Radio Listening up, up and away......

By

Kellie J. Lala 

First quarter 2011 shows an average of 241.6 million listeners who are 12 plus tune in to conventional radio stations in any given week.  That figure shows an increase over 2009 of 2.1 million people (USA Today-3/22/11).  According to Arbitron’s executive VP of sales and marketing, Carol Hanley “Radio is much stronger than the general perception has been”.  How come?  When radio is challenged by satellite and web-based audio services how can radio listenership be on the rise you ask? 

Radio can shift their programming very quickly.  I hate to brag but KZIA-FM is one of a very few stations that has people in the building 24/7/365!  And-we have been doing it for over a year now!  When severe weather hits, we let our listeners know.  When Osama is taken out, we let our listeners know.  When an area sports team does good, we let our listeners know. 

Good radio is still relevant and helps you get thru the day.  Weather, school closings, traffic issues….we tell you about it and that can make your day just a little bit better.  I would say that is a good thing….how ‘bout you?

Quack Quack!

By Kellie J. Lala

Don’t let the title mislead you.  I am talking about the new Aflac duck.  He’s got a new voice and it just happens to be a radio guy!  Hurray for radio!  After an extensive month long search that auditioned over 12,500 voices including celebrities, actors, professional voice-over artists and the general public, Aflac announced the new voice for the duck is a radio station sales manager from Hugo, Minnesota.  Dan McKeague, 36, is a married father of three and submitted his voice track online. His first ad was called “Pigeon” and you can find it on Aflac’s Facebook page.  You might be wondering what happened to the previous duck’s voice.  Actor Gilbert Gottfried was fired by the huge insurance company after making offensive comments on Twitter regarding the Japan earthquake.  Aflac gets 75% of its revenue from the Japanese market. Opps! 

As the saying goes…..be careful what you say and who you say it to.  You never know who you might offend or hurt.  Social media makes that even more true.