 Broadcasters: Explore "The Future of Radio" in Las Vegas this Monday! ·Apr 8, 09:48 AM At the Kagan Radio/TV Finance Summit in New York City last week, top broadcast radio execs told stock analysts, “Radio’s reach is only down 3% in the past decade… so thanks to population growth during that same period, more people are listening to radio than ever before! Radio is vibrant and we’re on our way back!“ But there is not a lot of steak behind this sizzle: Any listener who takes a look at the numbers behind these claims will realize that while reach may have only declined 3% over the past decade, the far-more-relevant number, Persons Using Radio (at any given moment, on a per-capita basis), has declined 16% during the same period. Even with population growth factored in, the number of people listening to AM/FM broadcasts at the average moment has declined from 23.5 million to 21.1 million people. “More than ever before”? Sorry, not by this definition of “radio”.) (Arbitron data available here.) And regarding the “vibrant and on our way back” messaging, I believe the biggest support point for this was the HD Radio initiative, which I don’t believe the audience is buying any more. (For example, see Wachovia analyst Marci Ryvicker’s comments in Taylor-on-Radio-Info today.) The future of radio is ONLINE!A much-stronger argument broadcasters could be making is that radio in all its forms — including satellite, cable, and Internet — is bigger and more vibrant than ever before, and that radio broadcasters are developing exciting new initiatives in the latter of those segments. And that’s the delivery mechanism with the biggest growth opportunities, as Internet-delivered radio expands onto mobile devices and into car dashboards.Now THAT’S a message that could reasonably be supported…if it were true. (And there are in fact a couple of examples of it — e.g., CBS Radio’s recent deals with AOL and Last.fm. But there aren’t many examples yet.) Explore the opportunities at the RAIN Las Vegas SummitIf you’re an high-level executive at any of the nation’s top 30 radio companies, let me urge you to join us next Monday, April 14th, for the RAIN Las Vegas Summit. In fact, if you’re an exec at the group or cluster manager level, we’ll even comp you free admission — just write us at summit@kurthanson.com.This is where radio’s future lies. Internet radio offers the one realistic path to audience and revenues growth for radio broadcasters in the next decade. And the best way to explore this opportunity is to join us next week in Vegas. This is almost certainly going to be our best RAIN Las Vegas Summit ever, with Here’s an almost-final version of the agenda, subject to last-minute tweaks: 12-12:15 — Networking and lunch. That’s more content crammed into five hours than you’ll find at many two- or three-day conventions — plus a great cocktail party! We hope you’ll find a way to join us. (Airfares aren’t bad and there are lots of available hotel rooms in town.) For registraton details, click here. Guaranteed reservations are $120… or you can submit your name to possibly win a free registration by writing us at summit@kurthanson.com. We hope to see you there! share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
Comment Other blog entries Digitially Imported's Ari Shohat reveals how he built a huge global audience Emmis's Jeff Smulyan responds re: FM in cell phones Ramsey: "Broadcasters don't understand the radio 'experience'" Honolulu's Brock Whaley: "I have heard the future in my car" Newspaper seems intent on driving print subscribers away CBS Radio gets it; Mason and Goodman appear in Chicago Radio Heard Here is a misguided campaign Thanks to everyone who helped make the RAIN Las Vegas Summit success! Join us TODAY for the RAIN Las Vegas Summit Broadcasters: Explore "The Future of Radio" in Las Vegas this Monday! |
great speakers, great topics, and a standing-room-only crowd attending. 
