KBA'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

LEX MEDIA OUTLETS TARGETED

KBA MEMBERS VANDALIZED EARLY MONDAY MORNING

At approximately 2am on Monday morning, someone deliberately vandalized four Lexington media outlets. Spray painted messages were strewn on the outside of each building criticizing Governor Beshear and news coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the graffiti, the person left an envelope with a letter that included a picture of the Governor and the Latin phrase “Sic Semper Asininus.”

The Lexington Police Department is investigating the incidents and reviewing surveillance camera footage of the suspect or suspects. "We are proud of the exceptional news coverage provided by these KBA member stations", said Chris Winkle, KBA President/CEO. "These detestable and cowardly acts will not deter nor impede these stations from serving their listeners, viewers and communities."

The stations targeted were WKYT, WLEX, WTVQ and iHeart Media Lexington.

TODAY: LUNCH & LEARN

LEARN ALL ABOUT YOUR NEW RAB BENEFITS

KBA SCHOLARSHIPS

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MAY 1, 2021

Chad Lampe, KBA's Education Committee Chairman, would like to announce that applications are now being accepted for both the KBA High School Senior Scholarship Fund and the Harry Barfield Scholarship. The deadline to submit an application for either scholarship is May 1, 2021.

To lean more about KBA's scholarship opportunities and to submit an application, click here or find on KBA's website under the RESOURCES tab.

RADIO INK'S TOP COUNTRY PD'S

KENTUCKY HAS 2 OF THE TOP 35

ASHLEY WILSON - iHEART MEDIA

WBUL-FM LEXINGTON, KY & WAMZ-FM LOUISVILLE, KY

Despite the pandemic, Ashley Wilson found some bright spots in 2020. “We’ve seen so much more diversity in country music this year, from more hits by female artists to better representation of people of color. I was so happy to see Mickey Guyton’s ‘Black Like Me’ on many year-end best-of lists.”

Wilson also saw the crisis as a chance for radio to excel. “The year has been an opportunity for radio to shine, to serve as a companion in a time of extreme isolation.”

But she sees some challenges ahead. “We must continue to find innovative ways to attract new users, make them loyal, and keep our long-term users coming back by not only providing familiar music and exposing them to new songs, but by delivering unparalleled content and companionship via our personalities.”

BILL SANDERS - FORCHT BROADCASTING

WGRK-FM GREENSBURG, KY

William “Mr. Bill” Sanders has held to three basic tenets in programming during the pandemic: local information, positive outlook, and community bonding. “We accomplished this by keeping our news, social media posts, and talk sets relative and encouraging,” he says. “We didn’t ignore the rest of the world, we just didn’t focus on it.”

And it worked. “Over the past year, our stations not only survived, but exceeded expectations in both sales and listener involvement. Our staff pulled together, some of them working from home, to show that with teamwork and focused effort, you can still reach your goals, even during a worldwide crisis.”

HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR MEMBERSHIP?

DON'T MISS OUT ON VALUABLE BENEFITS

If you have ever benefited from an ABIP Inspection from the KBA, that service was provided at no cost, as a member benefit. Don't let your membership expire and potentially miss out on your next ABIP Inspection. Please let us help with your membership renewal. Contact Amber Rhodes at amber@kba.org. or click here to start your renewal today!

JEFF SCHMIDT'S SALES TIP OF THE WEEK

TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL

Here’s a dialogue I had this week with two sellers I’m coaching:

Me: How do you feel about telling your clients you’re in training?

Seller #1 (with 3 years of sales experience): What would the purpose be? After all, I’ve been in this business for a few years already.

Seller #2: (New Seller): Telling my clients I’m in training might make them doubt my abilities. They may think I don’t know what I’m doing.

At the RAB we have the privilege of working with sellers and sales managers to help them become even more successful. On a personal level and why I love my role at the RAB, WHY I do what I do is: “To Inspire engage, educate, equip and empower people so that they can believe in themselves and achieve even greater levels of success.” My mission is to think big and make big things happen. As a result, I aspire to be the best marketer, educator, coach, presenter, and coach that I can be. I read research and study constantly. I’m always in training.

Does my telling you that I’m in training make you think less of me?

Telling your clients, you just attended a seminar, read a book, or getting some coaching and have new information to share with them is a great way to set yourself apart. It tells them that you are interested in being the very best “partner” you can be for them. It’s foolish to assume “you know everything. . . and even more foolish to assume your clients will ever think you know everything. The goal is to do better and be better this year than you were last year. That is possible only through continuous learning.

Consider this conversation that would have been common just 12-15 years ago:

Client: I’ve been hearing a lot about this world wide web and websites; what do you think of that?

Seller NOT in training: I have no idea. I’m guessing it’s just a fad; I haven’t looked into it. How do you like the copy for this week’s ad?

Seller IN training: I was just reading about that in the Wall Street Journal and I attended a class at the local university to learn more. I think…

Which of those answers do you think will resonate more with the client?

Be proud to share with your clients that you are constantly “in training.” Not only does it separate you from others, but it also demonstrates your desire to be the best for them.

Jeff Schmidt is the SVP of Professional Development at the Radio Advertising Bureau. You can also connect with him by email JSchmidt@rab.com or on Twitter and LinkedIn.

NEWSLETTER QUICK NOTES...

MARCH 1ST - EEO 1 REPORT DUE

Broadcasters that are subject to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) reporting requirements must file their EEO 1 Report (Form 100) annually. The EEOC has announced that it expects to begin collecting the 2020 EEO 1 Reports in March 2021. Private employers that have 100 or more employees at a single establishment or collectively have 100 or more employees at multiple establishments, as well as certain federal contractors, are generally subject to this requirement and must complete the report based on employment data from a single pay period during October, November, or December 2020. We encourage you to consult with counsel on the filing.

NEXT WEEK: KBA'S NEW IMPACT BROADCAST AWARDS

In next weeks newsletter, we will share details about the 2021 Impact Broadcast Awards, including award categories and instructions on how to submit an entry.