Thursday, May 24, 2012

Defining clutter….

All too often, many PDs, particularly at music stations, define clutter as any non-music element. 

I beg to differ.  Help them understand the difference between clutter and information and service elements … even contests that resonate with your audience.

You want to be their source for the information they need … in the context of your format.

For example:

-- if your audience is primarily "soccer moms," don't you think they would want to know that there is an 80% chance of thunderstorms during little junior's game today?

-- if you live in a city where many flock to the beach or a lake on summer weekends, don't you think they would like to know how bad traffic is along beach/lake routes on a Friday afternoon?

--If your local team is in the NBA finals, even if it's not your core target, something like that takes over a city … work it into breaks.

The art of programming is reflecting the needs and wants of your audience into the fabric of the format … IT'S NOT CLUTTER!