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CCM Coaching Tip #8: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
January 22, 2016
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by Tommy Kramer, KramerMedia.net
When I was a very young boy in deserted, mosquito-infested Louisiana, I saw the great Aretha Franklin and her sisters, Erma and Carolyn, singing behind her father, Reverend C. L. Franklin, in one of his "gospel caravan" tours. Years later, the moment I heard "Respect" on the radio, I immediately recognized her astounding voice.
That song became an anthem for many things - racial equality, women's rights, marriage advice - but in the Christian radio world, it should be thought of as The Golden Rule.
Respect...the music. Don't come in too early on a "cold" ending. (It's like throwing water in the listener's face - and by the way, it drives the artists crazy.) Don't fill the air with more words just because you have ten more seconds of intro time on a song. Get your thought out, then shut up. Nobody ever complains about hearing a few more seconds of one of their favorite songs.
Respect...the listener's time. Don't use 100 words if 30 will do. Don't tease me with something, then tell me I have to go to the website to find it. (97% of your listeners will NOT do that.)
Respect...the fact that the listener who just hit the "scan" button and it landed on you, may know NOTHING about the station, or the music you play. The other day, I heard a jock intro a song by saying "Here's Chris..."
Chris WHO? Chris Rock? Chris Hemsworth? Chris Christie? Say "Here's Chris Tomlin" so I'll KNOW - and start learning who the artists are.
Respect...R-E-S-P-E-C-T. The more you give it, the more you get it.
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