Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
What’s for dinner?
It’s a question asked in households every day, and the answer doesn’t always come quickly. Staring inside your refrigerator or freezer doesn’t help. So maybe it’s ingredients for a favorite recipe, something ready to heat and eat or a quick stop at the supermarket because someone forgot the milk.
Continue reading “The Local Appetite: Radio Connects With Grocery Shoppers”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
The air conditioner stops working on the hottest day of the year. A pipe starts leaking. The car won’t start. You discover raccoons have been using your attic as their own private condo. Suddenly, a business you weren’t thinking about five minutes ago becomes the business you need right now.
Continue reading “From “Someday” to “Right Now”: Radio Builds the Connection”Author: Victor Texcucano, Content Coordinator, RAB
Whether it’s teens grabbing a cheeseburger after school, commuters picking up a breakfast sandwich on the way to work or college students satisfying a late-night craving, fast food restaurants have become a go-to for consumers looking for something quick, convenient and satisfying.
Continue reading “Radio Is the Right Ingredient for Fast Food”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
There are certain moments in history when you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you first heard the news.
September 11, 2001, is one of those days.
Continue reading “September 11, 2001: When Radio Was There”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
Every election cycle brings a flood of political advertising as candidates and campaigns work to reach voters, communicate their positions and, ultimately, motivate people to cast a ballot. But reaching voters isn’t simply about delivering more political messages. It’s about reaching the people most likely to vote, at meaningful moments in their day and in an environment where the message has an opportunity to be heard.
Continue reading “The Road to the Ballot Box Runs Through Radio”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
Retail has never been an easy business, but 2026 is giving retailers plenty to think about. Consumers are still spending, but higher prices and economic uncertainty are making them more thoughtful about where their dollars go and what they expect in return.
Continue reading “The Shopper Has Changed. Has Your Retail Message?”Author: Tammy Greenberg, SVP/Business Development, RAB
In a world defined by fragmented attention, the car remains one of the few places where attention is sustained, routine is predictable, and engagement is largely uninterrupted. Grounded in audio, the in-car experience is now enhanced by connected data and in-dash visuals — creating a more complete and measurable media moment.
Continue reading “The Car: Media’s Last High-Attention Environment at Scale”Contributor: Dr. Leo Kivijarv, EVP/Research, PQ Media
Last week, I discussed the trends driving political media buying during the 2026 elections: record breaking fundraising; recent Supreme Court rulings; geopolitical and economic headwinds; incumbents retiring; and efforts to overturn voting rights. This week, I will provide estimates of political media buying by categories: Campaign, Medium and States/DMAs.
Continue reading “Elections 2026: Show Me the Money! (Part II)”
Contributor: Dr. Leo Kivijarv, EVP/Research, PQ Media
Every election cycle raises the same question: How much money will campaigns spend on advertising & marketing?
The answer has less to do with which party wins than with how competitive the races become. History has consistently shown that when elections tighten, fundraising accelerates. As campaigns compete for persuadable voters, advertising budgets grow, media markets become more valuable, and broadcasters and other media operators see increased demand for political advertising & marketing. That dynamic is shaping the 2026 midterm elections.
Continue reading “Elections 2026: Show Me the Money! (Part I)”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
Part Two: Measuring the Consumer Journey
Note: This is the second article in a two-part series exploring how radio and digital work together to build consumer trust and drive measurable business results.
In part one of this series, we explored why radio and digital work best as partners rather than competitors. Radio introduces consumers to a brand, while digital provides opportunities to learn more and engage when the time is right. Together, they create the repeated interactions that build familiarity and, ultimately, consumer confidence. The good news for today’s marketers is that this journey is becoming easier to understand.
Continue reading “Radio Creates Demand. Digital Captures It. Part Two”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
Part One: Why the Best Marketing Strategies Don’t Choose Between Radio and Digital
Note: This is the first article in a two-part series exploring how radio and digital work together to build consumer trust and drive measurable business results.
