State of Media 2024 – Country Radio
In our latest blog, we explore Country radio enthusiasts. In “The State of Media 2024” study by Harker Bos Group, we surveyed 500+ U.S. media consumers aged 18+, uncovering preferences from Cable/Satellite TV to Music Streaming Services. Our analysis reveals insights across age, gender, and lifestyle/work choices. Join us as we navigate differences between Office […]
State of Media 2024 – Top 40 Radio
In today’s blog, we dive into what makes Top 40 radio listeners tick. Harker Bos Group recently conducted an in-depth study, “The State of Media 2024,” surveying over 500 U.S.-based media consumers aged 18 and above. The participants showcased diverse preferences across various media, from Cable/Satellite TV to Music Streaming Services. We scrutinized age, gender, […]
Accuracy, Precision, and why Nielsen numbers deliver neither
It’s easy to confuse accuracy with precision. At first glance, they may seem to be similar or at least related. However, they are very different, particularly when it comes to radio ratings. Ratings can be accurate but not precise. Ratings can be precise and not accurate. And unfortunately for radio, Nielsen ratings are neither. To […]
Is Nielsen Picking Radio Format Winners & Losers?
Can a company measuring radio station listenership impact the success of music formats? It’s a question Harker Bos Group raised in 2007 when we learned that the largest 50 radio markets would no longer be measured via diary. Instead, with the new method, the Portable People Meter (PPM), stations would encode their programming with an […]
Maximizing Your Radio Station’s Reach: A Guide to Alexa Integration
Are you a radio station owner or manager looking to expand your reach and connect with a broader audience through smart speakers like Alexa? Look no further! In our radio research studies, we find that typically over half of smart speaker owners are actively listening to local radio via their devices. To tap into this […]
The Drip Drip Drip of Audience Churn
You may think that steady Nielsen numbers are a sign that the same listeners are tuning to you month after month, but that may not be true. We find that a radio station continually churns listeners, gaining new listeners at the same time it loses other listeners who have stopped listening. Even if your cume […]
Two-Prong Radio Research: Strategic Studies and Music Tests
In the ever-changing world of radio, staying ahead of the game requires stations to understand their audience and market dynamics. That’s where strategic studies and music tests come into play, working together to help stations optimize their programming and make informed decisions. Strategic Studies Strategic studies are like a roadmap for radio stations. They […]
HBG Media Minute: Shifting Trends in Car Radio Usage
Prefer to watch this article instead of reading? Watch on YouTube. In March 2023, Harker Bos Group conducted a comprehensive survey of over 800 radio listeners as part of our Media Minute series. We spoke with radio listeners to better understand their preferences when it comes to listening to the radio in their cars. The […]
When did “radio” become a dirty word?
Audacy recently released a great study on the personal connection listeners have between their lives and radio. We felt the report was well written, insightful, and a significant contribution to the industry. We encourage everyone in the industry to read and share it. One aspect of the study, however, made us uneasy. The word “radio” […]
Time to Make Local Radio Local Again
Radio group consolidation into the mega-groups we have now might be good for radio in some respects but it has done immense harm to local radio’s greatest strength. Good radio is local. It reflects the town it serves in both style and content. Local radio is an active integral part of the community woven into […]