It’s a funny thing. With these weekly Frost Advisories, I try to share insights about programming basics (how the sausage is made stuff, don’tcha know), while also challenging the more seasoned to strive for The Big Idea to transform a station and a listener’s mood, perspective, and life. Some get this while many have never thought about it. In my career, I’ve been at either place in different seasons.

Just this week I was evaluating a station that sounded like it was nothing more than a sequencing of elements. Like the automation system was programming the station. One element played, then another. Then something else came on and another element played. No design. No emotional spectrum. No meaningful content.

It was like an audio version of Whack-a-mole. Hit it and move on.

In evaluating another station I found it so compelling that I couldn’t get out of my car. (Disregard that I had dropped my keys while in the Whataburger drive through). The content was focused and timely. It fulfilled the purpose of why people tune in. And it reminded me of a greater perspective that we are all searching for. (See Frost Advisory #724 – If Our Format Can Be So Transformative Why Are The Stations So Ordinary?)

Sometimes these ideas are hard to chase around and distill for others. Sometimes they can leap out at you from unexpected places.

I hope you’ve discovered Frameo. It’s a nifty digital Wi-Fi version of a photo album. We have several throughout our house which cause us to stop, stare, and smile. Every time.

“Bring the photos of your best memories into the homes of your loved ones.”

That may be the simplest and most profound idea I’ve ever heard for how to program a great radio station.

Here’s an idea! What would it mean to your radio station if you brought the photos of your best memories into the homes of your loved ones?

A future Frost Advisory. Count on it.