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More than a Data Point

Encouragement: A Feeling

Chuck and Jan here.

You may recall that 98% of the Finney Media Why Listen? National survey listeners indicated that “to be encouraged” was a main reason for listening to you. So surely what that means is important to your success in fulfilling your mission in 2017.

The dictionary* says it well.  Encouragement is “something that makes someone more determined, hopeful, or confident.” In other words, it’s a feeling. And while feelings can’t be photocopied, they can be seen—in body language, daily enthusiasm for living and overall spiritual attitudes.

Does your listener feel a surge of confidence, hope and spiritual well-being during and after listening to you? Does she turn on the radio for just that reason?

This is so important that people will try many things to feel this way.  For example, a current rage sweeping women’s magazines and reading is something the Danish call hygge—an idea that explains why the Danish rate so high in happiness. Hygge is a feeling of warmth, softness and coziness. A warm fire. A hot drink. Softer lighting. A walk in the park. A comfy reading corner. Woolen socks.  Friends. We suggest listeners would want to add to this list: listening to my favorite Christian radio station.

While “to be encouraged” is not the only reason people listen, it’s a big one.

So the logical question is this:  What gets us there?

We couldn’t help but think of The 5 Love Languages book by Gary Chapman. He defines the challenge well in his opening chapter. “Most of us grew up learning the language of our parents and siblings, which becomes our primary or native tongue. Later, we may learn additional languages—but usually with more effort. These become our secondary love languages. We speak and understand best our native love language. . . . If we speak only our primary language and encounter someone else who speaks only his or her primary language, which is different from ours, our communication will be limited. . . . If we are to communicate effectively across cultural lines, we must learn the language of those with whom we wish to communicate.”

Chapman goes on to talk about the languages of love—and we’d like to add the languages of encouragement. Knowing your listener well will help you communicate in a tone that is encouraging, with words that connect about things that reach into her very personal world.

When you’ve come close, she says things like these actual listeners**: “It puts us all in a good place spiritually and mentally.”  And “It makes me feel encouraged and lets me know that I’m not alone in this life.”  Finally, “It lifts me up when I feel down about struggles. I feel connected, whole and filled with the Holy Spirit.”

  1. It’s our time to reach out, touch someone and change countless individual worlds.

Finney Media Note: We’ll be presenting specific ways to accomplish effective communication at our Finney Media Why Listen? Focus Group & Workday April 5 and 6. Read about that opportunity for you HERE.

*Merriam-Webster      **From recent Finney Media Christian radio listener research.

The Away Team:  Us!  2017 Vision

Chuck here.

David Butts wrote an eye-opening, perspective changing book* that just might shake up my 2017. What’s that all about, you say?

Think about your last visit to a sports arena. If you are the away team crowd, there’s less cheering (fewer fans), maybe not even a band playing, plus you have to endure the reaction of the home team crowd to the referee calls. Ugh!

Does that sound like the Church or—closer to home—your ministry in 2017?  It’s true that once upon a time, Christianity, the Church and parachurch organizations had the upper hand of a home team crowd.  We dominated the culture. But even with election swings, the dominant media culture is not Christian-friendly, or even Christian-values friendly.

We are the “away team.” Quoting now: the away team is “a powerful call to minister out of a position, not of cultural dominance, but of the humility that demonstrates that we really are aliens in this world (1 Peter 1). “

How does that help me, you ask?

It makes a big difference in our expectations, our reactions and our prayers and plans. We are, plainly speaking, the missionary. A missionary does some things differently.

  1. She looks at the culture and the people around her and works to understand them.
  2. She isn’t busy condemning them for their culture, but working to bring Christ’s love with her words and actions.
  3. She’s learning the language, not expecting them to learn hers.
  4. She’s praying and asking for prayer for her ministry.
  5. And she’s looking for ways God might be providing little openings.

The New Testament writers had the concept down; they were living it out daily. Here’s Peter, in I Peter 1:17: “Live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.”

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”  (I Peter 3:15)

Might this attitude make a difference in our work in in 2017? Might we become centered on bringing hope to people? Using words they understand? Praying for our listeners with expectancy?

