A Winning Format Can Change Your Revenue World

The latest Nielsen results are coming out and now is a good time to review where you are. If the format targeting is right, you’ll probably do well.

But the main question is where do you want to be in the ratings?

In the competitive game of radio, performance counts more today than ever. The cheese (the demos) has moved in many formats. And there is a fix for that. Today, you need to make every element count and do more to stand out. Radio is war.

Continuous growth and improvement are a good things if performance matters. To solve an issue, there needs to be a change, a fix, or many times, trying something totally different. Asking the right questions can generate a better result. Most importantly, when asking station questions, start with what do we want to keep.

A ratings problem is defined as the gap between “where you are today” and “where you want to be”. Nielsen problems are opportunities for a new beginning. Radio programming success is a choice for you to make.

Lyles Media is not your typical programming partner. We’ll have your back and give you the absolute best programming advice that focuses on solving issues before they can impact on your performance and we always recommend a call to action. We’re always seeking incredible stations to partner with. Reach out, if that’s you and let’s start a conversation and work together on the next ratings period. All calls are completely confidential. Call Harry Lyles: (404)403.0091.

Rhythmic success in one rating period. WDHT/Hot 102.9, Dayton with minor adjustments had the hightest ratings in the stations history!

 

Are You In It To Win It?

Over the years, we’ve learned winning isn’t easy, but it’s also not brain surgery. And yes, brain surgeons are relieved they are not in the radio programming business, but that’s another column for another day.

If your radio station isn’t winning it is because it isn’t set up to win and mistakes get in the way causing audience loss.  Black or Rhythmic formats win by exceeding the listeners’ expectations. It’s a simple formula. Stay away from programming confusion. Avoid it at all cost.

Winning Black and Rhythmic radio stations should focus programming on delivering the best content from the listener perspective. The listener knows what they want. Winning formats maintain a listener-oriented competitive edge and advantage and continue day after day to exceed the listener expectations.

Any format and especially Black stations can’t be all things to all people. Trying to satisfy everyone makes you special to no one.  You should create something distinctive, uniquely yours, that gets liked and noticed and makes the locals talk.  Be famous for something, promote vigorously and score with the locals.

When it comes to formats, Gospel belongs on Gospel, Hip Hop belongs on Hip Hop, R&B belongs on R&B and Talk belongs on Talk.  When you mix a music-driven station with a talk format in afternoon drive you are causing listener confusion. Are you music or are you talk?  You’ve created a split personality radio station, ignoring the listener expectation.

Black talk belongs on Black talk stations. Stay away from impeding your growth as some are doing.  That’s not how it works. Today’s radio is a specialized game where you must stand out from the rest if ratings and revenue matter.

Radio is war, more so today than ever.  In many markets, to win the war means taking no risk at all.  The job is to make sure all the elements of the radio station’s strategic approach are in place and connected as they should be with a disciplined approach to the goals. Black radio does a great deal of sharing with many formats. You can’t afford to take risks in any area and especially music and talent.  If the radio programming isn’t laser targeted, station issues will happen and vulnerabilities will appear.

In programming the best people to identify and solve issues or problems are the one who are closest to the work. It begins with YOU!

We are always looking for incredible broadcasters to partner with who are serious about winning. Reach out if that’s you at (404)403.0091. Come join our list of winners, making money. There is no better feeling on a station management level than seeing a winning station grow and make money when all the station pieces are in the right place in every daypart.

Harry On-Air With The Raleigh-Durham Sports Shop | Hawks Talk

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On-air with the Raleigh-Durham Sports Shop! Host, Erroll Reese and KMac invited Harry to talk about the Hawks on their show 6.21.21.

 

Creative Talent Inc. Interview, 5 Programming Questions with Harry Lyles

Radio Programming That Works

5 Questions with Radio Advisor Harry Lyles

Program & Process Your Stream for Success

Telos Alliance of Cleveland, Ohio interviewed Harry Lyles about programming, streaming and audio. Click here to read.

Problem Solving “Low Radio Ratings” There is a Fix!

When you sense that ratings problems are happening, the Lyles Media Group suggests to our clients that they conduct a specific analysis. Format problems are opportunities for improvement, and shouldn’t necessarily be a moment of panic, but rather a moment to troubleshoot for a better Nielsen result.

Solving a ratings problem is all about the listener, because low ratings are a signal that the listeners are not happy. It’s a good time to reevaluate the overall orchestration of your format.

The Format Adjustment Review: 

·         What within the format needs to change?

·         What should be tired that has not been tried?

·         What do we keep?

Through the years, we’ve helped many stations solve their ratings problems by asking detailed questions to get to the root of the problem and follow up with format adjustments- it’s part of radio. From there, we continuously improve the overall “stationality” or image, and position to deliver a product listeners like every day for ratings success and revenue growth.

Low ratings can be avoided when you are open and honest about what’s happening, and not happening. Your new success starts with a conversation and understanding of your vision. We’ll help you tell a better ratings story. It all begins with YOU!

Harry Lyles can reached at: hlyles@urbanradio.com or (404)403.0091.

Ratings Issues And Problems Are New Opportunities in 2017

Harry Lyles

Low radio ratings in any size market are often the result of misguided programming. It happens in all formats that do not generate ratings needed for station sales success.

Often, management does not even know or see the issues or problems. They are hidden in the programming work done every day. Consistently low ratings showcase problems that represent where you are right now, and where you could be with either an evolution or a revolution of change. The good news, in 2017 low ratings can create a new opportunity for improvement and success for your station.

The new opportunity starts with a conversation about your vision and meeting your market objective. In the New Year, the Lyles Media Group stands ready to help you increase your ratings and revenue. If it is time to break through the market clutter of today’s competitive radio environment and stick out and score ratings, we are here to help. Say hello @ (404)403.0091.

Have a Happy and Successful 2017!

 

Capitol Broadcasting Debuts New Morning Sports Show

sportsshop

Buzz Sports Radio will debut “The Sports Shop with Reese & Kmac” on Tuesday, July 5, 2019 from 6 to 9 a.m. Listeners have a variety of ways they can listen and watch the program including; 99.3FM/96.5FM/620AM/99.9HD2. The show will also stream (audio/video) at WRALSportsFan.com and with the WRALSportsFan App.  “The Sports Shop” will be the first African-American sports talk morning show in the Raleigh-Durham market.

Dennis Glasgow, Capitol Broadcasting sports radio operations manager and program director says, “We’ve wanted to bring more diversity to our listeners that would reflect the Raleigh-Durham population, and we will do that by bringing a very entertaining and energetic show with ‘The Sports Shop.’”

“The Sports Shop” co-host Erroll Reese said, “We are very excited and humbled to be taking the show to the next level with the move to morning drive. We are very happy to have the confidence of Capitol Broadcasting behind our show.” The Sports Shop is consulted by Harry Lyles of Lyles Media.

“The Sports Shop” Talks With Harry About Prince

Erroll Reese and KMac of the Raleigh-Durham highly rated Sports Shop talk with their very own radio adviser Harry Lyles about the death of Prince. Click here listen and enjoy some fun talk.

Radio Ink: The State Of Urban Radio 3.7.16

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Harry Lyles answers questions from Radio Ink about the state of Urban Radio. (3.7.16)

Radio Ink "State of Urban Radio"