Graduations have begun, as have weddings. Festivities and gatherings are in full swing. As is the case with many events like these, jewelry of some sort is given to mark the occasion.
Dad. Father. Pop. Pappa. These are just a few of the names children will use when referring to the paternal figure in their lives. This post looks into the people that are celebrated and recognized on Father’s Day.
Travel forecasts for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend range from an uptick of 8%-9% over 2021 based on the source. Americans are back on the road and that is great news for businesses, the economy and broadcast radio.
According to the recent jobs report, 428,000 jobs were added, and the unemployment rate remains unchanged at 3.6%. The good news is that 95% of the jobs that were lost during the pandemic are now recovered.
Are we still looking at the Great Resignation or is it instead a great reset?
Author: Stephanie Heracleous, Research & Insights Assistant, RAB
It’s no secret that the pandemic affected the travel industry in a major way. Americans had to put their plans of exploration on hold. As travel restrictions continue to ease, folks are eager to plan their next getaway.
Shopping habits have changed. Consumer expectations of the brands they purchase and where they purchase them have shifted dramatically. These changes will continue to impact retailers everywhere from Main Street to Broadway. Retailers of all sizes are constantly trying to navigate these changes, so it is important to understand the values of today’s shoppers.
With major shift in the workplace model from in-office to hybrid, Americans are revaluating their residences. Is their current residence conducive to sustain a regular work-from-home situation versus an occasional event? Whether it is a condo, a home or rented apartment, many consumers appreciate the importance of homeowners/personal property insurance.
According to Punxsutawney Phil, winter should be over in three more weeks. Within those weeks, landscapers and lawn and garden centers will experience an influx of want-to-be and experienced gardeners. It’s the time when most people will find out what kind of “thumb” they have.
Todd Kalman, senior vice president of sales at Marketron
Now in its 10th year, the RAB-Borrell Digital Benchmark report is a must-read for the radio industry. As broadcasters seek to increase revenue and diversify offerings, digital advertising is a critical part of this. In 2021, the world faced year two of the pandemic and its impact. The findings of this year’s report show there are reasons for optimism.
Author: Jeff Schmidt, SVP/Professional Development, RAB
Dr. Everett Rogers, a communications studies professor at Ohio State University, popularized the theory of diffusion of innovation. According to Rogers, there are four key groups or mindsets when it comes to new technology, new ideas and new concepts. At the front end are Innovators, the people who are constantly looking forward and searching for what’s next. At the back end are Laggards, who are constantly looking back and wondering what happened and how the world around them changed.
Author: Stephanie Heracleous, Research & Insights Assistant, RAB
The new year inevitably brings new goals into homes. As communities wind down from the holidays, folks are actively seeking healthier routines. The pandemic has heightened awareness to the importance of health and has sparked a larger interest for consumers to get back to working out.
According to IBISWorld, January and February are the busiest times for new fitness club memberships as consumers are looking to start resolutions for the year.
Contributor: Rick Kestenbaum, General Manager, AnalyticOwl
As lockdowns occurred at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Americans experienced financial concerns and reviewed all their household expenses – including insurance. Consumers evaluated their auto, home and life insurance policies. They also realized the importance of their insurance carrier’s ability to handle their concerns quickly, efficiently and virtually.
Contributor: Dustin Wilson, Manager of Client Development, Digital, Marketron
It’s no secret that integrated advertising campaigns typically perform better. When you pair radio and digital ads, they’re an excellent complement to each other. That’s because audiences consume content in multiple ways across lots of mediums. And that’s a necessity in a world where people encounter hundreds if not thousands of ads in a single day.
The competition to break out from the noise and connect with audiences is key for any advertiser. However, they may have misconceptions about what channels work best. Well, they don’t need to go on hunches, and neither do you. Data and research support that radio ads can lift the performance of digital ones.
Author: Madison Wright, Associate Producer, Radio Mercury Awards
Since their inception, the Radio Mercury Awards have honored the best in radio creative and have brought together agencies, productions companies, advertisers and radio broadcasters, all to celebrate radio.
On Wednesday, November 17, the awards, produced by RAB, brought the celebration event to wherever viewers were watching – at home, in their offices, with family or with colleagues, all to celebrate the power of radio and the future of audio creative.
Here are four key takeaways from this year’s awards:
Radio and audio continue to be front and center in an advertisers’ media mix. The robust number of entries this year exceeding the previous few years reflects this trend.
The caliber of work submitted in this year’s competition so engaged and engrossed the final round jury that it took nearly two full days to deliberate and determine the winning work. Thus, showing that the art of radio creative continues to grow and evolve.
2021 celebrates the 15 winners and is now woven into the rich history of the Radio Mercury Awards. Want to hear more? We encourage you watch the full, encore viewing of the show here.
Alejandro Ortiz, executive creative director, Campbell Ewald Detroit/NY, will be serving as the 2022 Radio Mercury Awards chief judge.
“I’m super excited, I have a lot of history with these awards… this is an amazing festival and the quality of work that comes in every year is incredible. I am really looking forward to seeing what everyone comes with.”
Stay tuned for more information regarding 2022 Call for Entry. Want to stay ahead of the curve? Be sure to subscribe to the Radio Mercury Awards mailing list here.
There’s nothing more thrilling for some than shopping for a new sofa, bedroom set, stove or refrigerator. It is so important to find the that one item that is just what you are just looking for or to quote the fairytale, the one that is “just right.” Looking for that “just right” item isn’t as easy today.
Although some adults have already started their holiday shopping, there are some that will wait for the right time to purchase something new and shiny – for themselves or as a gift. The new and shiny isn’t a car, it’s jewelry.
“Just one minute.” How often do you hear or say that phrase in a day? While it may not seem like a long time, a lot happens in a minute. For example, UPS will deliver 11,319 packages, your heart will beat 60 to 100 times and you will blink about 15 to 20 times. Those may be interesting stats, but what is fascinating is the amount of data that is generated in one minute.
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.
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.