Music can serve as a great source of comfort, especially during times of fear and uncertainty. During a crisis like this COVID-19 pandemic, radio plays a special role not only in providing that uplifting content, but also sharing news, resources, and becoming a community sounding board for listeners.

We asked MusicMaster users around the world to share some of the ways they are meeting the challenges of the pandemic and helping listeners through this crisis.

Balancing Heavy News with Uplifting Content

One way radio stands above on-demand services is that it boils down an overwhelming amount of music into a curated, optimal experience. This same concept can apply to how radio delivers the news. Right now, people are scrolling through online feeds that are inundated with pandemic updates - some hopeful, mostly distressing. Radio has the ability to aid the community psyche by providing that optimal balance between heavy and light.

“Radio’s ability to inform immediately and entertain to bring some levity to the madness is unmatched against any other medium,” said Christian Hall, National Program Manager for Harvard Broadcasting.

Dia Ryan, MD and Midday Host for Cox Miami's Hits 97.3 described how listeners look to her station for both information and normalcy, and they are proud to provide the community with both. “We are a constant source of information that doesn't bring the depressing heavy feel the news provides.”

Hits 97.3 Cox Miami rebrands as Quarantine Radio and offers promotional support to local business on their website.

So how are radio stations finding that balance between news and levity?

“We are very conscious of the effect the 24 hour news cycle can have on folks in the middle of a crisis,” said Jay Lawrence of OZ FM in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. “We've made a pledge to keep our listeners informed with critical info, but to also keep things as upbeat as we can. In between critical updates, we're talking about the positives as much as possible. How are people coping? How are the kids? How is your new reality? As more and more are distancing and isolated, they need a friend more than ever. We've resolved to be that friend."

Like many stations, OZ FM shares news and resources about COVID-19 on a special page on their website.

Troy McCallum, Program Director/Content Creator for Stingray's boom 97.3 in Toronto, reflected, “This is radio’s opportunity to step up and not just inform. We need to spread messages of hope, not doom. We need to be mindful of the messages we send and the songs we’re playing while we send that message out. Our community will eventually hit a point of information overload and we need to listen to our audience to provide a means of escape as well.”

"We’re here to inform but also to be a distraction," said Shawn Turner, Country Brand Manager for Bayshore Broadcasting. "Yes, we should be right on top of the information – local and around the world – but we should also provide a distraction, an escape – for people to be able to have a laugh or just think about something else for once.”

Ramping Up News Reporting

Stations are not only thinking about how to balance news and other content, but also how that news is delivered.

“I think people do want the music brands that they choose to provide a certain amount of stress relief via the music,” says Rick ThomasVP/Programming for Max Media Denver. "That being said, almost every break we provide some kind of information about the current events in our city." What’s more, the news is delivered in the "language of each brand". For example, on their old school station, Jammin 101.5, Rick reports there is a greater emphasis on information for moms on how COVID and the shortages affects their world and their kids.

Among the resources on their website, Jammin 101.5 shares "Front Line Shoutouts" for healthcare workers fighting the virus.

German public broadcaster WDR is also making special efforts to deliver news in the language of its listeners, literally, by reporting news in multiple languages for all the foreign citizens of Germany. WDR is expanding their WDRforyou website and will now report several times a day via social media livestream. Important news and everyday tips are available bilingually for Arabic, Persian and English speakers living in Germany.

Multi-language news about coronavirus is available on the WDRforyou website

Austrian national broadcaster ORF Vienna is also taking care to share information in multiple languages. Since March 17, spots on Radio Wien and videos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have been running in English, Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Czech and in sign language. Informational clips and trailers in Spanish, Polish and Farsi are in progress and more will follow. With this initiative, ORF Vienna is making an important contribution to curbing the spread of the virus and providing all residents of the city with important information on correct behavior during the pandemic.

While radio thrives in its immediacy, stations also recognize they have a responsibility to report the most factual information possible.

As Jeff McCarthy, VP of Programming for Midwest Communications said, “Our focus is to insure we pass along factual information from qualified sources.”

Tap Money, Program Director of Urban One's Hot 107.9 Atlanta added, “In times like these it’s not about being first but being accurate and certain that your team is giving out verifiable information across all platforms.

Hot 107.9 reminds listeners in Atlanta that they can listen at home while on coronavirus lockdown

Helping Communities Communicate

"National and global information is everywhere. However, local information is key to local listeners," said Jay Lawrence (OZ FM). "Stations that are able to keep up that flow of information, while being a friend and companion in this time of isolation, will be there long term. Stations that don't do this will push listeners to other sources of information."

