Our Latest Industry Blogs

If you’re in radio, you’re no stranger to contests. But did you know there was once a national contest to try to figure out how to monetize broadcast radio. It happened exactly 100 years ago, and you just might be surprised to learn what was the winning entry.

In part 2 of “Is Public Radio A Victim Of Its Own Org Chart?” we take a deeper dive into how “brilliant at the basics” programming and on-air marketing could help turn around a particularly challenging year.

Sometimes the organizational chart at a company says more about how it operates than the actual people who fill those job titles. In general, radio has been slow to adapt to audience and industry changes when it comes to how most stations are structured. In another year when many radio stations are facing difficult challenges, who reports to whom and who’s in charge of what can be critical factors in determining ultimate success…or failure. Just ask someone you know who’s in public radio.

One of the more amazing COVID-era trends is the growing popularity of toys and games among adults who might be just a touch age-phobic. No matter, this segment continues to expand among so-called “kidults” – those with an aversion to growing old. This trend has implications for media brands, especially those with an emphasis on entertainment – like radio.

The stories of AI adoption come from companies of all regions and markets large and small. But just because there’s a mandate to use AI doesn’t mean it’s going to be successful.  This month Goldman Sachs announced that AI is overhyped and too expensive and Chevron’s CIO proclaimed he didn’t think AI would save the…

In the radio industry, job insecurity has always been a way of life. But in recent years, RIFs seem more common than format changes. As personalities and hosts wring their hands over the next wave of exits, today’s #TBT post is a reminder that no one’s bigger than the radio station. After all, if it can happen on “Sesame Street”….

These days, you often hear there’s not a lot of interest in new music. And to complicate matters, there’s no central discovery tool where consumers go to find out about new releases they might have interest in. Today’s post is about one of the most talented musical artists of our time who took matters into his own hands last week. He launched his own stealth promotion for his no album. His promotion was so unconventional, it worked…like a charm.

The last few weeks have been jam-packed with “BREAKING NEWS” stories, forcing news organizations to step up their coverage and resources. But in an increasingly cluttered environment where memes may be more visible to more consumers than headlines, how can radio news stations stand out amidst the clutter? Fortunately, President Biden’s decision on Sunday provides us with a fascinating look at who did what – and why.

It’s no longer enough for media brands to provide good content. It is now about providing a great experience. And even the best brands are upping their games, including an incredible new mall experience from Netflix. For radio, it’s a reminder the bored intern and a prize wheel at local festivals and events just doesn’t cut it. How is your brand’s experience?

Last week our general manager Paul Jacobs asked everyone in our office to envision what the ideal radio station looks like in 2030 — if it’s built from the ground up. It’s a tough challenge for most of us who spend our waking lives constantly juggling daily industry news, monthly ratings, and quarterly budgets. The challenge is…