<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Education - CMB</title>
	<atom:link href="https://cmbonline.org/category/education/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://cmbonline.org/category/education/</link>
	<description>Christian Music Broadcasters</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 04:39:33 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4</generator>

<image>
	<url>https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/cropped-applecmb-32x32.jpg</url>
	<title>Education - CMB</title>
	<link>https://cmbonline.org/category/education/</link>
	<width>32</width>
	<height>32</height>
</image> 
	<item>
		<title>Celebrating Spanish Christian Radio</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/on-air/celebrating-spanish-christian-radio/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=celebrating-spanish-christian-radio</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[CMB Online]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 05:01:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On-Air]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Programming]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65408</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Across the country, Spanish Christian radio is helping more people encounter hope, encouragement, and the Gospel in their native language. As Hispanic communities continue to grow throughout the U.S., ministries [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/on-air/celebrating-spanish-christian-radio/">Celebrating Spanish Christian Radio</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/on-air/celebrating-spanish-christian-radio/">Celebrating Spanish Christian Radio</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Across the country, Spanish Christian radio is helping more people encounter hope, encouragement, and the Gospel in their native language.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Hispanic communities continue to grow throughout the U.S., ministries are recognizing new opportunities to serve listeners through faith-filled, culturally relevant programming. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By the Numbers:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1,300+ U.S. radio stations air some type of Spanish Christian content</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hispanic Americans make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">72% of Spanish-language media consumers regularly listen to radio</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the fastest-growing presences in major and emerging markets</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ministries like Fuzión, Inspiracom, Kinship Radio Español, La Z, MyBridge Español, Radio Luz, Radio Nueva Vida, Tu Familia Network, Vida Unida, and many more are faithfully serving their communities while helping shape the future of Spanish Christian radio. Through local outreach, music, teaching, and community engagement, these ministries are creating spaces where listeners can find hope and grow in their faith.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And the momentum continues to build.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">More ministries are exploring how to launch Spanish-language platforms, strengthen existing stations, and better serve Hispanic audiences in their local communities. That’s one reason we’re excited to continue the conversation at Momentum later this month.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether you’re already serving in Spanish Christian radio or beginning to explore what a Spanish-language ministry platform could look like, Momentum is designed to create space for ministry leaders to learn from one another, share ideas, and discover practical next steps together.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sessions will include conversations around:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Building a Spanish CCM station</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Learning from established ministries</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serving Hispanic communities effectively</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exploring opportunities for future growth</span></li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>We’d love for you to <span style="color: #0000ff;"><a style="color: #0000ff;" href="cmbonline.org/momentum2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">join us at Momentum</a>.</span> Registration closes this Friday, May 15.</strong></h5>
<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/on-air/celebrating-spanish-christian-radio/">Celebrating Spanish Christian Radio</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/on-air/celebrating-spanish-christian-radio/">Celebrating Spanish Christian Radio</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Guys Who Rule Christian Radio (According to Listeners)</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-guys-who-rule-christian-radio-according-to-listeners/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-guys-who-rule-christian-radio-according-to-listeners</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chuck Finney]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 22:32:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finney's Fast 5]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Programming]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65368</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Which male artists do Christian radio listeners love the most? Nationwide listener research reveals the answer. The rankings come from song testing, where listeners score songs they hear on the [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-guys-who-rule-christian-radio-according-to-listeners/">The Guys Who Rule Christian Radio (According to Listeners)</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-guys-who-rule-christian-radio-according-to-listeners/">The Guys Who Rule Christian Radio (According to Listeners)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Which male artists do Christian radio listeners love the most? Nationwide listener research reveals the answer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The rankings come from </span><b>song testing</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, where listeners score songs they hear on the radio. Artists with </span><b>more songs that consistently receive strong scores</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> naturally climb higher on the list.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Landing firmly at No. 1 is </span><b>Chris Tomlin</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, whose massive catalog of worship favorites continues to resonate.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At No. 2 is </span><b>Jeremy Camp</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, followed by </span><b>Phil Wickham</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rounding out the Top Five are </span><b>Matt Maher</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>Zach Williams</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, two artists whose heartfelt songs keep scoring high with audiences.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In short, these artists have built impressive catalogs of songs listeners love — and that keeps them near the top of Christian radio research.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last month, we reviewed the<a href="https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-women-christian-radio-listeners-cant-get-enough-of/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> top female artists</a>. Coming up in June: We take a look at the bands Christian listeners can’t get enough of. Which bands do you think will top the list?