So when you think of things that move really fast, what comes to mind?
Of course, there were those amazing Concorde SSTs that flew from New York to London in around 3 ½ hours.
Or the new Chevy Corvette with a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds.
But when I think about speed, the image that hits me first is The Flash, the DC Comics hero also known as Barry Allen. Unlike Superman, The Flash could only do one thing – move really fast. And he did it so well that you never saw him coming.
So I was thinking about The Flash while reviewing slides for my upcoming presentation at the Public Radio Program Directors Conference in Portland, Oregon, next month. We’re calling it “What 166,991 Public Radio Listeners Are Making Very Clear About Media Usage & Consumption.”
As I have done in years past, my charge is to provide a solid executive summaryof our recently completed Public Radio Techsurvey6 study to several hundred smart public radio programmers and managers
There’s some amazing data in this year’s survey, especially a strong affirmation of the system’s vaunted “core values,” as well as the “halo effect” that is part of public radio’s DNA. These findings have been in place for decades, are part of the foundation of public radio, and act as the underpinnings of public radio. But while the main drivers behind why people choose to support public radio are solid, other aspects of the listening experience are rapidly changing.
The findings that stand out, in fact, have everything to do with the rapidity with which media habits have changed, and their implications on how programming content is being delivered to core listeners. Starting in 2008 with our very first PRTS study, we now have six very exciting years of tracking that coincide with the rise of mobile devices and social media.
The result is a stunning look at not just how media consumption has changed, but how our lives have been inextricably altered by the media and technology around us. Even the best prognosticators could not have imagined that just four years after the invention of the iPad, more than half of all public radio listeners in our survey would be walking around with one.
Or that Facebook could have as much widespread use, or that Twitter would be growing so quickly.
The chart below is the one that still causes me to catch my breath every time I look at it. It captures this “faster than fast” phenomenon very clearly. And it’s a reminder of the importance of conducting trendable research.
Interestingly, satellite radio has been leapfrogged by these other technologies and devices. And when you look back at our very first PRTS study, and you consider how small a role that digital platforms and gadgets played in the overall public radio ecosphere, it is truly mind-boggling. If you work outside of public radio, and in a format like Hot AC, Alternative, Sports, or Country, you can only imagine how your audience metrics are even more dramatic.
The meteoric rate at which mobile devices, social media, and streaming have grown has forced everyone in public radio – from the major networks to local stations – to reassess, adapt, modify, and change their strategies and their distribution models at speeds that were once thought to be impossible.
Unless, of course, you’re The Flash.
Join me at PRPD 2014 where we’ll share the stories behind the data. More information on the conference is here.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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