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Stay Humble And Work Your A** Off - Lessons From #Conclave43
July 24, 2018
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"Content, Camaraderie and Candor!" is how someone summed up Conclave 43; radio's storied Learning Conference that played out in Minneapolis last week.
It's not easy to capture the energy and positive spirit of what it's like to be present at Conclave - so I'll do my best to pull you into an event filled with great names, voices and takeaways.
It all started with the highly charged and thought provoking session, "Great Brands Do What Others Won't or Cannot Do."
(L to R; Mary Ellen Kachinske, PD WTMX/Chicago; Jeff McCarthy, SVP Duke Wright's Midwest Communications; Jim Ryan, SVP Entercom; Scott Jameson, VP Classic Rock Cumulus Media & Maynard, EVP Nat'l Programming Strategy iHeart Media)Jim Ryan: "One of the traps we fall into so much in PPM, we'll tactically market so we can have a good month, but we stilll have a sucky brand." @Conclave #Conclave43
— Sean Ross (@RossOnRadio) July 19, 2018And as I read through the tweets and posts - there was a really smart theme running through the sessions:
- Branding matters more than ever
- There's no "stumbling across" your station on devices like Alexa
- Brands need to be important enough for people to ask for it vocally
- Education is key; the audience needs to know how to ask for you; how to find and listen to your podcast
- Only the strongest brands (station and personality) have a consistent tone and experience reflected simultaneously on social media and on-air
- With Gen Z and Millennials wanting to feel a part of community and cause, "cause contesting" allows the audience to win cash for them and for their favorite charity.
- Understand the difference between substance and noise.
- Don't be afraid to fail; failing is integral to success.
- We have control over one thing in life - how we respond to situations
- Be a step ahead of everyone else
- Watch and participate in where things are going, even if there is no immediate payoff
- Hire "A" players because "B" players create stress, especially the unconscious incompetents.
- Don't put hurdles in front of you; just go out and be good.
- Stay humble. Great leaders help you avoid the mistakes they already made.
The Annual Keynote "Ask Me Almost Anything" showcases four industry leaders from various positions talking about the fundamental changes within radio and the positive momentum. And once again, this year was filled with learning moments.
No one is bigger than the mic.
— The Conclave (@Conclave) July 19, 2018
We're all getting disrupted but what radio does is incredibly powerful to advertisers.
Lead fearlessly
Be a better listener
Show your vulnerability#Conclave43 pic.twitter.com/Ku2kAt2gLP
(l to r: Alex Cadelago, VP/MM Houston Cumulus Media; Traug Keller, SVP ESPN Radio; Thea Mitchem, EVPP iHeart Media, Todd Manley, VP/MM WGN Radio and Joel Denver, Pres. AllAccess.com)And there was much anticipation for Jacobs Media's presentation from the all-consuming Consumers Electronics Show that plays out every January in Las Vegas.
Here we go! About to get schooled by @PaulJacobsMedia and @fnjacobs ?? #Conclave43 @Conclave pic.twitter.com/4xWKubPYLx
— Alyssa Page (@AlyssaOnTheEnd) July 19, 2018- Rather than run away from disruption - jump into your own fires
- Pay attention to autonomous cars
- "Subscription type" models for vehicles is happening
- Partnerships are power
- Know what technology matters to the audience (even if it's "smart underwear," yes, there's such a thing)
And then there are those moments in between sessions that help make Conclave the "premiere underground event" as one person described it:
Lori Lewis says "Free beer for everyone at #Conclave43 and a stampede ensues. ?@lorilewis? pic.twitter.com/llQINLjQio
— Paul Jacobs (@PaulJacobsMedia) July 19, 2018Hey Quad Cities... I ran into two fine young men that want me to tell you they say hello! ?? JD Justice/@WLLR alum & @mrBobbyBones @bobbybonesshow! #Conclave43 pic.twitter.com/eEKNE6xYfx
— Jillene (@JilleneJillene) July 20, 2018Attended my 1st ever #Conclave43 Mentor x Aircheck brunch and ended it with a sit down with someone who knows me and my story, @TerriThomasInc! Thank you for the guidance as always???... https://t.co/ibI2LnNtB5
— The Mixin' Vixen (@DJDimepiece) July 21, 2018I'm pretty sure I could sit and listen to radio stories for hours, days, weeks, months, decades, infinity. #Conclave43
— Jeff Winfield (@jwinfieldnrg) July 19, 2018Each year, BMI awards a scholarship to a broadcast student at Conclave.
This year, University of California-Berkeley student, Veronica Irwin, was the recipient of a 5K scholarship.feeling very honored to receive the 3rd annual BMI founders award ! thank you @bmi and @Conclave #Conclave43 ? pic.twitter.com/RU8rOhZpon
— Veronica (@vronirwin) July 19, 2018
(L to R; Conclave Chairperson, Lori Lewis; Veronica Irwin, VP/Industry Relations, Dan Spears)Conclave also recognizes individuals who make significant contributions within radio and this year, Weezie Kramer, COO Entercom was honored.
Great speech by @Entercom COO Weezie Kramer, the recipient of the Rockwell Award at #Conclave43. Strong intro too by President of Programming @PatPaxtonETM. pic.twitter.com/7P6NWUMZvP
— Jason Barrett (@sportsradiopd) July 19, 2018Conclave continued celebrating impact makers with the First Annual Conclave Radio Awards!
The award is a crystal mic that looks like this:Station of the Year - Major Market: KRBE-FM/Houston
Station of the Year - Large Market: KSTP-FM Minneapolis
Station of the Year - Medium Market: WMAS-FM Springfield
Station of the Year - Small Market: WIXX-FM/Green Bay
Iconic Station of the Year: KQRS/MinneapolisCaptured socially - this is a very small fraction of the takeaways and camaraderie experienced.
It's empowering to watch our industry support Conclave.
We get to see one another face-to-face; learn and grow as a business. Getting out and away from the office or control room to do a refine and reset for our stations (and for us personally) is important.
For more on Conclave:
James Berry recapped the excellent Steve Reynolds acronym, FAIR.
Jacobs Media expanded on their "jump into the fire" line they share with us.
Perry Michael Simon wrote a great piece on lessons taught and learned.
Jason Barrett did an excellent job capturing the keynote panel in his blog.
Logan Anderson also did a great job with his recap here.
Hope to see you next year for #Conclave44!
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