</span></p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-guys-who-rule-christian-radio-according-to-listeners/">The Guys Who Rule Christian Radio (According to Listeners)</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-guys-who-rule-christian-radio-according-to-listeners/">The Guys Who Rule Christian Radio (According to Listeners)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>What Artists Wish Programmers Knew</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/programming/what-artists-wish-programmers-knew/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=what-artists-wish-programmers-knew</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[CMB Online]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 04:10:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Programming]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65323</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>We asked a group of Christian radio artists, anonymously, to speak candidly about their experiences with interviews and station visits. Their answers were honest, sometimes surprising, and consistently pointed to [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/programming/what-artists-wish-programmers-knew/">What Artists Wish Programmers Knew</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/programming/what-artists-wish-programmers-knew/">What Artists Wish Programmers Knew</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We asked a group of Christian radio artists, anonymously, to speak candidly about their experiences with interviews and station visits. Their answers were honest, sometimes surprising, and consistently pointed to one thing: intentionality matters.</p>
<h5><strong>What is the best question you’ve been asked in a radio interview? What’s the worst question?</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist 1:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Best: David A Dein once asked about a specific lyric in one of my songs. It made me feel so cared for, and I had a great story to tell about it too! Worst: “So, do you think you’ve peaked in your career?”</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist 2: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Best: Sarah Taylor once asked me about something from my childhood, it wasn’t even in my bio, She had CALLED people at the label to get special stuff to ask me. It made that interview so much fun. Worst: “So, what do you wanna talk about today?” I felt like I was interrupting their day and wasting their time. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist 3:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Best: </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oooh, I can’t think of a specific question off the top of my head &#8211; but my favorite questions are thoughtful and specific. There was a wonderful interviewer years ago that would really do their research and find out personal things about us and that was always really fun bc of the intentionality behind it. We appreciate that effort quite a bit. Worst: What does your band name mean?  lol (&amp; every night of tour). Or any other generic question we get every day. </span></li>
</ul>
<h4></h4>
<h5><strong>What makes you feel valued when you go to a station visit? What makes you feel devalued?</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist 1:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Valued: I love being taken around to meet the staff. Everyone coming out of their offices for a moment and getting to look in their eyes. It’s fun to meet everybody. Devalued: It’s not always fun to be rushed in like cattle and rushed out. I know everyone’s busy, it’s rare, but there’s a station or 2 that felt more cold than a visit with a lawyer.  </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist 2:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Valued: Anything that shows planning. To be thought of ahead of time makes me feel valued. Devalued: It’s somewhat hurtful when a meeting has been set for sometime and for whatever reason they haven’t even listened to the song I’m there for. I get in my head and in my feelings when that happens. “They’re probably right, I’m not even worth 3 minutes of their time” the voices in my head say. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist 3:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Valued: </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Intentionality conversation, seeing and greeting all those behind the scenes that we don’t get to see as often, catching up with everyone on a personal level. It’s also always really nice when they know the song we are promoting, haha!  Really, it’s just the best to genuinely connect with people over our shared passions of Jesus and music. Devalued:  No interview, not knowing the songs, not well prepped for interviews. PD’s not coming out of their offices. (Lol &#8211; it’s happened  <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/1f602.png" alt="😂" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />) It’s rare though! </span></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h5><strong> What has been the most meaningful or memorable thing to happen during any radio related activity?</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist 1:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> A kid that won a special meet and greet through the station passed out 30 seconds into the meeting. We later came to find out the kid had medical issues that this happened somewhat regularly… but I’ll never forget it!</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist 2:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> I love being part of memorable moments in people’s lives. A station once worked it out with a couple of their super fan listeners that I got to be part of a couple’s proposal. I had the MOST fun. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist 3:</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">I think hearing the stories from local listeners about how songs have impacted their lives. It’s never lost on me what an incredible privilege it is to be able to do what we do and I’m so humbled that God continues to use all of us for this work. </span></li>
</ul><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/programming/what-artists-wish-programmers-knew/">What Artists Wish Programmers Knew</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/programming/what-artists-wish-programmers-knew/">What Artists Wish Programmers Knew</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>10 Things Every Programmer Should Be Thinking About Right Now</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/programming/10-things-every-programmer-should-be-thinking-about-right-now/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=10-things-every-programmer-should-be-thinking-about-right-now</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michelle Younkman]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 22:57:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Programming]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65312</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>I attended Country Radio Seminars in March, and the conversations happening there would be a wake up call for every programmer.  Here are a few takeaways you should be thinking [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/programming/10-things-every-programmer-should-be-thinking-about-right-now/">10 Things Every Programmer Should Be Thinking About Right Now</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/programming/10-things-every-programmer-should-be-thinking-about-right-now/">10 Things Every Programmer Should Be Thinking About Right Now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I attended Country Radio Seminars in March, and the conversations happening there would be a wake up call for every programmer. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are a few takeaways you should be thinking about right now:</span></p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Talent is still the ultimate differentiator. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">The talent you hire today looks completely different than it did even five years ago. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Being good on air isn’t enough anymore.