Radio Is Dead? Really? What are we really saying?

[GregWilliamsLighthouse]

Well, for the length of time I've been working in radio, I'm embarrassed for not having a solid business model to reference, nor to not even know what DCMA is (assuming it's not Defense Contract Management Agency).
If an idea can constitute as a business model, I'd prefer to discuss this off-forum, if you wouldn't object. [email protected].

 

[JeffM]

You already have my opinion of "listening" at work - throwaway time. Based upon my extended family there is no listening at home. Perhaps there are some people who listen to the radio at home - when the clock radio goes off in the morning - but not for long. When they walk in the door in the evening it's the TV that gets the nod.

Which is why radio went out of the drama business 50+ years ago; so what else is new?

 

[frankberry]

Actually, CBS Radio Mystery Theatre ran from 1974 until 1982. It was well produced and very successful.
I own a copy of each program ... Nearly 1400 of them.

 

[TheBigA]

And National Public Radio did a lot of radio drama in the 80s and 90s, with a radio version of Star Wars, done in collaboration with George Lucas It was a true audio experience.

Don't restrict your view of radio to just commercial radio. There's a lot more out there!

 

[GregWilliamsLighthouse]

Actually, CBS Radio Mystery Theatre ran from 1974 until 1982. It was well produced and very successful.
I own a copy of each program ... Nearly 1400 of them.

10 years ago, a gentlemen hired me out to produce a similar radio theatre show; never got off the ground, but it was fun doing it.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm embarrassed for not having a solid business model to reference, nor to not even know what DCMA is

DMCA: Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act

It is the law that govern the use of music on the digital platform: Satellite, internet, cell phone. It stipulates that users of music must pay multiple royalties for the use of music to the artist, label, and musicians, as well as the songwriters. OTA radio only pays the songwriters. The purpose was to compensate artists and labels for consumers getting high quality copies of music digitally rather than buying CDs in stores. Right now, companies like Pandora pay in excess of 60% of their revenues (not profits) in music royalties. It's why online radio has yet to be profitable, even though it's very popular.

 

[Avid Listener]

You have an example?

I do.

 

[TheBigA]

I do.

Wonderful. Would you care to share it? It might help make your point.

 

[Avid Listener]

Wonderful. Would you care to share it? It might help make your point.

No, I would not.

Simple question: Do you or anyone you know carry a PPM?

Of course not! The people who are issued PPMs are carefully selected to generate the kind of data that the suits want. That's why their "data" is so bogus.

 

[TheBigA]

No, I would not.

Then it's not a valid point.

The people who are issued PPMs are carefully selected to generate the kind of data that the suits want. That's why their "data" is so bogus.

I didn't ask you.

 

[davideduardo]

Of course not! The people who are issued PPMs are carefully selected to generate the kind of data that the suits want. That's why their "data" is so bogus.

The only selection criteria for metered households is that, collectively, they represent on about 20 different variables, a proportional sample of the total population of the market. The variables are things like age, gender, ethnicity, language preference, income, education, family size, geographic location in the MSA, employment status and such.

The selection criteria does not include any requirement of radio listening.

And since both the total diary and PPM survey process as well as each market are audited by the Advertiser-supported MRC, compliance is quite rigid.

 

[Avid Listener]

The only selection criteria for metered households is that, collectively, they represent on about 20 different variables, a proportional sample of the total population of the market. The variables are things like age, gender, ethnicity, language preference, income, education, family size, geographic location in the MSA, employment status and such.

The selection criteria does not include any requirement of radio listening.

And since both the total diary and PPM survey process as well as each market are audited by the Advertiser-supported MRC, compliance is quite rigid.

Well, that's what they claim. And since you're buying it, I don't expect that you'd question it.

 

[davideduardo]

Well, that's what they claim. And since you're buying it, I don't expect that you'd question it.

We question it incessantly. And make requests and demands and talk with the MRC. That's because we think ther is room for substantial improvement. But overall, Nielsen is a quality provider and the MRC is a qualified watchdog

 

[JoshTheRadioDude]

Of course, the next step down in qualification is a box of rocks, but hey! They're better than that, so let's stick with 'em!