That’s my vision for 2017.

Perhaps you’ll consider it, too.

Together, let’s move forward.

 

*With One Cry, by David Butts. Harvest Prayer Ministries (April 22, 2016)

What she says

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

Chuck and Jan here.

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

Recently, we asked about 125 people, mostly women, who listen to Christian music radio, for their description of “worshipful Christian music”.

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

Just to be clear, these were not professional musicians, Program Directors, theological experts or even industry leaders. These were your radio listeners. Moms. Teachers. Managers. Grandmas. Grocery store clerks. Your everyday radio listeners.

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

The responses were consistent. Consistently positive and God-focused. We think you’ll be interested in their word choices and comments as you select music and decide what to say between the songs.

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

Nikki says, “Worship music points directly to Jesus and lifts up His name!”

Luanne says, “Lyrics that speak about the Savior!”

And Jeff adds, “Praising the Lord our Creator for His love and everlasting life!”

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

And what was the word emphasis in their descriptions?  In rank order, here are the most used descriptors:

  1. Praise
  2. Uplifting
  3. Worship
  4. Closer [to God]

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

Coming in for honorable mention are words like “prayerful” and “glorify”.

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

All of which should make any theologian give a cheer. And it should provide a Program Director with some listener guidance on song selection, since our  Finney Media Why Listen? national research shows “worshipful Christian music” to be a top reason that your listeners tune in.

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

Hear Nina: “Music that puts the focus on worshipping and adoring the Lord for who He is and what He’s done.”

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

Nina, we agree. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Movie A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

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Listener Differences by Format: Who, what, why?

 

Chuck and Jan here.

 

It’s that little cartoon in the back of the magazine.  “Find the things in these two photos that are different.”  Or that tune we’re (and you?) still humming from childhood TV, “One of these things is not like the other.”  Yes, differences.  As we pray, plan and program our stations, networks and shows, knowing the differences among our listeners helps us attract new audience, learn from our format friends and discover what to emphasize.

 

We see distinct differences in our 2016 Finney Media Why Listen? national survey when we break out response by format.  The formats we looked at are Music, Music and Talk, and Teaching-Talk.  All Christian. All across the country with a total of about 23,500 Christian radio listeners.

 

We will sort our listener feedback into three areas: Why I listen, What I want to listen to, and Who I am.    Let’s consider these one at a time.

 

Why I Listen

For starters, it’s remarkable that for both Music and Teaching listeners, about a third of each group say they come to Christian radio for music and teaching equally.  Some would suggest these formats have very different audiences—yet about a third in each format seeks the other format’s distinctive.  And the difference really does shine through:  35% of Listeners to Music say that a main reason they listen is to better understand the Scripture, while 82% of Teaching listeners indicate that. (See the Who I Am section comments on Daily Scripture Reading which reflects this perspective.)

 

Consider how many listeners to Music there are, and understand the potential here for the Teaching format and for Biblical bite size chunks within Music itself.

 

Across all three formats, we see different intensities in Main Reasons to listen.  The presentation is calming is a Main Reason for 48% of Music and then scales down to 36% for Music and Talk and yet further down to 29% for Teaching.  We see this same scaling, reversed, when looking at a Main Reason of I want to help spread the Truth.  Here, it’s 52% for Music, 63% for Music and Talk and 65% for Teaching.  This demonstrates why someone who listens to more than one station selects the station they do:  It reflects the need of the moment, whether that be calmness or challenge.

 

What I Want to Listen To

The more music the station plays, the shorter the program length preferred to get the whole message.  Consider:  35% of Music listeners prefer a program of under 15 minutes.  9% of Music and Talk.  And 6% of Teaching.  On the other end of the spectrum:  25% of Music listeners prefer a program of 25 to 30 minutes show.  44% of Music and Talk.  And 51% of Teaching.

These same format groups of people have varying views of what the content does for them, as well.  When we look at how important various topics are, we see a variance.

