Our Latest Industry Blogs

What happens when you ask 13 radio pros from all corners of the industry how they define gratitude as Thanksgiving approaches? Why, you get 10 very different interpretations of thankfulness. Actually, they have a lot in common, and I hope their musings bring you a sense of joy and gratitude as you scroll through them. And I’d feel gratitude if you left a few of your own thankful thoughts in the “comments” section at the end of today’s blog post. And while I’m at it, THANK YOU for reading our blog.

Have we become a society of quitters? When it comes to media and entertainment subscriptions, that’s been the case here in America. We change streaming services like we change our socks. And now a new judicial ruling in New York will make it even harder for providers – especially SiriusXM to jack us around. Are there implications here for broadcast radio? Of course.

The “true crime” genre shows no signs of slowing down. Always a mainstay of movies and television, “true crime” podcasts are now the third most popular genre according to new research. And there is somewhere in the neighborhood of 23,000 “true crime” podcasts, but it’s a mystery as to why the genre is virtually invisible on the broadcast radio airwaves. For a clue or two about how radio could seize this content opportunity, just click READ MORE below.

In a recent CNBC interview, Ben Affleck does a deep dive on AI.  Many of his viewpoints echo many of ours: AI is disruptive, but it also has the potential to save time and could potentially create new revenue streams. He asserts that AI cannot replicate the nuanced artistry of human actors or the creative genius of…

Radio and televison have always been the source of an ongoing talent merry-go-round. Never known as stable industry, many on-the-air broadcasters have moved around throughout their careers – in many cases, a lot. But in the past year, job changes, terminations, resignations, belt tightening have plagued the industry, causing instability and less reliability. Today’s post looks at a number of these changes in ’24, and what they might mean to the year ahead.

No one could have predicted 2020. And that’s why prognosticating what our lives will be like next year – or four years from now – is absolute folly. But that never stops analysts and futurists from making their predictions known about “where the puck is going to be.” Today’s blog post – a #TBT entry from exactly four years ago – is about accountability. Did those seers and forecasters get it right about radio back in 2020 during the throes of COVID – or did they sell radio short? If the suspense is just killing you, click “READ MORE” and all will be revealed.

The world of video streaming may be the most competitive category in the media ecosystem. Once Netflix carved out the path to success, other wannabes rapidly followed, crowding the space. So if you’re a new entrant, how do you gain traction with the biggest players in the space? You don’t. Instead, smaller, well-defined niche players that stream narrower content categories are enjoying success with video streaming. And wouldn’t you know it – there are lessons here for radio companies trying to gain a foothold in the growing media landscape.

If you think iHeart or Audacy own the most radio stations in the U.S., think again. A Japanese company plans on broadcasting in more than 12,000 locations by the end of 2026. Their name? 7-Eleven. Gulp.

The term “mass media” suggests reaching a vast, undifferentiated audience with “one-size-fits-all” mainstream content. But more and more, consumers of all generations appreciate personalized content especially created and curated just for them and their unique interests and tastes. For a mass medium like broadcast radio, this presents a profound challenge. Yet, there are ways to customize and personalize the experience to create stronger connections with consumers and advertisers. Today’s blog post explores what that looks like.

AI is continuing to shake things up, pushing boundaries and igniting debates. Apple and Baidu are diving into smart glasses, OpenAI’s SearchGPT is gunning for Google, and Meta’s AI-powered news partnerships are stirring the pot. On the creative front, Universal bets on “ethical” AI music while the Beatles snag a groundbreaking AI-assisted Grammy nod. But…