5 Practical Takeaways for Every PD

Recently, K-LOVE & Air1 Network Program Director, Troy West, sat down with Kenny Jay, President, Albright & O’Malley & Brenner. Here are the 5 takeaways for programmers:

1. “One Song Per Artist” Is Dead — Embrace Multi-Track Superstars

• Listeners curate their own playlists with multiple songs from their favorite artists. You should too.
  
• Do this: Add multiple current tracks from top artists like Brandon Lake or Lauren Daigle if the audience is already streaming them heavily.
  
• Bonus: Don’t wait for chart permission—use your ears and your data.

2. Build Rotation Around Momentum, Not Tradition

• Don’t marry songs — date them.
  
• Do this: Move songs up or down based on their moment. A song can be a power for a week and drop back to medium. Flexibility wins.
  
• Quote from Kenny: “Start it in medium and back it down. You don’t have to walk down the aisle with every song.”

3. Turn Weekends Into Prime Time

• Saturdays and Sundays have 25% more listening in Christian radio, yet often get “autopilot” treatment.
  
• Do this: Program Saturday midday and Sunday drive time like weekday PM drive — live-sounding, topical, and relational.
  
• Pro tip: Put your best talent on weekends — not just newbies or liners.

4. Use Streaming & Social Media as Early Detection Tools

• Songs blowing up on TikTok or streaming 3M+ weekly will likely test well — even with older demos.
  
• Do this: Add viral tracks in medium rotation (overnights to start) to test their stickiness without long-term risk.
  
• Surprise stat: Forest Frank’s TikTok-driven hit tested highest with women 40–49.

5. Let AI Do the Heavy Lifting for Talent

• AI like ChatGPT isn’t a cheat code — it’s a creativity booster.
  
• Do this: Use it to localize national stories, craft teases, rewrite talk breaks, or brainstorm hooks. One story a day is all it takes to start.
  
• Encourage your team: “Think of your break like a storyboard, not a script.”