Posts in "Hot Topics"
July 25, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
I’m so sorry because I’m sure you now have “Here Comes the Sun” playing on repeat in your head. However, this is about the importance of radio on the weekends. Lately there has been a lot of buzz in the trade press about radio’s readiness on the weekend. This was obviously prompted by a couple of momentous events that happened on consecutive weekends. I’m not here to pontificate about what you should or should not do on the weekend at your stations. If you are a programmer, you already know all about this situation. Read More…
July 18, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
There’s a pretty popular Kenny Chesney song called “The Road and the Radio.” We can call this missive, “The Restaurant and the Radio.” Or maybe, “Road to the Restaurant”? We’ll think about a good title and get back to you. Here’s one thing we are sure of, though: a majority of radio listening happens in the car. Our medium has often been referred to as a “point of purchase” contact. Consumers are on the move, running errands, and spending money. Many of these trips involve going out to eat. Read More…
July 12, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in a committed relationship with the data wunderkinds from XTRENDS – have noticed a pattern, so far, in the JUNE ratings. For the most part, market cume is down and, when you look a bit closer, you’ll invariably see that PUMM has also decreased. This makes sense as during the span of this survey, school children were released from the bondage of education and families across the continent went on vacation. We also had two federal holidays. This book covered MAY 23RD through JUNE 19TH. It unfolded thusly … (wait, an entire opening graph without any snark or strange tangents? We must be off our game.)
Read More…
July 11, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
It’s time to play another rousing game of <<echo chamber>> Famous JUNEs in history! Our list is populated by the likes of JUNE ALLYSON, JUNE JONES, JUNE CARTER CASH and JUNE FORAY. Notice how, except for the football coach, these names date back a long way. Think of it – how many JUNEs have you known? You probably had an Aunt JUNE somewhere in your lineage. However, it is not a very popular name. How unpopular you ask? Glad you asked. In 2023 JUNE was the 171st most popular girls name in the US. And now you know…
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in cahoots with the math mavens from XTRENDS – are not here to discuss onomastics. This is about ratings. Specifically, the JUNE survey which ran from MARCH 23RD through JUNE 19TH. It had two national holidays, Dad’s special day and the cessation of school activities. Here’s what happened:
Read More…
July 10, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Once again, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in close proximity to the algorithmic alchemists from XTRENDS – go boldly forward into the past. For those of you with short-term memory issues (you know who you are), we are talking about the recent past. Specifically, the JUNE survey. This is a review of those halcyon days that began on MAY 23RD and ceased to be on JUNE 19TH.
There was a lot of stuff going on during that 28-day span. There was the long MEMORIAL DAY weekend, we celebrated Dad (which in my house means I’m watching the closing round of the U.S. Open), the book ended on JUNETEENTH and, of course, school’s out for summer (earworm alert).
Here’s how our next batch of markets fared:
Read More…
July 9, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
JUNE is that month that inspires what we now call memes. Is it the month that is “bustin’ out all over”? Or are we preparing for a “JUNE swoon”? Those seem to be competing themes. And why are JUNE weddings so desired? (Trust me – you do not want to go down that Reddit rabbit hole.)
After extensive musings, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the data-driven diviners from XTRENDS – have discovered that JUNE is merely the sixth survey of the year. It ran from MAY 23RD through JUNE 19TH. It featured not one but two federally mandated holidays, the day for dad and, of course, the end of the school year. Cue ALICE COOPER and read on…
Read More…
July 2, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
As we prepare to celebrate the 248th birthday of these United States, we thought it would be appropriate to talk about how radio has affected the course of our nation.
Read More…
June 27, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
We have a few suggestions that might improve Nielsen’s upcoming digital diary service. The first thing broadcasters want to talk about is sample size. Let’s be real. Sample sizes will only increase if radio is willing to pay for it. Clearly, this is a non-starter.
Rather, these suggestions are for the upcoming digital diary. I will state up front that I have zero knowledge about how this is being set up or utilized. So every suggestion may already be in the works. Think of this as me trying to predict the NBA draft – it’s all conjecture. With that said, here are a few suggestions:
Read More…
June 20, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Even if you’re only paying cursory attention to the political landscape, you know that this year’s races are going to be historic. This is not a bold statement, as every presidential election has the potential to bring about huge societal changes. Add to this the fact that, at least at the top of the ticket, the current polls say this year’s race is in the “pick ‘em” category.
This column is not about politics, however. It is about the power of radio. According to a recent Nielsen study, radio could be the secret weapon in the political advertising wars. Read More…
June 13, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Ah, MAY, the quintessential embodiment of spring’s resplendence, where nature orchestrates its most enchanting symphony. As APRIL’s showers subside, MAY emerges like a grand maestro, conducting an opus of verdant vitality and blooming beauty.
Pretty impressive opening graph, right? Thing is – it was written by ChatGPT after this prompt: “wax eloquent about the month of MAY.” It also went on for four more paragraphs…
Welp, until Skynet officially takes over, it’ll be up to The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the living breathing numbers nerds from XTRENDS – to make sense out of the monthly ratings. As mentioned, we’re dealing with MAY – a survey that ran from APRIL 25TH through MAY 22ND. No big holidays but we did remember to call Mom and get our STAR WARS geek on.
This is what reality looked like….
Read More…
