Opinion & Features

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Kyle and Jackie O – a damp squib? Or just poor-quality smut?

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

High expectations and low results; that’s a theme i this week’s guest column from James Cridland. He cites Kyle and Jackie O Live — the biggest radio show in Melbourne Australia , and syndicated across the continent — as an example. Can breakfast syndicated shows work? James has a lot to say in this. Also: Two recommended albums, a star interviewer, and how Star Wars saved NPR (sort of). Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: Why Subscriptions Are Not The Solution For Most Podcasters

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

The New York Times is putting a lot of its podcast content behind paywalls, as it has done with cooking, games, and other categories. Should podcasters emulate? In this week’s guest column, Steve Goldstein observes: There is a lot of churn in subscription land. And the audio landscape is saturated with free content, much of it excellent. so it’s a mixed bag: “Good news: Some people are willing to pay.  Bad news: not a lot of people.” But there are exceptions, and industry opinions, and no definitive answer for all shows. Click for a key review of strategic thinking. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Another pop-up station, and a drone light show

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

This week James reports the BBC’s new station, called Election 2024. It’s a 24-hour news stream, and interestingly it is available only on the BBC Sounds app … and only in-UK listeners can hear it, and James is dubious. Also: American radio jingles, Australian radio mascots, and much more. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Faking it – competition winners caught out

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

Capital Radio Network in Australia said it wasn’t trying to mislead listeners. Guest columnist James Cridland calls BS on that, and explains why. It’s about holding a listener contest without holding one. Nothing new, James says, and cites an example. Plus: Previewing the next iOS version, congratulations to winning broadcasters, and a preview of Swiss Radio Day. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Faking it – competition winners caught out

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

Capital Radio Network in Australia said it wasn’t trying to mislead listeners. Guest columnist James Cridland calls BS on that, and explains why. It’s about holding a listener contest without holding one. Nothing new, James says, and cites an example. Plus: Previewing the next iOS version, congratulations to winning broadcasters, and a preview of Swiss Radio Day. Continue Reading →

Mark Mulligan: Mainstream is the new niche

Posted on by Mark Mulligan

by Mark Mulligan

How is stardom calibrated in today’s music market? In his latest guest column, media thought leader Mark Mulligan compares three stars of three eras, putting side-by-side their album sales, Spotify streams (where applicable), concert tickets, and reach by percentage of population. The conclusion regarding Taylor Swift? “She is clearly a hugely successful artist at the top of her game,” Mark asserts. “But the game is not the same as it once was.” All this comes into focus when examining population reach. From that perspective, “mainstream” and “niche” merge together. A fascinating and important thought/research piece for understanding music success in 2024. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: Podcasting Captures Younger Audiences In An Aging Media World

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

“Recently, I’ve had several speaking engagements with media groups,” Steve Goldstein says in his latest guest column, “and there is a surefire way to get an instant gasp from the crowd – show them the median ages of the major media platforms.” The median age of TV viewing has risen from 18-49, to 65 and older. Some cable channels are younger, but Steve is aiming his point at podcasting, where the mean listenerage is 34. Podcasting is the new talk radio for the younger demo. (Commercial radio is median-58.) There is a Fountain of Youth story here for advertisers, is the point. “The plates are shifting” — and this is an important read. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Capital – Taylor’s Version

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

In his latest edition of International Radio Trends, guest columnist James Cridland listens (with his young daughter) to a pop-up Taylor Swift station in the UK. It’s a Capital contemporary hits station. and is well programmed, James says, and “shows the power of DAB as a flexible radio transmission platform, and more. Also: The UK general election, a BBC radio flashback, a demonstration of dynamic advertising, and more. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Momentum 24, and the BBC’s ads

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

In his latest edition of International Radio Trends, guest columnist James Cridland summarizes the Christian Music Broadcasters conference “a radio conference like no other.” — dancing before sessions, bands playing between speakers — “never such a positive and vocal audience. (And he “never felt so old, so British, so reserved.”) Then, back to a key topic lately in this column: The BBC’s plan to insert ads into podcasts. He calls it “penalising the UK public.” Plus much more from Australia and Canada. It’s not called “International” for nothing. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: Quality Over Quantity Is A Growth Strategy

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

by Steve Goldstein

In this latest guest column from podcast consultant and public speaker Steve Goldstein, Steve grapples with the problem of too much content competing for too few eyeballs and ears. The issue was highlighted in a recent investor call by Disney CEO Bob Iger, but is what Steve calls “a really huge issue in today’s media landscape.” In podcasting, only eight percent of shows have produced a new episode in the last 30 days. Small percentage, but it’s 345,000 shows. The result? “Choice Fatigue.” Steve offers a five-point recovery plan. Essential reading for creators at all levels. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: Navigating The Real Risks Of AI-Audio

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

by Steve Goldstein

In this latest guest column from podcast consultant and public speaker Steve Goldstein, Steve offers assessments of AI’s role in podcast production — including the host chair. The bottom line is to use AI cautiously, and Steve provides general guidelines. “As cliché as it might sound, don’t lose sight of what makes podcasts truly resonant and meaningful: their authenticity.” This is an important read. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Networking but sounding local; and could the BBC go commercial?

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In his latest guest column: Bauer’s brand bundling. Then there is this piece of wistful idealism: “As the BBC gets ready to put advertising in its podcasts (on third parties) in the UK, you might think that if only BBC Radio took commercials, we’d not have to bother with the TV licence fee and everything would be good.” And than a deeper dive into that concept. A great, informative read. Continue Reading →