I was invited to speak at the 36th Annual Conclave Learning Conference in Minneapolis, MN. The Conclave is a radio industry convention that includes jocks, program directors, management, consultants and many others in the radio industry. I had first attended the Conclave back in 1987 after graduating college and thinking I might want to get into radio. So when I came across the Facebook page for the Conclave I asked if they were looking for speakers. At the same time Jacobs Media a radio consults ting company found my article the 10 Lessons I Learned from the KISS School of Marketing and reposted on their blog. Jacobs Media basically invited the classic rock format and has a long history in rock, so KISS was a perfect topic for them. Before I knew it Jacobs Media asked me to talk about my KISS lessons in their Summer School session at the Conclave and the Conclave asked me to me on a panel discussing Facebook and Twitter. Talking about KISS at a radio convention in my hometown, I couldn’t wait.

But, I didn’t know what the vibe and energy would be like. It is pretty obvious that radio has had a tough battle with the advent of the internet and smartphones. Was the convention going to filled with people talking about the good ole days, how if the internet had only been different, how could they turn back the clock. Sort of like the record business and their moaning about file sharing.

Wow was I pleasantly surprised! This multiple day event had seminars all day long. On the first day the Summer School session started at 8am and went straight to noon. As I stood in front of a packed ballroom I saw sparks fly, from the corner of my eye. People were taking everything in, asking questions. They wanted to learn. Many of the seminars were very much focused on the internet, social media, listener engagement. Discussions that were very similar to what might be discussed amongst bands on how acquire more fans, keep the fans they have and engage with their fans. I felt like here is a part of the larger music business that is storming ahead and wants to embrace new concepts and ideas, no pity for us, but rather tell me something new.

I love radio. I actually use my iPhone and the app Tunein to listen to radio stations from around the country. I just did a two hour road trip through Northern California and was listening to Minnesota’s KQRS all the way. I love to listen to stations that growing up I could only dream about listening to, Detroit’s WRIF or KSHE in St. Louis. I am excited that radio is not stuck on the past, but looking for the future.

I can say that the Conclave had some of the best online marketing and social media presentations and panels I have attended at any industry convention. They pulled together great topics and great people to discuss those topics. It was so great to see attendees who really wanted to take it all in.

A real highlight for me was a special Q&A and acoustic performance by Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company. Paul has the rock n roll voice. Some will say only Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury are better. To be 15 feet away and listen to him tell stories and sing bits and pieces from his various legendary songs was magical.

Just as radio stepped a bit outside their world of listeners and asked me speak from the perspective of a artist, musicians should step outside of the DIY music marketing world every once in awhile. The different perspective you receive through the eyes of another industry can be, well eye opening. Spend some time and read the Jacobs Media blog. Learn how radio is dealing with the same core issues musicians deal with; finding and keeping fans/listeners. You may be surprised to learn a few things that you can actually use. Radio may not be as big a factor in the success of music these days, but it is still part of the world of a musician. Read about it, learn about it from the inside; from the people who are the leaders in radio.

A special thanks to Harv Blain, Tom Kay and Fred Jacobs for having me be part of the Conclave.

Here is a copy of my presentation from the Jacobs Media Summer School.