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Talent MUST think like content creators, not just DJs. This needs to be part of their job description.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>AI isn’t the threat. Complacency is.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> How are we responding to AI driven discovery and content consumption? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Radio is still a powerful tool for discovery, but it is no longer the center.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Listeners are also finding music through social, streaming, and culture.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Content is greater than platform.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Hits are built across radio, streaming, social, culture and touring. We have to think in terms of content ecosystems, artist storytelling, and multi-platform amplification. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>The opportunity is greater than what we’ve known. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Younger audiences won’t come automatically. We have to intentionally create content that invites them in. </span><b></b></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Great programmers now think in terms of stories, moments, and experiences.</b></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Artist partnerships are more important than ever. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">The strongest stations help tell the artist’s story, not just play their songs. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Discovery still matters, but it’s evolving.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Radio breaks artists early, but social, streaming and fans now shape traction. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>The opportunity is still massive for radio, but the window is now. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Radio is at a crossroads, yet still holds unmatched reach, trust and influence. </span></li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The stations that win will:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Invest heavily in talent development</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Think beyond the mic </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Be intentional about audience growth</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Move faster than the industry’s comfort zone</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recognize that the future won’t be decided by technology, but by talent and content. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These are the conversations we’ll continue at Momentum. What’s ahead is GREATER THAN where we’ve been, and it will require us to think differently and take some risks. </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/programming/10-things-every-programmer-should-be-thinking-about-right-now/">10 Things Every Programmer Should Be Thinking About Right Now</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/programming/10-things-every-programmer-should-be-thinking-about-right-now/">10 Things Every Programmer Should Be Thinking About Right Now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Radio’s Tectonic Shifts</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/leadership/radios-tectonic-shifts/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=radios-tectonic-shifts</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Fred Jacobs]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:01:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Programming]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65316</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>These days, I think about the major shifts that have impacted our industry. This is in contrast to much of the detail work that used to consume me—the things programmers [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/leadership/radios-tectonic-shifts/">Radio’s Tectonic Shifts</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/leadership/radios-tectonic-shifts/">Radio’s Tectonic Shifts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These days, I think about the major shifts that have impacted our industry. This is in contrast to much of the detail work that used to consume me—the things programmers hear and think about that no one else does. I’m not suggesting the finer points don’t matter, because they are often what separates good brands from great ones. But looking back at radio’s struggle to not just thrive, but to survive, it is hard </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">not </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">to consider those big boulders, the tectonic shifts—the circumstances, the conditions, the decisions that have gotten us where we are today.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In recent weeks with the release of Techsurvey 2026, we have published a lot of updated data about radio’s journey. And because this is the 22nd year Jacobs Media has conducted this national study of core radio listeners, some of these trending reports are absolutely breathtaking, generating comments and theories from all corners of the industry. And some of them are full of vitriol and anger, casting blame for radio’s supposed demise in lots of different directions.</span></p>
<p><br style="font-weight: 400;" /><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-65318" src="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.19.39-PM.png" alt="" width="1574" height="886" srcset="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.19.39-PM.png 1574w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.19.39-PM-300x169.png 300w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.19.39-PM-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.19.39-PM-768x432.png 768w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.19.39-PM-1536x865.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1574px) 100vw, 1574px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The chart above, for example, should make everyone in radio—from corporate execs to the part-time voicetracker—hit the brakes. This year in TS 26, we set a new record for “connected car” ownership. Now, four in ten respondents (40%) drive these vehicles. You can clearly see how having more in-vehicle options while driving has impacted radio listening. Given that even entry-level vehicles are now “well-connected,” this trend will only accelerate as consumers replace their older cars, SUVs, and trucks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, how do we think about radio’s future, amidst challenging financial quarters, companies flirting with bankruptcies, and mega-mergers on the horizon?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First and foremost, I am of the belief that radio has many more chapters ahead of it. They may end up being different from the past stories of glory and they will undoubtedly star a different cast of characters (myself included). On the face of it, this is a healthy circumstance. But as new leadership emerges, it may be helpful for them to have a strong grasp of how radio got </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">here. </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">And even better, how a newly imagined radio platform can avoid the speed bumps, sand traps, and most certainly the black holes that have characterized many past missteps.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That means studying the past few decades to not only identify some of the root causes of broadcast radio’s travails, but to also provide a hierarchy—identifying the most impactful events, circumstances, and decisions that have disrupted the industry over these years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today’s blog post is wonkier than most. And I purposely posted it on a Friday to provide for the possibility of some weekend reading and processing. When you consider some of the tectonic shifts that have most affected the health and well-being of the broadcast radio industry over these many years, it turns out there are many factors at play.