Great Lakes Media Corp

08/20/2024

The bookbag drive is going forward!

12/20/2023

Tom Langmyer
President & CEO

The interview Dave Williams did this week…

Honored to have been asked - and get to rub elbows with some extraordinary broadcasters…

Here it is via YouTube.

TOM LANGMYER is widely recognized as one of the most successful and influential people in radio. Everybody who meets him loves the guy for his enthusiasm and...

05/24/2023

Ford reverses decision and keeps AM Radio in cars, but the posturing continues - and it’s rife with misinformation.

It’s also a case of scrambling after years of neglect.

Radio caught a little bit of a break. Don’t squander the opportunity.

Posturing Continues between AUTO/TECH

05/07/2023

Radio pro Valerie Geller posted this article on her Facebook Pace about AI and how it will be used by radio stations. As you can imagine, its introduction to radio caused quite the storm among many in the industry.

I have a different take, which may go against the conventional wisdom about part of Radio that needs to be reinvented

So, here is my take on AI being used in the radio industry. 

It’s Inevitable - There’s so little of much consequence said on many stations. It’s been that way for a long time.

Since the invention of the wheel, technology has come a long way.

Embrace technology. Don’t blame it.

Many music stations over the years devolved to a point where they simply mimic a music streaming service or a jukebox. Since radio is a local business and you can get music as utility on many platforms, why would you listen to it on radio, with all of the commercials, etc.?

Not unlike voice-tracking, a technology that was developed to fill a “need” for strapped operators who desperately needed to cut expenses. Of course, at the time it was touted as making radio stations “sound better.” It actually did make the voices “sound” better and “professional,” particularly for smaller markets - however, humans don’t put much of anything behind it in the form of unique, memorable or necessary content in most cases. 

Therefore, it’s a net loss.

The lack of content of interest is not the fault of technology. 

The role of a “personality” generally became extinct, outside of some local morning shows at a few stations that remain locally-focused.

Voice-tracking was a great solution to handle the already generic content found on many stations. Nothing truly noteworthy was being said by live people staring at the meters for 20 minutes, waiting for their next opportunity to sound very good, while saying nothing of real value, anyway.

Radio was dumbed-down by people who are interested in the real estate opportunities of divesting the hard assets of stations. It’s not at all as if Radio isn’t desired. It’s just not that desirable in its current form. Unfortunately, since some companies aren’t really in the radio business, generic national content has become the norm.

It’s important to understand the distinction between the various ownership philosophies:

Buyers and Sellers/Real Estate: Move stations into a smaller location. Sell all hard assets (building, land, towers, transmitter sites). Get out and do the same thing in another industry for the same result. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Specialists: Generally religious broadcasters, many who are non-commercial, operate on a model listener support. It works.

Also ethnic broadcasters. They play to a niche audience and serve that audience.

Big Believers: Owners of multiple clusters who are run by BROADCASTERS. They see the value and opportunity - along with the revenue. They often grew out of family businesses in broadcasting or by other people who worked their way up in the industry. Great examples include Hubbard and Seven Mountains.

Local Heroes: They are generally locally-owned radio stations. They are hyper-local, serving their communities, listeners and advertisers. They don’t think of the word “radio” as being pejorative. They’re not ashamed of it. They’re proud of radio and what it does. They didn’t get the memo. They are very successful.

For whom do you work? What kind of company/owner? If you know you’re working in the first category of radio ownership described above, either accept your fate - or move to another place or a career that is led by those who are passionate about the actual business - whatever that business is. Those also tend to be the best places to work, and they have the best people!

AI is an amazing technology.

At the same time, radio at its best is based on vibrant, personal, deep, relational, loyal, human connections.

That means “people.”

However, imagine how AI could provide information and at least a voice on overnights instead of nothingness.

Imagine a vacation coverage option.

Imagine actually getting decent and accurate weather forecasts even WITH CURRENT CONDITIONS!!! AI does that. A recorded 12-hour-old tracked forecast, doesn’t. Same goes for sports and other time-sensitive content.

Don’t blame the technology.

Fight for relevant content.

Create it.

And if you catch yourself saying that you “don’t have any time to do it” because you have to track 30 stations over which you say nothing of importance, you can and will be replaced.

As with nearly all technology, AI can be used in bad ways.

However, if your current job only involves saying call-letters, the positioning statement and telling people “it’s Carrie Underwood’s birthday,” AI already has you beat.

There will be great opportunities for writers as content creators and impactful personalities to create local
content. Voice talent, trackers, announcers and liner card readers? Not so much.

