Radio Stuff Podcast

01/08/2015 -- We kick off the new year on a positive foot. Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) chats with Joel Denver (President, Publisher, and Co-Founder of All Access Music Group) about the 20th anniversary of AllAccess.com. Denver discusses how it started, how it's evolved, where its going and believes while radio is still in a duck and cover mentality due to the economy it's time for everyone to move forward. Life's too short to not be happy. James Cridland checks in with five interesting things in radio from around the world. Big names and big announcements at CES, plus people we know are getting radio jobs. Happy New Year!

12/23/2014 -- This is the final episode of 2014. Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) highlights a BBC Radio 4 holiday programming stunt - a 10-hour dramatization of Tolstoy's War & Peace complete with a live tweeting companion. BBC Radio 4 Digital Editor Rhian Roberts chats about the undertaking. Trevor Dann, the host of Radio Today in the UK, pops in for a chat about the top UK radio stories of 2014. And the episode concludes with a 20-minute flashback at some of the great Radio Stuff moments of 2014. Enjoy! Happy New Year!

In this episode Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) tackles the Serial phenomenon. First, he addresses the Serial haters and then explores many of the lessons radio can take away from this podcast’s success. Fox Sports Radio’s awarding winning host and anchor Tomm Looney sits down for lunch and a chat in Los Angeles. They discuss anchoring on a national network, technique, philosophy, writing, hosting and how to treat people in the business. Jack-FM in Oxfordshire are letting listeners decide the fate of two turkeys destined for the Christmas dinner table; cook it or keep it. We listen in to bits and pieces of how they pulled off the stunt over the course of two weeks.

Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) catches up with the Program Director, Dave Beasing, at 100.3 The Sound in LA. This week, The Sound announced Mark Thompson (of Mark & Brian fame) is taking over mornings in February. The discussion starts there and covers the Classic Rock radio war underway with KLOS and how The Sound has gradually claimed the Classic Rock positioning in LA. Radio Stuff Update: Talk host Lars Larson talks about KXL's plans to use drones for breaking news coverage. Breaking: iHeartMedia announces plans to sell $400M worth of radio towers. LBC, the talk station in London that is not the BBC, had a stunning caller this week that went viral. We listen in and add some context as it pertains to radio.

12/04/2014 - This week Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) contemplates the news that Alpha Media's KXL in Portland is going to be using drones for breaking news and traffic coverage pending FAA approval. Alpha's EVP of Programming Scott Mahalick explains their plans to the Radio Stuff show. iHeartMedia's RIF is underway, reportedly reducing its workforce by 33%. Talk host Larry Elder was pink slipped and Larry Gifford goes off on radio companies that try to dupe the audience by scrubbing all existence of hosts who are let go. Country music stars say so-long to a long-time DJ in Louisville and Sweden announces the shuttering of FM radio by 2022.

11/25/2014 - This week Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) gives thanks for radio's truth tellers. One of his earliest influences, Bob Conners at WTVN, died this week. He remembers Bob's words of wisdom. Plus, Radio Stuff asks 10 questions of AllAccess.com's Perry Michael Simon - turning the tables on the master of 10 questions. Perry chats about his definition of radio, what he listens to, what excites him and why he still owns a clock radio. Two hosts in Chicago find out they're fired through Twitter while they're on the air - we listen in. And finally, we conclude the Thanksgiving show remembering the WKRP turkey drop.

This is what happens when Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) and UK radio futurologist James Cridland meet for a chat about radio on the beach in Southern California. Larry quizzes James about radio around the world, new trends, his thoughts on U.S. HD Radio, advice he has for US and UK radio, a new definition of radio, and why the valet thought James was driving a "toy." Plus, Larry binged listened to and reviews the new podcast SERIAL from the folks at This American Life.

Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) dives head first into Net Neutrality. What is it? Why do we care? Larry attempts to define Net Neutrality and discovers an "Oh Crap" scenario for radio thanks to Global Radio's Nick Piggott. Podcaster and former congressional candidate BIll Yarbrough weighs in on the side of less rules and regulation. Through the discussion listeners should get a better sense of the issue and why it matters. And yes, it does matter. The UK's Radio Academy surprised everyone this week when it cancelled the annual radio festival and awards. Radio Today host and former Academy executive Trevor Dann weighs in. Bob-FM in Ottawa turned off the lights and canned the staff after 11 years -- it's now Country. Seth Godin blogged about the end of radio this week -- again. Larry fires back.

11/06/2014 -- Car Talk co-host Tom Magliozzi, one-half of Click & Clack the Tappet Brothers, died this week at 77. Through archive interviews and insights from producer Doug Berman, Larry Gifford pieces together what made these two brothers from Boston so successful on radio. There are lessons to be learned for sure. Radio Today's Trevor Dann sits down with trans-gender DJ Stephanie Hirst for a discussion of her radio career as Simon Hirst and what the future holds for Hirsty. We listen in to a bit of it. The elections bringing out the worst of talk radio, sports radio callers dial the wrong station, a New York City sports radio feud heats up, and why one is a Boston radio station sensoring a Korean word in a popular song?

Larry Gifford talks to three radio veterans who share their haunted radio station stories; Juli Page Morgan (www.julipagemorgan.com)formerly of KDRS, Len O'Kelly formerly of WXLP, and Chris Pottie at Live 105 in Nova Scotia. Larry also shares a scary predition, a horrifying on-air moment, and Billboard magazines Top 10 Halloween songs.

