Interesting survey of radio personalities conducted by Fred Jacobs for Don Anthony's Morning Show Boot Camp. I can't remember a study of this kind before. Here are a few of the results...
Where's the farm team? More than four in ten (43%) survey respondents perform on their station's morning show, while only 14% work nights, overnights, and weekends. Yet, nearly three-fourths (74%) of the AQ sample got their start in radio on these rapidly disappearing airshifts.
Let's do an air-check. Overall four in ten (40%) of the air talent surveyed in AQ say their work is never critiqued by station management. And nearly one-fifth (19%) say they are only air-checked a couple times a year.
Venus & Mars. While nearly seven in ten (69%) male air talent agree that "women have as good a chance as men to advance" on the air, less than one-fourth (24%) of female respondents agree.
Getting social. The #1 skill mandatory for air talent? Social media prowess, mentioned by nearly two-thirds (65%) of AQ respondents, is at the top of the list. Yet, only about one-third (35%) of these same participants rate their social media ability "excellent."
Why radio? When asked why they opted for a career on the air in radio, the top three reasons are that "it's fun" (80%), "to entertain" (73%), and because it's "emotionally fulfilling" (57%). The least important reason? "Sex and relationships," mentioned by only 1% as a main motivator for being on the radio.
Show me the money. Six in ten (60%) say that financially, they're making it, they're comfortable, or they're set for life. Conversely, four in ten (40%) report they're struggling or in debt. Those having the hardest time are women, Millennials, and those who work in smaller markets.
In the eye of the beholder. One in ten (11%) strongly agrees with the statement, "I have a face for radio." Men are twice as likely to strongly concur with that dubious claim.
