create a mental picture of your ideal listener and talk to that person… as an individual. A radio show might have thousands of listeners, but they’re listening one-at-a-time. Podcasting is even more intimate. It’s the opposite of “Hi everybody.”

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Prep like it matters. Many podcasters think conversation is enough. But even the loosest-sounding successful shows are tightly structured. Radio taught you this already: segments, clocks, and story arcs keep things moving. Format your podcast.

Edit ruthlessly. The average podcast listener has thousands of options. Rambling is death. Trimming, pacing interviews, and cutting inside jokes shows respect for your listener’s time. Walking-the-walk, TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison takes a mere 44 seconds to explain in this video.

Be consistent. If your show drops sporadically, you won’t build loyalty. Listeners want reliability, whether weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Radio wouldn’t move a morning show around the schedule; don’t do it with your podcast.

Think discoverability. A podcast isn’t a “Field of Dreams” (if you build it, they will come). Great audio needs marketing: social media clips, smart SEO in show notes, cross-promotion, and ideally, visibility on your broadcast platforms.

Make it about them, not you. This is the big one. Too many podcasts are self-indulgent — hosts talking about what interests them. Successful shows flip the script: What does my audience care about, and how can I deliver it in a way only I can?

The bottom line: Radio has invested 100 years doing what podcasting is just learning — creating focused, disciplined, listener-first audio. Bring those habits with you, and you’ll click, while others are still figuring it out.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Social Media Checklist for Radio

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgThese aren’t just bulletin boards. They’re extensions of your station, where listeners expect to be acknowledged and advertisers expect to see results.

Michelle Krasniak’s “Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies,” 6th Edition (Wiley, 2025) really is “9 Books in One.” Haven’t got time for all 739 pages? I’ve boiled-it-down to five fundamentals that tee-up useful brainstorming.

Her core message: stop treating social media as a sideline. It is as important to your brand as what comes out of the transmitter. And it’s sponsorable.

Here are five fundamentals:

Pick your platforms wisely.You don’t need to be everywhere. As our superstar traffic reporter Bob Marbourg used to say when I managed WTOP: “Pick your lane and stay with it.” Figure out where your target listeners already spend time and go-deep there. For most stations that’s Facebook and Instagram, but TikTok and YouTube Shorts are big with younger demos.

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  • Treat it as programming. Every social post is content marketing. That means it needs the same creativity and discipline as an on-air break. Recycle strategically: a morning show prank becomes a 15-second Reel, a newscast becomes “WXXX News Now, Top Stories.”
  • Post consistently. Social media isn’t set-it-and-forget-it. Build an editorial calendar. Balance evergreen content (i.e., music trivia or host Q&As) with timely, trending posts. Post predictably.
  • Measure what matters. Stop obsessing over likes. Engagement — comments, shares, saves, direct messages — is where the action is. Track what kinds of posts spark conversation and what falls flat. Advertisers will also expect hard numbers, so get comfortable with analytics.
  • Bring advertisers along. Clients want more than a schedule of spots. They want campaigns that include social media integration — from sponsored live streams to Instagram Reels with product tie-ins. Package these with on-air buys and show ROI with real data.

Krasniak stresses that “content is everywhere” — the trick is connecting the dots. For stations, that means breaking down silos between the studio, the stream, and the screen. Social feeds aren’t bulletin boards. They’re extensions of the studio, where listeners expect to be acknowledged and advertisers expect to see results.

Bottom line: Social media done right isn’t an add-on; it’s table stakes. If your station isn’t treating it with the same rigor as on-air programming, you’re leaving audience and revenue on the table.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Replay it. Reuse it. Re-sell it.

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgSure, radio’s superpower is that we’re live. But 75% of all advertising dollars are now spent on digital. And Netflix, YouTube, and podcast platforms have conditioned consumers to expect that their content will wait for them (“on-demand”), not the other way around (“linear,” meaning real-time on-air). If your best content disappears the moment it airs, you’re leaking value. Think: time-shifted, searchable, and shareable.

