X-twitter Linkedin-in Youtube

Hope and Wisdom in Every Word

by Beth Bacall, Sr. Talent Coach

The writing of this article takes place before any election results are known—and this isintentional. By now, a new President has been elected, and with that comes a wide range of emotions. It’s important to acknowledge these feelings, but also to recognize that there is an ongoing conversation to be had with our listener: feelings versus facts. We navigate this daily when deciding which content will best encourage and uplift our listeners.

Political content often divides, and we may never fully understand the personal reasons behind someone’s support for any given politician—there are countless possibilities. But what we *do* know is why people tune in to Christian radio; they come to be encouraged and reminded of the hope and love of God.

Before the election, I encouraged on-air talent to share Bible verses that reaffirmed God’s promises to us, offering hope in knowing He is always making a way. Without directly addressing political matters, we can still comfort both the conscious and subconscious minds by gently, joyfully, and consistently presenting God’s promises.

For example:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV)

Alongside these verses, we share stories of God’s faithfulness to further inspire and reassure our listeners. Our music, messages, and your voices complete the mission we are called to carry out, every single day.

Keep up the great work—you are making a difference.

By Jeff Connell, Audience Growth Consultant

I’m sure you’ve heard it too. It’s come up at family gatherings, and while touching base with friends, they ask if I’m “still doing that whole radio thing.” It’s certainly been discussed in trade blogs and in the hallways of many radio stations, maybe even yours. Here’s the good news.

Radio is not dying. 

It is, however, changing.

The evidence continues to grow that listening habits are changing. Opportunities to find what we do have evolved from just the four or six buttons on the dashboard to an infinite number of searchable podcasts with customizable playlists at the touch of your thumb.

The old way is “if we build it, they will come.” This mindset must quickly become extinct. If it hasn’t yet with you, you’re blessed, but you’re at the very last moment where you can begin your pivot.

We need to replace “radio” with “content.” In our format, it is “meaningful content.”  Perhaps “life-changing content?”. We have an insurance policy against extinction. It’s our content. Let’s be crystal clear:  The reason we can stand out and the thing we can provide is “meaningful, life-changing content.” That sounds lofty, so let’s simplify it.

It’s about Stories.

This is what keeps radio alive. Add companionship and connection to community, and that is “meaningful, life-changing content.”

There are a lot of tactics to think about for your situation, but at the core:

  • Play great songs that bring people comfort and a sense of belonging.
  • Move listeners closer to worship (not the genre but the act).
  • Remind listeners of God’s power and love.
  • Add stories from not just your air talent but also thought-leaders.

With all of these ingredients, you have the pathway to keep radio moving forward and ministry expanding.

How can Finney Media help? 

We’ve got great talent coaches who know how to help your talent find their strongest points of view and uniqueness.  We all tell stories, but storytelling is a skill that can be improved with evidence-based strategies and insights. We also can help reassure you that breaking “the format rules” in innovative, strategic ways might be just what you need. Visit our CONTACT US page and let’s chat.

“The world just smacks you down . . . knocks you to your knees. I was in a bad place nine weeks ago. I’d been told my divorces were all my fault. I got some help . . . and I now realize that I have responsibility that I need to own . . . but they weren’t all my fault.”

Steve (name changed to protect who and where) is a big guy. About 6’2”. Arms like aspen trunks. And on his right arm from elbow to shoulder is a fresh God-honoring tattoo. And he’s excited to show it, and tell the story of his very recent journey from guilt and despair to a better place. He listens to Christian radio.

There are lots of “Steve’s” and “Stephanie’s”, with similar stories, who are leaving other less-hopeful media (have you watched local news or been on social media lately?), and coming to us.

Why? Often for words of affirmation. So talk to them and play them songs that acknowledge and enlighten them about their worth in the eyes of God.

Words like:

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and low

Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know.*

Here’s the reality.

The only words of Godly affirmation your listener may hear this week may come from you.

Let’s be praying today that God directs our words – and the songs we choose – to be the kind, affirming, “hospital-for-the-hurting” words many need to hear.

We’re hosting an eight-minute webinar that uncovers more research revelations from your listeners. Will you join us? Click the link to learn more.

I used to think of stories as “kid’s stuff.” Nice little entertaining things, maybe with a moral lesson. I thought serious people didn’t use stories to convey important things like spiritual truth. I was way off.

Why do we love books and movies? Why do some have incredible mass appeal?

“Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience reveal that our brain is hardwired to respond to story; the pleasure we derive from a tale well told is nature’s way of seducing us into paying attention to it. In other words, we’re wired to turn to story to teach us the way of the world.’
“The rush of intoxication a good story triggers . . . makes us willing pupils, primed to absorb the myriad lessons each story imparts.” –Lisa Cron, Wired for Story

And where did that hardwiring come from? God could have made the Bible a theological textbook. Instead he filled it with the stories of all the things that happened in his work to love people and the world.

And it all adds up to one big story. God’s good news is a story. You could say it’s a love story. There’s a romantic beginning in a garden. A bad guy seduces and woos the beloved away. God persistently pursues, and at great cost and sacrifice proves his love. But then everything goes wrong and all seems lost.

Yet at the last minute there’s a heroic turn of events and an incredible climax that defeats the bad guy. And in the end, the relationship with the beloved becomes even more glorious than it was in the beginning in the garden.

This is the original Story.

And now it’s as if every human is wired to be sensitive to the story form, so that we might be sensitive to God’s story for us.

That’s why stories matter.

Here, let’s test how built-in it is:

“I was standing in line at Wal-mart the other day, minding my own business, when the guy in front of me started to….”

You want to know what he did, don’t you? You can’t help it. You’re wired to be curious about “what happens next.” Stories are a built-in super power that we can use for good.

If you want to dig in even more into story, consider our Finney Media StoryGold® Course for your team. You can find out more information on our STORYGOLD STORYTELLING page.

by Jan Shober, Sr. VP of Strategy

I slid into the driver’s seat of my car recently one morning and turned the key. The sound of the radio wafted through the air; It had been left on. Immediately, I heard one of those short ministry segments tucked between songs and programs. I had only a short drive, so I left the radio alone.

I heard a kind but energetic voice talking about the migration patterns of monarch butterflies—and how God’s handiwork paints nature. As I navigated through summertime traffic, clogged due to roadwork, I could not help but reflect on the wonder of God.* Instead of being an annoying drive it had turned into a moment of worship.

Why do I tell you this? It is so easy to overlook the importance of short form ministry audio. Yet radio features, or short streaming features, with their ability to paint vivid pictures and spiritual truths can engage, impact, and keep your listener. And get this: Our listener often does not tune in based on our schedules—but on their own. What will they hear in that crucial first moment?

It takes less than a minute to have a deep impact. In our hurried and busy world, a minute is an exceedingly long time. Think of the basketball shot clock. Or the pitching countdown now used. Or the fraction of a second that determines the winner in a race.

Radio and audio features have the compelling ability to transport listeners somewhere else and into unfamiliar experiences. Like the monarch butterflies on their migratory journey, these features can whisk us away from the mundane, offering a brief but meaningful escape. Through storytelling and powerful language, they ignite our imagination, fire up our spirits and allow us to see the world through new eyes.

Furthermore, radio features serve as a reminder of the beauty and significance of a single message. A one-focus brief message can be a moment of respite—a chance to slow down, listen, and appreciate the spiritual importance of every moment.

With such an impact, it’s vital to take your short form seriously. Review what you are airing regularly for a match with your mission. Remove the features that dull your spirit or cause you to yawn. If you are a producer, use these same measures. Share your audio with people unfamiliar with your work. And listen to what they say.

Back in my car, I reached my nearby destination. The radio feature had ended, leaving me with a renewed appreciation for the profound impact of such moments. My day had improved in just a minute.

*Details changed

By: Rick Hall, Audience Growth Consultant

Given that there are millions of podcasts vying for listeners’ attention across every topic, the thought of standing out and breaking through may seem daunting.

Your Niche

To address this, one of the most critical factors in podcasting success is niche selection. While that may seem counterintuitive while trying to reach a wide audience, narrowing your focus to a specific niche can be the key to building a dedicated and engaged audience.

With millions of podcasts out there, trying to appeal to everyone is a surefire way to get lost in the noise. By homing in on a particular niche, you differentiate yourself from the competition and become the go-to resource for that specific topic or interest. 

Your Content Strategy

With your niche firmly established, the next secret to podcasting success lies in developing a rock-solid content strategy and maintaining consistency. Listeners crave predictability and reliability. They want to know when to expect new episodes and what kind of content they’ll be getting.

Decide on the format of your show – will it be interview-based, a solo monologue, or a roundtable discussion? Determine the frequency of your episodes – weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly?

Once you’ve established these parameters, stick to them religiously.

More on Your Journey to Success

The journey to podcasting success won’t be an overnight phenomenon. It will take dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to learn and adapt along the way. There will be challenges and setbacks. If you need any guidance along the way, our team is here to support you on this exciting journey. A great start is to attend our next Finney Media Webin8.

