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 […]
HBG Media Minute: Digital Streaming of Terrestrial Radio – Enhance Your Market Share
When it comes to the digital streaming of radio stations, accurate measurement can prove to be difficult. Radio stations are largely left in the dark when it comes to true digital streaming listenership. This is why we at Harker Bos Group launched a nationwide study asking dedicated radio listeners about their radio streaming habits. More […]
Radio is not bowling. Don’t stay in your lane.
Radio is not bowling. One of radio’s most cringeworthy terms is the word “lane” as in, “we want to stay in our lane.” The term is most often used as a code for, “we don’t want to play that song.” We don’t believe it, but perhaps there was a time when radio stations needed to […]
HBG Media Minute: Christmas 2022 Music Study Pt. II: Age Demographics
In last week’s Media Minute, we discussed the results of a nationwide study in which radio listeners were asked about their favorite Christmas music. We found that ‘50’s Rock’, ‘Retro’, and ‘80’s Pop Christmas’ were the favorite styles of holiday music from over 700 radio listeners. Additionally, station retention was highest in the montages that […]
HBG Media Minute: Christmas 2022 Music Study
With the holiday season well underway, we at Harker Bos Group wanted to put a Christmas spin on this week’s Media Minute. We asked over 500 radio listeners about their favorite Christmas music. To determine their preferred style of Christmas music, we created montages that evoked a certain style of holiday music, be it from […]
HBG Media Minute: Radio Morning Shows as Podcasts
Podcasts are an increasingly hot commodity as the amount of total podcast listeners in the U.S. is growing at a generous clip. How do radio stations keep up? In this month’s Harker Bos Media Minute, we wanted to unearth some podcast listening habits of established radio listeners. In a nationwide study launched in October, we […]
HBG Media Minute: Music, the Lifeblood of Radio
What do you want to hear when you reach for the radio button in the morning? We have explored this question through our recent national radio study here at Harker Bos Group. Among the audience of nearly 900, we found out that music is indeed the top reason that people are drawn to their radio […]