JULY 25, 2024

The Kentucky Broadcasters Association mourns the recent passing of retired WKMS talent, videographer and producer, Joe Haynes. Haynes passed away in Murray on July 17th at the age of 66.

A graduate of Murray State University, Haynes got his first on-air opportunity in 1980 filling in for the regular host of the Nightflight 91 program. Haynes admitted later in retrospect, "I was not very good on-air, but at the time I thought I was."

In the summer of 1990 Joe was hired on as Murray State's Radio & Television Specialist... and the rest as they say is history. Haynes went on to host several shows and produce others.

"When I look back, it all started with a young man listening late at night to the radio trying to find the music he loved and how WKMS gave me the opportunity to pursue a dream."

Complete obituary information for Joe Haynes is available HERE

1240 AM WPKE was launched on July 31, 1949 high atop Peach Orchard Mountain in downtown Pikeville. A young boy who lived near the site watched the first tower go up and was mesmerized by listening to The Lone Ranger on the station. He decided he wanted to follow in the footsteps of the announcer who opened each show with, “A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty Hi-Oh-Silver!...”  Just six years later, in 1955, he became a disc jockey at the station and steadily worked his way into management, eventually becoming the sole owner. 

Walter E. May built a broadcasting empire in eastern Kentucky on the foundation of that AM station, now owned by Mountain Top Media LLC, with his daughter Cindy May Johnson at the helm. WPKE was a steppingstone for many young men and women who wanted to be in broadcasting, offering opportunities to be board operators, audio engineers, announcers, disc jockeys, sportscasters, newscasters, account executives and more. Many Kentucky broadcasters well known to the KBA have passed through the WPKE studios.

WPKE 1240 AM is also broadcast on an FM translator, 98.1 FM in Pikeville, and simulcasts with WPRT 960 AM in neighboring Prestonsburg and its FM translator at 104.5. The stations’ name is The GOAT, as the format encompasses every genre and decade from the late ‘50s to today, every song considered one of “the Greatest Of All Time!” There’s also a GOAT radio app, and a livestream on the station’s website. Program Directors Ted Meadows and Dave Stanford created the format in-house, and it’s taken off. You might hear Conway Twitty, The Beatles, Taylor Swift, and Poison one after the other, and somehow…it works. Mountain Top Media’s Chief Engineer (and longtime veteran radio announcer) Paul Manuel hosts The Get up and GOAT Show live every morning. There’s no syndicated programming on The GOAT, in a nod to the station’s legacy of being live and local.

Some highlights of WPKE’s history: a 1969 live broadcast from the launch of Apollo 11 at Cape Kennedy, wall-to-wall live announcers covering eastern Kentucky’s massive flooding for several days in April 1977, an ongoing annual live radio event Hal-o-win which began in 1972, and what may have been the state’s longest running radio show ever, The Personal Touch – which began in 1962 and only ceased with the passing of its host, Lucille Smith in 2007.

On this 75th anniversary, it’s notable that WPKE has always been a locally owned and operated independent radio station, serving its community with information and entertainment. General Manager/owner Cindy May Johnson ensures the station and its staff are on top of digital technology and social media. Plans are underway to celebrate a 100th anniversary in 2049!

MBMTC 2024 provides two days of learning and networking designed specifically for broadcast engineers, giving you the opportunity explore best practices, compliance guidance and the latest technology and equipment available.

The conference is a joint effort of state broadcasters associations from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and features:

• A day and a half of educational sessions for radio, TV, and IT engineers and technical staff
• Dedicated time to explore the exhibit hall and check out the latest equipment
• Opportunities to network with colleagues from four states, including a welcome reception for attendees and exhibitors on Wednesday evening
• Complimentary continental breakfast, morning break and lunch in the exhibit hall
• Door prize giveaways

As an active KBA member station, take advantage of complimentary registration by using promo code KBA24 at checkout.

Earlier this year, we posted updated guidelines about engaging in or accepting advertising or promotions that directly or indirectly allude to the Super Bowl without a license from the NFL or the Final Four Tournament without a license from the NCAA. Now, it is time to think about these issues in the context of the 2024 Paris Olympics!