 

Listeners perception of the Importance of discussion same-sex marriage discussion on air:

Not at all important:  Music 11%    Music-Talk   5%   Teaching 4%

Very Important:  Music 34%   Music-Talk 53%   Teaching   54%

 

Listener perception of Interest in hearing discussions of same-sex marriage on air:

Not at all interested:  Music   22%   Music-Talk 10%   Teaching 9%

Very Interested:  Music   17%   Music-Talk   32%   Teaching 34%

 

There is quite a bit less interest in hearing on air than in perception of importance. We see a similar pattern with other potentially controversial topics, some more and some less pronounced.

 

This leads to another finding.  Listeners turn off the radio when the station talks about something they are not interested in.  Either Agreeing or Strongly Agreeing are 39% of Music, 53% of Music-Talk and 56% of Teaching.

 

It’s important:  choose your topics wisely—always. It’s the 21st Century, your listener has lots of choices, so if you’re talking about something not interesting to her, she is likely gone.

 

Who I Am

Finally, the composition of the audience reflects format differences.  People under 49 comprise 43% of the Music audience, 24% of the Music and Talk and 28% of Teaching.  We see a similar picture presented when we look at political leanings.  Indicating they are Very Conservative are 24% of Music, 40% of Music and Talk and 48% of Teaching.  And listeners who indicate they read Scripture at least daily reflects these formatic trends, too.  Music 49%.  Music and Talk 64%.  And Teaching 69%.

 

In Conclusion

Differences don’t necessarily define us, but knowledge of them can help produce a fuller understanding. And understanding of a broader audience can prevent misunderstanding—but more, can help create a close relationship with the hearts and lives of all who come your way.

 

 

 

Action:

Register for the Finney Media Why Listen? Workday—special rate expires Oct 30!  Plan now to keep developing your understanding of listeners—with both understanding and action.  The Finney Media Why Listen? Workday will provide additional insights and help you develop more specific daily action plans.  Intimate. In-Person. Action-oriented. And coming in six months! The special Momentum registration rate expires the end of next week, Sunday October 30.  Talk it over, make plans—and register.  Use the word MOMENTUM as your code for savings.

 

 

How to get it and keep it flowing

 

 

Jan and Chastiny here.

Few would dispute that Winston Churchill was a gifted speaker.  It’s said that he read 5,000 books in his lifetime. Most would suggest that there was a connection between the content he continuously absorbed and his output, which illustrates that creativity is not developed in isolation. What does this say to us as we prepare to open our mouths in the medium we love—radio?

To share God’s truths on a daily basis in such a way that people are engaged, stopped in their tracks and possibly even changed requires a proactive, relentless search for inspiration.

What might this look like? How do you find new ways to communicate  the inspiration and encouragement that your listeners are searching for?

Research. Inspiration may not always show up on your doorstep – so you’ll have to go after it. A few suggestions on questions to research: What are other stations doing well? What do your listeners respond well to? What are your listeners talking about on social media? What are the trends in Christian reading and the New York Times best seller list? Books with question lists can help here, too.

Outlining. No, not the kind we did in elementary school. But bullet points. Lists. Or circles of ideas. What exactly is it that your program or station wants to communicate? What do you want your listeners to take away from the 30-second break between songs? Listing these goals will help you focus and prioritize what airs and what doesn’t.

Personal Experience. Personal experience can be a great inspiration to your listeners. Never underestimate the power of stories – Jesus used them all the time, and the world was never the same.

Writers, speakers, preachers—and morning show talent—research, outline and mull over personal experience because they want to communicate important, profound truths. You always want to communicate creatively to your listeners with songs, breaks between songs, sermons, shows, even commercials.

One more thing—feel free to repeat yourself! If something is powerful, moving and show-stopping, it deserves another run. Because it’s not the same people listening—but you knew that.

How’s your inspiration coming?  Take five and try a little research, outlining and thought. We think you’ll be rewarded, and so will your listeners.

 

 

Christmas, Denominations and You

 

It’s Christmastime and church audiences are growing, at least temporarily.  It’s easy to forget that for those of us in radio, we serve more than our own “flavor” of denomination, whether the church belong to something official or not.

