Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #670: The End of a Legend

If you’ve followed these tips, you know that I’ve frequently referred to a morning guy in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. His name is Larry Ryan, my first mentor, and he’s as good at connecting with an audience as anyone I’ve ever heard in any size market.

“Lovable Larry” did his show with his sidekick “Mr. Weather” for well over 50 years, with consistently fine ratings.

Just recently, Larry Ryan retired.

And – of course – the cookie cutter, “play-the-same-300-songs-over-and-over-again” Oldies station he was on made the typical stupid move of putting in a mindless team show that has no substance, and doesn’t sound like they know anything about the Shreveport/Bossier market at all.

Radio isn’t dead, but it is strangling itself.

To station owners and managers:
We don’t need or want generic shows. We want to listen to people who understand what our lives are about, and share what they have in common with us.