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These days, there’s a lot of talk about “pre-existing conditions” – how to face them and make sure they’re covered. And in radio, the industry is fighting through the pandemic, trying to regain both programming and sales equilibrium. Radio broadcasters have their own “pre-existing conditions,” the topic of today’s blog post. Time to take our temperatures.

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If you’ve ever been on the air on a music radio station, one of your unofficial duties has been playing “name that tune” over the phone with a listener. First, there was Shazam, but now, new Google technology is taking a giant step forward with the ability to ID a song by just humming it. Yes, I tried it…and you can, too.

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“The Social Dilemma” is a Netflix documentary that delves into how marketers are manipulating and even addicting us “users.” Does social media do more bad than good? See how your opinion compares with new research on the topic.

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Like many entertainment-oriented industries, the movie theater business is in serious crisis. And that’s causing an entire rethink of their business model, and what they might look like post-pandemic. We’re all going through the “Great Reset,” and the 100 year-old broadcast radio is invited to the show. How the industry responds to this profound moment in time will determine its next century. OK, maybe the next five years.

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A frequent topic in radio circles revolves around the devices and gadgets that consumers are using more and more to listen to station content. How to strategize and market smart speakers, mobile, and other “containers of the future” is the topic of today’s post, along with some never-before-seen research that spur a watercooler topic today – if we were still hanging around watercoolers.

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The news that Spotify and Anchor have launched a platform that allows for music to be included in podcasts has caused quite a stir, especially in the podcasting community. But what does it mean to broadcast radio, and some of its best guides, Sherpas, and curators – its trusted personalities – and their potential to produce great podcasts?

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How can radio stations evaluate the importance of superstar talent to their brands? For inspiration, we look at a real-life situation in the NFL where the team’s best player may have gotten the coach fired. In radio, of course, we’re in a different league. (Or are we?)

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The science of music is becoming more sophisticated. Wait…what? Isn’t music an art? That’s is THE question. But now Spotify has filed for a U.S. Patent that uses an algorithm to predict how nostalgia in music works. Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger couldn’t have imagined this way back when. Today’s blog post takes a look under the musical hood into a fascinating process that attempts to quantify music tastes.

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The holiday shopping season is upon us, a year that promises to be like no other. Facing unique pressures, radio stations and local businesses in their markets will be tested. Today’s blog post looks at a small broadcaster in upstate New York proactively promoting hometown shopping in the face of Amazon Prime Day. Using our new COVID 3 research study, our post provides a punch list of things broadcast radio can ensure a merry and bright Q4.

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At yesterday’s big Apple event, several sleek new gadgets were unveiled – just in time for the holidays. One of these new devices is the HomePod Mini, an affordable entrant in the smart speaker race. Rather than taking the lead in this category, Apple has held back. The question is whether there’s still time for the Mini and Siri to be competitive in homes, workplaces, and cars in 2020 – and beyond. And whether radio is part of the DNA of this new device.

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In most years, radio has played a tertiary role in key political campaigns. First it was television, and more recently, dollars have flowed into digital marketing. But 2020 is like no other year, and both the Biden and Trump camps have made investments in radio. Our blog post today breaks down the numbers, and makes the case for why broadcast radio will also be tested on November 3rd.

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At a time when broadcast radio is under pressure to prove its ROI – its ability to effectively sell product in an environment where Facebook, Google, and other digital marketing tools are the bright shiny objects – a new attribution study comes along that helps prove radio’s effectiveness. This innovative initiative has been “under the radar,” but is now capturing attention in the automotive and advertising communities. Now it’s time for radio to take notice.

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During another crazy, tumultuous week, we’re reminded once again of broadcast radio’s unique ability to be in the moment and shine the light on the audience. From that VP debate to the passing of Eddie Van Halen, many radio stations have helped relieve the boredom. Hey, is that a fly on your head?

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As it does seemingly every year, it all comes down to Q4. And this year, the pressure’s even higher to optimize revenue during the Worst. Year. Ever. We have a brand new study designed to help radio broadcasters navigate the holiday headwinds. And today’s post lays out the basic terms and conditions that many of our sales department will be facing these next three months. Bundle up.

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Cliché or not, we continue to navigate “unchartered waters” in 2020 – in radio and in our personal lives. Yesterday at the Radio Show, marketer and futurist Rishad Tobaccowala made the case for “staying human in the age of data.” And that’s why we conducted a special Zoom focus group for this conference which we’ll unveil later today. Today’s post offers insights about tapping into the audience’s “emotional operating system,” so essential to success and survival in this crazy year.

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There may be a new social media trend bubbling under – Classic Rock songs enjoying a “second life” thanks to being the soundtracks in TikTok lip-sync videos. But is this phenomenon being driven by the medium or platform – TikTok – or is it the power of music that’s stood the test of time? (Hey, it’s better than another post about COVID.)

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We’re heading for a life-changing moment in the next several weeks as 2020 winds down. It’s a time when we’ll be tasked with a profound decision: Will we stick with our game plans or will be go down the path of re-evaluating everything? Over the next several days, we’re rolling out some tools that might be of value to you – both quantitative and qualitative. We make better decisions when we have information. And a lot of us have some deciding to do. We hope this helps.

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Every year on National Radio Day, industry vets publish their lists (some of them very long) of all the call letters they’ve served during their careers. But what about that small, elite group of people who have spent years, even decades, all with the same station in the same market broadcasting to the same fans. They’re the Derek Jeters and Magic Johnsons of radio, and today, we talk to a guy who just celebrated 25 years with the same station – in his hometown.

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One of Steve Jobs’ greatest accomplishments was turning Apple around when he returned to the company in the late ’90s. One of his secrets to success? “The 30% Rule” – an exercise that while painful, can provide the focus an organization needs in order to be competitive and effective during the toughest of times. Like now.

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What impact has COVID had on the ways in which consumers listen to broadcast radio stations. Our about-to-be released Public Radio Techsurvey is loaded with signs that have implications on everyone working in radio today. Thanks to COVID, trends that were already in place are accelerating. And the data is breathtaking.

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