When Inspiration Won’t Bite: What Rock Legends Can Teach Radio Imaging Producers

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” Paul Kelly -Singer Hit Maker

We’ve all been there: the clock’s ticking, the PD wants it “yesterday,” and the cursor is just blinking at you in Pro Tools. Inspiration feels a million miles away. The thing is, even the biggest names in music hit that wall. What separates them from the rest is how they hacked their way around it. And their tricks can work just as well in the imaging studio as they did in the recording studio.

Welcome to the moment every imaging producer dreads: blinking cursor, empty head.

Examples & Takeaways:

• Doc Neeson (The Angels) – Driving a cab for inspiration. Shadow Boxer was born after he dropped off a fare named Amanda.👉 Lesson: Step outside the studio. Real-world voices, street sounds, or overheard conversations can kick-start your next imaging script.
  

• Prince – Subtraction at 4 am. Stripped the bassline from When Doves Cry and made the track stronger.👉 Lesson: If your promo feels bloated, start muting. Sometimes the cleanest, boldest idea is hiding under the clutter.
  

• David Bowie – The cut-up method. Randomly shuffled lyrics to spark unexpected phrases.👉 Lesson: Don’t be afraid to chop your copy up and re-arrange it. Chaos can break clichés.
  

• Paul Kelly – The kitchen table poet. Every day domestic settings, a pen is always within reach.👉 Lesson: Keep your “capture device” handy, phone, notebook, whatever. Don’t wait for the session to start to catch the idea.
  

• Keith Richards – The sleepy riff. Dreamt up Satisfaction half-asleep, captured on cassette before nodding off again.👉 Lesson: Always be recording. That half-baked mumble into Voice Memos might become your next killer line.
  

• Cold Chisel – Studio noodling. Iconic licks were born from messing around during tracking.👉 Lesson: Leave the mic open, keep the session rolling. Off-the-cuff takes often carry the most spark.
  

• Iva Davies (Icehouse) – Turning pressure into fuel. Deadlines became his catalyst for creativity.👉 Lesson: Don’t fight the deadline. Use it. Some of your sharpest, most original imaging will be born under pressure.

When inspiration isn’t biting, it doesn’t mean you’re out of ideas, it means you need a ritual to shake them loose. Rock stars had their tricks. Imaging producers need them too. Whether it’s stripping a session bare, chopping up your copy, or just stepping outside to eavesdrop, the point is simple: stop waiting for inspiration, and create the conditions where it has no choice but to show up. Need That Creative Spark in Your Imaging?

I’ve been in radio imaging for over three decades, and I’ve seen every deadline, every crazy brief, and every last-minute “we need it now.” The difference is, I know how to turn that pressure into promos, sweepers, and campaigns that cut through.

If your station needs imaging that’s more than just noise between the songs — imaging that tells a story, captures a mood, and makes listeners lean in — let’s chat.

👉 Book a free 30-minute call with me here: bit.ly/freevoodoointro