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Growing with Multicultural

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

According to projections by the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2045 50.3% of the U.S. population will be comprised of what is now considered racial minorities – Hispanic, Black/African-American, Asian, multiracial and others. While 2045 is more than two decades away, the shift is already impacting the marketing and advertising perspectives and strategies among many of today’s top national advertisers.

Last week, during the 2018 Association of National Advertisers (ANA) “Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference,” CMOs, marketing strategists, bloggers, TV hosts and even comedians spoke to the behavior and buying power of these consumer segments.

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Radio Drives Auto Search

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Consumers today, specifically auto-buying intenders, shop differently.  Reasons for differences in their shopping behavior are due to age, brand awareness and ad influence.  Thanks to data collection via technology, there are now ways to quantify the impact of advertising and more importantly, the specific impact that can be attributed directly to radio.

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Radio Rocked the Masters


Photo Credit: Radio Advertising Bureau

Author: Tammy Greenberg, SVP/Business Development, RAB

Last week, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) hosted their annual premier event, “The Masters of Marketing.”  Commonly referred to as simply “The Masters” or the “Super Bowl” of the marketing industry, this event is one-of-a-kind in that it brings 3,000 CMOs, entrepreneurs, brand stewards, media executives, creative professionals, technology experts, digital leaders, research, insights and data folks together to share experiences, and provides the opportunity to learn from successful marketers about their challenges, opportunities, trends, best practices and successes taking place across the marketing ecosystem.

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Reaching African-Americans
with Radio

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Earlier this year, the Selig Center for Economic Growth released the 2018 edition of The Multicultural Economy.  According to this report, they estimated that the overall consumer buying power was nearly $15 trillion in 2017.  Of that, African-Americans accounted for nearly 9% of the total (just slightly below the Hispanic market), or $1.3 trillion, and that figure is expected to rise to over $1.5 trillion by 2022.

African-Americans are a strong influencer group. They are trendsetters that impact fashion, music, pop culture and more.  When it comes to entertainment options, specifically radio, they spend more time listening to radio compared to the general population.

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with Radio”

Radio Drives Store Traffic

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Consumers today continue to shop and buy at brick and mortar locations, despite the surge of online shopping. In fact, according to a survey released by GroundTruth, a global location tech company, 38% of consumers believe they spend more money in-store.  What influences that spend?  The experience.

According to an article published in Forbes earlier this year, what will be critical for the retail industry is “the customer experience.” The same rings true for automotive.  An Autotrader study found that 54% of consumers would buy from a dealership that offers their preferred experiences, regardless of cost. When it comes to the QSR (quick service restaurant) industry, the experience is key.  The interaction customers have with the employees is just as important as the food that is being served.

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Top 10 Radio Show Takeaways

Photo Credit: RAB/NAB Radio Show 2018

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

During the 2018 Radio Show, the overarching theme was about data – demystifying it, understanding where to get and how to use it as well as the opportunities it can create.

In addition, throughout the Radio Show, there was a secondary message: Radio is a strong and nimble medium that continues to evolve, to not only meet but exceed the demands and expectations of its listeners and advertising partners.

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Political Media Buying 2018: Late September Update – Where Does Radio Fit?

Contributor: Leo Kivijarv, Ph.D., Executive Vice President & Director of Research of PQ Media

Similar to 2016, the use of past trends to predict the outcome of an election that have been applicable for decades are now void. Thus, “it’s about the economy, stupid,” coined by Democratic strategist James Carville during the 1992 Bush-Clinton presidential election, should have been important in the 2018 election – it is not. Although the economy strengthened during the summer, which normally is an indication that the incumbent party will maintain control, the Republican Party continued its downward spiral during that period. It was not uncommon over the past three months to look at polls, and subsequent political forecasting websites each week, and find a House, Senate and/or gubernatorial seat considered safe in July had shifted to being likely, leaning or tilting Republican, which meant that the lead over the Democratic candidate had shrunk substantially. Furthermore, too many Republican seats that were likely, leaning or titling Republican in July have become toss-ups, while other Republican seats that were toss-ups in July shifted to likely, leaning or tilting Democratic. For example, one political forecaster switched 11 Republican safe seats in July to likely, leaning or tilting Republican in September. Another forecaster expanded the number of toss-ups from 24 to 30 seats during that period, with the Republicans bearing all the bad news. It should be noted that it wasn’t six new Republican seats that became toss-ups – it was more – as numerous toss-ups in July are likely, leaning, and tilting Democratic in September. Meanwhile, the Democratic party gleefully watched some of the Democratic toss-up seats become likely, leaning or tilting Democratic, as well as likely, leaning or titling Democratic seats in July that are now safe seats in September.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room once more – control of Congress. Have the odds changed dramatically during the last three months that will allow the Democrats to regain the majority in both the Senate and House? Has the addition of new candidates, once thought safe, resulted in candidates and SuperPacs raising more money? If the answer is yes to the previous question, are there certain media platforms that will benefit from the rise in political media buying?

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The Uncertain World of Marijuana Advertising Part Two – Radio’s Digital Platforms

Contributors: Brad C. Deutsch, Principal, Garvey Schubert Barer, P.C. and Aaron S. Edelman, Attorney, Garvey Schubert Barer, P.C.

In our last blog, we addressed some risks associated with marijuana advertising that are unique to being the federal licensee of a radio station, impacting their broadcast activity. However, radio stations today have a presence on digital platforms – via web, smartphone or tablets. Therefore, in this post, we turn to digital media advertising.

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5 Facts and Radio

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Over 247 million.  That’s a great number.  It’s the number of people that listen to radio every week.  It is the top reach medium – touching more people every week than any other medium or device.  This is something that we in the radio industry know.

