I’m sure you’ve read the quote, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” so while you’re enjoying the holidays and thinking about what the new year will bring, consider how you might take a fresh approach to programming.

1. Audit with New Ears

  • Take a day away from the office and listen to your station like a first-time listener.
  • Start at random times of day and take notes: What feels stale? What surprises you?
  • Give just as much attention to the stream as the terrestrial broadcast.

2. Shake Up the Clocks

  • Change one element in the format clock for a week, maybe position a benchmark earlier, swap a stager, shorten a stopset, or add a tease layer.
  • Micro-tweaks often reveal new flow and pacing ideas.

3. Pull Inspiration from Other Markets

  • Listen to stations in different formats, not just competitors.
  • Smart ideas translate across formats.

4. Create a “What If?” Session

Ask the team:

  • What if we removed this benchmark?
  • What if we built a feature around local culture?
  • What if we pretend we’re launching the station today? What would we keep?
  • Resetting assumptions frees up new thinking.

5. Pretend You’re the Listener

  • Build a quick “listener persona” and brainstorm from their point of view.
  • What would make my drive better? What would get me to stay through the break?

6. Do the Reverse Exercise

Flip the usual question:

  • How could we make our station less compelling? Then make sure you’re doing the opposite.

7. Test Mini-Features

  • Try a one-week version of a new segment, contest, or imaging style.
  • Low commitment, high insight.

8. Change Your Monitoring Habits

  • If you normally monitor mornings, monitor nights.
  • If you focus on talent, focus on imaging. Different angles = new discoveries.

9. Borrow Energy from Other Media

  • What’s working in podcast pacing?
  • What TikTok trends have radio-friendly potential?

10. Collaborate with Unlikely Voices

  • Bring in sales, promo assistants, interns, or off-format jocks for a brainstorm.
  • They often spot opportunities programmers miss.

11. Refresh Your Production Palette

  • Add a new SFX library.
  • Try alternate VO phrasing or sonic branding.
  • Tighten or loosen imaging to experiment with energy and tone.

12. Give Talent a Creative Challenge

  • “Do a break today where you never say the station name.” (They’ll get more creative teasing content.)
  • “Explain one trending story using a sound effect.” Novel prompts unlock new content approaches.

13. Revisit Your Story

Every station has a brand story. Ask:

  • Is our purpose still clear on-air?
  • Would listeners describe us the way we describe us? If not, there’s your creative reset.

14. Conduct a 24-Hour Inspiration Sprint

In one day:

  • Listen to 3 stations.
  • Watch 2 random YouTube creators.
  • Scroll 5 new social accounts.
  • Capture 10 ideas, no matter how weird. Patterns will jump out.

15. Celebrate What’s Working

Sometimes you only see the rut. Look at your wins:

  • Which hours are growing?
  • Which features get calls or engagement? Amplify those cracks of light.

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