The guidance from our prior posts addressed the following subjects, and offered warnings about conducting any of these activities when tied to any trademarked phrase referring to events like the Super Bowl or March Madness:

• Advertising that refers to the event or other associated trademarks;
• Advertising that uses non-trademarked terms that will be understood by the public to refer to the event;
• Conducting or sponsoring events and parties for viewing the event;
• Sweepstakes or giveaways that use the name of the event as part of its name or offer prizes that include game tickets;
• Offering “special” coverage relating to the event, accompanied by advertising;
• Congratulatory advertising; and
• Whether disclaimers will provide a defense to a claim.

The concepts advanced in those discussions apply equally to the Olympics, but the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), formerly the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), has a unique weapon in its arsenal, so there are additional considerations of which you should take note.

CONTINUE READING

WYMT is arguably one of the best journalism training facilities in the nation, with journalists regularly moving on to new opportunities. That speaks volumes for the leadership of station manger Neil Middleton. Last week WYMT said goodbye to the newest Duchess of Hazard, Olivia Calfee. Staff members gathered to celebrate Olivia's decision to accept a position at WVLT in Knoxville.

We want to promote YOU! Send us your staff additions, promotions and special events. Email Chris at chris@kba.org

COULD A PHONE CALL CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

Because I’m a student of the advertising game, I remember unusual and weird slogans and commercial copy, like this one:

Can a phone call change your life? This one quite possibly could. Call now, and we'll send you this free booklet telling you how to get started—the Control Data Institute. Your future could be just a phone call away.

It turns out that a phone call can change your life in sales. Recent survey results revealed in Chains Store Age – The Business of Retail suggests that you should not overlook the importance of phone calls to your customers.  This is specific to retail, but it indicates the B2B sales environment is no different.

According to the Invoca Buyer Experience Benchmark Report:

• 68% of respondents find the human connection aspect of calling businesses attractive and say they prefer communicating this way more than any other channel, including online, chat, or email.
• 44% say they call to do more research because they feel most comfortable completing high stakes purchases on the phone.
• 75% of respondents will hang up after being placed on hold.

“In these high-stakes transactions, consumers want to feel confident that they are making the right buying decision, and offering a human touch is the best way to provide that reassurance and build a rapport with them," said Dee Anna McPherson, chief marketing officer of Invoca. "However, this also means that businesses must pay close attention to the experience that their customers are having on the phone and implement the technology needed to perfect it because it can make or break the reputation of their brands."

If clients and prospects aren’t returning your email messages, an old-fashioned phone call could change your sales life.  Since many may be out of practice with this skill, we thought we would offer a few suggestions to maximize your phone skills:

1. Smile.  The smile in your voice will be heard loud and clear
2. Have a planned reason for calling. Rambling calls with no apparent purpose won’t work.
3. Share relevant research. At the RAB, we teach you to have a valid business reason for making the call. (VBR) This can be research; a specific article, like this one, may be about the importance of phone interaction with customers.
4. Ask open-ended questions.  You don’t want the call to be a one-way blast of information. You’re trying to get engagement. This is done through specific, open-ended questions about the client’s business category or challenges.
5. Get right to the point: the “payoff” for the person who took the call.  “I’m calling today because…”

Here are some phrases to avoid on the phone:

• Did I catch you at a bad time? They wouldn’t have picked up the phone at the wrong time.
• “Just.” Anytime you put the word “just” in front of a sentence, you minimize its impact and importance.  “I’m just calling today” vs. “I’m calling today to share…”
• “How are you today?” Unless you know the person and that’s the reason for the call, this phrase (which seems like a caring thing to ask) can be seen as inauthentic and insincere. You’re not calling to find out how they are, so starting that way can be a bad first impression.

We’ve all been frustrated calling “Robo-hell” and automated voice systems.  Calling to share this research with your clients and helping them with their customer contact could be a great way to open a conversation about the importance of voice communication. 

Could a phone call change your life?  Are you willing to try?

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.

Your active KBA membership entitles you to complimentary access to RAB's online certifications.

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9:00am - KBA Board of Directors Meeting - Louisville, KY

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KBA Annual Conference - Central Bank Center in Lexington

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