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enter </span><b>Robert Minton</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. We may have crossed paths at one point or another, likely while both of us were working with WIMZ in Knoxville. But as I’ve learned, Robert’s background is more diverse than most of us who have spent the prime of our lives in one form of radio or another.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Robert’s career accomplishments include national network strategy, sponsorship, promotions, audience development, SaaS, and agency operations. He has been in leadership positions with Disney, the ABC Radio Networks, and Citadel Media among others. As he explained to me, Robert has focused on developing “a broader view of how technology, agencies, brands, and audience behavior have reshaped the media business.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">JacoBLOG readers know I am fascinated by these big picture analyses of where we are and how we got here. The work of Evan Shapiro and his dynamic media maps have been featured here numerous times over the years because they help our broader understanding of radio’s place in the media and entertainment universe.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Robert reached out to me earlier this week with a chart and lots of theories. His premise is to list the factors that have contributed to the diminishment of broadcast radio over the years, and create a hierarchy of their importance. In other words, what has been the relative rank of their impact on the industry? Which of these tectonic shifts are the true “smoking guns?”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The version he sent me (posted below) is an update on the original, leaning harder into the premise that radio’s rough patch hasn’t just been due to tech disruption (i.e., the smartphone, streaming, satellite radio, podcasts, etc.) but also to “self-inflicted wounds” that include some of the following policies and factors:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the loss of emotional differentiation</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the weakening of local identity</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">defensive programming strategies and behaviors</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">reduced novelty and discovery</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sameness fatigue</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the erosion of companionship and community feeling</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Robert’s new model also places greater weight on the following:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">locality</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">playlist narrowing</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">discovery reduction</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">artist ecosystem collapse</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">physical market presence</span></li>
</ul>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-65319" src="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.21.20-PM.png" alt="" width="1522" height="1374" srcset="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.21.20-PM.png 1522w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.21.20-PM-300x271.png 300w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.21.20-PM-1024x924.png 1024w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.21.20-PM-768x693.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1522px) 100vw, 1522px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These are indices, so the closer to 100, the greater the impact on the radio industry. Robert didn’t just assign these numbers via gut. He has developed an elaborate “methodology” that shows his work and his thought process. I’ve linked it </span><a href="http://jacobsmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Methodology-Used.pdf"><b>here.</b></a><b>  </b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, on the one hand, digital disruption gets the most weight (blame) for negatively impacting radio, while “reduced DJ autonomy &amp; curation authority” earns the least impact (of those included) in radio’s big picture.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What’s missing from Robert Minton’s list of tectonic shifts? I wonder about the external global factors that have taken their toll on the radio broadcasting industry, and where they might fit into the above group of “culprits.” The “Great Recession” of ’08/’09 comes to mind, as does COVID and its impact on lifestyles, media consumption, and commuting patterns. And is it too early to start factoring in AI to Robert’s weights and measures?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I also believe sweeping changes in automotive dashboard technology belong on Robert’s list. Tectonic shifts in the auto industry impact radio’s future. As our Techsurvey 2026 chart above clearly shows, there appears to be a relationship between the proliferation of “connected cars,” and slipping time-spent listening to AM/FM radio in vehicles. Considering the car is still the #1 listening location for radio, this strikes me as a key factor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether you agree or disagree with Robert Minton’s premise, choices, and methodology, his work aims to frame the conversations taking place every day in and out of radio circles. As he noted when he first sent me his materials, his work would make for a great “super session” at a conference where perhaps a “town meeting” style discussion could be moderated to lend more clarity to where we’ve been, and how the medium can best progress.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I hope this post is the start of those conversations—within companies, on social media, and throughout broadcast radio’s many organizations.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The world may be shifting underneath our feet. But understanding these quantum changes and factoring them into our future strategic work can produce better outcomes for radio.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks to Robert Minton. Chris Brunt created a stylized version of his chart (below):</span></i></p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-65320" src="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.22.11-PM.png" alt="" width="1608" height="1078" srcset="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.22.11-PM.png 1608w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.22.11-PM-300x201.png 300w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.22.11-PM-1024x686.png 1024w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.22.11-PM-768x515.png 768w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.22.11-PM-1536x1030.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1608px) 100vw, 1608px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><a href="https://jacobsmedia.com/radios-tectonic-shifts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Original Source</a></em></p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/leadership/radios-tectonic-shifts/">Radio’s Tectonic Shifts</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/leadership/radios-tectonic-shifts/">Radio’s Tectonic Shifts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Future Won’t Be Built by Playing It Safe</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/leadership/the-future-wont-be-built-by-playing-it-safe/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-future-wont-be-built-by-playing-it-safe</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Wade]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:01:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Programming]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65251</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>When Bob Lubell, the man God called to start our ministry in Chattanooga, launched a Christian radio station (J103/WBDX), it seemed risky. Chattanooga didn’t have one, and there was plenty [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/leadership/the-future-wont-be-built-by-playing-it-safe/">The Future Won’t Be Built by Playing It Safe</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/leadership/the-future-wont-be-built-by-playing-it-safe/">The Future Won’t Be Built by Playing It Safe</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Bob Lubell, the man God called to start our ministry in Chattanooga, launched a Christian radio station (J103/WBDX), it seemed risky. Chattanooga didn’t have one, and there was plenty of uncertainty and moments where it could have easily failed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But God invited Bob into something that could only really be described in one word: risk.