Radio

Every year, the RAB-Borrell Digital Benchmark report catalogues the health of digital marketing in the U.S. radio industry. Every year, the results are interesting  ̶  but none, I would venture, can compete with 2020.

Nielsen announced that Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) has entered into a long-term agreement for Nielsen Audio services. This multi-year renewal includes a continuation of their audio audience measurement licenses across all five PPM markets and the diary market of Puerto Rico. This also includes AIRE Radio Network, a national radio platform that creates, distributes, and markets, Spanish language radio programming.  Additionally, Nielsen Scarborough and the nationwide dataset are included.  

Buying radio is easy. You establish a cost per point and see which stations will meet it. Then, you buy those stations. You get the points you want for the budget you want. SIMPLE.  By Charlie Sislen

La Grande 107.5 (KMVK-FM/Dallas) (La Grande 107.5 CON LOS SHOWS MAS PERROS DE LA RADIO)  is the newest affiliate for Erazno y la Chokolata, the top-rated afternoon-drive Spanish-Language radio show from the HRN Network.

Univision will be holding a virtual Upfront on Tuesday, May 18. More details to be announced closer to date.  Ahead of upfront, Univision will be holding A New Vision at Univision virtual presentation on Wednesday, March 24. CEO Wade Davis and President of Advertising Sales and Marketing Donna Speciale will provide an update on the company’s ongoing transformation and layout their vision for clients as Univision continues to evolve its go-to market strategy and advanced capabilities.

Everything starts here. Your station can’t survive if the brand strategy is not honed, crafted and perfectly executed.  By Buzz Knight / BuzzKnightMedia.com

Univision Communications Inc. announced the promotion of Jason Strongin to Senior Vice President of Audio Sales and Client Solutions, effective immediately, as part of a broader strategic change to its nationwide audio sales structure.

Salem Media Group, Inc. announced that the highly rated show “Don Cheto al Aire” is now in the Seattle-Tacoma market through its recently launched AM radio station: La Patrona 1680.

Technology has radically changed how we listen to music, news and stories. Just a century ago, the first commercial radio broadcast in the U.S. delivered the results of the Harding-Cox presidential race. The success of that broadcast would define public radio and the distribution of news for years to come.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. announced that it has launched an offering of $310 million in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2026 (the “Notes”). The Notes will be guaranteed on a senior secured basis by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, and secured, subject to certain exceptions, on a first-priority basis by the Notes collateral.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the creation of an advisory committee to the NAB Board of Directors that will provide insights and suggestions on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues.

Yesenia Bello has been selected to serve as iHeartMedia’s first SVP of Diversity and Inclusion. She reports to Chief HR Offier and Chief Diversity Officer Michele Laven, who Bello will work closely with “to drive comprehensive long-term and measurable diversity and inclusion strategies across iHeartMedia.”  By Adam R Jacobson – Editor-in-Chief, Radio + Television Business Report

Searchlight III UTD and ForgeLight‘s acquisition of a majority stake of Univision Holdings formally closed. As such, Searchlight, a private investment firm founded by CEO Wade Davis, and associated entity, ForgeLight — an operating and investment company focused on the media and consumer technology sectors — are now the holders of shares in Univision previously held by Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners, TPG, Thomas H. Lee Partners, and Saban Capital Group.  As expected, Davis assumed Univision’s Chief Executive chair from Vince Sadusky.  What wasn’t expected: a major house cleaning in Univision’s C-Suite.  By Adam R Jacobson – Editor-in-Chief, Radio + Television Business Report

As first reported by Inside Radio, Nielsen will no longer include the ratings for non-subscribing radio stations in the summary dataset that fuels the major buying systems used by agencies and advertisers. The new policy goes into effect in 2021 and ad agencies are still figuring out how to deal with not having a view of the total market when placing ad buys.

The medium is a major linchpin for cultivating relationships and serving communities

As the old saying goes, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” This is especially true in radio selling and buying, where a reliance on expensive ratings data and audience demos leads to buys made on the description of an audience rather than the actions of an audience.

Radio’s weekly reach is now 97% of March’s numbers, as fall changes are driving more consumers to tune in. When examining AQH, which benefits from the Headphone Adjustment implemented with October 2020 measurement, listening grew 6% (4% can be attributed to the adjustment and 2% to organic growth).

How have the past seven months changed or refocused Hispanic media’s service to its consumers and its clients?  By Adam Jacobson – Radio TV Business Report

The ability to measure AM/FM radio’s ability to drive viewership to TV premieres and events is now exceptionally accurate. Nielsen’s “Promo Effect” study uses the 80,000-person Portable People Meter panel.  By Pierre Bouvard

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the launch of new spots recognizing the importance of local radio and TV stations in delivering important news and information to their communities.