Do you know a lot of people who don't listen to radio?...

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Mike, I realized after mulling this over in my sleep that while I was young I was "trained" to listen to the radio.

Thanks for putting into words a concept that we often forget. I am probably a bit older than you. We were a farm based family living in an area where TV reception was not easily achieved. There was never a TV in the house where I grew up until after I had left home. As a family, we listened to the radio. There was no formal instruction, but we were indeed trained to listen to the radio.

My own children grew up in an "ambidextrous" home. We had TV and they watched a fair amount of TV. But the radio was still ever-present.

I think the only exposure to radio my grandchildren have is the car radio.... if they turn off their iPods!

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Do you seriously think that Arbitron is going to bite the hand that feeds it? Go ahead. Believe their charts and graphs. Just remember, 72 percent of teens use MP3 players or their computers as their primary source of music. Just 16 percent say radio. Says who? Says Nielson. Go ahead, follow Arbitron's brayings in support of the only industry it serves. And while you're at it, get yourself a button that reads "Hopelessly Naive."

Do you seriously think that a poll of what someone *says* they do is more accurate than their actual behavior, measured by a device not under their control?

That button looks good on you.

 

[thirdendorsed]

Do you seriously think that a poll of what someone *says* they do is more accurate than their actual behavior, measured by a device not under their control?

That button looks good on you.

Arbitron's major study trying to say kids are big into radio (note the absence of historical comparison) was based on (drum roll please) diaries.

Please explain to me how a "device not under their control" measures use of MP3 players.

 

[thirdendorsed]

Pandora, UStream, iApps are bursting w/ ads. Pandora turns the iPod or iPad into a 4" or 10" billboard ... many apps interrupt with audio ads

The next four minute stop-set you hear on Pandora will be the first. And who watches the screen?

 

[nocomradio]

I'd be surprised if even 16% of kids are listening to radio. I'd think it was even less based on the fact I NEVER see any young people without earbuds connected to a phone or iPod. I can almost assure you they are NOT listening to any over the air radio then, unless Mom or Dad has it on in the car. Then, I am sure they aren't listening.

Arbitron can say what they want, but being out here on the ground and observing as I deal with the public on a daily basis, I can only go by what I see, and both in my rural area where I live, and a very urban area I visit and work in regularly, I see the same thing. Young people aren't interested in the radio.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

I'd be surprised if even 16% of kids are listening to radio. I'd think it was even less based on the fact I NEVER see any young people without earbuds connected to a phone or iPod. I can almost assure you they are NOT listening to any over the air radio then, unless Mom or Dad has it on in the car. Then, I am sure they aren't listening.

Arbitron can say what they want, but being out here on the ground and observing as I deal with the public on a daily basis, I can only go by what I see, and both in my rural area where I live, and a very urban area I visit and work in regularly, I see the same thing. Young people aren't interested in the radio.

Ah yes, the ever popular "everyone I know/know of/see/hear from" survey. We all know how accurate that is.

Not even close.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Mike, I realized after mulling this over in my sleep that while I was young I was "trained" to listen to the radio. The party isn't there any more but I still listen to radio a fair amount of time, because that's the way I grew up. Today's youth - tomorrow's adults - aren't being "trained" to listen to radio and tomorrow's radio advertisers won't reach them.

I couldn't have said it better. I have broken training only because the party has moved elsewhere, or maybe at my age I've just heard it all.

 

[PirateJohnny]

I noticed over the weekend that one of the stories on this site's main page brought up this point.

 

[nocomradio]

Ah yes, the ever popular "everyone I know/know of/see/hear from" survey. We all know how accurate that is.

Not even close.

So we just base everything on one source of information, assume it is perfect, then complain loudly that our stations aren't making any money and blame it on everything under the sun? Add to that, that maybe, just maybe that source of information wants to reflect a certain demo for their own benefit. They are a business too, are they not?

I said it above, I don't have any scientific information or formal study of the subject, but I really have a very hard time believing something other than what I do see, and yes I do pay attention to.

 

[thirdendorsed]

Ah yes, the ever popular "everyone I know/know of/see/hear from" survey. We all know how accurate that is.

Not even close.

Show us the numbers. Tell us the percentage of 12-17s listening to the radio compared to ten years ago. Tells us the percentage of 6-17 listening to radio now and for how long. Give us the TSL for the tykes and radio.

Put up or shut up.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

I'm not the one claiming all the extant research is wrong. I'm not the one who has to prove or disprove your assertions. You said Nielsen proves you're right, but you haven't quoted any figures to back it up, whereas Arbitron publishes all their listening trend data (in general terms) on its web site.

