September 10, 2019
I am a lover of radio. I spent thirty years on the air and programming radio stations. But I do listen to a lot of Spotify. Why? Hey, I’m a former PD. No one can build a better playlist than I can.
I don’t pay for the premium service. It’s not because I’m cheap (well, maybe a little). It’s because I want to hear the commercials. I’m curious to see who is advertising on the platform. Unfortunately, I get more promos than spots. Most of these are, frankly, lame and boring. However, a recent one got my attention … and raised my ire.
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August 27, 2019
The census is coming! Officially, we begin counting ourselves on April 1, 2020. This is an important event for our country but holds particular significance for radio.
Why? Besides the fact that we are federally licensed to serve our communities and the results of the census directly affects those communities of license? Yea, that. But the census will also have an impact on the two pillars of the radio industry – ratings and revenue.
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August 13, 2019
Like many aspects of our industry, the popularity of podcasts has exploded. However, for many, it has been difficult for radio groups to effectively monetize this new audio outlet. One element is a fair and agreed upon currency. Do downloads convert to listeners, and when someone starts a podcast, how long do they listen?
Another issue has been who is listening. What do they consume based on a specific podcast or podcast genre? This second question is being answered by Nielsen and Scarborough.
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August 6, 2019
Adults 25-54 is the most requested demographic group by radio advertisers. Besides the fact that 25-54 is not a demographic group, but a family reunion, why do so many advertisers request 25-54? In a single word – habit. Choosing Adults 25-54 allows advertisers more selection of stations and it therefore gives them tremendous price advantage.
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July 23, 2019
I live in a small, college town. With apologies to John Mellencamp, I was not born and raised in a small town. I lived – and programmed – in major markets. So, it has been an interesting transition listening to radio in this smaller market.
The dial is controlled by two big companies, but their approach could not be more different. As a listener, I find it fascinating.
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