One of the best ways to be a local resource is, in the words of Entercom Phoenix VP/Programming Tim Richards, “Give the community the platform to talk."

As MusicMaster's own Marianne Burkett asks us to consider, "What can radio do that TV can't do?" Her advice: "Open your phone lines! Invite the listeners in to comment on their feelings. Provide immediate updates from public officials via the phone." She even suggests listeners can crowdsource shopping during shortages. "Ask your listeners... does anyone know where to get this or that?" She adds, "There is hope. This will pass. We just need to maintain our wits, our sense of humor, and most of all - common sense."

Even as a nationally syndicated program, Throwback Nation is finding ways to be local. “When we take calls on Throwback Nation Radio each night,” said Host and CEO Tony Lorino, we’re talking to people about what is going on in their hometowns, with their families, and trying to let them de-stress with some good music and a special shout out or dedication."

He added, "That sort of radio is providing us with real, human connection.  Without interaction in workplaces, restaurants, and other community gatherings, we can help provide it over the phone, our text lines, and our social media pages."

Stations are also helping connect members of the community who need or are offering assistance.

German station RADIO SCHWABEN is offering crisis assistance for the elderly, the needy and sick as well as social institutions, with RADIO SCHWABEN Neighbourhood Help (Nachbarschaftshilfe). Under the motto "Hörer helfen Hörern" ("Listeners help Listeners), the station connects listeners in need with those who can help. Information is shared on their website and Facebook group using hashtag #RADIO SCHWABEN Nachbarschaftshilfe.

RADIO SCHWABEN Nachbarschaftshilfe Facebook Group is a platform for "Listeners Helping Listeners"

German public broadcaster NDR 2 is also helping its listeners help each other. As part of their initative #dernordenhältzusammen (The North holds together), the team has created a multilingual flier which can be downloaded on the station's website, printed and posted in the entrance area of houses, supermarkets or any other public places. People who are willing to help can sign up on the list, and be contacted by those in need.

NDR2's posted fliers help connect neighbors in Northern Germany

Austrian Hit Radio Ö3 has teamed up with the Austrian Red Cross for the initiative “Team Österreich” in order to connect people to provide care and supplies like food and other necessities of life, like baby sitting and dog walking, for the sick, elderly or those in quarantine who are unable to care for themselves.

Team Österreich and Hit Radio Ö3 are finding help for those in need. In English: "I need help, I will help."

Sharing Positive Stories

Shawn Turner of Bayshore Broadcasting has seen a lot of response to their group’s "Local Hero" feature, where listeners nominate someone in the community that’s done something nice for them or someone else. Shawn said, "It’s never been needed more than it is now, with people doing amazing things and also just needing to hear good news."

Country 93's "Local Hero" feature celebrates the power of goodwill against crisis.

Inforadio, from the regional Radio Berlin Brandenburg, is also mobilizing positive forces by portraying the heroes of the crisis, and talking to the men and women who keep society going during the pandemic. The first episode of the program featured Anja Voigt, who works as a nurse in the intensive care unit of the Vivantes Clinic Berlin-Neukölln.

Supporting Local Businesses

The economic impact of these developments to business around the globe has been devastating to many. Radio, which draws heavily from events and advertising revenue, are among those feeling the impact. In response, stations are rallying to help local businesses survive and continue to provide after the pandemic has passed.

"One of our primary focuses is assisting local business through this," said Christian Hall of Harvard Broadcasting. "Many have closed all together, and the rest seem to be operating on a limited capacity." Calgary station X92.9 is encouraging listeners to purchase gift cards for later use, or take advantage of online ordering. The station also launched a website where local businesses can post links to gift card and online order pages.

The X92.9 "Come Together" website helps local businesses promote gift cards and online orders

Guaranty Media in Baton Rouge has launched a Facebook group, led by Eagle 98.1 afternoon host Michelle Southern, dedicated to local businesses in the Baton Rouge area and what they’re doing to cope with closings. Operations Manager Chris Elliot shared, "We’re hosting Town Hall types of live discussions with air staff from each of our stations hosting. That group has exploded in a short amount of time, currently at 6,903 members."

Guaranty Media Baton Rouge is connecting local businesses to the community through Facebook.

Melissa Chase, Operations Manager for SummitMedia in Richmond, VA, shared that the company has a new program in place to help local businesses as well. "We are kicking off SummitMedia Cares – our local initiative to offer free advertising for businesses affected by this time."