We’ll explore much more on how to choose the right niche and the other five secrets to podcasting success in “Eight Minutes to Podcasting Success” happening Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at Noon CT/1 p.m. ET. REGISTER for this free, online event today.

 

 

by Beth Bacall, Senior Talent Coach

Let’s talk about something really important; being heard and being a good listener. God has offered you a place on the airwaves. How amazing! Glad you listened to Him. But when was the last time you listened to yourself? When was the last time you intentionally listened to how you are being heard on the air? As an on-air talent with a whirlwind of responsibilities, it’s okay to take a beat and tune-in to how you are sounding on those speakers. In fact, I encourage it.

As a talent coach, I get it. Listening to ourselves on the radio isn’t just about critiquing our performance. It’s a chance to discover our hidden talents and assess if our on-air messages are translating the way we want them to. You bring something special to the table, and that is a perfect vehicle for content. Maybe you’re the parent of a kid with special needs, or you volunteer reading books for the blind. You might be the only cook in your family that can create knockout dishes everyone wants. Whatever it is, these are identity builders that make your show shine.

In my experience, talent tends to overlook all the wonderful pieces of themself that would allow a listener more opportunities for engagement. Pointing out the strengths, the truths and the compelling aspects of a story builds a relationship with the listener. It’s about tapping into the power of your own experiences and sharing that with your audience. Whether it’s a heartfelt prayer or a funny anecdote, that authenticity is what keeps listeners coming back for more.

You might be someone that navigates this naturally, or maybe you haven’t had the chance to consider and identify all the great pieces of your life that would make a difference. Talent coaches listen to the talent first, their audio next, and then provide support so you can embrace the richness of your experiences, the depth of your passions, and the uniqueness of you, and how you share God’s love authentically. It’s fun to hear on-air talent embrace the quirks, passions, and moments that make you, well, you.

It’s not about fitting in—it’s about standing out, being heard and understood.

Finney Media offers Talent Coaching that connects the person to their talent, their audience and most importantly God. We hope to connect with you at the 2024 CMB Momentum Conference happening May 29-31, 2024, in Orlando, FL or anytime you’d like to hear how you

By Jeff Connell, Audience Growth Consultant

Hotel California is a great song.   

I’m guessing you’ve been exposed to that song for a long time. I’m in my mid 40s; I grew up hearing that song with my dad. It’s still wildly popular today on Classic Hits, Rock, and even Soft AC stations.   

But it doesn’t belong on a secular Hot AC.   

No way.  There’s just no chance that someone who wants to hear California Love by 2Pac, Don’t Speak by No Doubt, Hello from Adele and the latest from Beyonce would want to hear that song.   

Except they do.   

Those are the top five songs in our Hot AC music test. The Eagles?  #1! Now it was the live version from 1994, not the 1977 original, but truth be told, it caught me off guard. I knew it was popular in our prior Music Test, but it was now a trend I couldn’t argue with.   

It’s one of their favorites. Actually, it is their favorite. Across numerous demo splits, even.   

Earlier in my career, I would have probably passed. I would have argued that it’s the “wrong texture” and “what you don’t play can’t hurt you.” There’s validity to those arguments sometimes.    

I would have argued that I know what brand “we’re creating,” and that “they can get that other places” and “it’s not unique to us, so it’s less valuable.” Also true. 

However, there is a hubris to that thinking that I’ve been guilty of. I’m certain we’ve all probably flirted with it if not fallen victim to it.   

I want you to want what I want you to want.   

I want you to love the format I’ve designed in my head. That song that I just know is going to be a smash. I want to play the songs I want to and leave out the ones I don’t leave room for in my head. I want you to love this talent, this benchmark, this promotion. I don’t want to do or be that thing I was hoping to avoid or reinvent my way around.   

That’s often a detour from the success your ministry could have. If the purpose is a deeper ministry relationship with more listeners, often the choices are clear. They just aren’t always as “exciting” as we might hope they might be.   

In my first Christian programming work, repeatedly in our music tests and perceptuals, we received feedback that was challenging.  As an organization, we were feeling led to grow our audience, but that often was in conflict with a musical position that we had long seen ourselves in. It caused consternation internally about what direction we should go and how to achieve it.    

I remember wrestling with music results that showed our P1 audience often clearly preferred songs we were not playing regularly, and similarly weren’t as in love with other songs we were playing more often.  

