Views from the Shore
Every now and then, you run into someone who takes you right back, not just to a moment, but to a mindset. That happened to me recently at a Somers Point Business Association networking event when I reconnected with Ken Schaffer, on-air host and sales director at WIBG 94.3 FM.
Ken and I go back more than 20 years to my casino days, when he was already a sharp marketing pro and a great partner. These days, we also share something else, being fathers of twins, which creates an instant bond all its own. Catching up with Ken reminded me how valuable those in-person moments still are. In a world where most of our communication happens through screens, there’s something different about just sitting down and talking.
WIBG, now a member of the SPBA, is built on that same idea, showing up, being present, and staying part of the community.
With so many media choices today, streaming, playlists, subscriptions, I asked Ken why radio still matters. His answer was pretty straightforward. While younger audiences may lean digital, adults 25 to 64 still listen to radio every day. Their classic hits format, spanning the 70s, 80s, and 90s, make it easy. It is familiar, it is upbeat, and it works whether you are driving with your family or heading out for the night.
Ken’s favorite songs say a lot about that feel. “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire, “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, and “American Girl” by Tom Petty. That is the kind of music people don’t skip. It brings back memories, and it keeps people listening.
Our conversation came back to something simple. Ken talked about why WIBG joined the SPBA, and it really comes down to this. People still do business with people they know and trust. Emails get missed. Texts pile up. But when you take the time to show up and have a real conversation, it changes things.
In a lot of ways, that is what radio still does. It is there with you, part of your routine, part of your drive, part of your day. And every once in a while, it plays exactly the right song at exactly the right time.
Brian Cahill is the Director of Marketing for Shore Medical Center and Shore Physicians Group. He also volunteers on the Board of the Somers Point Business Association and is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Stockton University.
