Dear Radio Group CEO:

As a former morning radio personality, an avid radio listener, amateur singer, and an entrepreneur, I believe I have a winning idea for you. 

I call it "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio," and I believe this will be next big trend as far as Christmas programming is concerned, and even beyond.

"Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" makes use of everyone's desire to actively participate in their own entertainment. It can bring to radio the kind of interactivity that has made the Internet so popular.

Here's how I see "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" working. The promotions department of all your stations could create a "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" festival, and encourage listeners of all ages to send in CDs, mp3 files, USB drives, and cassette tapes of themselves singing classic Christmas songs. These could then be played throughout the 2006 Christmas season and in future Christmas seasons.

People of all ages and from all walks of life will just love to hear themselves singing on the radio, and they'll also love to hear their friends, family and neighbors doing so. People will listen for hours if there is a chance of hearing themselves or someone they know.

"Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" would be like a breath of fresh air coming into conventional Christmas programming. 

After all, there is a lot of airtime to fill. Many radio stations start playing Christmas music 24/7 immediately after Thanksgiving. That's about a month of Christmas music.

Perhaps from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Day, programming could be devoted to "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio."

Let's shake up the old patterns and give people something new, something fun, and something to which they can contribute.

I believe "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" has the potential to reverse the slide in listening for music radio. It's a way to respond to the popularity of competing mediums like TV reality shows, "American Idol," Internet music, mp3, ipods, etc.

I think you would need to start promoting "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" right now. The "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" slogan will catch everyone's attention and spark their imaginations. 

Personally, I wouldn't worry about how good, or bad, some of the performances are. People will love hearing their friends, family, neighbors and co-workers on the radio singing Christmas songs. 

A case in point is William Hung, of "American Idol" fame, who touched the hearts of the nation even though he is tone deaf.

You could also set a time for people to come and do their renditions in your studios. All your different radio stations could post the words of the songs, then have listeners come in and perform. One song per listener. The station could even make a "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" CD of station's local talent/listeners and sell it on the air!

Last year, I made a Christmas CD that I named "Daddy's Christmas Songs" for family and friends. It includes my version of "Do you Hear What I Hear?" and my now 4 year-old daughter's "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." These two songs are on the "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" CD as samples. 

For more of my songs, see www.daddyschristmassongs.com 

I hope you can see the possibilities for this. It could increase the number of listeners, pull in more advertisers, and be loads of fun and laughter as well-another great thing for audience participation.

Who knows, maybe it will discover the next "American Idol."

Look at the ratings "American Idol" has enjoyed, and the advertising dollars it has raked in. Not only is it wildly popular with audiences, it is also a money-making machine for Fox.

"Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" can do the same for you. 

Everyone will want to know how they can get involved. "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" can make everyone a singing star.

Indeed, "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" might start a whole new trend in radio, similar to the way talk radio took over AM radio. 

Maybe it will lead to a new genre like a complete Karaoke Radio Station or a full audience-participation station. "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" can be a trial balloon for the future format.

If you are interested in pursuing this idea, please call me to discuss it in more detail. 

I'd be pleased to help in any way I can to make "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio" a huge success, year after year.

Sincerely,

Steve Mozena, Creator of "Karaoke Christmas on the Radio"