Observation, commentary, analysis, and reminiscence by Kurt Hanson, Founding Editor of RAIN.
In the course of Pandora’s three-year history as a public company, it has had pretty strong support from the stock analyst world. However, consistently during that period there’s been one major bear — Rich Greenfield, of the research firm BTIG. Greenfield has issued approximately 29 analyst reports on Pandora, every one of them negative. Kurt Hanson analyzes. Continue Reading
Early this month, journalist and researcher Sean Ross opened up a debate in his Edison Research blog about apparent consumer preferences for more-frequent but shorter spot breaks on broadcast radio. Last week, country consultant Jaye Albright has continued the conversation… Continue Reading
This is Part 2 of a two-part blog entry. “After a couple of decades of us living in a 200+ channel television universe, we’re getting back to three networks again! In this world, there are parallels and differences here for radio to pay attention to.” Founding editor Kurt Hanson analyzes changes in media consumption. Continue Reading
In his latest blog post (part 1 of 2), RAIN founding editor Kurt Hanson observes that television is reverting to a three-network system, as in the 1970s. the difference is that the three content networks are Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. It is a renaissance of TV, but the deck chairs are rearranged. Continue Reading
Nielsen Audio ratings for Milwaukee came out a couple of weeks ago, and the legendary WOKY (a/k/a “Fun-Lovin’ WOKY,” a/k/a “The Mighty 92”) was bringing up the rear with a .1 share. As I’ve written in this space before, one… Continue Reading
Recently, Nielsen Audio released its first annual “State of the Media: Audio Today” report — its new version of Arbitron’s venerable annual “Radio Today” reports. One interesting finding — one that I knew in the back of my mind but… Continue Reading
Kurt Hanson looks at a recent survey, and analyzes why music download sales lost ground in 2013, especially in the fourth quarter. A bit of arithmetic connects the trend to music subscription growth. Art Linkletter is unexpectedly involved. Continue Reading
With the arrival of Beats Music on the scene last week, it’s getting pretty crowded in the category of subscription-based, on-demand music services — a field that also includes Spotify, Rhapsody, and Rdio, all of which are trying to convert… Continue Reading
An innovative new retail model was introduced into the world of department stores — almost simultaneously, in the year 1962, by Walmart, Target, Kmart, and Kohl’s — and over the ensuing years consumers have proven they like the new model better. Something similar is happening with Internet radio. Continue Reading
Why has AM/FM lost 30 percent of its key listening metrics since 2008? Founding editor Kurt Hanson reflects on history, harkens back to the day when he ran a leading ratings company, and disputes a theory. HINT: it’s not about the Portable People Meter. Continue Reading
In a world spanning almost precisely the glory days of AM Top 40 radio, where DJs were fast-paced, frenetic, and fun, Mr. Lujack (as he told us repeatedly that he preferred to be called) stood out as the antithesis of almost everyone else on the air. He was surly, disgruntled, straightforward, and wry; while he could occasionally be cheery when the occasion called for it, it was always clearly a sarcastic cheery. (Air check in the article.) Continue Reading
Kurt Hanson compares the Uber car pickup service to Internet and satellite radio — insofar as they improve traditional feature sets and evolve expectations of quality. Then comes the challenge to radio station owners. Continue Reading