Why Radio Starts the Year Strong – Even When the Economy Feels Uncertain

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

January often brings a mix of optimism and caution. Businesses are setting new goals, reviewing budgets, and closely watching economic signals. For advertisers, uncertainty can lead to hesitation — but with the help of broadcast radio, businesses can seize the opportunities that still exist.

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2025’s Most Read: Radio’s Biggest Trends & Takeaways

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

As we look back on the past year, our blog explored a wide range of topics—each shining a light on why radio continues to be America’s top media platform.

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My 2025 in Review – Audio, New Data and MMM

Contributor: John Fix, John Fix Ltd. – Consulting P&G retiree

I was fortunate to work with many great people and companies this year. Cumulus Media, iHeart, SiriusXM and In4mation Insights were great partners and the RAB and IAB have done great things with audio. The majority of the conversations were around the role of data and every road somehow led to MMM.

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Audio Advertising Gets Some Fine Tuning

New measurement tools in audio give marketers a better sense of their ROI

Contributor: Matthew Schwartz, director of editorial and content development, ANA

Video didn’t kill the radio advertising star. Neither did social media, online gaming, nor Netflix. The rise of digital platforms has been a veritable boon for audio advertising, which encompasses ads on streaming music services, podcasts, and traditional AM/FM and digital radio stations. Despite the dizzying number of media channels — or maybe because of them — radio continues to provide advertisers with effective reach at lower cost per thousand than linear or streaming programming.

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Radio Drives Holiday Hunt for Fashionable Gifts

Author: Victor Texcucano, Content Coordinator, RAB

Tariffs, inflation and changing consumer preferences mean the clothing/apparel industry is in a state of ups and downs. With the holiday season here, retailer marketing is in full swing.

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In a Local Business World, Radio Keeps Auto Repair in the Driver’s Seat

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

In today’s evolving vehicle landscape, local auto repair shops are sitting on a powerful advantage—if they understand what consumers are thinking, feeling and doing, they can market accordingly.

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How Local Radio Turns Consumer Anxiety into Small Business Sales

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

The latest consumer confidence report for October just dropped. Not much changed from September, barely ticking down just one point to 94.6.

What is so interesting about this? It’s a total split between how people feel right now versus how they feel about the future.

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Radio Builds Business for Home Improvement Retailers

Author: Victor Texcucano, Content Coordinator, RAB

Home improvement never stops. Whether it’s to place your home on the real estate market or just to simply boost curb appeal, consumers are always on the hunt for inspiration, tools and materials to get the job done.

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Holiday Shopping Creates Big Opportunities for Local Media Advertising

Contributor: Mallory Bouslog, senior account executive, Marketron

Despite fourth quarter signaling the end of the year, it is also actually a huge advertising opportunity for the year. Retail and other industries see bumps in spending, making it critical to promote their business to rake in holiday shopping sales.

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Finish 2025 Strong; Kickstart 2026 with Momentum: BIA Forecast – 5 Key Highlights

Contributor: Celine Matthiessen, VP of Insights and Analytics, BIA Advisory Services

As we near the end of the year, it’s important to maximize opportunities and also work towards 2026. With shifts in consumer behavior and spending across key local business categories, having insights into the current and future marketplace will be key advantages to driving growth.

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Tuning Into Financial Stress: Why Radio Is the Medium for Money-Minded Americans

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Today’s news headlines reflect consumers’ economic outlook – uncertain. A quick internet search on Americans’ financial outlook reveals a flood of polls and surveys that highlight widespread concern about the economy and personal financial futures.

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Driving Demand: How Radio Moves the Needle with RV Enthusiasts

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

As the weather begins to change in some parts of the U.S., people across the country are reminiscing about their vacations, road trips and travels. That doesn’t mean that those events are over.

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Radio’s Powerful Role Among Black Consumers

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Growth opportunities. In today’s economic environment, this is what businesses large and small are looking for – growth in awareness, traffic and sales. Growth comes from change – a shift in strategies, tactics and marketing.

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Here are Radio’s Truths

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

There is no doubt that today’s media landscape is fragmented and that capturing a consumer’s attention is difficult. Brands need a medium that can not only capture their attention, but one that offers scale, boosts other media, engages and delivers results.

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The State of Radio Sales: Listeners Remain as Do the Value of the Spots

Contributor: Todd Kalman, CRO, Marketron

Depending on what you read and hear, you may think radio advertising revenues are destined for downturns. There’s more to the story than the misconceptions that nobody’s buying airtime ads, and that no one listens to broadcast radio. Both are false!

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Radio has a Place at the Marketing Table for Furniture Retailers

Author: Nick Arias, Research & Insights Assistant, RAB

“Home is where the heart is.” There is no better feeling than the comfort of your own home, and some of that comfort can be attributed to the furnishings in your home.

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It’s Time Marketers Hear the Truth About Audio

Misconceptions about audio could leave brands missing out on a valuable medium

Author: Tammy Greenberg, SVP/Business Development, RAB

Audio consumption has seen significant growth in recent years due to an expanding landscape. With consumers turning to audio for the convenience that it provides – allowing them to multitask – and the plethora of content to suit all moods and needs, it may be no surprise that WARC reports audio has grown significantly faster than media consumption overall, across demographics. However, there is a significant gap in the investments marketers allocate to audio versus other media. WARC projected that, by 2024, audio would account for 24.5 percent of all ad-supported media consumption but only 8.4 percent of ad investments. The disparity between engagement with audio and investment in audio is profound.

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Radio is a Must to Engage Auto Shoppers

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

When considering advertising categories, there are some that have experienced numerous changes because of and due to the pandemic. Some of those changes were limited to the pandemic while other categories have undergone drastic changes influenced by external issues beyond the pandemic.

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Radio Opportunities Abound In 2025

Contributor: Celine Matthiessen, vice president insights & analysis, BIA Advisory Services

Radio isn’t just surviving in 2025 – it’s evolving. With $12.3 billion in projected local radio and digital radio ad revenue this year, combining both traditional and digital platforms, radio remains the fifth-largest advertising medium in the local market space. BIA’s analysis reveals shifts in how different sectors are approaching radio advertising.

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There’s a new generation to know – Generation Alpha

Author: Victor Texcucano, Content Coordinator, RAB

Times change. Millennials were once unceremoniously set aside in favor of Generation Z. Well, karma may be real, because it’s now happened to Generation Z, as marketers now focus on the newest generation – Generation Alpha. Marketers must now focus on this young generation, who have their own unique quirks and characteristics.

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