Repackaging doesn’t just mean repeating

Is posting airchecks – whole hours – your news/talk station’s only on-demand offering? Hey, why not. It’s easy, and – mathematically – no listener hears everything live. So, archiving offers convenience.

But few people sit through a whole hour, even when listening live, as Nielsen’s 3-minute gimmick reminds us. So do what music stations do, because music rights issues force them to: Extract chunks of what aired.

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— Smart stations, in every format, are curating familiar recurring morning show bits.

  • — From interviews: Was there an “Aha!” moment, the-one-thing-said that was most impactful/helpful/surprising/quotable? Maybe even a few standout moments? Just one is fine. Be choosy, rather than posting for the sake of posting.
  • — From host monologues, excerpt the passage that makes the point in-a-nutshell. Like Sean Hannity’s shortform morning bit, a lift from the previous day’s live show. Give yours a title, i.e., “Mike in a Minute,” “Randy’s Rant,” “Tell me I’m wrong,” whatever. And if a caller crystallized – or challenged – the host’s take, include a bite. These features are hors d’oeuvres, nibbles from those whole segments you have also posted for those interested to devour.
  • — If you are doing solid local news, CONGRATULATIONS. You’re conspicuous, as newspapers tailspin and because TV stations’ coverage tends to come later in the day. So consider repurposing the morning’s top local stories into a short daily update.
  • Don’t just clip and post. Package and brand. Give all-of-the-above your station’s imaging feel. A series with a name is easier to remember, easier to sell, and more likely to be shared.

The juice is worth the squeeze

Repackaged content does more than just fill your feeds:

  • — It increases time spent with your brand.
  • — It creates more occasions of listening, whichever way works best for the listener. BE ON PHONES.
  • — It opens up new monetization opportunities. Sponsors love targeted content and are buying digital. Sell them yours.

The bottom line? Yours. Future-proof your station.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry News

Industry Pros Applaud RI Radio & TV HOF Inductees

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

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Pictured above at last night’s Rhode Island Radio & TV Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Warwick, Rhode Island are (from l-r): consultant and TALKERS columnist Holland Cooke; radio personality Doug Stephan; 95.5 WSB, Atlanta news director Chris Camp; former Saga/Audacy/Entercom GM Phil Zachary; and WPRO-AM, Providence host & NBC10 anchor Gene Valicenti. This year’s inductees included: WJAR-TV, Providence’s Mario Hilario; ESPN’s Doris Burke; WPRI/WLNE Providence’s Steve Cascione; Poder Spanish Radio’s Tony Mendez; WLNE-TV, Providence’s John DeLuca; iHeartMedia’s Andy Lamchick.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Boo!

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgDon’t let Halloween sneak-up on you. The only holiday Americans spend more for is Christmas. So – to seem more in-touch than your robotic and/or non-local audio competitors – plan something spook-tacular.

DJs will play all the occasion-pertinent songs, good bumpers if you’re a talker. For you, the living, this mash was meant too.

— Do an event? A “safe space” parents can bring costumed kiddos? Maybe to benefit a local charity?

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— Or a grown-ups-only party? 😉Sell a sponsorship. Try a big-box liquor store; or if your bash is at a bar, they might line-up a booze brand from the distributor.
— Costume suggestions? In years past, this has been a productive call-in topic. With family budgets tight now, those pop-up costume stores are less-affordable to some; and many funsters are imagination-challenged. Back when we “went to the movies,” Harry Potter-level characters were more obvious.
— Sell Halloween Safety Tips, PSA-sounding commercials. It’s a low-price way to give new advertisers a taste, and another way for existing advertisers to show-up.