This week, Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) chats with Salem VP Phil Boyce about his article in Talkers.com assuring everyone that talk radio is not dying. We dive into some of the issues and concerns and his personal philosophies on talk radio. iHeartMedia Chairiman and CEO Bob Pittman was defending radio on Bloomberg TV - we listen in. Breaking News! Gunshots on Parliament Hill in Canada caught on tape by a radio reporter. Must hear audio! Larry's trip to LA this week included a sit-down with the Dean of LA Sports Fred Roggin. The new midday host on 980 The Beast talked about radio's evolution, how he develops topics, what he wants from his producer and his advice for young broadcasters. As the World Series continues, radio stationos in Kansas City and San Francisco are using Lorde's song Royals as inspiration for on air support of their teams. and #tbt 45 years ago this week a radio DJ at WABC in New York started to spread the rumor that Paul is Dead. We listen in.

his week Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) chats with Jacobs Media's Fred Jacobs as Dash Conference concludes in Detroit. Radio presenter Stephanie Hirst has an amazing, inspiring story of bravery and embracing who she is. Unfortunately, her employer Global Radio didn't see it the same way. Houston is home to the first classic hip hop station in the country and Dayton has a new "icons of country" format. A new addition to the "I-Can't-Believe-That-Just-Happened-On-Radio" File. A caller apologizes for having to hang because he's being robbed. #tbt compliments of the BBC Genome Project. genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/

Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) talks to Tony Russell, a sidekick on 100.3 The Wolf's Fitz in the Morning about his recent revelation that he's stuck. Fitz was signed to a 5-year extension, but nobody signed Tony to a new deal and he's reflecting on how he could have made different choices along the way. His comments are must-listen for co-hosts, sidekicks anyone thinking about getting into radio. Gifford uses tweets from Radio Stuff followers to identify what's trending in radio from Steve Dahl's return to WLS and News 92 shuttering it's doors in Houston to new proposed digital royalty rates. Jimmy Buffett asks Spotify for a raise (we've got the audio) Musician and Oscar winning actor Jared Leto talks to iHeartMedia CEO about the power of radio. Plus a #TBT to 2008 when a Jacksonville DJ found out he was going to be fired. You won't believe what he said on the air.

This week Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) pleads for sanity as the FCC considers banning a word from radio & TV. Yes, REDSKINS is an offensive word, but it doesn't meet the definition of obscenity. Jerry Seinfeld helps to explain how difficult being funny is as Larry continues his mission to encourage hosts to be fun, not funny. A morning show bit gone-wrong costs a radio station in KC $1 Million. Former Radio One breakfast host Chris Moyles is up to his eyeballs in back taxes. Rocker turned Director Rob Zombie laments the demise of rock radio. BBC Sheffield host gets an earful from a caller. Radio can be life and death. A golf analyst crashes while doing a live radio interview. He lives. Is there crying in radio? You bet. And this week even in sports radio. And finally in Chicago, radio legend Steve Dahl attacks WGN with a forked tongue and personal insults. WGN's morning guy Steve Cochran fires back.

On the heels of Clear Channel changing it's name to iHeartMedia this week, Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) chats with Talkers Magazine publisher Michael Harrison about a disturbing trend of radio companies are fleeing from radio's "radioness," denegrating radio, and zapping the magic and mystique of what radio can be. Plus, the weekly Radio Stuff News Quiz. 10 questions (and answers with cool audio) about radio news stories this week.

Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) talks with UK-based BOB-FM programmer and breakfast host Graham Mack. Mack is in the center of a controversial stunt banning Scottish artists from the radio station until after Scotland votes on its independence. Mack talks about how the stunt came to be and the lessons learned so far. (00:00 - 11:30) NextRadio (Nextrad.io) ideas conference was this week in London. Radio Today programme host Trevor Dann did some side reporting for Radio Stuff and joins the show for his impressions of the day. (11:30-31:15) The Radio Stuff "Weekly Radio News Quiz" - 10 questions about radio news stories in the past week. (31:15-52:14)

Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) chats with Jacobs Media Social Media Strategist and AllAccess.com columnist Lori Lewis about Facebook blocking radio station page administrators. It's a scary look inside Facebooks process to weed out Community Standard Violators and it could impact radio stations around the World. The lines are more murky than FCC indency rules. A stark reminder that we rent social media space and it can be reclaimed at anytime. Plus, the weekly Radio Stuff "Radio News Quiz!" 10 questions about radio this week to help challenge and inform you about what's happening in the world of radio.

Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) chats with Napa Valley radio executive Larry Sharp who scrambled Sunday morning to get his stations KVYN and KVON back on the air following a 6.1 earthquake. It's the debut of the Radio Stuff "Radio News Quiz!" 10 hard questions about radio news stories from the week.

This week Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) dives into the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to find lessons for radio. Plus, remembering Don Pardo, QuickHitz on AMP Radio in Calgary gets snipped, and a parody song turns into a sales lead.

This week Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) examines 13 ways radio approached its coverage of Robin Williams suicide. He uses samples from Fox News Radio, NPR, Gil Gross, iHeartRadio, Graeme & Sarah, Kevin & Bean, Toucher & Rich, WTF with Marc Maron, Dennis Miller, Jay Mohr, Michael Medved, Michael Smerconish, CBC, Gresh & Zo, Alan Brazil, and Rush Limbaugh. In Ferguson, Missouri cops are dealing with protests over a deadly police shooting of a young black man and in the process trying to restrict freedom of press. International radio consultant Paul Chantler visited Chicago for the Morning Show Boot Camp and Skype's in from the UK with his takeaways. Radio is helping to fight Ebola in West Africa with catchy jingles and public service programming anchored by the BBC.