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The sales of logoware – or merch – have never been more robust, Americans love to own and wear branded clothes. Radio used to be a leader in the category, but most radio stations and the companies that own them have scaled back their merch efforts. New research data shows there’s a “tchotchke tsunami” taking place – a chance for radio to get back in the game.

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All the data in the world can’t replace a direct connection with your audience. It’s about determining the “emotional truth” about your brand. In today’s blog post, we look at perhaps the best scene in the Oscar-winning film, “Darkest Hour,’ where Winston Churchill conducts the equivalent of a focus group on a London Underground train.

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This past weekend, the Coachella festival in Indio, California, proved once again that it requires a combination of big names acts – like Beyoncé – as well as up and coming bands that you’ve never heard of. The same holds true for radio. Many of the industry’s biggest and best shows are aging. And most radio companies don’t have a succession plan in place. Some thoughts on a profound radio challenge, and what can be done to meet it head-on.

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GM CEO Mary Barra just took her company’s dress code policy from 10 pages to 2 words. After moderating a panel of radio executives this week at NAB, I’m thinking that many of them would admire that style and philosophy of getting things done. Today’s post briefly recaps the mood and vibe of the NAB’s biggest conference with thoughts about where the industry goes from here.

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To succeed in the entertainment industry in 2018, it requires bold action, a vision, and of course, discipline. And it turns out, a fast-rising British music entrepreneur and a highly successful American rock radio programmers have something in common – they are master bakers and they bring a strong desire to make a quality product to their media brands.

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Sophisticated advertisers are discovering the at-work hours represent a huge marketing opportunity – the time when many workers are shopping, doing research, and even running errands. And there’s no medium that “owns” this daypart more than radio.

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For all the research that’s conducted every year, we never know what will become successful in the worlds of pop culture and entertainment. That’s especially the case in both the music and radio industries. Today’s post features two such stories which prove that as smart and experienced as you may be, you just never know.

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It’s mind-boggling all the things people do in just one minute on the Internet. Former Jacobs Media social media maven and now VP/Social for Cumulus, Lori Lewis, walks us through her fascinating infographic. And we compare this data to one year ago – and it’s stunning to realize just how much has changed in so little time. Check it out.

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As the tech and media worlds converge, it becomes paramount that radio brands pinpoint the content and distribution outlets their audiences are gravitating to. The New York Times opened it doors to their processes, providing us with a fascinating look at how they extract feedback from their millions of readers around the globe. That knowledge is essential to strategically running a media operation, and today’s blog post focuses on how radio can best use the data that’s right in front of us.

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Earlier this week, the long-running soap opera, “General Hospital,” celebrated its 55th birthday. When you hear from the producer, actors, and core staffers how this show has survived and thrived while so many others failed, it reads a lot like the strategies employed by that handful of great rock stations celebrating momentous birthdays. Radio and soap operas? But, of course.

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If you shop at Costco, you’ve no doubt munched on those yummy free samples, strategically placed at the end of aisles around the store. It’s a smart, inexpensive strategy that generates sales, talk, social buzz, and even loyalty. In a dog eat dog business, it’s a great example of how radio can take advantage of both its FREE nature, and the SAMPLES it has to offer its audience.

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Stormy Daniels has captured the news cycle in recent weeks – quite the accomplishment for a porn star. But a deeper dive into her career trajectory reveals many of the same traits shared by some of the most successful on-air radio personalities. In fact, with the help of AdAge, today’s post lists 8 characteristics that describe winning DJs – and porn stars.

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Spotify’s IPO is set to go next week. And questions abound whether a pure-play streaming company with more than 70 million paying subscribers can turn a profit – much less scale. Today’s post talks about what it takes to achieve scale, along with a head-to-head comparison between Spotify and broadcast radio. You may be surprised at the outcome.

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For Major League Baseball, it’s Opening Day. And this year, the league is going all out to draw attention to its annual kickoff, featuring a season crammed with promotions that revolve around themes as diverse as hip-hop, food, and pets. But in radio, there are no seasons. There is no Opening Day. Today’s post talks about how stations could rethink their on-air and promotional efforts to create more excitement and audience interest. Let’s play ball.

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Radio people are taught that dead air is taboo. But there’s a lot to be said for the pause – and even moments of silence – to get a point across. Today’s post looks at three brilliant examples of how powerful the pregnant pause can be.

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Americans are skeptical about the safety and common sense of autonomous cars. And perhaps for good reason, following the first known death as a result of this technology in Arizona. But in spite of this setback, autonomous is a foregone conclusion, and technology and automotive companies will continue to move at a fast pace. A look at the state of autonomous cars, and of course, its impact on the radio business.

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Radio broadcasters are moving quickly to build and develop digital assets in mobile, podccasts, and on-demand content. But the opportunity to stabilize the industry and take advantage of its inherent strengths is right in front of every owner/operator of commercial and public radio stations.

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Many radio people remember Dayna Steele as a great rock DJ who made her name in Houston radio. In 2010, she was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. But recently, Dayna made a career pivot – she’s running for Congress in Texas’ 36th district. And in today’s post, she talks about her transition to politics, and how radio influenced her career path.

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A speech about podcasting at this week’s Radiodays Europe conference in Vienna by BBC executive Bob Shennan turned into a broader vision statement for a radio industry facing an uncertain future. Shennan’s proscription is an honest acknowledgment of the state of radio and the pathway to continued success. It’s short – and fascinating.

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