Like many holidays in the past, we were live on both Thanksgiving and the night after. People always ask why I don’t just take the time off like everyone else, what the benefits are and if it even means anything to the listener.
First of all, I love doing Liveline. Unlike a typical modern radio gig, I’m privileged to not be cutting multiple days’ worth of voicetracks for a group of stations. There’s a completely raw, real and spontaneous vibe to Liveline that simply cannot exist on pre-recorded voicetracks. As someone who has done them, I know what it’s like. There’s no such thing as “making it sound live” just because you leave in mistakes, or “focusing on great content” if it’s days old. Why talk at the listener instead of talking with them.
On special holidays like Thanksgiving, there are many people who have nowhere to go. They’re either working, traveling or totally without friends and family. They seek companionship, which in recent years has become recognized as one of the top reasons people listen to radio. We know that not every station can be live all the time, even on holidays, because the budget and talent pool don’t exist. But there is the opportunity to be there on a special day that your listeners will always remember and bond with the audience.
I’m fortunate to work from home, but Thanksgiving dinner was served at 3 p.m., about 25 minutes away. We were out of there by 6 (and the show starts at 7) so what was I supposed to do that night? Just sit around and look at the wall, thinking about much I’d love to be on the air? Liveline is my baby, it’s my pride and joy . . . and it really paid off.
We had more calls on Thursday and Friday night than the entire prior week combined. We had people driving to and from gatherings, talking about what they ate, where they went, what they did, loved ones they couldn’t be with, and of course requesting favorite songs with special meaning. This is connection. Overall, it was just a huge party with lots of great music, live phoners, and a real sense of what was going on in the lives of every American.
No surprise, we will be live on Christmas Eve, Christmas night, and New Year’s Eve, with a special six hour show counting down live to 2026 in three time zones! Our studio will be packed with party people screaming and yelling, all kinds of contests, prizes, hot party music and a real, big celebration that every year is unmatched by any other countdown or mix show. Liveline will keep listeners tuned by putting them first and playing the songs they love and request, airing tons of phone calls every hour, and embracing the key elements that once made radio the No. 1 interactive hub for entertainment and fun.
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