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  • Trying to Turn the Titanic: What We Can Learn from Sears

    • 01/28/2012
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: branding, radio, radio programming
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    There’s no shortage of experts weighing in on what Sears should do following its announcement last month that it will close up to 120 stores. I’m neither a retail nor financial expert. But I find Sears’ trials relevant because there is much to be learned from studying second-tier brands and declining brands but also because

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  • Albright & O’Malley’s Annual Pre-CRS Seminar and You’re Invited

    • 01/13/2012
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: Uncategorized
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    “What did you learn?”That’s one of the questions most frequently asked of Country Radio Seminar attendees. One of the more frequently-asked questions that Jaye, Becky and I get leading up to CRS is, “Are you doing your pre-CRS session again this year?”Once again, that answer is “yes!” And of course you’re invited – Tuesday, February 21st,

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  • The Value of Face and Phone – NOT Facebook, Texting Or E-mail

    • 01/12/2012
    • Posted by: B Brenner Believes...
    • Category: Uncategorized
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    They consider this “talking to each other” Interpersonal communication is becoming a lost art.  Technology has created a generation that prefers electronic communication to actual conversation and we are just now starting to experience the negative ramifications.  Since the day of the caveman, facial expressions, vocal intonation and body language have helped people understand each

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  • 2011: A Very Good Year for Country Music

    • 12/22/2011
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: country music, ratings
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    This was a good year for current country music. Actually, it was one of the best – at least when talking about year-end test scores.  Across our metrics, nearly all scores were better than 2010’s and some were the best since Albright and O’Malley began year-end analyses in 1998. Songs in the top third of course score better

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  • #accjms11: Smart, Passionate People Talking Radio

    • 12/09/2011
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: radio
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    Fill a hotel ballroom with smart people and have them talk about a shared passion for radio for 2 ½ days and you can be guaranteed there will be good take-aways. Here are some of mine (paraphrased) from the just-concluded Arbitron Client Conference and Jacobs Media Summit for 2011 in Baltimore.   Tripp Eldridge, President/CEO dmr

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  • Quick Checklist for A-B-ing Your Competitors

    • 11/30/2011
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: branding
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    This week we got a preview of a new study of PPM data from Arbitron in conjunction with Mediabase and Inside Radio which showed country stations, whether ranked first or tenth, had similar patterns of spinning currents. Regarding the percent of top-10-charted songs played IR notes, “The percentages hardly vary whether the station is No. 1 in

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  • The Row-Five Test

    • 11/23/2011
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: radio programming
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    Gordon M. Bethune’s name was painted on the Triple-Seven at the gate next to mine. Well-deserved! If you’re not familiar with the name, Gordon Bethune was Continental Airline’s CEO during their turn-around and for a number of years after. During this time their customer-focused initiatives turned customers into real fans of the airline and the man running it

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  • ON SUBMITTING MP3s FOR THAT JOB OPENING YOU’RE PURSUING

    • 11/17/2011
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: country radio, radio
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    The company’s mission is to hire the best person for the job. Your mission is to BE that person.  Don’t let application missteps become part of the equation. Yesterday my partner Jaye Albright posted a ‘how to hire’ blog. This blog is about ‘how to improve your chances of being hired.’ With the help of

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  • And the Winner Is…You! 5 Reasons Why Your Station Should Enter a “Station of the Year” Competition

    • 11/12/2011
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: radio programming
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    So maybe you watched Wednesday’s CMA Awards Show and wondered if it’s worth your time to submit a Station of the Year presentation. The answer is “Absolutely!” Here are five reasons why your station should enter: 1.       Assembling a Station of the Year presentation is a bonding opportunity. Whether you win or not, your station

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  • The Secret Sauce of Successful PDs and Stations

    • 11/07/2011
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: radio programming
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    How would you describe a successful programmer? What advice would give aspiring PDs? What’s THE secret to a successful station?  Radio Ink Editor-In-Chief Ed Ryan asked me these questions in last month’s magazine. Here’s how I answered plus a little post-interview elaboration. Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences as well.  #1 – How

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