The holidays are here, and if you’re like me, you may not be completely done with all of your gift shopping. You might not even know exactly what to get some of the folks in your life—like your boss, your star jock, or a mentor or protege. From vintage radios to educational books, here are “Great Gifts For the Radio Peeps in Your Life.”


For the serious radio programmer:
Consultant Valerie Geller’s latest edition of her well-known book, Beyond Powerful Radio – A Communicator’s Guide to the Internet Age: News, Talk, Information & Personality – Broadcasting, Podcasting, Internet and Radio covers all areas of radio programming—on air, off air, and online. In it, she covers everything from “the multi-platform presentation,” to “citizen journalism,” and so much more. Even if you’ve been programming for years, there’s something to learn here.


For the intern aspiring to be in radio:
Radio: The Book (the Fourth Edition) by Steve Warren, a former radio programmer and consultant. It’s available on Amazon, and covers the basics of radio. Amazon describes the book as “a short-cut to the fast track for current and future programmers and program directors.” Warren has an active radio broadcast career that is still exploring new ideas following his more than 40 years at some of America’s most prestigious radio stations (including WNBC, WHN, WNEW, and CBS Radio).

For the DJ who wants to go national:
“Coast To Coast- The Complete How-To Guide On Syndicating Your Radio Show” – is the book by R-Dub, currently PD of San Diego’s Old School R&B XHRM “Magic 92.5” & Rhythmic XHTZ “Z90.” But he’s also well-known for the very successful, syndicated show “Sunday Night Slow Jams,” as well as a weekday version of the show, heard across the nation. If you know of an on-air personality who aspires to go national, this is a must read.

For the professional with the stylish office décor:
A retro AM/FM radio and iPod doc, the Crosley Ranchero Radio from West Elm. The white and retro look of this “Plug and Play” radio has “old-school aesthetics with modern-day technology.”


For the vintage radio collector:
If the retro look isn’t for you and you want the real thing, a vintage radio is the choice. My favorites are the Bakelite radios. One site that offers them is RadioCraze.com, or you can find hundreds available, ranging in price from $10 to over $15,000, on E-Bay or Etsy.com.

For the DJ/music lover:
Dr. Dre’s “Beats” wireless on-ear headphones – These come in a variety of colors and styles. My favorite are the wireless, which are about $329.95. The company says these “deliver the definitive listening experience in a Bluetooth headset,” but I think most DJs would like the ability and comfort of moving around without any cords.


For the manager always on the iPhone:
A portable iPhone charger is the only answer. In fact, it might be a good idea to have more than one. Running out of juice on your iPhone when you’re on a conference call or traveling for business is frustrating. This is one of those gifts that the recipient will appreciate time after time. It also charges an iPod.


For the vinyl record collector who wants to listen to his music on the computer:
An ION: Quick Play USB Turntable from Iwantoneofthose.com is for the radio professional who still has their vinyl collection (I wish I still had mine), but really doesn’t listen to it on a turntable any more. This device will give you the analog quality, with digital convenience. It also might be a great gadget for the radio station.
And speaking of a great gift for the radio station—

For the station’s promo/marketing office:
The Ion Mobile DJ – This is an all-in-one, portable sound system with iPhone/iPod dock to play music (and mix) with microphones input and effects. Think of this as an investment that will be used over and over for live remotes, events, and community gatherings.