SummitMedia Cares offers free advertising for businesses affected by closings.

Berlin private radio station 98.2 Radio Paradiso is making sure to lend a helping hand for the smallest and more vulnerable businesses being affected by the pandemic. They are offering free advertising under the motto of “GEMEINSAM STARK” (Strong Together). "Many companies are currently struggling to survive. The smallest ones are the first to be hit", said Paradiso program manager, Thorsten Wittke. "In times like these, we must all stick together." Small businesses can send their advertising texts to the station via the online form, and the messages will be produced and aired free of charge.

Radio Paradiso is producing and airing free advertising for small businesses that are struggling most during this crisis.

In addition to supporting businesses, many stations are finding ways to aid listeners. As Troy McCallum of Stingray Toronto shared, "We didn’t pull our promotions, as people need money right now, more than ever."

Inspiring Homebound Listeners

With so many people across the globe now spending their free time at home, stations are helping listeners adjust to the isolation by providing new kinds of uplifting and useful content.

Tony Lorino, host and CEO of Throwback Nation Radio, has added a special feature to his program called 'The 60 Days of #ThrowbackNationInspiration.' "We’ll be sharing tips for listeners who are at home to find things to do to not only keep them occupied, but to do it in a positive way. Whether it’s something they can do with their kids, their spouse, something in the kitchen, the yard, whatever, we’re covering it.  We are also sharing the ideas on Throwback Nation Radio’s social media channels."

#ThrowbackNationInspiration lifts spirits and shares ideas for listeners stuck at home.

Across the Saga Communications markets, VP/Programming Bob Lawrence reported "We also have experts discussing how to be disciplined enough to be able to work productively while at home." For listeners who once consumed radio in the car or at the office, Saga is also promoting ways to tune in from home. "With more Americans working from home we are reminding them that they can listen on their smart speakers while they work. The smart speaker brings the radio back into the house again."

Austrian radio channel FM4 has updated their previous motto “You’re at Home, Baby” to “Stay at Home, Baby! (But you are not alone.)” They are also holding daily "FM4 Stay at Home Sessions", for which Austrian bands and musicians perform sessions that are then made available online and on the air, accompanied by video messages. FM listeners are also invited to join in a discussion about how they feel about the current situation.

FM4 "Stay at Home" sessions entertain homebound listeners with virtual concerts.

Germany's Schlager radio B2 has even turned the concept of “being stuck at home” around by celebrating the cozy comforts that "home sweet home" can provide. With their campaign “We Bring the Spring into your Homes” the station promises to make listeners' homes even more beautiful by raffling dream kitchen makeovers.

Radio B2's contest "Frühling für Zuhause" (Spring At Home) gives homebound listeners something to dream about.

Adding New Content for Children

With many children around the world now home from schools and daycares, parents are craving more wholesome and educational distractions during down time.

To meet this need, SummitMedia Group Richmond station "103.7 Play" launched a program called Radio Readers, webisodes where on-air staff reads children’s books for “all the little listeners at home.”

The new "Radio Readers" program from 103.7 in Richmond, VA.

Many German radio stations are also adapting their programming to provide new educational offerings. In the North of Germany, for example, Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) is expanding their digital program “NDR Info Spezial” to offer an extra edition of the children's program "Mikado" in the mornings, as well as additional educational segments in their ARD Audiothek and as a podcast.

Radio TEDDY, Germany's children and family radio station, has also updated its programming to adapt to changes in everyday family life. "Radio TEDDY is always at the side of children and families, especially now," said program director Roland Lehmann, commenting the decision to include even more content for children and parents in the daily program. The Radio TEDDY news program will provide hourly information on the current situation, tailored to the age of the children, and delivered in a fear-free and educational manner.

Radio TEDDY offers coronavirus information specially tailored for children.

ANTENNE BAYERN also recognizes that it’s not just adults who have fears about the virus spreading. The approximately two million children in Bavaria also have many questions that concern them. To help alleviate those fears, the station has added new children’s news segments into their programming, responding in an easy and upbeat format to the kinds of questions children are asking, like: Why can't we go to the football stadium? or Can we go away during the Easter holidays?

The team at German Ostseewelle HIT-RADIO Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has launched the initiative #KinderImBlick (#KidsInFocus). "We want to sensitize people to pay attention to the well-being of children in the neighborhood - but also to show parents who are perhaps stressed out that they can get help," explained moderator Ina Teloudis, who is herself the mother of a seven-year-old son. “It is important to promote the fact that it is not an expression of weakness when parents seek help or talk to others during this extraordinary time. That is why the initiative #KinderImBlick, both online and on-air, promotes the current care hotlines of the Child Protection Association and supports the financing of this offer with a donation of 1,000 euros."