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why did he do it? Not because it was safe. Not because focus groups all agreed. Not because the funding was guaranteed. He did it because he believed God was calling him to it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And because of that risk, hundreds of thousands of lives have been impacted.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The truth is, if leaders like Bob hadn’t taken risks decades ago, much of what we now call Christian radio wouldn’t exist. Our entire industry was built on faith, uncertainty, and a willingness to step into something new.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Which raises an important question: Are we still willing to take those kinds of risks today?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because while we often talk about the risk of change, we don’t talk enough about the risk of staying the same.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As leaders, we often talk about the “risk” of change. But here’s the truth: everything carries risk.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Every drive to work. Every new relationship. Every business decision. Even the status quo.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yet somehow we’ve convinced ourselves that staying the same is safe. Familiar, yes. Comfortable, sure. But safe? Not always.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When we evaluate risk, we tend to focus on the side that involves change:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">– The risk of failure</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">– The risk of stepping into the unknown</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">– The risk of having to start over</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But do we ever stop to consider the risk of not changing?</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">– The risk of becoming irrelevant</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">– The risk of falling behind</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">– The risk of losing influence to those who adapt</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It might feel risky to learn a new skill, launch a new product, or step into a new space, but it’s often far more risky to assume that doing what we’ve always done will continue to work.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I didn’t originally write this for radio. I wrote it for ministries, brands, and organizations in general. The rate of change across almost every industry is wild right now, and radio is not immune.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I would like to very kindly, respectfully, and gently say something that I believe is true: Radio is going to have to change if it wants to maintain the level of influence it has had.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I’ve said this a lot over the last year, “If we had more time, I’d be less blunt,” but the truth is, I don’t think we do.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love radio. I started in this industry when I was 19 years old. I’ve seen the power of it. I’ve seen communities formed, hope shared, and ministry happen every single day. Radio has an incredible past.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But if it doesn’t change, it may not have the same future.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What does that change look like? It will likely be different for all of us.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For some, it means building podcasts or creating meaningful video content.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">For others, it may be events, digital communities, or new ways of discipling audiences.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">For some, it may involve AI tools, on-demand content, reaching people far beyond the FM dial, or even being part of a something that stations from all over the country work on together. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I was asked on a panel last year to describe the biggest trends in media. My answer was simple: on-demand and the fracturing of audiences. Two things traditional radio isn’t naturally built for without meaningful change.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So I would encourage all of us to spend some time thinking and praying about this question: What does meaningful change look like for your ministry? And equally important: What does it look like if we don’t change?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For clarity, I don’t think the conversation should be radio OR. I think it should be radio AND.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keep putting out a great product on the air, but don’t stop there. Expand the mission. Extend the influence. Meet people where they already are.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If risk helped build radio, I can’t help but wonder what future risk might open up for us now.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because change is risky.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But staying the same may be the biggest risk of all.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Justin Wade</strong><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">President, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Partners for Christian Media</span></p>
<p><br style="font-weight: 400;" /><br style="font-weight: 400;" /><br style="font-weight: 400;" /></p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/leadership/the-future-wont-be-built-by-playing-it-safe/">The Future Won’t Be Built by Playing It Safe</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/leadership/the-future-wont-be-built-by-playing-it-safe/">The Future Won’t Be Built by Playing It Safe</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Who Radio Listeners Care About Most</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/on-air/who-radio-listeners-care-about-most/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=who-radio-listeners-care-about-most</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Todd Stach]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:01:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On-Air]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65214</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Perhaps you’ve never thought about this. Radio listeners don’t become raving fans because they understand you. They become raving fans because… well… keep reading.   The goal of your radio show [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/on-air/who-radio-listeners-care-about-most/">Who Radio Listeners Care About Most</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/on-air/who-radio-listeners-care-about-most/">Who Radio Listeners Care About Most</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps you’ve never thought about this. Radio listeners don’t become raving </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">fans because they understand you. They become raving fans because… well… </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">keep reading. