Things I Love (An Ongoing Series)

1. Those great iPod/Blackberry-like icons on Bonneville-Cincinnati PD/OM Patti Marshall's Q-102 web page. Beats the traditional boring "click here" lists on the left side of the majority of radio home pages.

2. CBS/Seattle KMPS midday hostess Stubbs' use of quick, tightly-edited phoners with the folks who send in PSA announcements on the day of events, creating fast, current, immediate, PPM-friendly interactions with local folks, dropping in values-driven names of "listeners" along the way.

3. The last line of all of GAPWEST Broadcasting/Casper Operations Manager Donovan Short's emails:

"Cash. Prizes. VIP Experiences that money can't buy. Are you in yet? Become a VIP today: KTRS, KWYY, KRVK, KMGW, KTWO, KKTL"

OK, now what clever tactic are you particularly proud of??

KMPS Takes "Rock Band" Live

Until live-band karaoke, the only time most people could strut in a rock-star fantasy was in their heads or aided in their living rooms by a karaoke machine or video game like "Rock Band." But this version of karaoke lets amateurs unleash their inner idol — with the help of a live band and in front of an actual audience — and revel in three minutes of fame. -- Nicole Tsong, Seattle Times Eastside reporter

My New Favorite Country Radio Web Page (Where The Strategy Is Evident At First Glance)

At most major market clusters, the country PD oversees a couple of radio stations' programming and complains about the websites.

So, you have to hand it to CBS Radio Seattle market manager Lisa Decker.

Everyone knows, I hope, that KMPS PD Becky Brenner is an amazing programming executive and leader of both people and organizations.

So, when CBS traded one of the stations she was overseeing to Clear Channel, Brenner was named cluster interactive manager in addition to her KMPS duties.

I can already tell the difference in the KMPS site and interactive tactics. Can't you? (for example, you won't see a banner ad for anything on the station home page that doesn't generate LOTS and LOTS of money. i.e., Text club sign up is at the top because it enhances the brand with the target, makes money, creates community and drives ultra core usage.)

Bookmark this page, and as usual run as fast as you can to keep up.

Great Stunts Live On Forever

Don Riggs retired from KMPS earlier this year and he was awarded a Crystal Soundie award in May by the Puget Sound Area Broadcasters Association.

I went to the ceremony but had to travel right after it, so I was doing an internet search to read the news coverage of it when I came across this newspaper article from 1998!

Is it worth it to spend the extra time creating fun stunts takes? You bet. Great PR just goes on and on.