73% of Americans Say They Listen To Radio The Same, Or More, Than 5 Years Ago

[SaltyDog]

That's the headline one might have expected from All Access, an industry website. Instead they turned it around and, accentuating the negative, wrote:

Survey: 27% Say They Listen To Radio Less Than They Did 5 Years Ago

"Over a quarter of Americans are listening to the radio less than they did five years ago, according to a survey commissioned by broker AMERICAN MEDIA SERVICES. The survey says that while 51% of respondents say their listening hasn't changed in the past five years and 21% say they listen more, 27% say they listen to radio less. 11% said they expect to be listening less in another five years, while 74% say they'll be listening about the same amount and 13% expect to listen more.

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[analogAMforever]

I concur:

From Mark Ramsey:

http://www.hear2.com/

"And it's worth noting that the age groups with the biggest declines are NOT the groups with the most satellite radios. But they ARE the groups with the most iPods and the most Internet savvy. Think about that when you next hear the industry obsess on satellite radio. Then ask yourself who this obsession is for: The industry, the consumers - or the "Street."

From the NY Times:

"Changing Its Tune"

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/b...gin&adxnnlx=1158339925-vYABP2DhdNnGFFzEDGtXaQ

"Over the last three years, the stocks of the five largest publicly traded radio companies are down between 30 percent and 60 percent as investors wonder when the industry will bottom out."

"As a result, the prospects of radio companies have dimmed significantly since the late 1990’s, when broadcast barons were tripping over themselves to buy more stations. Radio revenue growth has stagnated and the number of listeners is dropping. The amount of time people tune into radio over the course of a week has fallen by 14 percent over the last decade, according to Arbitron ratings."

 

[vibe]

Demographically I'm a baby boomer who enjoys classic rock. We are the most lproduct loyal of any ofther age group and probably have fewer i-pods and satelite radios than much younger age groups.
Classic rock stations that play a constant stream of Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan etc day after day lose people like me. I'd rather hear "Madman Across the Water' than the daily fix of "Tiny Dancer.' I'd rather hear "Roll over beethoven" by ELO than "I love Rock and Roll." You get the picture.
Radio loses listeners by trying to be safe, politically correct, with narrow playlists. We can stand the commercials-we were BROUGHT up with commercials.
If you're a country station, why not play the live version of Garth Brook's "I've Got Friends in Low Places." Radio- you are in trouble, with other options once you lose us, itll be very hard to get us back. If you're a struggling AM station, there's probably a niche for you out there. I'd consider a combo of classic country and classic rock and play what the big boys have forgotten.