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Conventional wisdom says that ads in a podcast are more credible than commercials that run on broadcast radio. And new research supports the notion that “live reads” in podcasts by trusted hosts are especially credible. Or are they? Today’s blog post takes on the thorny issue of ads that run on the radio and in podcasts. You may/may not love our conclusion, but hopefully, it will stimulate you to give consideration to the marketing opportunities and challenges ahead.

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Traditional media outlets have often struggled to compete against content-rich digital brands. But 168 year-old Reuters has taken a novel approach to expanding its content – with the help of readers. Here’s how they’re pulling it off.

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There are legendary names connected with those early concert hall days, like Bill Graham and his Fillmores. In Detroit, it was Russ Gibb and the Grande Ballroom. But “Uncle Russ” was much more than a concert promoter. He was an educator, a tech innovator, and a local radio legend. And one day in 1969, he stopped the world with the rumor that Paul McCartney was dead. Russ Gibb passed away earlier this week, and his student and family friend, Bob Kernen, remembers him in today’s blog post.

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Succeeding as talent in the Digital Era means presence on a growing number of platforms. Podcasting, video, blogs, and community work are all part of the daily regimen for more and more radio personalities throughout the country. Today’s blog looks at the expanded workday, but also the potential rewards of becoming a multi-media star. And the best news? It’s a win for both talent and the company.

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For decades, broadcast radio OWNED traffic reporting. But the advent of mobile apps providing real-time traffic information changed all that, shifting the way commuters navigate their way to work. Now, thanks to partnerships with apps like Waze, radio may get its traffic mojo back.

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What happens when someone breaks the rules, whether we’re talking about the radio ratings game or a TV game show like “Jeopardy?” That’s precisely what’s happening every night as America watches a bold gambler break “Jeopardy” – a show that’s more than 50 years old. And remind us that even in traditional games, there’s always a clever, innovative way to play it differently.

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Since Arbitron discovered the stratification of radio listeniing – known more familiarly as P1s, P2s, etc., – programmers have debated the optimal strategic approach to scoring strong ratings. Is it smarter to program to the broadcer cume, hoping to convert casual users into core listeners? Or does it make more sense to maximize ratings by doubling down on über fans? For inspiration, we turn to one of television’s most successful franchises, which has lately focused on its hardcore legions of fans.

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After a dozen years, podcasting is still very much the Wild West. With more than 700,000 podcasts to choose from, discovery continues to be a challenge. But smart minds are working on the problem. And this week, a new social media platform was launched, designed to make it easier to find that next great podcast. Here’s an early look.

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As the media world’s AI machines increasingly serve up predictable content, based on our personal data, broadcast radio has the challenge and the opportunity of creating content that surprises, enchants, and delights. As a follow up to yesterday’s post about the rapidly increasing number of media choices, we look at the tools broadcasters can use to recapture the audience’s attention. And it may boil down to just one little word.

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Did you hear the big news last week? Amazon and YouTube rolled out free streaming music platforms. And no one seemed to care. That’s because the audio streaming landscape is already littered with brands and choices. In today’s blog post, we talk about how radio broadcasters need to see that bigger picture in order to stand out, get noticed, and continue to remain relevant.

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Yesterday’s blog post certainly had an impact. It was all about a USA Today listing the 25 “worst jobs” in America. And yes, three radio-ish careers made their top (or bottom) 10. Today’s post is a rebuttal to that study. We connected with several young radio pros – behind the mic, behind the scenes, and on the street – to get their perspective on “Why radio.” I hope you find it as inspirational as I did.

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USA Today has published a list of the worst jobs in America. “Advertising Salesperson,” “Broadcaster,” and “Disc Jockey” all made the list.

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What constitutes a strategic advantage? It’s when you develop a tactic or tool that no one else has. In other words, your “secret sauce.” But when your competitors discover what you’ve been doing, and make it a part of their arsenal, chances are you’ll lose that edge. Today’s post features a fascinating study that explains what happens when your “secret sauce” isn’t so secret.

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Companies like Ford, Toyota, and General Motors were once easy to define: they built cars – period. But today, they describe themselves much differently, using terms like technology, innovation, and software. Radio companies are no different. These days, many are involved in activities and initiatives that aren’t “typical radio.” Today’s blog post tackles that existential question: What business are you in? We hope you give it a read and take the opportunity to engage.

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As marketers, one of our tacit assumptions is that social media – Facebook, in particular – is essential for brands, personalities, and of course, radio stations. But now, some big names in retail and in politics are rethinking their presence on social media. Some are even cancelling Facebook. Today’s post look at what they’re thinking and why they’re doing it.

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Technology has played an increasingly more important role in the production of concerts, shows, and events. And now, as Rock stars age, holograms are increasingly appearing on stages across the world, bringing dead icons back to life. Later this week, a new “tour” debuts, featuring one of music’s strangest and most bizarre performers of all time. This topic speaks volumes about how fans can’t get enough of their favorite artists and groups – even in the afterlife – as well as the staying power of the music.

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Naitonal Record Store Day was Saturday. And while there’s been considerable buzz about vinyl’s comeback, recent stats suggest records are on shaky ground. We check Techsurvey as well as other data to get a perspective on vinyl, turntables, and albums.

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So what was the vibe at the NAB? Once again, we saw more proof about the audio renaissance – podcasting, smart speakers, connected cars. But how can radio broadcasters best optimize their presence in these emerging spaces? In today’s post, we take a hard look at the challenges and the opportunities in an increasingly hot audio ecosphere.

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Earlier this week, I attended a conference devoted to voice and cars. It was a fascinating look at how technologists are working overtime to make synthesized voices sound as real and human as possible. When the bots work best, they use AI to predict our behavior. But when radio personalities are on their games, their ability to surprise us is what helps make radio stand apart from other audio media. Here is our first set of observations from “The Voice of the Car Summit.”

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