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Wisdom, Laughter, And Selfies Dominate #WWRS2014
April 8, 2014
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Thanks to the social space – we now have an easy and convenient way to make moments linger – like last week at Worldwide Radio Summit 2014.
Using the hashtag "#WWRS2014," it organizes the conversation and helps everyone capture the buzz in one place. What's excellent about designated hashtags during live events is that we can communicate with other summit goers as well as with those who couldn't make it but still wanted a peek into what was going on.
And it all started the night before at the Hard Rock Café in Hollywood:
The summit then followed the morning after. Tapping into the socially savvy attendees who (unknowingly) became "citizen journalists" for me, we will recap this big event and tell you a bit of the story.
And it started with a conversation about the "connected car."
Erica Farber, President/Radio Advertising Bureau, and Gorden Borrell then spoke on radio's revenue side:
Next up: The much anticipated Fred Jacobs, President/Jacobs Media, revealing Techsurvey10 results:
After Techsurvey10 – it was time to have lunch with Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx and his just announced new co-host, Jenn Marino. Jenn comes from CBS/Baltimore and she's also someone I've worked with in the past.
I couldn't be more proud to see her join Nikki's radio show. Great move for her (and for the fans of the show). When I saw this post on Facebook, it spoke volumes of her excitement:
That's Clear Channel/Denver Dir. of Programming, Joe Bevilacqua, sitting in between Nikki Sixx and Jenn. He was the perfect host for the lunch.
The remainder of the summit on day one was filled with insight on how to apply the live experience to brand building, talent coaching lessons and suggestions for radio as it faces the distractions it competes with today:
On Day Two – I was privileged to moderate a social/digital session titled, "Move People To Move Meters (And Product)."
Next up was a session on "Radio Futurecast":
And as the summit continued with great sessions on, "The Sound That Moves The Dial," and "The Next Big Radio Hit," I couldn't help but notice selfies taking over the Worldwide Radio Summit – more so than any year prior.
Of course, Island Def Jam SVP/Rock Christine Chiapetta made sure we took one after our social panel:
It was selfies for days:
And back to the summit - it wrapped up with hilarity from the on-air radio talent panel:
KDWB's Dave Ryan and Sarah Lee Owensby staged a fight with Sarah Lee yelling at Dave from the audience. The entire room was literally stunned with the most awkward feeling ever.
Little did we know – they punk'd us. Once we realized that - the room erupted in laughter with the overwhelming takeaway, "Crazy makes great radio."
Following #WWRS2014 on Twitter is a great way to get a sense of what's being said – but there's nothing like the live experience.
Captured socially – this is just a small fraction of the takeaways and camaraderie experienced at Worldwide Radio Summit 2014.
It's important for our industry to hold this event. It's equally important for the industry to support it.
We get to talk with each other, learn and grow as a business. Many times you find it's the smallest things that resonate with you to take away and apply to your brand(s) and reputation (and maybe even yourself) to refine and reset.
There's also nothing better than reconnecting with the friends who have cared along the way.
Thank you, Joel Denver, Sat Bisla, and Monte Malone. The time and toll it takes on you and your respective teams to get our industry together for a couple days is appreciated.
It's truly a gathering not to miss. Hope you will make plans to attend #WWRS2015!
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