Copy points:

1. Make sure costume masks don’t block your kids’ vision.
2. Go out early, stay in groups.
3. Warn young boys & ghouls not to run into the street from between parked cars.
4. Stick with well-lit streets in your neighborhood.
5. Give young trick-or-treaters flashlights.
6. Stay on sidewalks or walk facing traffic.
7. Tell children not to eat anything before getting home, so you can inspect goodies.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Stakeholder Whispering

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgRadio programmers and sales managers know the drill: The GM drops an idea, a client makes a request, or a listener offers feedback – and the reflex is to jump straight into execution. But what if the real opportunity lies not in what’s asked for, but in what’s actually needed?

That’s the premise of Bill Shander’s new book, Stakeholder Whispering: Uncover What People Need Before Doing What They Ask (Wiley, 2025). Though written for a broad business audience, its lessons resonate in broadcasting, where competing priorities and fast-moving decisions are the norm.

Shander reckons that traditional “stakeholder management” sounds paternal – corralling people to fit our plans. Instead, “stakeholder engagement,” gives them a seat at the table. This “whispering” is a deeper, two-way collaboration where probing questions and active listening uncover hidden needs and surface better solutions.

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For broadcasters, this can be transformative. Consider sales. If an advertiser wants “a morning drive schedule,” a reflexive seller builds a package and fires back a rate card. But a whisperer pauses and asks: Why morning drive? Who exactly are you trying to reach? What outcome would make this buy successful for you? The conversation shifts from spots and cost to outcomes and value.

Programming is no different. Listeners may say they “want more music” or “less negativity” from talk radio. Whispering means listening past the literal request to the sentiment beneath. Is it about mood, pace, or trust? The host or PD who engages at that level isn’t surrendering control – they’re co-creating an experience listeners feel invested in.

The book also emphasizes “loss aversion” – the tendency to resist change for fear of losing control. Whispering reduces defensiveness by letting stakeholders feel ownership of solutions. In a station environment, that might mean involving talent in shaping format tweaks, or framing sales proposals as shared discoveries rather than dictates.

Stakeholder whispering is a reminder to slow down, listen more deeply, and help others articulate what they really need. For radio, it may be the difference between just checking a box and creating lasting value on both sides of the mic.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Water You Known For?

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgMy kitchen faucet wouldn’t shut off. It died, of old age. Things start doing that when your “new” house turns 25.

With replacement hardware inbound from – where else? – Amazon, we’re coping, filling pitchers in the first-floor loo. Yet, days later, we still reach for the broken kitchen faucet, force-of-habit.

WHAT IF someone pushes your station’s button, or goes to download your podcast, and nothing comes out?im

What are you known-for? What would be missed if you weren’t still doing it?

Explain that-you-do what-you-do-well, things listeners thirst for, especially things they can only get from you. And make every effort to deliver.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Commercial Copy for Careworn Consumers

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Constulant

imgWhy I love going on sales calls with station reps: Meeting retailers, who have SUCH a feel for their customers’ (our listeners’) mindset. Following-up last week’s column exploring the societal angst we are living through, this week’s will recommend technique for scripting in what psychologists call the Age of Outrage Fatigue.

Emotional bandwidth is down. Skepticism is up. And the old tricks – hyperbole, urgency, shouty headlines – are backfiring. People aren’t just tuning-out content they disagree with; they’re tuning-out tone. They crave calm. Clarity. Credibility.

To cut-through:

— Clear beats clever. Instead of “Don’t sweat it – we’ve got your ducts in a row!” Try “Get your AC fixed today, and sleep comfortably tonight.”

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— Ditch the drama. Instead of: “Drowning in debt?” Try: “Make a fresh start.”

— Frame your offer as an upgrade, not a fix for failure. Instead of: “Will you EVER be able to retire?” Try: “Plan your next chapter, on your terms.”

— Empathize, don’t exaggerate. People trust what feels human. Empty hype gets filtered out fast. “There’s never been a better time to buy a car!” goes in-one-ear-and-out-the-other.

— Earn attention quickly. The first sentence matters more than ever. Make it a question that includes “you” and/or “your” which describes the consumer situation that your advertiser can cure. “Is your money doing what you want it to?”