 

[landtuna]

Simple question: Do you or anyone you know carry a PPM?

If not, your radio habits aren't being measured, and all you're giving us is anecdotal experience. Thousands of people are measured for the numbers that Nielsen reports. Not just one family. The thousands of people are all over the country, and represent different financial, racial, and educational groups. Your story represents one house.

If "anecdotal" = real life then yes, absolutely. No, no one I know admits to carrying or using a PPM - or even being contacted by a radio station to participate in a survey for that matter. I am a member of radio's "untouchables" so I wouldn't expect to be selected for my opinions or listening habits. But I'm willing to bet that my "story" (which does not apply to my house any longer) does apply to many, many houses.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

If "anecdotal" = real life then yes, absolutely. No, no one I know admits to carrying or using a PPM - or even being contacted by a radio station to participate in a survey for that matter. I am a member of radio's "untouchables" so I wouldn't expect to be selected for my opinions or listening habits. But I'm willing to bet that my "story" (which does not apply to my house any longer) does apply to many, many houses.

BTW your example of someone at work "listening" via ear buds doesn't mean much because my understanding of the PPM devices are that there has to be some sort of movement by the person "wearing" it, i.e. so if someone lays down his ear buds on his desk and then goes away, the device will not pick up any radio sound to monitor and record. If he leaves the PPM device near the ear buds or near a "radio" speaker, it will stop monitoring because of no movement.

 

[landtuna]

And that is exactly what the PPM also shows. Lots of listening in "kibbles and bits" or segments of 10 to 20 minutes. Throughout the morning. During work or household chore time. During the weekend. The stations that win are the ones that get the listener to pick them most of the time.

Advertising on radio is like feeding the ducks at your local park pond. You toss a bag of bread crumbs on the water hoping your favorite duck might get a bite to eat. If I am raising ducks you can not convince me that is an efficient way to feed ducks.

iPods are so yesterday. Most people have smartphones that play MP3s and also get all kinds of radio stations and pureplays via streaming. An increasing number have FM radios built in.

Oh c'mon David, most of your replies are better than that. You must know my reference to iPod was just an example of a portable music player.

Not all women stay at home, and far from all watch women's shows on tv. Many listen to the radio at work, in the car and while doing things in the home.

I wasn't singling out all women but my example was more directed at the woman with children of school age than singles or seniors. And you already know what I think of listening at work (much more likely to be professionals that can work independently like software programmers).

Around 70% of Americans have a portable radio they carry with them almost everywhere and which they have bought in the last 2 to 3 years... it's called a smartphone.

Yes, and everyone in my family has one except me and none of them use it for music listening - radio or otherwise. And unless my observations are out in left field and people actually talk to their music neither do the vast majority of smartphone users either. They text, they Internet, they talk and even take and share photos but listen to radio - no.

Advertisers look for impressions. Even background listening creates impressions.

Anhauser-Busch made great impressions on me ever since I could recognize the Clydesdales but drink their beer? UGH!

 

[landtuna]

BTW your example of someone at work "listening" via ear buds doesn't mean much because my understanding of the PPM devices are that there has to be some sort of movement by the person "wearing" it, i.e. so if someone lays down his ear buds on his desk and then goes away, the device will not pick up any radio sound to monitor and record. If he leaves the PPM device near the ear buds or near a "radio" speaker, it will stop monitoring because of no movement.

I was just trying to address how people work and not necessarily how PPM works. If you are correct though it would tend to rule out people lying on the couch listening.

 

[landtuna]

The selection criteria does not include any requirement of radio listening.

The very few times I receive a phone survey the first question has always been something like "are you a radio listener?" Sometimes they are more specific as in "do you listen to Country music on the radio?" So, I would think the first requirement for a PPM holder would be "do you listen to the radio?"

Does PPM actually care about non-listeners?

 

[K.M. Richards]

I do.

Wonderful. Would you care to share it? It might help make your point.

No, I would not.

In that case, sir, I submit that all of your arguments are similarly unfounded and that your continued babble contributes nothing to the discussion.

I'd use the "T" word, but you would only reply with the "A" word and I am not going to be responsible for triggering the post that results in your eventually being shown the door.