The Absence Of Things

I grew up in a home that appreciated art. My parents taught me a little bit about how to recognize artistic talent and exposed me to a lot of great art as a child. One of my favorite American artists is Edward Hopper. If you’ve never heard the name, his most famous painting is a massive canvas called “Nighthawks" that hangs in The Art Institute in Chicago.

When you study Hopper’s art, one of the things that stands out so strikingly is the absence of things. Much of his work is focused on urban, populous settings like New York City, yet void of people (or if there are people in a painting, it is only a few). In Hopper’s work, it is the stuff that is NOT in the painting that heightens the emotional connection of his art. ?

Similarly, when a great chef is developing a new dish for an upscale restaurant, he or she is often looking to edit the plate, rather than add to it, so that the star component of the dish is really spotlighted and tastes amazing.

The importance and emotional value of your work shine brighter when you remove lesser things that are competing for attention.

What can you take off your radio station, or remove from your show that will, in effect, allow the best, tastiest, and most meaningful stuff you do to shine in prominence, because it is no longer buried among a lot of stuff that is just… clutter?

Here is a list of some possible things to consider, just to get you thinking in the right direction:

·??????The 20 worst-testing songs

·??????Promos for stuff no one is visiting on your website

·??????Sweepers that are too flowery, too situational, or just too long

·??????Any talk break where the talent isn’t saying something meaningful

·??????A weekend show that is off-brand or poorly produced

·??????Newscasts / traffic reports / sports reports

·??????Freebie or no charge spots

·??????Giveaways and contests that benefit a client more than your listener

No doubt, your list is going to be different, but I promise you there is stuff on your air that is crowding out the stuff that you do best, that you are known for, the stuff that people love you for. How about this: Set a goal to remove 1 thing a week for the next 8 – 10 weeks that just isn’t adding value to the listening experience. By summer, you will have a more finely tuned, more meaningful, and easier to listen to radio station.

Don’t know where to start? I’d love to help.