Posts in "Hot Topics"
May 6, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
On November 2, 1920, the first commercial radio broadcast emanated from KDKA in Pittsburgh. It is likely that on November 5, the Sales Manager walked into the Program Director’s office to pitch the first radio promotion.
And that dynamic has continued for over 100 years.
On May 12, we will be conducting a free webinar that addresses the sometimes conflicting objectives between programming and sales. More importantly, it will highlight how those objectives can be reconciled for the mutual benefit of both parties.
Read More…
April 22, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Given that we are The Ratings Experts, data sort of drives us. So, we were wondering exactly when and how the whole Throwback Thursday (#tbt) thing got rolling.
According to the always reliable Internet, it either became official in 2003 in the Urban Dictionary or in 2006 on a blog about sneakers.
Not a very thrilling story…
Read More…
April 20, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
The phone lines are open!
For 30 years, we have provided unrivaled service to over 800 radio stations. We know a thing or two about what makes a station a success.
As part of our 30th anniversary tour, we wanted to share with you some select quotes from current and former clients.
Read More…
April 1, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
No, this isn’t an April Fools’ joke…
For as long as I have been in this business, advertisers have broken radio inventory into two categories: prime and non-prime. The labeling of some inventory as non-prime gives the impression that it has less value than the inventory labeled prime. A good radio sales person should not sell what is perceived as inferior.
I hope that you just read that and said, “WHAT!?” Let me explain.
Read More…
March 30, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
After a year of isolation and trepidation, it is clear we are seeing a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. To be sure, we are still in a tunnel, but a return to some semblance of normalcy is not far off.
Of many things we have been deprived during this crisis, live entertainment is surely near the top of the list. This is something we all share, but it is also an opportunity that radio has exploited for many years.
Read More…
March 24, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
For the past year, radio broadcasters, like most media outlets, have been playing defense. Now is the time to switch from defense to offense, and take advantage of new opportunities.
Why is this?
It appears that the economy is improving. The COVID relief package, which has been approved by Congress, will result in added dollars in most Americans’ pockets. Many will quickly spend that newfound money. Make sure your advertisers are prepared to compete for those dollars.
Read More…
March 23, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
The recently unveiled survey results of the Infinite Dial 2021 produced a revealing statistic. The radio industry must acknowledge that we are potentially losing one of our most precious commodities – time.
The annual Infinite Dial studies are a treasure trove of valuable information. One particularly eye-opening statistic was the amount of time consumers spend each week with online audio.
Read More…
March 10, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
For programmers, there are numerous ways to judge success. However, success is limited if the programmer does not know the ultimate potential. The size of the pie is the maximum amount you can get – is that big enough to be successful? Since it’s nearly impossible to get the entire pie, how big of a slice do you need to declare success?
There are several ways to measure this potential. Let’s focus on demographic and format.
Read More…
March 2, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Many questions remain regarding how Nielsen’s headphone adjustment impacts individual radio stations. Last fall, we addressed this new modeling procedure, which was introduced with the October 2020 PPM survey (see here and here). While the headphone adjustment undoubtedly lifts PUMMs (market listening levels), it only results in a positive impact for certain stations.
Read More…
February 23, 2021
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Many consider our new Democratic President to be a moderate. Even his decades on Capitol Hill reflected a moderate position. For this reason, I was surprised when his Republican rival labeled him a socialist who wanted to defund the police. Yes, this was a portion of the Democratic Party, but not the person they selected as their candidate.
While Biden won the popular vote and the Electoral College, many states were much closer than a lot of us expected. All of a sudden, some people who voted for Trump described Biden as a socialist who wanted to defund the police.
Simply put, for a portion of the population, the Republican’s branding of its competitor worked.
So what can we learn about this moment in history that can help us in the radio business?
Read More…
On November 2, 1920, the first commercial radio broadcast emanated from KDKA in Pittsburgh. It is likely that on November 5, the Sales Manager walked into the Program Director’s office to pitch the first radio promotion.