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The goal of your radio show should be to deepen relationships with listeners over </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">time.</span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> It starts with the right show prep and topics.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> It continues with amazing storytelling. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> It ends with you not wasting their time.  </span></li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4>HERE’S THE PROCESS</h4>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Continuously connect with new listeners. Have interesting conversations with </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">casual listeners so that they become regular listeners. Deepen the relationship </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">with regular listeners so that your radio show becomes a habit in their life.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4>HERE’S THE TAKEAWAY</h4>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Focus on the person your radio listener cares about most… it’s not you; it’s them. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Radio listeners don’t become raving fans because they understand you. They </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">become raving fans because you understand them.  </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">That’s an adapted quote from the 1993 book, “Raving Fans” by Ken Blanchard </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">and Sheldon Bowles. </span><a href="https://dn790008.ca.archive.org/0/items/building-better-business-teams-proven-strategies-that-get-the-best-from-your-people-pdfdrive/KEN%20BLANCHARD%20Raving%20Fans%20%20A%20REVOLUTIONARY%20APPROACH%20TO%20CUSTOMER%20SERVICE.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s a free archived copy</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2021, Todd Stach launched Beyond 615, a coaching and consulting service, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">where he strives to help others build confidence and discover their full potential. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He has led over 1,700 coaching sessions with radio shows. At the time of this </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">article, he serves 34 shows at 13 radio stations. Todd has also written 200+ free </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">articles to encourage on-air personalities and program directors. He and his </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">family live in the (615) area code, aka the heart of the CCM industry.</span></em></p>
<p><br style="font-weight: 400;" /><br style="font-weight: 400;" /></p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/on-air/who-radio-listeners-care-about-most/">Who Radio Listeners Care About Most</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/on-air/who-radio-listeners-care-about-most/">Who Radio Listeners Care About Most</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Making Moments Matter: CMB Promotions Day</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/promotions/making-moments-matter-cmb-promotions-day/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=making-moments-matter-cmb-promotions-day</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[CMB Online]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:31:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promotions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65111</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>CMB Promotions Day shines a light on the creativity, compassion, and impact of marketing and promotions professionals across the Christian radio industry. These teams do far more than execute campaigns. [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/promotions/making-moments-matter-cmb-promotions-day/">Making Moments Matter: CMB Promotions Day</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/promotions/making-moments-matter-cmb-promotions-day/">Making Moments Matter: CMB Promotions Day</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CMB Promotions Day shines a light on the creativity, compassion, and impact of marketing and promotions professionals across the Christian radio industry. These teams do far more than execute campaigns. They create meaningful moments that connect listeners to their communities and to Christ. From meeting practical needs to building relationships and sharing powerful stories, their work reflects the heart of ministry in action. The following highlights from 2025 offer just a glimpse into how God is using promotions teams to make a difference in cities, neighborhoods, and lives across the country.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Jerry Woods, Director of Marketing &amp; Morning Show Host, WGTS 91.9<br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;One of the most powerful things we get to do is point the spotlight at big needs and ask our audience to help meet those needs. In 2025, when the government shut down, many people in the Washington, DC, region didn&#8217;t get paid for more than a month. We had people with six-figure salaries who hadn&#8217;t been paid in six weeks and were having problems putting food on the table. WGTS listeners stepped up and donated over 20,000 pounds of food, and Convoy of Hope gave another 50,000 pounds, and together we were able to feed thousands of people in our community.&#8221;</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>TJ Jackson, Community Engagement Director, Life 88.5<br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">“One in seven families in Kansas City experiences food insecurity and may not know where their next meal will come from. During the eight Tuesdays leading up to Thanksgiving, Life 88.5 hosted eight Terrific Tuesday food drop-off locations across the listening area, encouraging listeners to care intentionally for their neighbors. Listeners responded by providing a record 10+ tons of food (20,096 pounds) throughout Terrific Tuesday. All food remained in the communities where it was collected, strengthening neighborhood food networks.”</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Jennifer Bailey, VP of Marketing &amp; Community Connections, Encouragement Media Group<br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">“While larger cities often get most of the attention, we made a deliberate effort this summer to show up in smaller communities across our listening area. Through consistent on-air promotion, we invited listeners to meet us in their towns, with each stop also featured online so people could easily see when we’d be nearby. Partnering with local coffee shops, our promotions team and on-air personalities created space for prayer, conversation, and genuine connection over a cup of coffee. The response was incredibly encouraging &#8211; we even marked each stop on a large office map to visualize the reach. Because of that strong engagement, Small Town Summer Stops is becoming an annual outreach, with plans to expand through a Summer Stop Tour T-shirt and listener voting to help choose our next destinations.”</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Haley Radeka, Director of Brand &amp; Marketing, The JOY FM<br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Miracle on Your Street</span></i> <span style="font-weight: 400;">was a promotion new to The JOY FM in 2025.  We had over 6500 entries, thousands of real families and individuals who responded to the opportunity to have their rent or mortgage paid for 3 months in 2026. The winners included a single mom of twins, a dad supporting his wife through cancer and job loss, a sister raising her nephews, a widow and soon-to-be grandma, and a single mom recently out of a tumultuous relationship. With support from a local credit union, The JOY FM awarded 5 families across our 5 states, totaling more than $30,000. The best part, though, was that we got to step into the lives of everyday listeners, share their stories, and be the answer to prayers for provision that have been prayed for a long time. Our hope is to expand this promotion in the future and share more stories with our listening community.”