Pat Gwinn at the Beach- Radio Station Success (Introductory Article)

Edition Forty-Eight- Week Forty-Eight:

Written by: Mercedes Barreto

What is the truth behind success in the radio industry?    

“Connection. A listener must feel that the person they hear on the radio only talks to them.”

What makes a radio station successful? 

“A genuine desire to celebrate the music, the artists, and the stories behind the music, from the songwriters and engineers to the vocalists. Radio, sadly, has forgotten its purpose. When the FCC grants a broadcast license to a community, it is to serve the local communities with information (news, sports, weather, alerts, etc.) Too often, the public service segment of the station is buried in the wee hours of a Saturday or Sunday morning. People turned to radio during 9/11… the COVID pandemic…. Radio unifies when used and programmed correctly.”

Where do you believe your work got its start?  

“As a teen, I began working at a local station in my hometown of Union, SC. WBCU 1460 am. I worked from being a board operator to weekend air shifts to becoming the youngest morning person in the station’s 74-year history. I have been passionate about radio since I was six or seven, when our elementary school had a field trip to the radio station at Christmas.”

What is the history of Pat Gwinn At The Beach FM stations?

“I have always been on the radio. In 2001, a station owner approached me about possibly creating a show to showcase “beach music” on Friday afternoons to kick off the weekend. From the “Friday At The Beach,” the show grew to other stations. Before long, we changed the name of the syndicated show to Pat Gwinn At The Beach because not all stations aired the show on a Friday. Before long, the show gained sponsorship and stations in markets from New York to London, Toronto to Ireland, and more. The show now has nearly 200 broadcast outlets around the world.”

If you could thank several people in your way and your past, who are those people who have assisted in the efforts for success?

“First, my wife DeNese. Much time and passion were sacrificed to help realize our show’s dream. Ed Osborne, RIP, was the first station manager who gave me a chance. Along the way, David Shaw, Dino Thompson, and my mentor and personal friend H. A. Thompson. The haters inspire me. Only some people want to see you succeed. That’s a sad, harsh reality in the business and life. I’d also like to thank Bennie Warshaw; Rob and Katy Benningfield; and Wayne Troutman, for all their contributions.

What does radio mean to you?

“I cannot remember when radio wasn’t part of my life or my passion. It is a universal tool to connect people from all walks of life. Walking into the control room, one is transported to whoever they wish to be. Free to express. Create. Change opinions. Educate. Entertain. Imagine your life without your favorite station.”

What are three words that describe your radio station?

“Celebrate. Entertain. Change.”

Why those words?

“Celebrate: It is my passion to celebrate the music I play. I think of the artists who, night after night, day after day… work to make their craft the best possible. I know artist in their 70s still working 4 to 5 gigs a week in the stifling heat. Little pay. It is the love of performing to an audience. 

Entertain: I have had the honor to interview some of the best performers and songwriters of all time. I find a common thread in almost every interview … they love what they do, from a local artist playing to 40 people to stars who have filled arenas worldwide. To develop a distinctive style, sound, look… stage presence, and chemistry with bandmates… there’s so much more than that. Artists are venerable. Think about it… You go on stage to entertain… You are basically throwing all caution to the wind. You are either liked or not. Every night is a new challenge.

Change:  I think the one constant in my career is for people to say after a tremendous special on-air… how do you top that one? Well, you don’t try to. Sure, you want every show to represent the best you can be, but I believe each week should reflect your growth as a performer. Radio personalities are performers. It’s more than time and temp… that was so and so with such and such. If you aren’t growing, you’re dying. If your shows don’t show growth and energy, why continue?”

Where can we listen, learn, and share, and why should we?

“Visit our website, www.patgwinnradio.com. The majority of our shows are available there for download. Hear the stories behind the music. Learn what molded some talents into who they are, the inspiration, and musical influences. How did bands get their name? Was they a romantic or just wrote love songs? I believe this about our shows… anyone can be labeled a DJ. Get a laptop, microphone, music library, and boom – a DJ is born. The passion for the music and the listeners’ love carve the niche. I love that I get greeting cards from around the world during the holidays. Listeners become friends. Friends who send a note asking about family members, sending gifts to our granddaughters. The bottom line is that the little things you don’t have to do. but you do…that makes all the difference.”

What makes Pat Gwinn At The Beach FM fun and iconic?

“I have been honored to have articles written about the shows in magazines. I have appeared on a Public Broadcast Station to promote beach music worldwide. I co-hosted a television series with the beach music legend Billy Scott. Most recently, I have written chapters in two books published in Australia, “Our Soul Music Journey.”

Presently, we are creating the following shows for distribution: 

Pat Gwinn At The Beach

The Soul Vault

The Beach Music Countdown

The Golden Hour

A Christmas Special

Tunes and Talk (in development).”