Communities

The future of AM radio was the talk of the 2023 NAB show. WHLI-AM staff discussed the importance of the AM band, and how it serves the Long Island market. The following is an excerpt from Radio Ink, which covered the panel.

The first panel delved into winning content strategies for AM radio, featuring insights from Perry Publishing and Broadcasting GM Kevin Perry as well as WHLI-AM Program Director/Brand Manager Jon Daniels, and Production/Creative Services Director Sean Lynch. The panelists discussed the unique challenges and opportunities that AM radio presents, especially in a landscape where FM often takes the spotlight.

Daniels posed the question of whether strategies effective for FM radio could also work for AM, noting that AM stations are often overshadowed by their FM counterparts. Lynch recounted how WHLI-AM was crucial during emergencies like Hurricane Sandy, providing real-time updates on flooded roads and blackouts. Daniels echoed this sentiment, stating that radio stations serve as a lifeline during crises, offering both real-time information and a sense of calm.

Perry discussed the importance of AM radio to under-served communities, such as immigrants who prefer AM for its content and music available in their native languages.

Lynch stressed the importance of modernizing the sound and imaging of AM stations to make them seem as cutting-edge as their FM counterparts. Daniels added that reducing the frequency of ads could significantly improve listener experience, using the example of a station that went from eight stopsets an hour to just two.

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Read the entire article at Radio Ink.

Connoisseur Media Long Island donated its studio offices to the Companions in Courage Foundation for the fourth year in a row to host the annual “Santa Connection”. The Santa Connection serves pediatric patients across their “Courage Network” with a one-on-one live video chat with Santa. Many of these children are isolated in the hospital and cannot visit Santa at the mall. Patients are joined by family members and their caretakers for a few moments of “normal” holiday cheer. The Child Life Specialists at the hospitals prime Santa with details about each patient, so each visit is incredibly personalized.

The Santa Connection broadcasted from the Connoisseur Media Long Island studio offices on December 7th and 8th, 2022. Years ago, when the pandemic shut down the Santa

Connection studios in New York City, Connoisseur Media Long Island offered space in the Farmingdale studio offices to connect Santa “from the North Pole” via video chats with patients across the “Courage Network.” It’s been an annual tradition ever since.
The Companions in Courage Foundation was originally founded by NHL Hall of Famer, Pat LaFontaine in 1997. They are recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and eligible to receive donations. In just the last five years, their efforts have provided interactive playrooms, called “Lion’s Dens”, in hospitals throughout North America. Through innovative communications tools, these playrooms replace the isolation of a hospital with a connection to family, friends and celebrities during each hospital stay. By virtue of their location (primarily in major metropolitan areas), children’s hospitals tend to be safety nets to the most vulnerable in our society. On average, these facilities devote almost half of their care to children of low-income families. Their “Lion’s Den” rooms were designed by Edwin Schlossberg and his renowned ESI Design team in New York City.

“I’ve always said that it’s important to score your goals early in life, because later on, it’s all about the assists! Our partnership with the kind team at Connoisseur Media has brought smiles and good cheer to pediatric patients for almost two decades. That’s the kind of teamwork that means the most to me and to Long Island!”

Pat LaFontaine

“We first connected with Companions in Courage about 17 years ago with event marketing and promotional support,” said David Bevins, Connoisseur Media COO and Long Island Market Manager. “The Santa Connection is truly an inspiring program and their team is welcome to host it from our studio offices annually.”

Connoisseur Media Long Island is a proud long-term partner of the Companions in Courage Foundation. Their mission is simple: no child in the fight for life or health should ever have to go through it alone. The Companions in Courage Foundation provides courage, friendship, compassion and support to those children and families who are overcoming illness and life-threatening obstacles.

A big congratulations to Danielle is in order, because she beat Raven and won the biggest “Can’t Beat Raven” jackpot yet, of $7,900! Danielle joins a list of winners who have played the popular Can’t Beat Raven trivia game. The jackpot resets back down to $100 as listeners play against Raven each weekday. Check out Danielle’s big win!

WFRE-FM in Frederick, MD recently held its “Free Country Cares For St. Jude Kids Radiothon” and raised an impressive $481,244 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

WFRE PD Andy Webb said, “Our entire staff gave 110% over the course of two days, pouring their hearts & souls into this year’s event, because the need is so great & the kids are so special. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer, and the Frederick area came through in a big way to aid in that fight. I’m so proud of our on-air team, our management, our support staff, Team WFRE, and, of course, our incredible listeners who did such an incredible job in continuing to support of St. Jude.”