Review: Radio Ink June 6, 2022

The June 6 2022 issue of RADIO INK is out and it’s another packed issue, I reviewed the digital version of this issue a couple of days after it hit my in-box.

And if you subscribe to Radio Ink’s daily emails, you’ll know that the 13th Hispanic Radio Conference is/was on in the US. Now you might say that it’s not my demographic so I don’t need to read about it – you should – as Deborah Parenti (EVP & Publisher) says “Hispanics, along with other minority groups, are rapidly becoming… the new… mainstream!”

I was most interested to read the Roy H Williams article (as always) and wasn’t disappointed… Roy’s take on writing for ‘Affinity Groups’ was spot on – in case you didn’t know – an ‘Affinity Group’ is one like Backpackers, Corvette Drivers, Whiskey Drinkers, Wine Drinkers, etc.

Alec Drake’s take on the ‘7 steps to Plug your Sales Drain’ was a great read about sales measurements and I couldn’t agree more that the best chance to get client renewals is measurement.

If you work in sales or management, then the Managers Forum question “Does Radio Need A Spark?” is an article really worth your time reading, and if your not in either of those departments, then do yourself a favour and read it to see what management and sales are thinking right now!

BUT the standout for me in this issue was Rob Dumke’s “Building $1B+ On Great Radio Brands” and I think the cover price of Radio Ink was worth it just for this article alone. Inspirational and insightful – a great read for EVERY department at your station.

Next Matty Staudt’s podcasting series of articles asks the big question, “Should Medium and Small-Market Stations Get Into Podcasting?” and although it’s a good article – I want to argue with Matty that not every station should have a podcast (and I will cover why in a future post) but needless to say Matty makes some good points if you are about to start one at your station.

This issues cover story about ‘Radio’s Mega Man’ Spanish Broadcast System (SBS) President and COO Albert Rodriguez, was an interesting read for someone outside the USA, and having not come across the SBS before was an interesting insight for me about the challenges that he and the station has had to face.

My third favourite article in this issue was the “Independant Operators Speak Out” (full disclosure, I work for one of the last surviving independent radio stations in Australia – so I was keen to see what is happening in the US at the moment). By far the longest read in the issue, it was well worth dissecting the article and seeing what other stations are going through – from staffing challenges to sales, ownership caps and more.

And that’s it – Radio Ink – June 6 issue is a firm must read for several reasons. I always clip out Roy H Williams articles and add them to my overflowing swipe file, and Rob Dumke’s article I have re-read twice now, and the Independant Operators article I have taken particular interest in, and written notes for myself about it.

I am in no-way affiliated with Radio Ink Magazine (I am a subscriber though) and receive no kick-backs or payments for this independent review.