Just like in every other industry, we need to reinvent ourselves as people.

What are you doing to prepare and control your own destiny?

What point of difference makes you a DESTINATION?

Remember, “Radio is Fundamentally a Local Business.” (TM)

An AI-generated radio DJ could be coming to your local radio stations using RadioGPT, a radio content generator powered by GPT-4.

02/22/2023

"Accelerated Forced Obsolescence" is supposed to get all media consumers to move solely to digital platforms for content. Exclusive digital integration is certainly necessary, but HOW consumers are treated in the process is often downright abusive.

By Tom Langmyer

01/07/2023

By Tom Langmyer, President & CEO, Great Lakes Media

Great Lakes Media is Famous for Localism.

As President & CEO, my job is to advocate and teach localism, not only for our advisory and acquisition work, but also, the industry.

Was recently recalling my trips to visit the Navajo Reservation and to check in with friends at KTNN Radio, “The Voice of the Navajo Nation.”

Thinking about the connection in communities to TRULY LOCAL radio stations.

Radio is about communicating. It’s about service and one-on-one companionship.

There are many local available local “signals” in America, but what’s broadcast over most of these “signals” isn’t unique, nor is it really local.

Generic yes, but local, no.

For the radio industry, my writing for publications and online commentary has been nearly exclusively about localism in radio.

There are terrific local broadcasters in America - and those stations themselves are generally owned by individuals or smaller companies.

However, I’m also a champion of localism for larger markets, where localism is nearly a lost art.

The most successful radio stations program to their local communities.

KTNN in Window Rock, Arizona, serves their community better than most large and major market radio stations and actually market clusters.

This is no exaggeration.

L.A. Williams may not be a household name to you, but to the 170,000 people who call the 17 million-acre reservation (as large as the state of West Virginia) home, she’s iconic.

She’s the premier play-by-play voice of high school basketball on the Navajo Reservation, and can be heard throughout the Western U.S. on KTNN’s massive signal - and on-line, anywhere in the world.

You’ll see how L.A. brings people together in this story about calling Phoenix Suns playoff games in Navajo driving 6 hours each way from the Reservation to do it…

The Suns and basketball are an important part of life in the Navajo Nation.

Listen to how listeners speak about L.A. Williams and Radio.

“Radio is Fundamentally a LOCAL Business”

Tom Langmyer
President & CEO
Great Lakes Media

When L.A. Williams broadcasts Suns playoff games, the largest Native American community in the United States, the Navajo Nation, is listening.

12/27/2022

The winter storm in Western New York further emphasizes the importance of LOCAL Radio.

WBEN Radio in Buffalo has done an excellent job making sure all are informed - and has been doing so since BEFORE this multiple-day storm began to hit, last week.

Things will let up tomorrow, but hats-off to a team of pros that know they chose and accepted the responsibility that comes with being real broadcasters, in the truest sense.

For anyone worth their salt who is a real broadcaster, that’s what you do. People stayed at the station, missing Christmas with their families to pass along vital information in real-time, to help keep thousands of people informed, safe and assured.

A word of praise to Tim Wenger and his team of professionals, both on and off air, who dedicated themselves to serve us listeners.

WBEN was the sole source for residents to be truly informed at the level they have been.

Despite smaller staffs these days, true leaders can figure it out - and do.

LOCALISM matters - and “Radio is Fundamentally a Local Business.”

12/12/2022

Great Lakes Media's President & CEO, Tom Langmyer, has been promoted from the Board of Directors to the Executive Board for National Alliance For The Great Lakes.

Learn more about the Great Lakes and support the Alliance's work, whether financially, helping with a beach clean-up or learning about and supporting the government policy issues the organization champions.

AGL's mission is not only to preserve clean water, but also to make sure all in the Great Lakes region have access to this tremendous and precious natural resource.

Tom Langmyer is President & Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes Media, LLC (a Delaware Corporation), a media acquisition and advisory firm. He is a nationally known and respected expert […]

09/23/2022

By Tom Langmyer, President & CEO

What a great night in Buffalo as the Buffalo Broadcasters Association inducted 12 people into the Hall of Fame.

Two local owners and friends of Great Lakes Media entered the management category.

Sheila Brown, who is a fellow proud “radio geek,” is the owner of WUFO. She started there as a teen, eventually as a sales rep, and after a few years at other Buffalo television and radio stations, returned home to WUFO - and eventually bought it. Not only does she own WUFO, but she has authored some very inspirational books and has been one of the leaders who is working to bring the Michigan Street African-American Heritage Corridor to life! She’s the first African-American woman to own a station in Buffalo, and was the youngest to do so in the country. Sheila is a dynamic and terrific leader. Most importantly, she’s a great person.