</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Marina Rojas, Promotions &amp; Marketing Director, Spirit Radio<br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We worked with our local Minor League Baseball team to co-host Sunday Family Fun-days. We promoted all the Sunday games, and were given 200 tickets a game to donate to local youth groups and churches. It was a great way to connect with the local church and provide an experience for smaller congregations that wouldn&#8217;t normally be able to have a group outing like that. The ballpark saw a spike in attendance on a day they usually do not, our local churches got a free experience, and we got brand exposure on a larger scale.”</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4><a href="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Noise-Makers-Volume-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong data-start="698" data-end="728">Inspired by these stories?</strong> <em data-start="729" data-end="751">Noise Makers Vol. II</em> is packed with creative ideas from across Christian radio to help you bring moments like these to life in your own community.</a></h4>
<p><a href="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Noise-Makers-Volume-2.pdf"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-65113" src="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/107080a7-2fec-aa06-7307-0bd79c206ed7.png" alt="" width="500" height="259" srcset="https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/107080a7-2fec-aa06-7307-0bd79c206ed7.png 1200w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/107080a7-2fec-aa06-7307-0bd79c206ed7-300x155.png 300w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/107080a7-2fec-aa06-7307-0bd79c206ed7-1024x530.png 1024w, https://cmbonline.org/wp23/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/107080a7-2fec-aa06-7307-0bd79c206ed7-768x397.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></a></p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/promotions/making-moments-matter-cmb-promotions-day/">Making Moments Matter: CMB Promotions Day</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/promotions/making-moments-matter-cmb-promotions-day/">Making Moments Matter: CMB Promotions Day</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Understanding Podcasting’s Liquid Content Era</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/social-digital/understanding-podcastings-liquid-content-era/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=understanding-podcastings-liquid-content-era</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Goldstein]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:34:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social/Digital]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65107</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>As mentioned in a recent Thought Letter, podcasting has entered what I’ve been calling the era of liquid content. The phrase isn’t meant as a slogan or a provocation. The [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/social-digital/understanding-podcastings-liquid-content-era/">Understanding Podcasting’s Liquid Content Era</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/social-digital/understanding-podcastings-liquid-content-era/">Understanding Podcasting’s Liquid Content Era</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As mentioned in a</span><a href="https://www.amplifimedia.com/blogstein-1/podcasting-2026-welcome-to-the-hybrid-era"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">recent Thought Letter</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, podcasting has entered what I’ve been calling the era of liquid content. The phrase isn’t meant as a slogan or a provocation. The term has its roots at Google.  It’s an attempt to describe a shift in how content now moves, how it’s discovered, and how audiences encounter content across platforms.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A simple way to visualize the shift is to think about an orange. The fruit itself doesn’t change, but once squeezed, what was solid begins to flow. The value isn’t created by producing more oranges, but by understanding how and where the juice can be used.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That metaphor matters because it reframes the challenge. The work is no longer finished when something is published.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today’s letter is about what’s actually changing, and why some media organizations are already operating fluidly while others still assume the work ends when an episode is published.</span></p>
<p><b>Why Media Has Become Liquid</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Liquid content isn’t just about serving an existing audience. It’s about making ideas discoverable wherever attention happens to land.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Across media, content is breaking free from the boundaries of a single feed or platform. Podcast episodes are clipped, quoted, embedded, searched, recommended, and resurfaced in places far removed from where they were originally published. Increasingly, people encounter ideas in fragments long before they ever listen to or watch a full episode. What reaches them first is rarely the complete work, but a quick take, a point of view, or a recognizable voice.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In that environment, discovery no longer follows a linear path. The assumption that audiences will start at the beginning, move through content in order, and remain engaged throughout no longer reflects how people actually find and consume media.</span></p>
<p><b>Where We See Liquid Content Working Best</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the clearest examples of liquid content flow is </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">The New York Times</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Times no longer treats an article as the end of the audience journey. Reporting now lives across text, audio, podcasts, video, newsletters, alerts, apps, and social formats. Importantly, these are not duplicates. Each version is shaped intentionally for the context in which it appears. For example, remarkable graphics that would not work well in the printed paper are used to augment an online story.  We see reporters talking about their work in clips and on the website.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wherever someone enters—through a headline, a narrated article, a podcast segment, or a short video—the work holds together. The underlying reporting remains consistent even as the form changes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This reflects a clear understanding that discovery now happens across many entry points, not one prescribed path.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Television has arrived at a similar place. Programs such as late‑night shows or Saturday Night Live often reach larger audiences on YouTube than on linear broadcasts. This isn’t simply a distribution shift. Segments are increasingly structured, so they function as complete, self‑contained experiences, regardless of where they are encountered, and are designed to feature advertising.  And importantly, the segments can be monetized. </span></p>
<p><b>What “Liquid Content” Actually Means</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At its core, liquid content is an editorial mindset.  How can we maximize this “piece” of content? </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A podcast episode might live as a written analysis on Substack. A reported story might appear as audio, video, a newsletter item, or a visual explainer.  These are deliberate packagings of the same idea, shaped to fit different environments.</span></p>