Chuck here.

In the 2016 Finney Media Why Listen? Survey, we asked Christian Radio listeners across the US about their denomination or church affiliation. Our survey uncovered listeners from many different denominations, representing major differences in how they worship, the words they use, and even which Christmas songs the congregation sings.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend my nephew’s Catholic confirmation. It’s a ceremony where teenagers are “confirmed” into the Church. It’s such a big deal that one of the bishops from the Archdiocese is the officiant.

“Officiant” is a word that means something if you’re Catholic, but it usually requires translation for people from other denominations. Other “foreign” words from the Confirmation ceremony – “sacrament,” “chrism,” “vocation,” “Eucharist.” Nothing wrong with these words if you’re Catholic and know what they mean within Catholicism (hint – “vocation” is not what happens in shop class in high school). But for someone who’s not Catholic, these words probably sound like French.

Think about this in terms of our Christian radio stations. It turns out we appeal to people from many different denominations. Expressive Pentecostals. More subdued Methodists. Liturgically-focused Catholics. Lots of Baptists who are used to expository preaching.

And here’s the challenge . . . for our Christian radio stations – with their broadly multi-denominational audience – to succeed with the widest group of people, we need to be multi-denominational. Talking and playing songs in ways that are boldly Truthful and are appealing to as many as possible by using a common language that is understandable to all of them.

It’s clear from our survey that the passion for Christian radio is high. Your listener’s desire to grow spiritually, to be encouraged, to better understand Scripture and how to apply it to her life is broad-based.

The question for us this December is this:  Are we designing what we put on the air in a way that, for people who are part of diverse denominations, is always easy to consume, always easy to understand, and gently moves them toward the child in the manger?

For a list of denominational preferences, see the Finney Fast Five posting.

 

 

You, Your Listener and Our Team

 

Chastiny here.

My personal thankfulness challenge.

I was recently challenged to spend the first 5 minutes of each day thinking about things I’m thankful for. To be honest, I haven’t been great about doing it. It’s a lot easier for me to remember the things in my life that are going wrong than to focus on what is going right, because the wrong just hurts. I notice things that hurt. I sometimes need to be reminded of all the things that are going right, and that God is still being faithful in the midst of things that aren’t going my way.

When I do take time to count the things I’m thankful for, without fail the first thing that comes to mind is my job. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with a team of believers who bring their faith to work. Rather than having to brace myself for spiritual battle in the workplace, I find myself in a safe haven where I’m constantly encouraged, empowered, and reminded of the Lord’s faithfulness.

Your listener is a lot like me, and she often needs a reminder of God’s goodness. Here’s some additional thoughts on this from Chuck based on our recent Finney Media Why Listen? survey information.

What Finney Media’s Why Listen? has to say about your listener and attitude.

Chuck here.

The recent election highlighted the anger, frustration, hype, and noise in our world. But from you, your listener wants encouragement in the middle of uncertain times. 91% of participants in our 2016 Finney Media Why Listen? Survey said that getting away from negativity on other stations is a primary or secondary reason they listen to you. 98% said that they listen because they want to be encouraged.

What happened before, during and now after this election is more hype-driven hurt in an already hurting world, which means more than ever your listener comes to you as a life-giving safe-haven. Has there ever been a better time to be joyfully telling the world the Good News? The opportunity is enormous to be the hopeful oasis in a daggers-out world.

Our Thanksgiving Message to You!

Chastiny again, along with our whole team:  Chuck, Jan, Tim and Beth!

We at Finney Media are thankful to be working with you and your teams. Your calling, dedication, and passion to shine light in dark places and bring truth to the world is an encouragement and blessing to us, and we are honored and humbled to be working alongside you.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, our prayer is that we remember the comfort, peace, and security we have in Christ, and that we will speak His love into the lives of those we serve.

 

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Five fast ways to up your digital game today.

 

  Fast Digital Do’s: 5 Ways to Up Your Game Right Now

 

 

 

 

Tim here.  I’m often asked what a team can do today–right now–to up their digital presence.  Here’s a short list from what I’ll often pass along. Does any of this apply to you?

