Ford & Fleming Rally Cantrell & Rutherford for Q2 Sales Convo

Why It Matters

The radio advertising market faces fragmented audiences and rising competition from digital platforms, making targeted sales training crucial. This roundtable equips local stations with tactics to capture ad spend, directly influencing revenue growth across the industry.

Key Takeaways

• Free Q2 sales roundtable streams on Apple, Audible, Spotify.
• Features Seven Mountains Media’s owner Kristen Cantrell and Stingray Radio’s Dean Rutherford.
• Hosted by Rainmaker Pathway’s CSO Loyd Ford with CD Media’s Chris Fleming.
• Aims to boost local radio sellers’ quarterly revenue and commissions.

Pulse Analysis

Radio advertising continues to command a sizable share of local media budgets, yet stations grapple with audience fragmentation and the lure of programmatic digital ads. Sales teams that can articulate unique listener value and integrate cross‑platform solutions are better positioned to retain advertisers. Training events that focus on data‑driven pitching, inventory optimization, and partnership models have become essential tools for sustaining revenue streams in this shifting landscape.

The Q2 roundtable organized by Rainmaker Pathway brings together two seasoned executives—Kristen Cantrell, who has scaled Seven Mountains Media’s regional network, and Dean Rutherford, a veteran SVP of sales at Stingray Radio. Their combined expertise spans traditional broadcast, digital streaming, and branded content, offering participants a comprehensive view of modern radio monetization. Co‑host Chris Fleming adds consulting insight, ensuring discussions translate into actionable plans for attendees ranging from small‑market stations to larger conglomerates.

Beyond immediate tactics, the event signals a broader industry trend toward collaborative knowledge sharing. By making the session freely accessible via major audio platforms, the organizers lower barriers for smaller outlets that often lack dedicated training resources. Listeners can expect concrete takeaways—such as leveraging audience analytics, crafting bundled ad packages, and negotiating multi‑quarter contracts—that can be deployed quickly to improve sales performance. As radio seeks to reaffirm its relevance, initiatives like this roundtable play a pivotal role in equipping sellers with the skills needed to capture a larger slice of the advertising pie.