Maximizing Momentum
The Super Bowl of Christian radio and Christian music is just over a week away…CMB’s Momentum 2025.
For some, this Momentum is their first-ever, and they’re coming to get “indoctrinated” into all there is to know, see, and experience about the Christian media industry.
For many, this annual pilgrimage to Orlando to reconnect, network, and to learn is a highlight of your year. The spectacular opportunity that Momentum offers – which is a testament to the CMB team’s dedicated effort and exceptional standards – is VERY rare.
In advance of this year’s conference, I’m issuing 4 challenges to all of us “Momentum Vets” (myself included) to ensure that this year is not just another “rinse and repeat” of previous years, and that we truly capitalize on this week for ourselves and for the industry we serve.
They are:
Be Invested – For us “seasoned” Momentum veterans, remember the exciting journey of the week ahead for first-time attendees – many just starting out in their careers. We have a special opportunity to positively shape their experience by intentionally connecting with a first-timer, engaging in conversation, asking questions, and simply investing something of yourself in them. Find some time during “the crazy” to welcome someone new.
Be Present – It’s truly disheartening to see phones and laptops come out when our artist partners (many of whom we call our friends) are on the Momentum stage sharing their new work. Imagine how discouraging it must feel for them to perform for a room of seemingly disinterested radio partners. Let’s be present and give them the gift of our full attention.
Be gracious – Putting together a conference to the standard of excellence that Momentum achieves every year is not cheap, and the involvement and support of the record labels and business sponsors is critical to the event’s success. Engaging with sponsors, thanking label reps for the swag, artist experiences, etc., goes a long way toward reinforcing the value and importance of their partnership with CMB in the future.
Be ready – Radio is in a really fragile state right now (just ask our neighbors in mainstream radio!), and while there is tremendous hope and opportunity on the horizon, seizing those opportunities will require us to embrace new thinking, change, and taking actual risks.
It’s why the theme of Momentum 2025 is Risk.
We must all be open minded enough to examine everything we do with new eyes, from new perspectives, and drop our old wineskins for new future-forward thinking.
Attending Momentum while remaining close-minded to the realities that we face and the change that will be required to navigate these next chapters is, in my opinion, short-sighted, exploitive, and poor stewardship.
Instead, let us be ready to grow, lean into risk, and forge a magnificent future together.
See you in Florida!
