Sports Radio News
Audacy CMO: 50% of WFAN Streaming Audience From Outside of New York
“Listening to audio, particularly when you’re a fan, is just an amazing experience.”
Published
3 weeks agoon
By
BSM Staff
The value proposition of audio has evolved according to Audacy’s Chief Marketing Officer Paul Suchman. In the company’s most recent State of Audio Report titled “Fuel the Funnel,” Audacy, Inc. proffers a view of the consumption experience trifurcated into stages based on awareness, consideration and conversion. Through data provided by Nielsen Media Research, audio catalyzes this experience at the highest rate of success when compared to other media and garners ubiquity and precise messaging.
“People consume audio all day long, and they lean into it really hard and they trust it,” Suchman said in an interview with Radio Ink. “It’s a great medium for advertisers. Even Nielsen reports that people spend 30% of their day consuming audio media versus other media, and we know it’s underspent.”
Over the last decade, audio has precipitously transitioned to become immersed in the digital space, the focus wherein many Gen Z consumers discover and engage with content. Whether it is through laptops, phones, smart speakers or streaming portals accessed through gaming systems, young people are looking to have their content meet them.
As it pertains to sports radio, those listening to the format represent dedicated fans of the aural medium more so than others, according to Audacy, and it is a business in which the company has made a significant investment. The company owns and operates iconic sports audio brands across the United States, including WFAN, WEEI, 97.1 The Ticket, and 670 The Score among others.
“We love sports audio and its fans,” Suchman said. “Listening to audio, particularly when you’re a fan, is just an amazing experience.”
These radio stations operate in local markets; however, their content is available to stream online or through the Audacy mobile app. As a result, radio hosts around the world have the ability to connect to a broad network of consumers, some of whom may have a penchant for localized content despite not living in the same market.
“Sports stations are distillings of community, right?” Suchman asked rhetorically. “On WFAN, our sports station in New York, 50% of our listeners on the stream come from out of state. It’s displaced New Yorkers consuming that content. They want that content and conversations in their home city from voices they know [and] from voices that they trust.”
The company affirms that audio should continue to be broadcast to cars, a reason why it is still a point of emphasis for a company doing things in a variety of more modernized spaces. There are a variety of advertisements played over the air though that prioritize efficiency and reach rather than accentuating the distinctive qualities of the medium to more effectively communicate a message. New Balance, for example, engaged in an advertising campaign specialized for listeners of the sports audio format through podcasts. In the end, the campaign achieved its goals and attained a 342% return on advertising spend.
“This comes back to the whole state of audio: reach; frequency; plus precision,” Suchman said. “When New Balance and their agency wanted to boost awareness and track sales on their basketball sneakers, our sports podcasts reached those younger basketball fans who wanted that performance and they wanted to be very trendy as well.”
Audacy outlines various key performance indicators (KPIs) to determine if the objectives are being reached, some of which include brand awareness, web visitation and app downloads. Through a wide array of measurement tools, the company looks to guide advertisers into allocating funds into audio-based programming with the mission of generating compelling content and an affinity with each individual listener.
“People are coming to audio because they can have long-form, real, deep personal conversations with their listeners,” Suchman said. “So when you have a distribution strategy that allows a Gen Z consumer to get that audio content wherever they are; however they are; whenever, then you have the people they love, trust and listen [to]. It’s an absolute winning combination there.”
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Sports Radio News
Jay Williams Calls Listener, Forces Him To Pay Their $1000 Lakers Bet
“Don’t get me on national TV and radio and then not pick up the phone when I call.”
Published
9 hours agoon
May 23, 2023By
BSM Staff If you owe Jay Williams money, he is going to find you. Just ask Rob, a listener in Orlando who bet the ESPN Radio morning man that the Lakers would advance to the NBA Finals.
Last week, Rob called Keyshawn, JWill and Max and bet Williams $1000 the Lakers would eliminate the Denver Nuggets. Williams said if that happened, he would pay Rob $1500.
Obviously, that is not the way things played out. On Tuesday morning, Jay Williams called Rob demanding payment.
“He owes me my money,” he said. “So you know what we do? We got Detective Pat on the call today. Pat, let’s give this man a call. See if this guy picks up, trying to run away from giving me my money.”
The show’s associate producer Patrick Costello called the number Rob left last week. On the first attempt, the listener did not pick up. Williams vowed to keep up the pressure on social media and national radio and television until he got paid.
“Don’t get me on national TV and radio and then not pick up the phone when I call.”
“You know, getting that money is a wrap, Jay,” Keyshawn Johnson said through laughter. “I told you that.”