— Use specifics, not superlatives. “Best ever!” means nothing. Numbers and proof points build confidence.

— If you’re scripting with AI, rewrite to weed-out clichés. Restaurant spots that tout “a relaxing atmosphere” are verbal Styrofoam.

— Respect their time. Use short sentences. Bullet points. Clear next steps. Happy outcomes.

Today’s most effective copywriting calms the reader. It offers clarity in a crowded, chaotic world.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Unmet Needs?

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgLast week’s column previewed “CeaseFire,” C-SPAN’s antidote to the caricature cable news shouting match. Thanks to all who offered feedback when we wondered “WHAT IF…?” for talk radio.

Recent report from Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: People are disabling news alerts, “either because they feel they get too many or because they are not useful.”

People are anxious. Even a robot can read-the-room, as I learned by asking ChatGPT: “In USA society generally, list unmet needs.” Among them:

Belonging Without Division

— People crave community but are tired of being forced to choose sides.
— Unmet need: A way to feel connected and purposeful without being tribalized by politics, race, class, or ideology.

Trusted, Nuanced Information

— There’s information overload, but trust is at an all-time low.
— Unmet need: Sources that feel both credible and fair-minded, without sensationalism, bias, or agenda-chasing.

Civility in Public Discourse

— Public conversation often feels like a battleground.
— Unmet need: Spaces — digital or real-world — where disagreement is safe, not destructive or humiliating.

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Mental & Emotional Support

— Rising anxiety, loneliness, and burnout affect people across all ages.
— Unmet need: Accessible, non-stigmatized mental health support, including community-based emotional infrastructure (not just therapy apps).

Work That Feels Worthwhile

— Many jobs pay the bills but feel meaningless.
— Unmet need: Opportunities to do work that’s valued, not just productive — where dignity and contribution matter as much as output.

Financial Security That Isn’t Fragile

— Even middle-class households feel one emergency away from disaster.
— Unmet need: Stability and predictability — not just income, but housing, healthcare, and retirement that won’t evaporate with one bad break.

Intergenerational Connection

— Older and younger generations increasingly live in separate realities.
— Unmet need: Meaningful contact across age lines, where wisdom flows both directions — not just tech tutoring and nursing homes.

Shared Purpose

— Many feel like they’re drifting — or living someone else’s script.
— Unmet need: A sense of contribution to something bigger than self, not through ideology but through everyday roles, responsibilities, and relationships.

Consider as you pose call-in topics and choose interview guests.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: CeaseFire

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgAs TV touts its perennial New Fall Season, our DVR is already set to “record series” so we can pick-up where the “Matlock” sequel left-us-hanging; and for a third season of quirky “Elsbeth” (a closet reboot, the female “Columbo”). And where I live – where everyone seems to know everyone – we are salivating for “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.”

Enduring as its hourglass, “The Days of Our Lives” – which NBC punted to Peacock – is renewed for season #61. As Max reverts to the HBO brand, “The White Lotus” will be back for its 4th. “American Idol” will vet a 24th crop of crooners; “America’s Funniest Home Videos” will share a 36th batch of bloopers; and America’s argument will remain unresolved on every channel… except one.

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Nonprofit C-SPAN – the Switzerland of cable news – presents “CeaseFire,” a weekly show where “Democrats and Republicans come together to solve problems and discuss the great challenges facing our nation… during a time when division and dysfunction dominate the national conversation.”

And who better to U-turn the “Crossfire” template that pits partisan pundits against each other than the suit who oversaw it, longtime CNN EVP and Washington bureau chief Sam Feist, now C-SPAN CEO. “In a media landscape that too often rewards outrage over understanding,” he reckons “‘CeaseFire’ stands out by showing what respectful, principled conversation looks like.”

