Media Info Bureau

Our editor-in-chief's wife over the last several months has made product purchases and tried out paid services simply for learning about them from celebrities and "influencers" she follows on her Instagram feed. "Welcome to the new paradigm of advertising for the 2020s," Adam R Jacobson writes in this column. Is this bad news for radio? Not at all, and here's why.

In the Hollywood trade publications, it's taking its lumps, as Disney engages in a reduction in force that includes not only television production but also the closure in early 2021 of its Radio Disney operation. On Wall Street, it's a bit of a different story, and none other than noted analyst Michael Nathanson is gushing over the Mouse House.

In this exclusive column, LeadsRx CEO and Co-Founder AJ Brown says the radio industry "was on the bleeding edge" and broadcasters were the first pervasive users of marketing attribution to measure campaign effectiveness. Thus, they have led in the creation of an industry around ad measurement and tracking customer journeys valued by marketers.

The debate over whether social media platforms should be held accountable for ensuring the content they carry is “truthful” continues to rage. As AEI adjunct scholar Bronwyn Howell notes, fact-checking is costly. As such, internet platforms are attaching warnings where there is any doubt about content. Should broadcasters do the same, whether online or on the air?

GroupM Global President of Business Intelligence Brian Wieser is one of a host of top-flight media and advertising industry experts and thought leaders on the agenda for Radio's Financial Summit, the virtual Forecast 2021 LIVE, scheduled for December 8-9. In a taste of what attendees will hear, Wieser has offered his U.S. end-of-year forecast for 2020. He's optimistic.

With the newly established routines of consumers, the colder winter months and increased movement restrictions will further solidify daytime TV as a true work companion, Nielsen believes. In its words, "Understanding these behaviors now is vital, as they can leave a lasting impact on a post lockdown world."

In this exclusive commentary, programmer/consultant-turned-licensee Clark Smidt notes that, as Radio celebrates its centennial, it came of age in a similarly problematic pandemic. While much has changed, there's one commonality that very much matters more than a century later.

America is undergoing a process of social transformation. As a nation, this is impacting corporate America, the advertising and marketing industry and is encouraging dialogue of equity and inclusion regarding ethnic sectors. A recent initiative launched last week has prompted the Culture Marketing Council (CMC), the voice of Hispanic marketing, to comment.

Why is TV advertising trending this much better and is it sustainable? That’s a question that noted Wall Street observer Michael Nathanson, Senior Analyst at MoffettNathanson, asks in a new investor note.

"Is the glass half-empty, or half-full?" That's a question MoffettNathanson Senior Analyst Michael Nathanson asks in an investor note that examines the pay-TV industry's health through the third quarter of 2020. The glass half-empty argument is one he focuses on first. What's his ultimate conclusion?

With music streaming subscriptions approaching 400 million worldwide in 2020, helped by podcasts, it's easy to overlook the continued significance of radio. Futuresource’s recent Audio Collaborative included a panel session exploring the Future of Radio. The key takeaway: community, companionship, and being live and local maintain radio's relevance.

Group M Global President of Business Intelligence Brian Wieser is considered by some to be “Madison Avenue’s de facto chief economist.” Wieser is one of many standout speakers participating Dec. 8 in the second of the two-day Forecast 2021 LIVE virtual conference. Here, he offers a prognostication for "predictable change" for the U.S. once Joe Biden is President.

With the start of the virtual 2020 ANA Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference, which began Tuesday with strong sessions from Procter & Gamble Chief Brand Officer Marc Pritchard and Nestlé U.S. CMO Alicia Enciso, the ANA released a new diversity report that paints a sober picture of just how lacking diversity remains in the U.S. marketing industry.

As COVID-19 pandemic concerns haven't abated much since mid-March, will the holiday shopping season be a largely digital affair? No, a new study finds.

With content consumption and distribution trends shifting rapidly, there’s no guarantee of survival—one major reason why storied media brands are looking to combine assets to strengthen their position and prepare for a new era, whatever it might look like. A Deloitte Center for Technology, Media & Entertainment leader shares insight on the subject.