Buddy Shula worked extremely hard to realize his dream of owning his own radio station. This passion began as a kid. His dad even built a little radio studio for him in the basement. We were both radio rats as kids at the same time. I left town, while Buddy did just about everything at a radio station by working at several radio stations here in Buffalo. While he was on-air, he was told he’d be great in sales. And he was. As the years went by, he learned more and more until a local station became available. He bought WECK and has led it to greatness. I am proud to be his advisor and his station consultant.

Congratulations to Sheila and Buddy!

05/17/2022

This article is about a local station we advise in Buffalo.

We actually take a boots on-the-ground approach, versus “consult.”

We teach.

WECK is a music station, but it’s not a generic jukebox. It’s a LOCAL station. It’s for Buffalo and it’s about Buffalo.

I walked the team through that horrible event in real-time. They did great work, while not using the excuse that “We’re a music station. We don’t do that - and especially on a weekend.”

Buddy Shula owns the station and Glenn Topolski is program director.

They are broadcasters.

On the radio side, WBEN and WBFO, as news & talk stations, did a great job with the story.

In short, WECK is a music-intensive stand-alone station. However, it’s a LOCAL station in a sea of mostly nationally-owned, generic jukeboxes.

WECK’s role is not that of a news station, and we get that, but as a responsible entity, a station of any kind must quickly let people know what’s happening - particularly when ten innocent people were senselessly shot and murdered in the community.

From there, getting people to the stations who will cover it in high detail, is critical. Yep, and maybe even to places that are technically competitors, but happen to specialize in news.

Why?

Because it’s the right thing to do…

I was blown away by the number of people in Buffalo who actually had no idea this happened until many hours afterward. Not everyone is as plugged in as you might think or aren’t getting alerts buzzed into their back pockets. They’re just doing the normal things normal people do on a weekend…

After informing - and as fellow broadcasters who specialize in news ramp up to do their great work, a music station can help mobilize people to do good for the victims’ families and in the community, in the ensuing days and weeks.

When this happened, a radio scan revealed other stations were going on with their jukebox products and innane, generic, “relatable” chatter about whether “toilet paper should be rolled from the top or the bottom.”

The pure definition of why radio is more and more irrelevant.

There are far better platforms for utility jukeboxes than listening to radio, anyway.

Sorry to all the technical geeks, who like me, enjoy looking at relic transmitter sites in a field. Radio isn’t in the transmitter business. It’s in the content business - and good local radio product actually leads on DIGITAL platforms.

I was literally asked - and even chided hard by a couple of people in our business on why WECK would get this on the air right away - and also air the initial news conference.

Can you believe that? It speaks to the mentality of radio people - and a mentality of a business that’s lost its way.

Radio is fundamentally a local business.

Perhaps that’s why Buddy Shula’s WECK, a 1,000-watt radio station with some translators, on a graveyard frequency, licensed to Cheektowaga, NY, is a top-tier player in Buffalo - beating a number of 50,000 and 100,000-watt FM stations. And out-billing a number of them, as well.

We’ll go on ignoring the sage advice from other “radio people” and the non-broadcasters who lead the industry, and we’ll continue to do things the “wrong way.”

Our “wrong way” works…

Great Lakes Media Aquisition & Advisory Group

“Famous for Localism”

(By Tom Langmyer) The unfortunate conventional wisdom that has prevailed in radio during the last 20 years is We are a music station. We don’t do news. Unfortunately, this sentiment represents many people who set the tone for the industry and make these proclamations proudly, as the radio business...

05/03/2022

A big thanks to Dave Mason for filling in on Buffalo’s BIG WECK this week!

WECK is advised and programmed by Great Lakes Media.

If you want to listen to Dave, catch him this week from 12n - 3p at BigWECK.com or ask Alexa to play it for you. You can also listen on the Audacy app. I’m listening to Dave today here in Chicago!

Dave sounds great and is an expert at creating a “local experience.”

Radio is fundamentally a local business.

Dave gets it!

He’s a mentor of mine (Tom Langmyer) and hired me at WGR in Buffalo many years ago. I was a college kid and he was a terrific coach.

Still is…

BIG WECK is a Buffalo NY USA radio station. The station broadcasts on 102.9 FM, 100.5 FM , 100.1 FM & 1230 AM, and is popularly known as Big WECK. The station is owned by Radio One, LLC and offers an Oldies format, featuring artists like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Buckinghams, The Rolling Stone...