More than 25 years ago, Tom Poleman was part of a surprise comeback at WHTZ (Z100) New York that helped bring the entire CHR format with it as well. Today, its program director Tom Poleman is the Chief Programming Officer and President of National Programming for iHeartMedia. On June 8, he’ll be a keynote interviewee at Radiodays North America.
Z100’s resurgence came at a time when many believed that pop culture was too fragmented to ever drive a successful Top 40 format again. Poleman would also take a key role in building Z100’s Jingle Ball and helping establish iHeart Media’s artist development programs. All of those have relevance at a time when Top 40, the radio/music business relationship, and radio’s role in developing new music are all in flux.
Ross on Radio will be on the road to Radiodays North America, to be held June 8-9 at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle hotel. RDNA is an extension of both the highly successful Radiodays Europe, which took place in Prague last month, and travels to Munich for 2024, and the mammoth music industry convention Canadian Music Week. (Poleman’s presentation is geared to attendees of both.)
Between now and early June, we’re previewing RDNA’s major sessions as well as looking at some of the issues to be raised. Besides the Poleman announcement, and those panels featured last week, other highlights will include:
Pictures or It Didn’t Happen: While radio struggles to compete with TikTok, the next disruptive video platform is already taking shape somewhere. Joe Harland, the BBC’s “Head of Visual Radio,” looks at “radio’s decades-long relationship with film, TV, and video,” and looks toward their likely evolution in radio’s second century.
Audio Megatrends: Larry Rosin and Laura Ivey synthesize Edison Research’s signature surveys, “Infinite Dial,” “Share of Ear,” and “Edison Podcast Metrics,” to bring you the latest updates on radio listening, streaming, podcasting, subscriber services, in-car usage, and their likely impact on the audio landscape going forward.
The Best Non-Radio Brands: Steve Jones, SVP of content for Canada’s Stingray Radio, is also the author of the popular book and lecture series, Brand Like a Rock Star. This time, Jones and iHeart’s James Howard extend that look to all strong brands, their endurance through tough times, and their lessons for radio.
No More Caller 9! Out With the Old for 2023 and Beyond: Is radio innovating or just talking about it? How do we really break old paradigms? Corus Entertainment’s Ronnie Stanton moderates. Paul Kaye, whose Rogers Sports & Media is one of the first clients of RadioGPT’s AI product, is joined by iHeart’s James Howard, Corus’ Tammy Cole, and Stingray’s Josie Fenech.
Taking a Station from Good to Great! At this moment in radio, can a station actually increase the number of listeners tuning in every day? Can we build real on-air personalities and great characters to make stations stand out? iHeart VP of Talent Development Dennis Clark, whose session was one of the most anticipated at Radiodays Europe, believes radio can.
The Core Strengths of Creative Champions: “Super creators,” the ones with the ability to conceive original ideas and get them out into the world, are distinguished by three core strengths: curiosity, connections, and courage. Creative consultant Wade Kingsley helps attendees “improve their creative fitness.”
Sessions highlighted last week include:
- The AI Powered Radio Revolution: How Digital Transformation Is Changing the Game. Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig on the potential and early lessons of RadioGPT, set to roll out between now and RDNA.
- Navigating PPM: What We’ve Learned, featuring Larry Rosin, Warren Kurtzman, Sarah Cummings, Christian Hall, Angel Perelli, and Chris Ebbott;
- Radio: Can You Handle the Truth? Does radio have the capacity for self-reinvention? Moderated by Alan Cross with John Parikhal, Valerie Geller, and Susan Marjetti.
- Where is Local Radio Going? The Path Forward: Fred Jacobs moderates a panel that includes WTOP Washington, D.C.’s Julia Zigler, the CBC’s Iris Udai, and City Cast’s David Plotz.
- Carolina in Conversation: John Simons interviews WKTU New York morning co-host Carolina Bermudez.
- The View From Australia: ARN Chief Content Officer Duncan Campbell, whose portfolio ranges from superstars Kyle & Jackie O to youth network Cada, interviewed by Stingray’s Josie Fenech.
Look for more panel highlights in next week’s Ross on Radio. Full details are available here.
