AI-programmed radio (HD) launches in Nashville, powered by Super Hi-Fi

Radio innovation company Super Hi-Fi is promoting the launch of new technology which uses AI to create radio station programming, and has launched its first examples in HD. It is called HLS+. Partners in this technological adventure are Xperi and Cumulus Media. Two new radio stations in Nashville are powered by a combination of human-produced programming elements and AI-produced targeting and assembly. Click for more explanation of this interesting venture. Continue Reading

Radio advertising and “mental availability” — Peter Field’s study of marketing effectiveness

Pierre Bouvard, Chief Insights Officer at Cumulus Media / Westwood One, is distributing recent analytical work by London-based author and marketing expert Peter Field. It’s a metrics-jammed 25-page presentation. Among the many metrics and charts, we find “mental availability” a compelling and interesting value. Continue Reading

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Weekly podcast listeners overwhelmingly prefer YouTube, and other new stats (Cumulus Media / Signal Hill Insights)

For the eleventh edition of the Podcast Download series, Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights retained MARU/Matchbox to conduct an in-depth study of 608 weekly podcast consumers from October 13-19, 2023. This work, combined with Triton Digital’s Podcast Metrics study, comprise this annual fall report. YouTube is the star. Click for metrics, graphs, and a download link. Continue Reading

Advertiser intention toward podcasting reaches tipping point (Westwood One)

How do advertisers regard podcasting as a potential marketing medium? Where are they in that thinking, from discussion to action? Those are the questions addressed in the latest Cumulus Media / Westwood One research — Advertiser Perceptions: The state of podcast advertising, a nine-year tracking study. Click for results, graphs, key points, and a download link. Continue Reading

Cumulus Q1 earnings: Digital and podcasting exhibit sharp growth

In the Q1 earnings report for Cumulus Media, overall revenue increased 15% year-over-year, representing the fifth consecutive revenue gain. In that broad picture, local spot revenue, the traditional radio revenue metric, increased 13%, and digital revenue grew 18%. Naturally, digital revenue received a lot of attention during the call. Click for details and quotes. Continue Reading

Over five years: Terrestrial radio -13%, podcasting +266% (Cumulus/Edison)

Cumulus Media / Westwood One has released its 2022 Audioscape bundle of research metrics under the banner of its Audio Active Group brand led by Chief Insights Office Pierre Bouvard. It’s a big book of data; today, we look at the growth of podcast listening share compared to terrestrial radio. Continue Reading

Investor note bullish on podcast & streaming as “catalyst” for leading radio groups

Equity research analyst at B. Riley Securities, Daniel Day, projected growth metrics for the second half of this year, and 2022, for three top radio groups — iHeartMedia, Audacy, and Cumulus Media. His “robust growth estimates” for digital revenue are his most bullish outlooks, with a particular focus on podcasting. Click for details. Continue Reading

Cumulus announces Audio Active Group; renames Westwood One blog

Cumulus Media has announced the creation of the Audio Active Group. In the company’s words, it is a “full-service advisory to offer comprehensive insights, media planning, creative, and measurement services for audio advertisers.” The well-known Westwood One blog, edited by Pierre Bouvard, has been renamed. Click for details. Continue Reading