 

[nocomradio]

If all of those young people are truly listening, then why is the advertising on every station focused on new car sales, mortgage lending, coffee shops, nightclubs and other things that would seem to me to be later life stuff?

 

[CTListener]

I'm not the one claiming all the extant research is wrong. I'm not the one who has to prove or disprove your assertions. You said Nielsen proves you're right, but you haven't quoted any figures to back it up, whereas Arbitron publishes all their listening trend data (in general terms) on its web site.

I think the allegation is not that the research is wrong, but that Arbitron is somehow "cooking the books" to make the numbers say what the corporations that keep Arbitron in business -- Big Radio -- want them to say. This wouldn't be unprecedented in the recent history of corporate behavior, but, as you say, it needs some proof.

 

[robotique]

I literally know one person besides myself that listens to the radio. That person is my 77 year old mother.

With the exception of NPR, literally everyone else i know uses Spotify, Pandora or their ipod to listen to what they want, rather than listen to what corporations say you should be listening to. Spotify is in heavy usage with my friends and family.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

If all of those young people are truly listening, then why is the advertising on every station focused on new car sales, mortgage lending, coffee shops, nightclubs and other things that would seem to me to be later life stuff?

None of that is "later life stuff." The prime advertising demo in radio is 25-54. Advertising is a *much* harder sell to older demos because (so the agencies believe and you'll never dissuade them) older people are less susceptible to advertising...IOW, more set in their ways.

To take just one of your examples: In "later life," mortgages are paid off. It's young people who need a mortgage. I also don't see a whole lot of 55+'ers in nightclubs. As for new cars, those ads reach across all demos, because until someone invents a car that will never wear out everyone who drives will eventually need one.

 

[reelyreal]

Kids are listening to relatively little radio. Even in the car, they'd rather plug in the iPod than dial around. Reason: Radio doesn't speak to them.

I work at a CHR in New England. Come answer my phones for a week. No, seriously. Come answer my phones from 3PM to as late as 10PM and tell me that kids don't listen to the radio. Arbitron gave you numbers and you choose not to believe them, then you ask for numbers. Come answer my phones, that's the best I can offer if statistics don't satisfy.

If all of those young people are truly listening, then why is the advertising on every station focused on new car sales, mortgage lending, coffee shops, nightclubs and other things that would seem to me to be later life stuff?

Aside from toy commercials on Nickelodeon, what ads would you target at a 14 year old with disposable income? Oh, that's right. 14 year olds don't have disposable income.

The benefit to attracting children to your station is that you'll raise them as radio listeners... it's an investment for the future. You've never heard an advertiser talk about that "lucrative 12-16 demographic." The value comes when they grow up and actually have money.

 

[carmen]

it's rare a spin of FM/MW/UHF memories doesn't turn up something. sifting thru current-rlses is a daunting task, and having an algorithm pick-stuff from archives, then play it unmixed and in low-compressed-resolution is insulting and primitive compared to what a good selector can do. it may switch to 'terrestrial Wifi' but radio will never die

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

In regards to the original question - no, I don't.

 

[thirdendorsed]

I'm not the one claiming all the extant research is wrong. I'm not the one who has to prove or disprove your assertions. You said Nielsen proves you're right, but you haven't quoted any figures to back it up, whereas Arbitron publishes all their listening trend data (in general terms) on its web site.

Wow. You seem to have an incredible reading comprehension problem. I said "Just remember, 72 percent of teens use MP3 players or their computers as their primary source of music. Just 16 percent say radio. Says who? Says Nielson." I'd say that qualifies as figures to back up my claim that kids aren't using radio. Unless you're going to tell me they're glued to talk shows.

As for Arbitron, it explicitly forbids use of its demographic breakouts as a copyright violation, so all you can offer is unbridled adoration for Arbitron's self-serving claims that all is well for broadcasters. Show me the numbers saying the percentage of the tween and teen radio listenership in any way compares with the percentages of listening habits of 25-54 or the percentages of 12-17 listening a generation ago.

You know you can't. I know you can't. The world knows you can't. And that's why you don't.

 

[carmen]

what % of kids use Apple rather than android? based on glances around the train, i'd say around 80%. we know apple has not shipped a FM reciever in any of them to date.. of the android devices, maybe 80% of them have radio - so about 15% even have the capability. of those, most are probably using Pandora/spotify

sounds like Nielsen's figures are close to correct if a bit generous on "listens to radio"