“Like sands through the hourglass,” radio’s talk format was an early 1990s Revolution. Now – like the AM band it buttressed as long as possible – WHAT IF…

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Topics That Tune-Them-In

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgBaby Boomers (born 1946–1964) are some 20% of the U.S. population, but control more than 50% of all household wealth. They hold $70+ trillion in assets and spend an estimated $548 billion annually. They are lifelong AM/FM listeners, and they’re redefining what life after 60 looks like. Are you into what they’re up to?

Some are having the time of their lives. Others are confronting new realities. All are seeking relevance, respect, and real-world information. Consider these issues for call-in topics and guest interviews and podcasts. Possibly a sponsored series?

Lifestyle & Purpose

— “How to Make Your Bucket List Actually Happen”
— “Finding Purpose Beyond the 9 to 5”
— “Encore Careers That Start with a Volunteer Gig”

Health & Wellness

— “Sleep After 60: What Changes and What Helps”
— “The Foods That Fight Brain Fog”
— “Fitness Without the Injuries: Smarter Workouts After 50”

Financial Confidence

— “How Much is Enough? Retirement Planning Backwards”
— “Social Security Myths That Could Cost You”
— “Turning Your Home into Income” (downsizing, ADUs, Airbnb)
— “Helping Without Hurting: When Adult Kids Need Financial Help”

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Freedom & Adventure

— “How to Travel More for Less”
— “National Parks Over 60: Hidden Gems and Senior Pass Tips”
— “Cool Day Trips”

Home & Relationships

— “Downsize Without Drama”
— “Living With – or Near – Your Kids: Pros, Cons & Boundaries”
— “Home Safety Upgrades You’ll Be Glad You Made”
— “The Second Time-Around Marriage: Legal & Emotional Realities”
— “Grandparenting Without Overstepping”

Learning & Creativity

— “The Science of Lifelong Learning: Why Your Brain Craves It”
— “It’s Never Too Late to Learn an Instrument (or a Language)”
— “Turning Your Life Story Into a Book – Or a Podcast”
— “Digital Detox: How to Stay Connected Without Feeling Glued”

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

TV Trend is Radio Wake-Up Call

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgSouth Florida viewers are confused. WPLG, which brands as “Local 10,” was an ABC-TV affiliate for 69 years… until yesterday. Now it’s more local than ever, after divorcing its network, whose programming moved to the FOX affiliate’s digital channels 18.1 and 7.2, now branded “ABC Miami.” Among courteous FAQs about this change on WPLG’s web site: “How do I rescan my TV?” to find ABC programming.

FAQ #1: Why is this happening? 

WPLG GM Bert Medina explains, “We made a generous offer to ABC, but it became clear the two sides were not going to agree to a new deal.”

Citing the FCC’s “interest in and the authority to promote the public interest and to ensure that local broadcast TV stations retain the economic and operational independence necessary to meet their public interest obligations,” Chairman Brendan Carr is investigating what he calls networks’ “attempt to extract onerous financial and operational concessions from local broadcast TV stations.” His recent letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts announced an inquiry into NBC practices that will also scrutinize other networks’ affiliation agreements. He reckons that networks threatening long-held affiliations “could result in blackouts and other harms to local consumers of broadcast news and content.”

“That’s why we have an FCC license.”

WPLG’s GM explains that “our job is to serve this community with news and local programming.” He – and his Berkshire Hathaway ownership – determined that “if we agreed to the ABC terms, that mission would have suffered.” The last straw? “Exclusivity, which is the core to our relationship, is disappearing. Even when ABC airs high-quality programming, like the Oscars, ABC airs that same programming on other platforms. We no longer feel we are getting what we pay for.”

Proud that “a majority of our staff grew up here,” Medina announced that WPLG is staffing up. “Instead of sending our money to New York, we will keep it in our community and use that money to finance a massive expansion in local news and other local programming. We are excited for the future of Local 10. Just watch us. We are about to serve this community in an even bigger and better way.”