<p><b>What This Means for Podcasting</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For podcasting, adapting to liquid content has become essential for growth and relevance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People rarely discover podcasts in order anymore. The days of announcing a new show with a simple link on Twitter (or whatever it’s called now) are long gone.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Audiences may encounter a quote, a short video, a social post, or a newsletter mention before they ever realize they’re engaging with a podcast at all.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I work with a political commentator whose writing performs exceptionally well on Substack but has yet to find the same traction on YouTube. The issue isn’t the quality of the thinking or the strength of the voice. It’s interpretation. The same ideas need to be shaped differently to align with each platform. That is the work.</span></p>
<p><b>How Time-Starved Audiences Are Adapting</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A recent piece by</span><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-01-15/podcasting-s-new-biggest-threat-the-end-of-listening"> <b>Bloomberg’s Ashley Carmen</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> captures a growing tension in podcasting. Faced with an oversaturated landscape and limited time, many listeners are no longer consuming shows start to finish. Instead, they’re relying on transcripts, summaries, chapters, clips, and AI tools to surface key ideas. This raises understandable concerns about whether this kind of partial consumption could cannibalize full listening.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But Ashley’s reporting suggests something more nuanced is happening. These behaviors aren’t a rejection of long-form content so much as an adaptation to the sheer abundance of it. For many time-starved listeners, the choice is often between some engagement or none at all. In that light, making podcast ideas more adaptable doesn’t necessarily diminish the core experience rather it can add to relevance, preserve discovery, maintain connection, and keep audiences engaged when full attention isn’t always available.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In my Thought Letter, I talk often about limited “shelf-space.”  To add a podcast to my regular rotation means something else has to go.  I’m out of time. </span></p>
<p><b>A Strategy Shift, Not a Marketing One</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is important.  Liquid content is not about producing more work or flooding platforms. It’s about making deliberate decisions with your strongest ideas and ensuring they travel well.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In practice, this often means doing less, not more. We regularly advise clients to resist over-clipping or over-publishing, because too much exposure can unintentionally signal that the best moments have already been given away. An axiom I use is “E2=0, when you emphasize everything, you emphasize nothing.” When everything is highlighted, nothing feels essential.  My NYU students, whose radar is finely tuned, know 3 or 4 clips of a show means the producer has published its best moments and thus no need to go to the full episode. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This doesn’t require being everywhere or doing everything. Not every creator has the time, budget, or appetite for that. It requires deciding how a key argument, insight, or moment should appear when it shows up as a clip, a quote, or a written post.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><b>The Big Picture</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The next phase of podcasting, and media more broadly, will reward clarity over volume, thoughtfulness over output, and adaptation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People won’t discover your content the way you intend them to. They will find it in fragments, across platforms, and in moments.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Liquid content leans into that reality.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And that’s where things are headed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s talk about it.</span></p>
<p><br style="font-weight: 400;" /><br style="font-weight: 400;" /></p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.amplifimedia.com/blogstein-1/understanding-podcastings-liquid-content-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Original Source</a></em></p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/social-digital/understanding-podcastings-liquid-content-era/">Understanding Podcasting’s Liquid Content Era</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/social-digital/understanding-podcastings-liquid-content-era/">Understanding Podcasting’s Liquid Content Era</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Women Christian Radio Listeners Can’t Get Enough Of</title>
		<link>https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-women-christian-radio-listeners-cant-get-enough-of/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-women-christian-radio-listeners-cant-get-enough-of</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chuck Finney]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:01:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finney's Fast 5]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Programming]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cmbonline.org/?p=65067</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Who are the female artists Christian radio listeners love the most? Nationwide listener research gives us the answer. These rankings come from real listeners scoring songs, and the artists with [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-women-christian-radio-listeners-cant-get-enough-of/">The Women Christian Radio Listeners Can’t Get Enough Of</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-women-christian-radio-listeners-cant-get-enough-of/">The Women Christian Radio Listeners Can’t Get Enough Of</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who are the female artists Christian radio listeners love the most? Nationwide listener research gives us the answer. These rankings come from real listeners scoring songs, and the artists with the </span><b>most songs earning high scores rise to the top</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This list rewards artists with deep catalogs of favorites.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leading the way is </span><b>Lauren Daigle</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, whose songs continue to test incredibly well year after year. Her powerful voice and memorable hits give her a strong lead in the rankings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next comes a tie for second between </span><b>Tasha Layton</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>Francesca Battistelli</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, both known for uplifting songs that connect with listeners.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s also a tie for fourth between rising artist </span><b>Katy Nichole</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and longtime favorite </span><b>Laura Story</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These artists prove that when meaningful lyrics meet unforgettable melodies, listeners keep coming back again and again.</span></p>
<p><strong><em>Coming up in May: We take a look at the men Christian radio listeners can’t get enough of. How many of these artists are currently in your rotation?</em></strong></p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-women-christian-radio-listeners-cant-get-enough-of/">The Women Christian Radio Listeners Can’t Get Enough Of</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://cmbonline.org/finneys-fast-5/the-women-christian-radio-listeners-cant-get-enough-of/">The Women Christian Radio Listeners Can’t Get Enough Of</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cmbonline.org">CMB</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