Consumers don’t think in terms of media channels. They simply respond to messages that capture their attention. They may hear about a business on the radio during their morning commute, search for it later that afternoon and make a purchase from their phone that evening. To the consumer, it is one seamless experience. Yet marketers often evaluate each step independently, making it appear as though radio and digital are competing when, in reality, they are working together.
Continue reading “Radio Creates Demand. Digital Captures It.”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
What if one media channel could make every other part of a marketing campaign work harder?
Continue reading “The Secret to More Profitable Marketing? Audio.”Contributor: Pierre Bouvard, Chief Insights Officer, Cumulus Media | Westwood One
RAB fields questions daily regarding research, best practices, promotional ideas, and more. One of the most frequently asked questions is, “How many ads should I run per week?” The answer always starts with, “That depends. What is your goal?”
Continue reading “How Many Ads Should A Radio Station Run? Cumulus Media | Westwood One And RAB Reveals Guidelines”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
Technology has transformed nearly every aspect of banking. Consumers can deposit checks with their phones, apply for loans online, transfer money instantly and access financial information with a few taps. At the same time, digital-only banks and financial technology companies continue to expand their offerings, giving consumers more choices than ever before.
Yet despite all the innovation, banking remains a relationship business.
Continue reading “Local Banking, Local Trust, Local Radio”Author: Victor Texcucano, Content Coordinator, RAB
We’re halfway through 2026, and that can only mean one thing: summer is around the corner. Consumers will be searching for shelter from summer temperatures, so now is a perfect time for HVAC businesses to reach out to consumers in their area.
Summer heat in the U.S. can be relentless. Aside from a quick dip in the pool, the best relief is often a cool, air-conditioned home. That is why it is important to hire an HVAC technician to ensure your system is ready for the season. Homeowners in warm climates know how essential a dependable HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system is when temperatures climb above 90 degrees.
Continue reading “When Temperatures Rise, Radio Delivers”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, the milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the people, innovations and industries that helped shape the nation. Few media platforms have been as closely connected to the American experience as radio.
For more than a century, radio has informed communities, entertained generations and connected Americans through moments of celebration, challenge and change. From presidential fireside chats and wartime broadcasts to moon landing coverage, breaking news and local storytelling, radio has long brought history to life in real time.
Continue reading “America at 250: Radio’s Long Enduring Role in Connecting a Nation”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
Black consumers continue driving cultural influence, purchasing behavior and marketplace trends across industries ranging from beauty and fashion to technology, food and entertainment. Their influence extends far beyond direct spending power, shaping what becomes culturally relevant, socially amplified and commercially successful.
Continue reading “Black Consumers, Brand Trust and Radio’s Unique Connection”Contributor: Celine Matthiessen, VP of insights and analytics, BIA Advisory Services
As 2026 heads into its second half, local radio sellers and marketers are facing a complex but opportunity-rich marketplace.
Continue reading “Five Key Reasons Radio Should Feel Optimistic”Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB
Marketers have spent years chasing younger consumers – following emerging platforms, evolving behaviors and cultural trends. But in the race to connect with millennials and Gen Z, many advertisers may be overlooking one of the most financially powerful audiences in America: baby boomers.
Continue reading “Boomers Hold the Wealth. Radio Holds the Connection.”Contributors: Howard Robertson, CEO/founder, Spotset Media Network and Ryan Robertson, president, Spotset Media Network
The face is covered by a sheet, but the eyes are wide open. The pulse is strong. The heart beats steadily. And that pathway to the soul we call hearing? Completely intact. There is loud noise in the room, deafening yet clearly heard: about new directions, about who is in and who is out. But radio can hear every word of it. Because radio is very much alive. Those who have written radio’s obituary and left it for dead need to stop, collaborate, and listen.
Continue reading “Think Radio is Dead? Better Convince 93% of America.”
