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Many observors believe podcasting is the next big thing. But research studies like Techsurey 2018 indicate that podcasting’s growth is modest, and many people have never even sampled a podcast. Today’s post digs deep in the reasons why podcasting’s stunted growth, and the one key factor that could transfoorm it into a mainstream platform.

Radio ratings suggest that as consumers reach their mid-twenties to early thirties, their passion for new music discovery decreases. Now, new sceintific research – including a question in Techsurvey 2018 – backs up that phenomenon. And it goes a long way toward explaining the continued success of gold-based radio formats like Classic Rock even among younger consumers. Science meets radio programming in today’s post.

Radio companies struggle to definite social media rules for personalities – especially when it comes to station accounts versus personal pages. Apparently, the Federal Government is, too. The U.S.’s Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, usses her personal account to talk about her favorite bands and foreign policy.

Advertisers are big marketing questions about effectiveness, return on investment – and simply what works. A new Nielsen study among CMOs is an eye-opener, loaded with insight about how radio can reverse its fortunes and reprove itself as a viable advertising vehicle. We pulled a few key charts, along with suggestions about how broadcasters can get on the path toward providing more confidence in a medium that’s been a major media player for nearly a century.

Google search results have never been more influential, guiding consumers to preferred websites. The algorithm is rooted in history – what people often type in the search box – and for radio, that means serious perception problems. We typed “Radio is….” into the Google search box, and look what happenedd.

Digital brands are fast-learning about the necessity of having a persona – “a face.” But the legacy of the radio business has always been about personality – it’s always played a key role in the success formula, whether it’s Wally Phillips or Bobby Bones. And It’s another reminder about the power of those people behind the mics – and why we need to also get them in front of the camera. It’s great to have “a face for radio.”

Since supplanting MySpace, Facebook has always been the #1 social media platform, right? That’s until they aren’t especially among teens. In fact, you may be surprised to learn they aren’t #2 or #3 either. There’s change and disruption in the social media world when it comes to Gen Z, an object lesson for a radio business that increasingly skews older in usage and appeal.

Media usage continues to trend up, raising the question of just how much entertainment and information can the average American consume. A new study indicates the key variable is sleep – the longer we’re awake, the more media we consume. For radio, this new data presents both a challenge and an opportunity to gain the audience’s attention while their conscious.

A new Psychology Today study shows watching too much TV can lead to depression and unhappiness. But when it comes to FM music stations, they have the ability to make listeners feel better. And we have research that proves it.

It’s Throwback Thursday on our blog today. You’ve already seen the trend toward old school media – like books and vinyl records. But now a blast from the past – standing in line for hours to buy concert tickets – may be making a comeback. Here’s why it’s happening, powered by a band that wants to be sure its fans get great seats.

It’s not surprising to hear broadcast radio CEOs talk up the power and value of the medium. That’s to be expected. But when that corporate captain is Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, he’s got everyone’s attention. He’s a passionate fan of radio, and the Virgin Group’s collection of 400 companies proudly includes broadcast radio propoerties located around the world – but not in the U.S. – yet.

Voice technology and Artificial Intelligence continue to make astounding leaps. Last week, we learned that Amazon’s Alexa technology will be embedded in all new Lennar-built homes. Now, Acer has announced that familiar female voice will be pre-installed in its line of laptops. Soon, you’ll able to be able to talk to your computer – just like on “Star Trek.”

While broadcasters modernize their companies for the digital era, viable solutions for AM radio are few and far betweeen. A recent Wall Street Journal romanticized those powerful AM stations of the past whose signals carried across wide geographic boundary lines at night. But is there a way forward for AM radio in a media environment getting more competitive every year?

Thanks to the Internet and social media, core fans have never been more important to the health and well-being of media brands. From ESPN to Twitch, more marketers are coming to the realization that fans can be true evangelists – if you understand how they think and what they value. Today, we dig into the ways in which more and more brands are laser focusing on hardcore fans – and why this strategy works.

WFAN’s super-host, Mike Francesa entered the world of Twitter last Friday – years after most radio personalities and sports talk hosts made the leap into the Twittersphere. Fan engagement and acknowledgment have never been important, so does Francesa’s late arrival on Twitter send a message to radio companies about the ongoing need to work with talent on their social and digital strategies?

Facebook is going through some times and has now resorted to launching a major image campaign to rehab its sullied image. Today’s blog post takes a look at their new TV spot (see what you think), and assesses the true health of the world’s largest social media site (better than you think).

In our new Techsurvey, smart speaker ownership has nearly doubled in just one year. But the trend isn’t just about gadgets like the Amazon Echo. It’s the larger phenomenon known as voice. Today’s post looks at two very different developments on the voice front that reinforce this notion that a major trend is happening right before our very…ears.