 

UX (User Experience)
Making your navigation user-centered will help improve usability. Consider your analytics to determine which areas of the site receive the most traffic and arrange your menu structure around how the site is actually used. There may well be some discrepancies between the current navigation and how the site is actually used. And with every design and interaction experience, focus on a one-click environment as much as possible.

Responsive Design
Is your site currently built for desktop only? Review your analytics and see what percentages of users are mobile. If it’s over 20%, then a responsive site is a must. This will also help significantly with displaying the site in your mobile app.

Streaming
A link to stream each of your stations should appear on the home page. It’s good to link to your stations directly, but having a link to the streams should appear adjacent to them – consider adding buttons below the station names with “visit site” and “stream live” to surface this important aspect immediately on the home page.

Links
Be consistent. If a link goes to a page within your site, it should open in the same window. If it’s a link that leads off-site, then it should open in a new window. Does any link to Twitter open to Twitter generically – not to a specific account? And be sure your Facebook link is obvious.

Meta Data
Carefully evaluate your page title tags and associated meta data (descriptions and keywords). It’s best to not leave Google on their own to decide what they will say about you (they don’t always follow title tags and descriptions, but it will be closer to what you want if you provide it).

These are all practical, practical, practical. Let us know what happens when you try one or more of these ideas.

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From our Hearts

 

This week, we would like to offer some wishes from our hearts to yours for the Christmas season and the year to come.

Chuck here.

My wish is that together we might say, “Lord, you know better.” It seems to be true what the old adage says, that the older I get, the less I know. I realize more and more that God knows better than I. And I need to listen to Him. I know He is consistent with His Word—often different than the way I’d do it.  I know it’s about my heart and its relation to events and things. Bottom line, there is nothing to worry about. We can choose to not worry—we really could! So my wish this Christmas is His peace—that it would be real in your heart and mine.

Jan here.

One of my December magazines is headlined on the cover: Make 2017 Your Year of Adventure. My wish this year is to take that one step further: Could we make 2017 our Year of Spiritual Adventure?  We would expect God’s active presence in our daily lives, His purposes to step in on a regular basis, and His reality to dawn when we pray. May that be so. And may His presence invade your Christmas season and give you a new sense of wonder at the miracle that is Christmas.

Chastiny here.

My wish for you is that you would enjoy health and rest this holiday season, and find joy in the simple moments. It’s easy for me to get caught up in everything that has to get done “right now” and forget to take time to rest and talk to God about it all. Often when I do take some time out, I find that a lot of things on my to-do list really can wait. May you find that His burden really is light and His yoke is easy even during the hectic times. Merry Christmas!

CHRISTMAS ON AMERICAN RADIO

For many, the first Christmas song on the radio is a welcome change to the daily routine. It brings to mind a more innocent time. A time of wonder, of warmth, of childlikeness. Memories flood your mind. Suddenly the stress is gone from your daily commute, and you’re singing along to songs of joy and merriment.

And then it hits you. It’s nearly Christmas, and there’s still so much to do! The non-stop, heartwarming songs on the radio set the backdrop for an otherwise hurried time, helping minds and hearts stay focused on Jesus, the real soundtrack of Christmas.

When we think of the history of Christmas on the radio, we’re likely to picture a 1940’s family, gathered ‘round a lovely wooden speaker as if it were a crackling fire, huddled together with innocent smiles to enjoy the comfort of old familiar songs.

But Christmas radio has been the backdrop for many scenes, some of which may be surprising.

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS ON RADIO

In the early 20th Century, radio was neither comforting, pleasant nor musical. Listeners were accustomed to hearing the tap-tap-tap of Morse code transmissions.

But a Canadian child prodigy named Reginald Aubrey Fessenden changed all of that. Fessenden previously worked with Thomas Edison and was now inventing solo. He and developed around 200 patents of his own, including a brand new technology called “radio”.

