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ftm Radio Page - March 8, 2013

Radio – first social media
surprises, too

“Radio is indeed the world’s first social media,” observed Association of European Radio (AER) president and RadioMedia Finland managing director at a recently held AER conference in Brussels. Radio broadcasters have a particular advantage in the popular media space, not limited to being the first electronic medium. “The strength of radio lies in the well planned and produced mixture of talk, stories, entertainment, news, music and surprises. In today’s online world it is so easy to get lost and be misled.” (See full AER statement here)

Radio broadcasting has been around for nearly a hundred years and radio listening continues robust; note that recently release radio listening figures from Germany show daily reach at close to 80% of the population.

Many of the techno-media titans “won’t be around forever,” wrote John Naughton in The Observer (UK) (March 3). (Read here) Facebook eclipsed Friendster, MySpace and others and became the “de facto standard for social networking.” Its future, whether moments, months or millennia, will be determined by the network effect that has propelled every McLuhan defined media and “stickiness.”

“Snappy” promo ruled out
try again next time

Radio stations will often tout good ratings in an on-air promo. “We’re number one,” or something like that. And audience surveys provide ample opportunity for every station to be on top in one age group or time period.

Belfast oldies station U105 had its day and ran a promo following the Q4 release of Rajar (Radio Joint Audience Research) saying its afternoon drive show was number one in Belfast. Competitors Downtown Radio and Cool FM complained, reported the Belfast Telegraph (March 4) and Rajar, which controls the way stations use survey data, agreed that the promo was out of line. For one, there is no “Belfast market.” Rajar calls that particular survey area “Citybeat TSA,” a reference to yet another radio station.

Using the precise language required by Rajar would make for a dull promo, “not quite as snappy,” said U105 manager Peter McVerry. “Nor do we think any of our listeners would understand what it means. But we had to comply with Rajar's request.” (JMH)

Radio Page week ending March 1, 2013
radio in Zimbabwe, elections and media, radio in the UK, BBC Radio 2, social media

Radio Page week ending February 22, 2013
radio in Slovakia, Radio Expres, Bauer Media, music quotas, radio in Ukraine, radio advertising, Hit FM, radio in Ireland, license fee

Radio Page week ending February 15, 2013
radio in Portugal, radio licensing, APR, World Radio Day, UNESCO, AER, EBU, ITU, radio in Czech Republic, Radio Impuls, Radio Projekt, Londa, Eurocast, Frekvence 1, Evropa 2, Lagardère, BBC

Radio Page week ending February 8, 2013
car radios, radio in the UK, Bauer Media, Planet Rock

Radio Page week ending February 1, 2013
radio in the UK, RAJAR, Radio 2, local radio, digital radio, 6Music, Absolute Radio, radio In Ireland

Radio Page week ending January 25, 2013
radio in Switzerland, PublicaData, SSR-SRG, public radio, private local radio, radio in Paris, Médiamétrie, NRJ, Skyrock, Gènèrations, Radio Latina

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

Europe’s Radio – Northern Europe

Northern Europe’s radio has a very digital sound. And change is in the air. Economic challenges abound for both public and commercial broadcasters. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the UK. 144 pages PDF includes Resources (November 2012)

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Digital Radio - Possibilities and Probabilities

Digital radio has many platforms. From broadcast platforms to internet radio and rapidly emerging smartphone platforms, listeners and broadcasters have choices galore and decisions to make. Some regulators have made up their minds, others not, some hedging their bets. This ftm Knowledge file details the possibilities for digital broadcasting and the probabilities for success. Includes Resources 149 pages PDF (August 2012)

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Europe's Radio - Southern Europe

Radio broadcasting in southern Europe ranges from highly developed to developing highly. Italian, Spanish and Portuguese radio is unique, creative and very popular. Radio in Croatia, Serbia and Greece has had ups and downs. The ftm Knowledge file includes Resources. 74 pages PDF (May 2012)

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Europe's Radio - Western Europe

Opportunity meets tradition in Western Europe's radio broadcasting. Change has come fast and yet oh, so slowly. This ftm Knowledge file contains material and resources on public and private radio broadcasting in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland. 156 pages. Resources. PDF (December 2011)

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Europe’s Radio – Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe’s radio writes new rules. In fact, most everything about radio in this region is new... and changes often. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. 102 pages PDF (June 2011)

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ftm Knowledge files are available to non-Members at €49 each. The charge to Individual Site Members is €15 each.

The Six Radio Brands is about the uniquely European development of radio brands. Competition among broadcasters - and certainly between the public and commercial sectors - gives radio in Europe a rich dynamic. As consumers become more media-literate and demand more attachment broadcasters find target markets illusive.
Regulators, advertisers and broadcasters take turns trying to influence radio brands. Culture and technology makes an impact. More and more, the greatest influence comes from consumers.
The Six Radio Brands describes advantages and pit-falls of brand strategies, with illustrations from current radio practice.

100 pages. 2004

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