Radio Listeners Haven’t Gone Away…

Wednesday, November, 4, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

Despite the influx of iPods, MP 3’s, Internet and satellite radio, radio listeners haven’t gone anywhere — they’re still there and the numbers are as healthy as ever. Nielsen found radio’s reach trumping all other media sources (minus TV) in its latest study of media use. If this were an election, radio would win in a landslide. A whopping 77 percent of adults are reached by broadcast radio on a daily basis. This compares favorably with Web/Internet (excluding email) (64%), Newspapers (35%) and Magazines (27%). When broken down further, Nielsen found that 90 percent of consumers listen to some form of audio media per day. In addition to the 77 percent who listen to broadcast radio daily, 37 percent listen to CDs and tapes and 12 percent listen to portable audio devices. Broadcast radio was strong across the demographic range with almost 80% of those ages 18-34 listening to broadcast radio in an average day…

As strong as these numbers are, radio can no longer be successful on its own. On the revenue side, a new SNL Kagan projection shows radio online revenues are expected to grow by double digits to $441 milllion by year-end. That’s up 12 percent from $394 million annually in 2008. The revenue growth rate jumps to 20 percent in 2010 to $530 million. “In the past, radio broadcasters seemed resistant to embrace new technologies” says SNL Kagan analyst Justin Nielson, “but with the decline of traditional ad spending, radio stations have turned to online initiatives to grow top-line revenues, improving their Websites and embracing online streaming and mobile apps to drive their local base to their multiple platforms. With total radio revenue only expected to post modest growth over the next five years, it has become increasingly vital for stations to monetize digital innovations” …

What’s true for revenue sourcing is also true for programming. I don’t know how costly title tagging is but I sure would find out. Identifying every song played is just one small way to please your audience and it’s a start well worth looking into…    

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1842] Wedding Bells: Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd rock down the aisle…
2. 1922] King Tut sighting: The entrance to King Tutankhamen’s tomb is discovered (by Steve Martin?) in Egypt…
3. 1924] Madam Governor: Nellie T. Ross (Wyoming) is elected the nation’s 1st woman Governor, chosen to serve the remaining term of her husband William who died in office…
4. 1979] Hostage Crisis Day 1: Militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran as the Iranian Hostage Crisis begins (52 hostages will be held for the next 14 months)…
5. 1980] Reagan romp: Ronald Reagan wins the White House, defeating Jimmy Carter soundly…
6. 1991] Reagan retirement: Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Bush help Reagan dedicate his Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley (CA). Here’s a look at the library…
7. 1995] Cut down: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated by a Jewish extremist after speaking at a peace rally in Tel Aviv…
8. 2007] Record breaker: Antonio Cromartie of the San Diego Chargers breaks the record for the longest play in NFL history with a 109-yard missed field goal return…
9. 2008] ‘Happy Trails’: Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park, The Lost World and The Andromeda Strain, dies from lymphoma at 66…
10. 2008] Barack and roll: Democrat Barack Obama wins the 2008 U.S. presidential election, beating Republican John McCain. Obama becomes the first African American President of these United States…

Music Memories:

• 1958] Number One on this date: “It’s Only Make Believe” - Conway Twitty…
• 1967] Released on this date: “I Second That Emotion” - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles…1978] “Take Me To The River” - Talking Heads…
• 1978] Debuted on this date: Boston plays Boston.  This video was shot at Giant Stadium…

 
Commentary:

Tomorrow is your last chance to carry the IBS Fall Palooza simulcast. Join other College radio stations for the live music weekend November 6th & 7th. Contact George Capalbo before Thursday at 4 pm, to sign up your station. Email George at palooza@backbone.com or phone 617-848-1176 x6 before it’s too late…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Vince Wilfork (28), Matthew McConaughey (40), Jeff Probst (47), Ralph Macchio (48), Kathy Griffin (49), Markie Post (59), Laura Bush (63), Loretta Swit (72) and Doris Roberts (79)…

Timeline Countdown: 22 days until Thanksgiving, 37 days until Hanukah, 48 days until winter and 51 days until Christmas…

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