In 1906,  Fessenden “alerted the media” using his own voice, inviting wireless operators  to tune in on Christmas Eve. The invitation was monitored and duly noted in Norfolk, Virginia, and the folks in Virginia and crews on ships within a several hundred mile radius enjoyed an unforgettable broadcast that night. Accustomed only to code, they couldn’t believe what they were hearing – a man’s voice in their headphones!  As amazed listeners strained to hear the sound, Fessenden serenaded them on violin.   O Holy Night became the first Christmas carol to hit the airwaves on the first produced (music and voice) radio broadcast – “superimposed audio” or “amplitude modulation” (AM) generated over a continuous radio frequency carrier.

WHITE CHRISTMAS FOR A BLACK DAY

In 1941, the unthinkable happened – the attack on Pearl Harbor. 18 days later, college age fans tuned in to Kraft Music Hall and Bing Crosby warmed their hearts with his rendition of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. In the shadow of the recent attack, the song took on a somber tone, and it was a memorable broadcast

One short year later, young American troops found themselves overseas on Christmas Day. Armed Forces Radio played White Christmas over and over to remind them of the comforts of home. It remains the one of the most popular Christmas carols to this day.

JOY TO THE WORLD: CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES

Wartime was the backdrop for some of the most memorable Christmas radio broadcasts because it was, for many, their primary source of comfort. While radio remained off-limits to the general public during WW1, wireless technology utilized a short-range electrostatic induction system so that hospitalized soldiers could be entertained with music and news. And at the end of the civilian radio restrictions in 1919, military personnel fired up transmitters to boost the morale of the servicemen. On January 10, 1919, Ensign Sanford Lawton remembered the broadcast Christmas At Sea in his letter to his parents. He happily reported that “All of the latest music from the states was played over the wireless” as part of the festivities.

Christmas Broadcasts in 1940, particularly in England, were rays of light in an otherwise war-ravaged land. Christmas dinner was nearly impossible. Families spent their holiday in air raid shelters, searching desperately for the highly coveted “short Christmas tree” – one short enough to fit in the shelter confines. Instead of giving gifts, people were encouraged instead to give their meager funds to the war effort. Among most popular gifts were flasks, sleeping bags and “pretend gas masks” for dolls.

Home-made presents were popular too, as were second-hand ones. For working-class people ‘make do and mend’ was the norm. Dads carved sailing ships and dolls’ houses, whilst mums knitted with spare bits of wool and made sweets. Children’s gifts were also donated from other countries and charities. – BBC History

You can imagine the impact those heartwarming melodies and sweet words – broadcast so rarely but treasured like gold – had on wartime families. As Europeans made their homes in submarine-style bomb shelters, huddled together, there was the radio, broadcasting entertainment whenever signal allowed. BBC Radio broadcasted Kitchen Front, the King’s Speech and variety shows. They also broadcast a Christmas sermon from the ruins of Coventry Cathedral. People were allowed to attend church, but bells were forbidden. Bells became a signal of an oncoming invasion, so no bells, and no heart-warming lights in the window.

MEANWHILE, IN AN SUV SOMWEHERE …

Bells, colored lights, Christmas activities, store displays, and seasonal music piped in 24/7 on your favorite radio station. What’s not to love about Christmas?

Isaiah said, “Comfort, my people.” Take comfort. The word for comfort here is also the word, “repent.” Jesus was born to bring comfort, repentance and subsequently, eternal life with Him. He’s the One who formed us from our mother’s womb, who has known us since the beginning. He forgives us, and cleanses us of sin.

When we forget that, we’re left with only trimmings and trappings  hustle and bustle, followed by a dead pine tree and debt and a messy house to clean.

That’s why Christmas radio is as important as it’s always been, featuring songs that glorify God to the highest; songs that bring us closer to the One who came to set us free. Whether we’re in a hospital, in the trenches, in our cars or at home, Christmas is still on the radio.

And Christmas provides you with great opportunity for ministry!

 

ONLINE REFERENCES:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/topics/christmas_in_world_war_two

http://earlyradiohistory.us/sec013.htm

http://ethw.org/Milestones:First_Wireless_Radio_Broadcast_by_Reginald_A._Fessenden,_1906

 

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