Media Info Bureau

Overall household CPG spending experienced 17% year-over-year growth in June 2020. It follows a healthy jump in year-over-year spending seen in May, and with increased COVID-19 concerns in hot spots such as California, Arizona and Florida, July could be shaping up to be another big month for a category ripe for radio and TV advertising.

With the recent format change to a '90s-focused pop hits format at iHeartMedia-owned WMIA-FM in Miami, the radio industry is now abuzz with talk of more "Totally"-branded format shifts at other iHeartMedia stations. But, how can Radio benefit from more ad dollars with such a change? This encore Media Information Bureau column from editor-in-chief Adam R Jacobson could prove inspiring.

New data from the Edison Research Share of Earstudy, conducted during the period of COVID-19 disruptions, shows that people in the U.S. age 13 and older began listening to audio a full 75 minutes later on average, as compared to before the disruptions.

While most companies agree that sales training is important, they also agree that it is ineffective. "Salespeople enter sessions with low expectations and leave with a few new ideas, but no measurable improvement in their sales skills," says expert sales trainer Barrett Riddleberger. To make your sales training more efficient, he offers three principles in mind.

The music industry experienced a strong start to 2020, with audio streaming growing through early March — up 20% over the same period in 2019. That's one of the key takeaways from the just-released Nielsen Music/MRC Data 2020 Mid-Year Report, which also finds that, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, audio consumption is up by just a trickle.

Three years ago, our editor-in-chief visited a Wegmans supermarket for the first time. His visit sparked a column offering inspiration and innovative ways a radio station can best connect with your community, thus driving revenue and an increase in listeners. The column proved very popular, and we are pleased to offer it today as an RBR+TVBR Encore Presentation.

Letting go of a sales rep is tough to do, notes expert sales training coach Barrett Riddleberger. Before you make that decision, check out these important questions. As he sees it, you just might save a superstar sales rep.

A #StopHateForProfit movement that started June 17 initially targeted Facebook and, specifically, sought to squelch online advertising on the platform across the month of July. It appears marketers have responded a bit stronger than what the hashtag harriers intended. A wider boycott is being seen. So ... have your radio stations' responded?

Despite a plethora of cable TV channels, kid-friendly digital multicast offerings including PBS Kids and educational and informational programming blocks across broadcast television stations, U.S. tweens are being raised on subscription video-on-demand programming. The trends from six European countries are no different, newly released Kagan data show.

According to a "great majority of marketers," future brand growth will be tied to marketing innovations and technology. But, many of them spend little time learning how to utilize either of those tools. If this sounds familiar to your radio or TV operation, you may want to read a new ANA report that offers keen insights on marketing, innovation and technology.

New research from Parks Associates and Applicaster indicates that more than 50% of U.S. broadband households now own at least one smart TV -- making it the primary platform for video services at a time when content consumption is accelerating dramatically.

Deloitte's 14th Digital Media Trends Survey is out, and this time the focus is on consumer streaming and entertainment habits. Deloitte conducted two surveys related to digital media: one pre-COVID-19, and a second in May. Together, the surveys provide intriguing insights into how media consumption has accelerated and changed as a result of COVID-19.

Years ago, the April/May Arbitron book was essential for advertising across the rest of a year. Today, in the top markets, monthly ratings reports have erased that paradigm. And, as we welcome the first day of summer, veteran consultant Clark Smidt offers up an exclusive review of what Nielsen Audio is telling us about radio's sell-ability, by format.

While not quite as impressive as the year-over-year increases seen in March and April, as much of the U.S. was in strict shelter-at-home quarantines tied to the novel coronavirus, household consumer packaged goods (CPG) spending in May 2020 was still up significantly compared to one year ago.

First, it was the disproportionate COVID-19 pandemic impact on the Black community. Then, it was the murder of George Floyd, and the resulting nationwide protests tied to a message that "Black Lives Matter." Now, a group of NABOB members believe it is time for Corporate America and Capitol Hill to speak up.