It’s an advertising basic, but one that’s in danger of being forgotten in the digital age: using ads to make products or services known before they’re needed. AM/FM radio has proven to be highly effective in getting that job done. “To win sales at bottom of funnel, [brands] need to win the mind at the top of the funnel first. Mind share equals market share,” Cumulus Media/Westwood One Audio Active Group Chief Insights Officer Pierre Bouvard says in Westwood One’s blog. “We ha

The streaming ad boom is creating more places for marketers to spend their money, but all that new inventory is putting pressure on what sellers can charge. New data from Guideline shows U.S. digital ad prices continuing to fall as streaming platforms pump more advertising opportunities into the marketplace — a trend that has implications for broadcasters that increasingly sell digital inventory alongside their traditional radio spots. Guideline Chief Insights and Analytics O

The IAB Tech Lab is putting out to the public its proposed Programmatic Standard Practices as it seeks public comment on a document that looks to create a more common understanding between brands and media companies. The document is the first effort undertaken by the Programmatic Governance Council, as the IAB group aims to establish shared business rules, norms, and principles intended to improve market efficiency and advertising effectiveness, while also reducing transactio

Contagious has released its “Contagious Brands Report 2026,” naming 45 brands from around the world that it says are challenging category conventions and finding new ways to connect with consumers. The report includes 15 U.S. brands across areas including retail, consumer products, technology, social media, entertainment and artificial intelligence. The report examines brands through nine categories and focuses on business challenges and opportunities including media fragment

Leighton Media is headed toward 100% employee ownership under a $7.84 million stock deal that will put control of the longtime radio operator entirely in the hands of its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The ownership change is outlined in an application filed with the Federal Communications Commission. The filing shows five existing shareholders in the St. Cloud, MN-based company have agreed to sell their interests back to the company, clearing the way for the ESOP to b

Radio is collecting an increasingly large share of the fall political advertising rush, with spending on the medium jumping by more than one-third in roughly a month as the election cycle enters its busiest stretch. New AdImpact data shows $166 million has now been spent on political advertising on radio during the 2026 cycle, which includes 2025 spend figures. That’s up $42 million from the $124 million the firm reported in late August. It also continues a sharp acceleration

There is good news for the thousands of radio stations playing music. Americans may have more media choices than ever before, including more spoken word options like podcasts, but a just-released survey of adults 18+ from YouGov finds one in five U.S. adults are listening to more music than a year ago. And even with all the potential distractions, the vast majority — 61% — report that their music consumption has remained the same. Only 13% report they’re listening to less mus

Artificial intelligence may be poised to flood the media landscape with an unprecedented amount of new content, but the music business offers an intriguing lesson for radio and podcasting: more choice does not necessarily mean audiences spread around their attention. Instead, they may concentrate their attention even more heavily on the content and brands they already value. That’s one takeaway from a new MoffettNathanson analysis examining how AI could reshape the media busi

Jingle Ball has become a tentpole event on the iHeartMedia calendar. And unlike some of the company’s other flagship events that stay put, the holiday-themed show has become a national tour. The show is again set to hitch up its proverbial sleigh and head across America, with nine stops planned during December. The 2026 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour will visit Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and Nashville from Dec. 1 to Dec

Several studies are giving podcasts high marks for advertising effectiveness, according to new analysis from Audacy. The research highlights the medium’s ability to deliver measurable results for brands while reinforcing the value of podcast advertising. What media can brands depend on for advertising effectiveness? Results from several studies give podcasts high marks. According to a 2026 Audacy survey of 1,000 adults 18+, 75% of listeners rate ads read or endorsed by podca