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Spend Time with Radio on Labor Day

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Labor Day.  Some just see it as a time to relax and unwind – spend time with family and friends or plan last-minute picnics and barbecues.  To some, it unofficially marks the end of summer while to others it is the approach of fall.  Whichever perspective, radio will be there to deliver music, news, traffic and weather information.

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The Uncertain World of Marijuana Advertising

Contributors: Brad C. Deutsch, Principal, Garvey Schubert Barer, P.C. and      Aaron S. Edelman, Attorney, Garvey Schubert Barer, P.C.

Despite the recent wave of marijuana legalization across the US, options for marijuana advertisers remain slim.  However, navigating the minefield of marijuana advertising that could lead to revenue opportunities for radio is deceptively complex.

Advertising is generally protected by the First Amendment, but only so long as an ad is related to “lawful activity.”  So, that raises the question – does the sale of marijuana count as “lawful activity?”

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Building Relationships with Radio

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

“In relationships, the little things are big things.”  No truer words have ever been said as these by Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  Building and nurturing relationships is important for any successful person or business.

There are other quotes that can help frame the approach for opportunities:

  • “Make a customer, not a sale.” – Katherine Barchetti, founder K. Barchetti Shops
  • “There is only one boss.  The customer.” – Sam Walton, founder of Walmart

Each of these individuals were successful retailers and, like Stephen Covey, they, too, understood the value and importance of relationships.

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Radio Delivers Experiences

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Of all generations, millennials have had the greatest influence on the advertising and marketing world.  Their views and opinions and how they communicate amongst each other shifted how advertiser brands engage with them. According to an early study conducted by Harris and Eventbrite, millennials would choose to spend money on experiences versus things and the greater majority had participated in live events in the past year – like concerts, festivals, themed sports, etc.

While millennials, as a target audience, may have been a catalyst to the growth of event/experiential, it is now an important component of many brands’ marketing campaigns – regardless of age groups.  Marketers will spend nearly 21% of their overall budgets on event/experiential in 2018 compared to 19% in 2017, according to a 2018 report by Event Marketer.

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Auto Disclaimers Help Drive Purchase Intent

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

One of radio’s biggest creative challenges has been the disclaimers that are mandatory for commercials of specific ad categories.  The long list of rates, money down, and other qualifiers once considered audio noise contained within auto ads may in fact be influential for those consumers who are in the market to purchase/lease a vehicle.  Based upon a recent analysis of auto dealer ads, these along with additional findings can be a game changer for increased revenue opportunities for radio.

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Hispanics – the Fastest Growing
Consumer Market

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

$1.5 trillion.  That is the buying power of the Hispanic consumer – the largest minority market in the U.S.  According to the Selig Center for Economic Growth, this group’s economic clout has grown 203% since 2000, which makes it one of the fastest growing consumer markets here in the U.S.  This group represents nearly 18% of the country’s population.

Advertising to ethnic audiences was once considered an afterthought.  However, as the buying power of Hispanic consumers continued to increase, its importance as a target audience for advertisers grew.

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Consumer Market”

Radio and Connected Car Sales

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Earlier this year Kantar TNS, a global research agency, released an automotive study focused on the connected car.  The study revealed that owners of connected vehicles are indifferent, unaware and/or distrustful of the technology that is available to them in their vehicles.  Specifically, 47% of owners of connected vehicles are unaware of some of the features that classify them as connected.

Written with the manufacturer in mind, the study included a total of four insights and the opportunities within those insights.  Upon reading the study, it dawned on me that there are ways that radio can help solve some of these issues for the auto industry and local dealers, while also increasing radio’s share of ad dollars.

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Attention Back-to-School Shoppers

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Here we are – mid-July, lush gardens, warm weather, barbecues and picnics with friends and families.  The mid-point of summer and the year are now over.  This means only one thing – back-to-school shopping is in full swing!

While it may seem difficult to believe, go into any retailer of clothing, shoes or office supplies and the deals are just starting as the school shopping season runs from July through September.  These retailers, whether they have a national footprint or one location on Main Street, have the same goal – to reach potential shoppers, get them to their location and shop. Why? Because back-to-school shopping is the second biggest shopping season for retailers.  And according to the National Retail Federation, 2017 back-to-school (BTS) shopping was expected to reach $83.6 billion.

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Political Media Buying 2018:
Where Does Radio Fit?

Contributor: Leo Kivijarv, Ph.D., Executive Vice President & Director of Research, PQ Media

Last week’s post laid the groundwork for the current state of elections in 2018.  This post covers radio’s revenue opportunity for attracting political spending.

One of the biggest debates on political media buying is the potential shift from traditional media to digital and other alternative marketing platforms. There are two trains of thought.

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Where Does Radio Fit?”

2018 Political Landscape

Contributed by: Leo Kivijarv, Ph.D., Executive Vice President & Director of Research, PQ Media

There are many unanswered questions as the 2018 campaign begins in earnest.

      • First, experts disagree on whether federal and local candidates will emulate the unconventional media buying strategies employed by Donald Trump in 2016 by relying heavily on free “earned media” from tweets.
      • Second, there is still some disagreement as to how much fundraising will rise or fall compared to previous years, given the increase in political activism immediately after last year’s election.
      • Third, some believe analysis of early results of recent elections is a harbinger of the November elections in which Republican strongholds have elected a Democrat, such as Doug Jones in Alabama.

The elephant in the room is control of Congress. Can the growing discontent in the United States result in the Democrats regaining the majority in both the Senate and House? Will candidates and Super PACs raise more money than previously recorded as a result? Therein lies the major driver that will determine political spending during the year. Other drivers that will contribute to the final political media buying total include a high number of toss-up gubernatorial races, controversial ballot initiatives, and the rising interest in which party controls the various state legislatures.

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