Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
With lockdowns in place during 2020, Americans hungered for the thrill of the game and the luck of the draw as sporting events and casinos shuttered. People turned to gaming and event alternatives, all online – prompting a surge in participation well into 2021.
Continue reading “Radio – A Safe Bet for Gaming”Contributor: Stu Jacobs, President, Mr. Master
While TV’s upfronts season traditionally takes place in May, the radio industry’s upfronts season takes place in September and into October. Upfronts are a chance for radio – on a national, regional, or local level – to secure business for the duration of the following calendar year. This benefits radio by securing committed ad dollars well in advance. It also benefits advertisers by allowing them to see what new shows, content or event opportunities a cluster, station, radio group, or network has planned for the upcoming year. In addition, upfronts allow brands and agencies to strategically plan their advertising dollars, book ads at scale, access premium inventory and secure efficient pricing. It’s a win-win opportunity for all.
Continue reading “Radio Upfronts: 4 Powerful Ways to Maximize Your Sales”Author: Tammy Greenberg, SVP/Business Development, RAB
One of the hottest trends in advertising is “screen-free media,” as people liberate their eyeballs and engage their ears with a potpourri of audio programming. However, for marketers to capitalize on the audio renaissance, they must develop an audio strategy that goes beyond ad buying and adopts a distinctive voice and sound for their brands, according to the Carat Trends 2021 report, titled “The Year of Emotionally Intelligent Marketing.”
The diversification of audio platforms and the attention audio commands among consumers has opened up tremendous opportunity for brands to expand their audio strategies and grow their audiences.
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is right around the corner. This, of course, means that people will be cooking, eating and drinking various beverages. Those drinks can vary from juice to wine.
The beverage industry was not immune to the upheavals created by the pandemic. As stay-at-home orders were issued, consumers found themselves determined to be healthier and not only change what they ate, but also what they drank. And as people longed for human interaction, virtual cocktail hours also created opportunities for adults to share and try new alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
Continue reading “Drink Up! Radio can pour it on for beverage advertisers.”
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
According to the latest data from Pew Research, the U.S. Hispanic population grew 23% – from 50.5 million in 2010 to 62.1 million last year. Hispanics are the largest minority and have a buying power of $1.9 trillion, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth.
Continue reading “Celebrating the Hispanic Community Every Day”
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
While many behaviors shifted during the pandemic, Americans became more aware of their overall health and wellness. As consumers focused on exercise and rediscovered the outdoors, many reviewed their intake of vitamins, supplements and nutrients as a way to improve and or boost their immunities.
Continue reading “Radio – A Booster for Wellness”
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
The growth in audio usage across all platforms and devices has been incredible. One segment of that growth has captured a lot of attention – podcasts. Podcast listeners have been considered a niche audience. Do they differ from broadcast listeners, and what are their views about broadcast radio?
Continue reading “Podcast and Broadcast Radio – Listeners in Common”
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
Going to the store lately is always an adventure and not for the reasons you think. The adventure isn’t about what is available for purchase but more about how much the tab will be. Prices are rising. According to the Consumer Price Index, food prices have risen by 3.4% over the past year, and apparel is up 4.2%.
With the increase in prices, what impact is that having on finances?
Continue reading “Financially Speaking, Radio Listeners are Confident”
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
An online search for Gen Z will deliver results in the billions regarding various topics and industries. If you are wondering why, it is because they are about to become the largest and most important consumer target. They may also be the most complex.
Continue reading “Targeting the Next Big Consumer – Teens”
Contributor: Sarena Gerard, Senior Research Associate, GfK
Combining online and in-store shopping is a highly personal, consumer-driven experience that’s here to stay — one that predates COVID-19 but that has picked up major momentum over the last 18 months.
For many consumers, pivoting from in-store to online shopping was one survival tactic among many adopted to cope with pandemic lockdowns —and as the omnichannel trend continues to rise, many advertisers are working hard to get in front of consumers in both online and in-store environments. This is especially true in categories that have experienced strong omnichannel growth over the last year – among them clothing & fashion, household cleaning products, and packaged foods and beverages.
