Opinion & Features

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: The curious case of the radio station that broke peoples’ cars

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, an HD Radio debacle that breaks receivers in some Mazda cars, which cost $1,500 each to replace, but Mazda is offering a free replacement because apparently the problem is with Mazda, although one Seattle radio station seems to have started it all, and anyway, no receivers are available. Whew … and there’s much more here, including Absolute Radio giving a station to a listener.
Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: The end of open, as audio goes exclusive

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James laments two business moves that restrict access to audio. The BBC will “window” some of its podcasts into the BBC Sounds app — a maneuver which James calls “another disappointing move from a broadcaster that should be widening its potential audience, not limiting it.” Also, Bauer Media plans to remove its radio stations from TuneIn. Other media groups in Europe don’t escape James’s withering gaze. But later, the BBC is redeemed with an audio piece which is “sublimely excellent.” And much more in this generous column.
Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Is no news good news? And: funding the BBC

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James considers the length of news bulletins, citing examples from Radio 2 and other outlets. Upshot: Radio news has changed more than the style of news bulletins. Then — how to fund the BBC. Also, the demise of the Audio Content Fund. And more. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: The BBC’s fight against stupid

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James utters a phrase never before seen in this space: “dangerously dim-witted oxygen-thieves.” The word “stupid” appears too many times to count. It’s a bracingly frank argument on behalf of the BBC, in an argument with the UK government. Then, after a deep breath, a dozen links to interesting news items and columns. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: Ask These 9 Questions to Determine Whether Your Business Should Have a Branded Podcast

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

by Steve Goldstein

Guest columnist Steve Goldstein follows up yesterday’s exploration of why so many branded podcasts fail. Today, a checklist to determine whether your company, or any company, should have a branded podcast. One of them: “Can you think of 10 episode topics?” Continue Reading →

Jeff Vidler: How Can the Podcast Industry Best Manage the Ad Revenue Boom?

Posted on by Jeff Vidler

by Jeff Vidler
In his latest guest column, Jeff Vidler contemplates U.S. ad spend on podcasting has nearly doubled every two years since 2015. Listeners are receptive. The blend of advertisers is changing, and so are ad types. The highly successful host-read ad is difficult to scale. As podcasting steers toward programmatic, Jeff examines new formats and campaign types. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Radio vs Spotify — some data

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, how Spotify is eating into AM/FM listening — data is from Morgan Stanley. Also: The BBC in the pandemic. AM radio declining in Europe. Collectors of radio station beers. And much more. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Infinite Dial UK results, and ‘Local BBC Radio’

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James enthuses about the first Infinite Dial UK released by Edison Research. Also, the all-podcast radio format has been dropped from two iHeartMedia stations after “dismal audience figures,” DAB in Brisbane, and how BBC Radio 4 dropped off the air. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: An Infinite Dial for the UK, at last

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James anticipates The Infinite Dial UK study from Edison Research, set to be presented this week in London. Also, fun history about CBS Mystery Theater, and a great documentary. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: More talk, less music

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James examines The Spoken Word Audio Report, produced by Edison Research with support from NPR. Speaking words is where radio should excel in the future, according to this perspective: “Radio’s unique selling proposition – the thing radio does that nobody else does – is the human being. Not the music; we can get that everywhere.” Continue Reading →