Things Respondents Don’t Know

Back when radio stations did a lot more focus groups than they do now, every moderator’s guide included what became known as “The Magic Wand Question.” Respondents in the focus group were asked to imagine that the moderator had given them a magic wand they could use to change anything about the radio station that…

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How Many Fewer Commercials Make a Difference?

Broadcast radio has long been fighting listener concerns about too many commercials. Over the past few decades, chasing the opportunity to program some types of stations primarily as music distribution services, commercial load has even been part of the positioning at times. While programmers may not be able to unilaterally reduce spotload, they can often…

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Your Database is Even More Important Than You Think

420 years ago, Sir Francis Bacon is credited with using the phrase “knowledge is power.” Given the comparatively small size of Nielsen’s samples and the limited universe of people who are likely to carry a meter or return a diary, it’s critical to know as much as possible about not only those in the Nielsen…

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The Other Problems with Commercials

We’re all aware that current spot loads leave radio painfully over-commercialized at times, compared to even the free levels of Spotify, Pandora and other online players. In the PPM world, fewer breaks yield better ratings than more breaks. So, in the most extreme cases, breaks get long enough that some advertisers complain. While the digital…

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