Radio Is Still Fun

National Radio Day Lessons from the Harlem Globetrotters

Last month, I was on a call with the leader of a mainstream broadcast group. Midway through our conversation, he asked – almost mournfully – “Remember when radio was fun?” Then he shared a recycled idea he was dusting off from the “good old days” of his career.

Disappointment took over – and, my heart broke.

Not because it was a bad idea — but because it was rooted in nostalgia instead of vision. I didn’t hear another word he said. I kept thinking: If his radio stations aren’t fun anymore, he needs to fix that before it’s too late!

Allow me to say it plainly: I’m sick of the eulogies being written about radio. There are too many articles, too many speakers, and way too much pessimism about the “impending death of radio.” Enough already.

Maybe it’s the competitor in me. Maybe it’s the risk-taker. But if you’re just counting the days until you retire, I’m standing up today to say:

STOP IT. And let’s start having fun again.

Several years ago, the Harvard Business Review posted an article in its Marketing section with a title that both frightened and thrilled me: “Bringing a Dying Brand Back to Life.” In it, Mannie Jackson tells the story of the Harlem Globetrotters — once an iconic entertainment brand that, by 1993, had lost its spark. They were coasting and slowly became outdated and irrelevant.

But that’s not where the story ended.

Through intentional innovation, a renewed vision, and bold mission-driven risk-taking, the Globetrotters were revived — not by going backward, but by moving forward with a recalibrated purpose.

Sound familiar?

While Christian Music Radio hasn’t become outdated or irrelevant, some are mistakenly counting radio out. But, to the contrary, Christian Music Radio is growing. Growing in passion. Growing in listeners. Growing in impact.

In a world saturated with mixed-messages, we still have the privilege and power to speak truth and life into the noise — not just with music, but with mission. We’re not just on the air; we’re in hearts, in homes, and on highways, offering hope, truth, and encouragement every minute of every day.

So, starting this National Radio Day, August 20th, stop mourning the medium. Instead, celebrate the movement.

And join me in these three things:

1. Enjoy Radio’s Current Success

Look around — Christian radio isn’t in decline. It’s thriving. People are tuning in. Lives are being changed. God is moving through our ministries.

2. Learn from Other Categories That Faced Extinction

Remember the Globetrotters. Reinvention isn’t just possible — it’s powerful. And it starts when we stop surviving and start innovating.

3. Fight for Radio’s Future

Let’s dream again. Let’s take calculated risks. Let’s launch that crazy podcasting or video idea, tell that bold story of a life-changed, and play that impactful song that reminds someone they’re not alone. Let’s trust God will continue to work through us when we tell His story. Radio doesn’t die when technology changes. It dies when we stop believing in its full capability.

Christian Music Broadcasters — on this National Radio Day, know that we’re not just part of an industry. We’re part of a Kingdom assignment. We are storytellers, encouragers, worship leaders, and spiritual first responders. And those in our community need us now more than ever.

Radio IS still fun. It’s still powerful. And God’s still working through us in changing lives.

 

Dave Gordon
Sr. Director – Media Markets
Northwestern Media