Music has been commoditized 

It’s all over the other platforms and devices increasingly siphoning-off radio listening time and ad revenue. And unlike six-spot (or longer) stopsets now common on FM, streams’ spots are shorter and fewer. And there are NO commercials for paid subscribers who’ve had-it-up-to-here with broadcast music radio.

TV networks aren’t shy about hijacking affiliates’ viewers. ABC offers Disney+, CBS lures us to Paramount+, NBC touts Peacock. And network radio spots are plugging iHeart podcasts.

So, yuh. Make your station as smartphone friendly as possible. But when I jump in the car, and my phone pops-up on the dashboard radio once owned, what comes out the speaker still has to compete. And what is the ONE thing that streams that your robotic FM competitors don’t offer? “Local.”

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Monday Memo: How You Tune Them Out?

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgUnintentionally, your poorly phrased comment, dated reference, weary cliché, or offhand remark can at least subtly distance you from your listener and could undercut your credibility, offend, or even spark backlash.

Whether you’re a broadcaster, podcaster, newscaster, or you are crafting commercial or promo copy, take a fresh look at these often-overlooked pitfalls.

Dated references: Nothing can disrupt your listener’s day quicker than quickly changing weather. Being thought of as a weather source can advantage any station in any format. But you risk that currency by calling tomorrow “…a carbon copy of today.” Few under 50 have ever used carbon paper. And with weather more erratic lately, implying otherwise can make your forecast sound – forgive me – “like a broken record.” Also antique: “Rolodex,” now that listeners’ smartphones have “Contacts.” So, purge old-speak from “the radio dial.” Listeners (and advertisers) notice when we keep-up… or don’t.

Stereotyping: 

— “Soccer mom in a SUV” sure is the retail super-consumer advertisers want to see pull-into the parking lot. Visualize her in programming and promotion planning and sales prospecting… OFF-air stuff. But reinforcing gender roles and class assumptions ON-air paints a narrow picture of parenting and lifestyle, potentially alienating women.
— “You know how Millennials are.” Yes – like “Generation X” – they dislike being typecast, and you sound out-of-touch and judgmental.
— Calling someone “a Karen” can alienate listeners who have felt ridiculed suffering a situation similar to whatever you’re describing. And there are millions in the potential ratings sample named… Karen.
— “Probably some college kid with no clue how to drive in the snow” implies incompetence based on age and background. This kind of dig can undermine younger listeners or newcomers to your market.

Stereotypes are lazy, often a shortcut to humor or imagery. Ask yourself: “Is this something I’d say to someone’s face?”

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Insensitive Humor: “Looks like someone forgot their meds today!” can offend those quietly dealing with anxiety, or depression. Pandemic silver lining: Mental health is no longer a laughing matter. You may have seen TV PSAs by Howie Mandel, sharing how ADHD has impacted his life and asking that it not be a punchline.

“Potty-mouth:” Mom and Dad’s just-the-two-of-them vocabulary is different than the way they speak with kids in the car, and what they want to hear their children repeat after hearing on radio.

— “Pissed-off” has become unnecessarily familiar, particularly with recent inflation…with which we are “annoyed,” “fed-up,” and “frustrated.”
— Even if something sounds commonplace, origins or implications may make it unsuitable for all-audience radio. “Scumbag” began as a term for condom. “Sucks” and “screwed” also have sexual roots some consider vulgar.

Taboo red flags:

— “No offense, but…” or “I’m just saying…” often precede something offensive.
— “It’s just a joke!” often follows a crack at the expense of marginalized groups.
— “Everyone thinks that…” overgeneralizes and can alienate those who disagree.
— Mocking accents or speech patterns can come across as disrespectful rather than entertaining.
— “Real [men/women] do…” Gendered assumptions can feel exclusionary or outdated.
— “This [group] is always…” Sweeping characterizations often reinforce stereotypes.

Words have weight. In a medium where tone, timing, and trust matter, what we say – and how we say it – can either strengthen listener connection or erode it.

NEXT WEEK: Topics to Tune-IN the listeners you want most.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke