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The Spirit of Radio – Connecting in Times of Business Unusual

Author: Tammy Greenberg, SVP/Business Development, RAB

“There’s something about the spirit of radio. It helps us all to know each other better and gives us a sense of purpose and community in a time where we need those things more than ever.”
– Adam Grant, Creative Director, AKQA (abridged).

Historically speaking, in periods of great challenge, truly there is no more important medium than local radio. In uncertain and unpredictable times, broadcast radio has proven that it is the backbone of the country’s information distribution system, with increased listening among consumers across all of its platforms.

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Insights from The Infinite Dial

Contributor: Laura Ivey, Director of Research, Edison Research

The most telling image from The Infinite Dial 2020 presentation is a screenshot of our presenters, Edison Research SVP Tom Webster and Triton Digital President of Market Development John Rosso, leading the webcast with over 1,500 attendees from their respective homes. No one could have anticipated that our setup would be driven by social distancing precautions. Now seems like a most appropriate time to talk about the most recent findings on the “infinite dial” of podcasting, digital, audio, radio and social media that connect us all.

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Radio. It’s On!

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Cancellations, social distancing, empty streets, working from home, virtual classes – this has become the new norm for many of us. We are all anxiously waiting to get back to how it used to be. In the interim, there is one thing that everyone can count on. Radio. It’s On.
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Vital Help In Times of Need

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

“Tough times never last, tough people do.” Dr. Robert H. Schuller

There is no doubt that we are all experiencing a difficult and stressful time. Natural disasters and current events have everyone unsettled. Staying up to date on local news is important – whether you are impacted by the events or not.

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Under the Weather? Radio Can Help

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Recent headlines may have some Americans considering not only who their doctor is, but also when they last saw them – if they have one.

There are many ways to select a doctor or physician of any kind. Health.gov provides a few tips for adults on selecting a doctor. Those tips include asking for recommendations from family, friends or colleagues, as well as checking with insurance providers, considering distance to location and hours. Of course, most doctors have all this information available online, but how do you get them to the site? Radio, of course.

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Radio by the Numbers

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Artificial intelligence. Autonomous vehicles. Robotic pets. It is easy to become enamored with technology and the latest gadgets, because they provide us with something that we didn’t know we needed or wanted. However we have also seen some technology or gadgets that some thought would be the next hottest thing, fizzle out.

Despite these tech advances, people today still use and appreciate the value of Radio. At its core, Radio remains relevant and prevalent, regardless of the device or platform used to tune in.

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The Voice That Keeps You Company

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

During RAB’s team coverage of CES 2020, John Holdridge of Fullscreen, a social content company, believes that there is a pending social recession. He said that people may “optimize their time for their health and well-being, there may be a point of turn-off for social.” How can eliminating social media be beneficial to a person’s health and well-being? According to a survey sponsored by the Cigna Health Insurance Company, loneliness is at an all-time high and triggered using social media. On the other hand, some studies have pointed to audio and voice as an aid to battle loneliness.

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Strictly Voters and Political Activists Are Listening

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Although the New Year is only entering its second week, one thing is certain.  The ad spending of political candidates is just starting to rev up as they each work to reach their constituency. Political ad spending forecasts continue to rise.

As candidates and PACs strategize and plan their campaign efforts, media options can deliver different types of voters – strictly voters or political activists.

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Radio’s Top 10 to Usher in 2020

Author: Tammy Greenberg, SVP/Business Development, RAB

As we leave one decade to enter another, we couldn’t be prouder of the progress that radio has made to continuously deliver first-class and relevant content to listeners any way they wish to consume it. Among consumers today, audio is hot and radio is hotter. Advertisers from Main Street to Wall Street are tapping into radio’s incredible power and unique attributes. Why? Because radio is emotionally engaging, personal and measurable with the ability to deliver ad messages in a safe and receptive environment.
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Radio is Back in the Home

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

“What’s today’s weather forecast?” Did you know that is one of the top requests on smart speakers by their owners? Personally, that’s a question I ask my smart speaker daily. In fact, I often find myself wanting to ask that question out loud – even when I am away from home.

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Local Driving Business

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Small businesses. They are the heartbeat of America and Main Street. Despite the current trend of online shopping, consumers across the country still love to support and shop at small businesses where they live and work. This Saturday, we celebrate small businesses across the country.
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Radio Generates 8X More Response

Contributor: Bruno Tabbi, President and Co-Founder, Ignition Toll-Free

Results. That’s what all advertisers want from any media channel they use. Radio has proven that it can drive in-store traffic and online traffic but what about phone traffic? Despite all the tech options available today, many consumers like to make their initial inquiry to a business over the phone. But using a random phone number on radio makes it incredibly challenging for listeners to remember how to reach the advertiser they just heard. That’s where vanity phone numbers come in. 

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Looking for Coverage? Radio Can Help

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

What’s the one thing that everyone needs but not many have? It’s also one thing that many adults won’t speak to their loved ones about. Life insurance.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, only 60% of U.S. adults had some form of life insurance and 20% believed that they didn’t have enough. The most common reasons for owning life insurance: cover burial and final expenses, help replaced lost wages of a wage earner and leave some money/inheritance.
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Radio Leads the Charge in the
Audio World

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Today, consumers have a multitude of audio options to choose from — broadcast, satellite, pure-plays and podcasts — across a multitude of devices. In other words, audio has never been hotter.

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Audio World”

Local Radio is More Important Than Ever

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

In mid-July, a local newspaper that has been in existence for 233 years announced that it would be cutting its print version to only three days a week.  In an interview, the director of one of the local universities responded: “It’s devastating to communities.  Not only do they lose their news, it erodes everything else in terms of civic participation.”

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Radio – Important Among Internet Users

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

While the internet, sometimes referred to as a “network of networks,” was around in the ‘70s it did not become available to the public until the early ‘90s.  Since then, the ability for consumers to tap into the internet has had an incredible impact on everything they do – shopping, driving and even their media consumption.

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“School’s Out For Summer”

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

“School’s out forever!”  Who doesn’t love that song by Alice Cooper.  No matter the generation, it’s a lyric everyone knows. We know it’s July but guess what?  School isn’t really out forever.  August is National Back-to-School month.

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Radio Matters Rewind

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Today is Memorial Day. It is a time when we remember and honor those who have died protecting and serving our country. It is also the unofficial kickoff of the summer season – with parades, picnics, barbecues and family gatherings.

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Music Radio Delivers a Diverse Audience

Contributor: Jay Nachlis, Associate Consultant/Marketing Director, Coleman Insights

Radio is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. It’s one of the advantages and calling cards of local radio stations — the ability to reach specific audiences with differing tastes. Understanding differences in music tastes and usage helps validate the effectiveness of radio as a local, targeted medium for advertisers.

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Radio Helps Small Businesses Grow

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Last week was National Small Business Week. According to the U.S. Census, there are nearly 30 million small businesses. Small businesses play a crucial role in their local communities. They have a positive impact on the job market, help defray costs/taxes and provide consumers with product/service alternatives. They also help shape and influence the community – just like radio.

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