Continue reading “Using Omni-Shopper Insights to Create More Effective Ads”
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
People are resilient. It is an awesome wonder of human nature. There’s no doubt that everyone has experienced challenges, but looking around, you see that people have returned to doing what they did pre-pandemic. They are tuned into radio and ready to go.
Continue reading “People are Tuned In and On the Go”
Author: Madison Wright, Associate Producer, Radio Mercury Awards
For the past 30 years, radio broadcasters, agencies and advertisers have entered their creative work into the Radio Mercury Awards. Produced by the Radio Advertising Bureau, it is the only awards competition that exclusively honors creativity in radio and audio since its creation in 1992. Around 20,000 commercials have competed for close to $3.5 million in prizes.
When reflecting upon the Radio Mercury Awards, especially during this special anniversary, two things come to mind – the rich heritage of the awards show and how they continue to matter to the creative community as the medium continues to evolve.
Continue reading “In Your Ears – The 30th Anniversary
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
We know that consumer shopping behavior changed dramatically in 2020 – due to both restrictions and personal preferences. However, live events are on, places are open, and consumers are ready for it all.
The National Retail Federation revised their 2021 annual forecast and now projects that retail sales will total anywhere from $4.44 to $4.56 trillion this year. Yes, consumers are ready to shop, but where they shop, why they shop and what they buy will look different in 2021.
Continue reading “Meet the New Retail Shopper”
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
A 2019 blog post noted how 58% of consumers will use search to find an attorney or legal service. That was well before the events we all experienced during 2020. No doubt, the search for legal counsel increased during 2020 for various and obvious reasons.
As many consumers and businesses across the country were impacted both economically and medically by the pandemic, the need for legal services spiked. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, bankruptcy filings were up 30% just between April and May 2020. When Americans needed help, broadcast radio was there to inform them of where to get those legal services – driving a double-digit lift in site traffic for legal services in 2020.
Continue reading “Objections Overruled. Radio Drives Double Digit Site Lift for Legal Services”
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
There have been numerous articles, studies and surveys on shift in consumer shopping preferences and behavior. While percentages for each survey may have varied, there was one consistent finding – Americans have increased their use of online transactions. The implication of this behavioral shift is not just limited to retail but also to banking – 27% of consumers agree that banks will be more flexible over the next two years.
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
Having just come off a long summer holiday weekend, parents of children across the U.S. are prepping for, or have already begun, back-to-school shopping. If you think it is too soon, think again. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 61% of consumers typically plan their back-to-school shopping around retail sales events like Fourth of July.
Continue reading “It’s July – Time for Back-to-School Shopping”
Author: Jeff Schmidt, SVP/Professional Development, RAB
‘Trust me.” Ever have someone say those words to you? Or “I’m going to be totally honest with you…” Just saying those words is likely to raise red flags for the people with whom you’re talking. If people can trust you to be honest, why would you have to say it?
Author: Tammy Greenberg, SVP/Business Development, RAB
The challenges that the marketing, advertising and media community faced throughout 2020 and the first half of 2021 have been like nothing any business has ever seen or experienced before. These challenges brought opportunity and have demonstrated a collective resilience in nearly every sector of business.
The next frontier for radio has been shaped by many of the lessons learned as consumers, businesses and brands have leaned in to audio across all platforms as the soundtrack to their daily journey.
What is new is old. What is old is new. Radio trends born from past truths.
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
The disruption to businesses and the economy created by the pandemic throughout 2020 was unprecedented, impacting unemployment levels not seen in prior recessions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over twice the number of jobs were lost between March 2020 through April 2020 than those lost from 2007-2009.
Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
The role that sports plays in the lives of Americans became magnified during 2020. Whether it was the dribbling of a basketball on a court, the crack of a bat or the sounds from a huddle – people needed to watch and experience sports.
Sports fans are passionate, and they are engaged in the team or player they are following. They are emotionally connected – just like they are with radio.