An example: Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig & Dean. That song scored huge. It’s spot on with Gospel purpose. And we played it. But I sure ran into all kinds of internal resistance. Sure, they might like Revelation Song, but that wasn’t us.  

Except, the listener was telling us that’s what she wanted.   

We wanted her to want what we wanted . . . and played it. But with a fair amount of internal “hairy eyeball’ resistance. 

Today, that’s why I choose to play Hotel California. On a secular Hot AC. In 2024. The listener loves it! 

I learned something. I could get out of the way. I knew my product existed beyond what my vision had been for it originally. I knew that I didn’t have all the answers. And I knew my personal preference could take a backseat. 

Now, I want them to get what they want.  

And everyone wins as a result.  

By Gary Morland, Finney Media Talent Coach

At your worst moment it would be nice to think your best friends would be with you.

At Jesus’ worst moment at the cross there were several.

But only one was a disciple friend. He was the one who saw himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

It was all about that relationship. His heart, not the facts, kept John at the cross.

The facts led the other disciples away from the cross and into hiding.

Which makes sense, since at this point there was seemingly nothing they could do.

And they were probably afraid the Jews would arrest and crucify them, too.

Their thinking probably warned them about being at the cross. They listened to their heads. I would.

Several women were also at the cross.

Their heads may have told them about risk and uselessness, but their hearts told them this was where they belonged.

They went with their hearts.

Two days later, Mary’s heart had her at the tomb in the morning in the dark.

Not because she expected anything to happen, but because she was all about the connection of her heart with Jesus.

Your heart makes you do things your head would laugh at.

The disciples got another chance when Mary told them Jesus was gone and they ran to the tomb to see.

At the tomb, their heads added up the facts.

Then they went home. Even the disciple whom Jesus loved.

Why stay if Jesus is dead and gone? What reason is there to stay if there’s nothing to do? It makes sense they would leave.

But Mary and her heart connection remained at the tomb when Peter and John left.

To her, what else was there for her to do but be at the last place she saw Jesus? Her heart demanded it.

The disciples and their heads missed it.

They missed the most momentous, meaningful event to ever happen in the history of the universe – the resurrection.

The reality of a new supernatural life was first made known, not to Jesus’ chosen men and their heads, but to Mary and her heart that illogically compelled her to stay.

Today, I want to connect with people’s hearts first, personally and in my communication work. And I want them to connect with mine.

We’ll always have projects and goals and issues, but I hope I grow to value the heart connection first and most, like Jesus.

Here at Finney Media, our goal is Audience Growth—spiritually and hearts reached.

To that end, we survey Christian radio listeners from across the country for the Why Listen? Survey. This past year, almost 15,000 listeners were invited by CCM stations, Teaching/Music stations and all-Teaching stations and programs.

And the headlines from the survey are clear. Our listeners want Jesus.

They are more about spiritual encouragement, spiritual growth, the Bible, prayer and worship than many people expect.

They don’t want  nor do they expect to hear from us about:

  • Pop Culture
  • Sports
  • Politics
  • News

We see more Christian audio channels who are narrowing their focus on messages about Christ, spiritual growth, spiritual encouragement and we see record numbers of listeners gravitate to their station or podcast.

In a crowded, confusing audio choice environment, we achieve more listeners, more ministry impact by narrowing our focus.

  • Ask us about the station that ended hard news and started doing only stories consistent with Biblical encouragement and how they are at record audience levels.
  • About the skyrocketing ministry impact at the station that requires its on-air team to use Scripture – not a verse of the day but something the announcer has researched – at least hourly.
  • About how donor response went way up when the program became more focused on the most effective Biblical content, which meant reducing other messages.
  • About the morning show with stronger reach than ever after they started praying more often on air.

Here’s why this matters to us all: In most towns, there used to be no more than 50 choices for audio content, the radio stations in that town. Even in the largest markets, there were no more than 75 choices.

Today? With smartphones and smart speakers, there’s thousands of options. Your podcast, your radio stations, your program are now jostling with thousands of other choices.

This is an environment for your podcast or your radio station where the only way to achieve audience growth is to narrow your focus to your mission and your listeners’ preferences and expectations. This is how to achieve more listeners and more ministry impact.

This month, I’m with the other team members of Finney Media at the 2024 NRB Convention in Nashville, TN and the team will be at the CMB Gold Event in Dallas, TX. We’d love to discuss this in more depth with you.

Search Website

  • Keywords

  • Search by Content Type

  • Search by Category

  • Reset

Now Available on Amazon

Learn more
Contact Us
Categories

@FINNEY MEDIA 2024

Twitter Linkedin