#KinderImBlick promotes coping resources for parents who are stressed due to this crisis.

Hosting Virtual Events and Concerts

While music and talk can be a great companion during isolation, stations are also using video to connect with their audiences.

Chris Elliot of Guaranty Media in Baton Rouge shared that Facebook Live has been a great tool for their station, allowing them to own the workday space filled with people who would normally be at work or school. They’re pulling their audience into what the station is doing, and acknowledging and responding to listeners and their questions. Chris said, "It’s the type of one-on-one interaction and companionship people are looking for right now."

Around the world, people faced with the closures of worship spaces are coming together for virtual services. For example, Germany’s MDR SACHSEN EXTRA is providing Jewish listeners an opportunity to welcome and receive Shabbat through the broadcasting of Kabbalat Shabbat services every Friday on DAB+.

Recently, Bayshore Broadcasting Country stations held a Facebook Live concert with a local fan favorite, recording artist Tommy Gilham. They called it “The Social Distance Tour”.

Bayshore Broadcasting's "Social Distance Tour"

German radio group NDR is offering a new campaign called "Kultur trotz Corona" (Culture despite Corona). North German artists from the North of Germany have been invited to present their art on the virtual NDR stage. Musicians, authors, actors/actresses, cabaret artists, poetry slammers and more can film themselves giving a taste of their skills, from piano improvisation in the living room to Hamlet monologue on the balcony. The video will then be available to all users on www.NDR.de/kulturtrotzcorona and on NDR's social media channels. In addition, the NDR radio and television stations will broadcast some of the performances.

Sample videos of home performances available on NDR's Kulturtrotzcorona ("Culture Despite Corona") website.

Germany’s “ROCK ANTENNE Xmas Rock” has rebranded as “ROCK ANTENNE Live Rock!” and rebuilt their christmassy stream to feature rock concert recordings. From AC/DC to Rammstein, from Bon Jovi to Queen - the web stream transports the live feeling from the stages directly to the listeners. "Guaranteed contagious but guaranteed virus-free. Take that, Corona!", said Guy Fränkel, managing director of ROCK ANTENNE. In order to further promote the community feeling of a live event, the station has founded a Facebook group called "Rockers United".

ROCK ANTENNE's rebranded channel offers something for stay-at-home rockers who are missing live performances.

The pandemic has also threatened the existence of many local, young or lesser known musicians who live mainly from performances. The small record companies that release these artists also are seeing their existence threatened: concerts and entire tours are cancelled, and there is no revenue from the sale of CDs, records or other merchandising items at concerts. Bavarian radio station Bayern 2 is offering support through their music show "Nachtmix" (Nightmix) by mainly playing songs by local musicians and small labels who are threatened by the crisis developments.

Uniting People Through Song

In a massive effort to raise spirits across an entire continent, Dutch NPO 3FM presenter Sander Hoogendoorn launched an initiative asked presenters all over Europe to broadcast the hit “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry & the Pacemakers on Friday, March 20 at 8:45 a.m. CET simultaneously on their shows to show unity in this time of crisis. Sander shared, “We must all do what we can to overcome this crisis. Things like this go beyond the boundaries of radio programs. “You'll Never Walk Alone” is a song dedicated to all those who are doing incredible work in the health sector at the moment, who are sick, or who can't leave their house for a while". Around 100 radio stations from the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Georgia took part in this initiative.

3FM presenter Sander Hoogendoorn organized 100 radio stations to simultaneously broadcast "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry and the Pacemakers.

To lift spirits in Bavaria, ANTENNE BAYERN will be playing a special version of the Bavarian anthem every day at 5pm. Their message to listeners is that "this is a moment for all of us to pause and say thank you. Because the most important things in life are not things, they are health, family, friends, mutual respect, belief in the good and the social cohesion! All of you: policemen, doctors, nurses, carers... you are real heroes! And we say thank you! We are happy about each one of you who will be present when our ANTENNE BAYERN version of the Bavarian anthem is being played. Come to the window, balcony or door, turn up the volume as a sign of solidarity and community spirit and applaud each other as loud as you can at the end. Always at 5 pm on the dot, instead of the news. Bavaria sticks together and we make it audible. We say to each other: Thank you!"

Throughout the crisis, many Italians in lockdown have been gathering on their balconies and windows at an agreed time to sing Italian songs and the national anthem together. On March 20th at 11am, numerous Italian radio stations joined this musical flashmob and, all unisono, broadcasted a community program, starting with the National Anthem, followed by the Italian musical classics "Azzurro" by Adriano Celentano, "La Canzone del Sole" by Lucio Battisti and "Nel blu, dipinto di blu", better known as "Volare", by Domenico Modugno, all songs that have made the history of Italian music. The program was broadcast by Rai radio channels (Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and Isoradio), M2O, R101, Radio 105, Radio 24, Radio Capital, Radio Deejay, Radio Freccia, Radio Italia Solomusicaitaliana, Radio Kiss Kiss, Radio Maria, Radio Monte Carlo, Radio Radicale, Radio Zeta, RDS 100% great hits, RTL 102.5, Virgin Radio and the Vatican radio. At the end of the radio broadcast, all the ships of the Navy in different national ports sounded the sirens on board at the same time. Watch Trailer from RAI Radio

German radio ffn has even created their own song parody to lift spirits. “Corona Oh Na Na” has soared to nearly 2 million views on social media and has since been covered all over the world, with versions now in Turkish, Arabic and Indian. Written and produced by the creative minds Klaas Scholtalbers and Jonas Alf, together with ffn-Morgenmänner (Morning Host) Franky, the song is part of the #Gemeinsam Gegencorona (“Together against Corona”) initiative launched by the station three weeks ago.

As part of their #Gemeinsam Gegencorona campaign, radio ffn lifted spirits with their parody song "Corona Oh Na Na".

Meeting the Challenge of Remote Work

Within a short time frame, stations were forced to adapt to new technical and social challenges of being isolated from the studio, and from each other, in order to continue providing continuous and immediate coverage.

As Rick ThomasVP/Programming for Max Media Denver shared, “Everything is live and local with heavy emphasis on local. We’re still broadcasting from our studios and our staff is all hands on deck. If needed, we do have capabilities for each staff to broadcast from home, but for right now we’re right here in our building, which is in the same neighborhood as our listeners live.”

For Chris Elliot and the team at Guaranty Media, crisis reporting is unfortunately nothing new, having been at the epicenter of catastrophic hurricanes and floods in the past. Because of this, they already have emergency plans at the ready so air staff can react at a moment’s notice when crisis hits. However, COVID-19 presents some new challenges. Chris shares, “Unlike a hurricane, we have no timetable, nor can we see the danger in front of us, so we’re using a watch, gather and react mentality. Our company has sent home everyone except essential programming staff. Employees not here are connected and working from home. In the case of a building quarantine, each of our air staff members are armed with iPads & iRigs to connect through Wide Orbit mobile and record live from home during their shifts.”

Jay Lawrence reported that at OZ FM in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, many are working from home through VPN, while only a skeleton staff currently remains in the building. “MCR is being disinfected after every shift and announcers are only in the building for the time it takes to do the show. So, one person at a time. Our morning show co-host is using Comrex's new FieldTap app to join the show from her kitchen. We are preparing remote VT capabilities in case we need to restrict access even more. The PD is working remotely as much as possible and is doing everything over VPN. Some applications work better over VPN than others, but where there is a will there is a way.”

Working from a home studio is nothing new for Throwback Nation Radio Host/CEO Tony Lorino. His advice for fellow broadcasters who are doing this for the first time is to “GET OUT OF YOUR STUDIO for a little. So many of us are in walled off areas that may feel even more isolated than normal because you’ve put up shades, soundproofing, or blankets to help deaden a room.  Once you are through with your shows, step outside or open a window.  Getting some natural sunlight or fresh air are so important to keep your spirits up, especially in times like this.

Conclusion

In the words of Lauren “Lo” Sessions, MD/Host for Live95.5, Alpha Media Portland, “RADIO IS EVERYTHING DURING THIS TIME! Spotify can't give you live and local updates about what is happening in your community. Podcasters aren't on the front lines when it comes to delivering news. It is radio and the radio personalities making sure their city and audience are fully in the know and the best part....radio is FREE. You can even reach us at home while you practice social-distancing via smart speakers and website streams. Radio is your best friend during times like these.”

Saga Communications VP/Programming Bob Lawrence added, “None of us can predict the full impact of COVID-19 Coronavirus on the world - or the lives of so many here at home, but I will say very proudly, that we have proved once and for all, that local radio is not only still relevant, but is essential to our listeners, advertisers, and the very fabric of our local communities!”