The show made one more attempt to connect with Rob before having to turn things over to Greeny. This time, the Lakers fan picked up and acknowledged that he had to pay. He offered to make a donation in Williams’s name.
“I’ll send you my bank account here privately, and then I will send it to the charity of my choice,” Williams agreed.
Rob agreed to the arrangement. Williams asked him if he wanted to apologize for doubting the basketball analyst’s prediction of the Lakers’ demise.
“Apologize? I need the Lakers to apologize to me after that performance,” Rob said. “Because Jesus Christ, that was horrible. That was bad.”
Sports Radio News
Stoney & Jansen on LeBron James Retirement Talk: ‘NBA Needs Offseason Stories’
“I think we pick and choose with him. I think I’ve been too hard on him and I’m kind of realizing that.”
Published
10 hours agoon
May 23, 2023By
BSM Staff As the Los Angeles Lakers exited the court after being swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals on Monday night, a grim reality set in across the basketball world regarding the future of forward LeBron James. Widely regarded as one of the best players to ever suit up, James is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, a 19-time All Star selection, four-time MVP, and four-time NBA champion.
During his postgame media availability on Monday, he stated that he had to seriously think about his future, undoubtedly referencing retirement. James just completed his 20th season in the Association and continues to play at a high level, but is going to think about walking away from the game after falling short of the NBA Finals this year.
“He’s been a pretty good soldier for the game,” said Tom Milikan, morning show producer and assistant program director at 97.1 The Ticket. “There’s been some things I haven’t agreed with him [on] that he’s liked or tweeted or whatever. I think he’s had some ignorance, but I think that applies to every single athlete out there that’s great.”
Throughout his NBA career, James has been the subject of criticism. The ESPN special he participated in titled The Decision saw him reveal he would be leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat. He is also a frequent subject across the network’s programming, including on Get Up, First Take and NBA Today.
“I think we pick and choose with him,” Millikan said. “I think I’ve been too hard on him and I’m kind of realizing that.”
Show co-host Mike Stone read messages from the 97.1 The Ticket text line during the show, many of which criticized James for being a “flopping” player desperate for any semblance of attention since he will not be in the NBA Finals. One text suggested his revelation of weighing retirement was done intentionally, surmising that he has a film documentary crew around him and coming back stronger than ever would make for a great story.
“The league needs some offseason stories,” Millikan said. “From what I know, the free agency class is not all that great this year – and one of the big names is Kyrie Irving, and that’s toxic. It’s sort of like, ‘Hey, maybe they’re generating buzz or trying to do the whole Brady thing.’ So be it – I’ve seen it 15 times in my life.”
Stone recognized that athletes like James are genuinely once-in-a-generation type talents, and that his time in the NBA has been defined by more than what he has done on the court. James has also been an immense advocate for greater causes, including social issues, youth education and community affairs. Whenever he decides to call it a career though, fans should rest assured that James has truly given the game everything he has.
“I want to see the best that they have for as long as possible,” show co-host Jon Jansen said of star athletes. “If they end up playing too long, so be it. I don’t care. Then I know I’ve [seen] it all.”
Sports Radio News
Danny Parkins: NFL Teams ‘Don’t Really Care About Your In-Stadium Experience’
“In one year of Al Michaels complaining about the games, they’ve changed two huge rules around it.”
Published
11 hours agoon
May 23, 2023By
BSM Staff On Monday at the NFL Owners’ Meetings, flex scheduling for Amazon Prime Video’s presentation of Thursday Night Football was approved 24-8. Games can only be flexed between Weeks 13 and 17 with 28 days notice required. Additionally, a maximum of two games can be flexed per season, with the entire operation being on “a trial basis.”
“In one year of Al Michaels complaining about the games, they’ve changed two huge rules around it,” said Danny Parkins on 670 The Score as the news broke Monday. “[The] first rule already happened, and the Bears are one of the teams that either benefit or are victimized by the rule depending on your interpretation. You can play on multiple Thursdays this year. You can’t play multiple road Thursdays, but the Bears have two Thursday night games – in Washington and home against Carolina.”
In an effort to broadcast compelling action on a national stage, the National Football League did not give all of its 32 teams at least one game on national television this season. Conversely, the New York Jets, complete with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, will be featured on national television for the maximum of six times, including two matchups on Thursday Night Football. The Jets, along with the Chicago Bears, dissented from voting in favor of flexible scheduling, but Parkins assumes it has nothing to do with the fans.
“My guess is [it is] because they already have two Thursday night games,” Parkins said. “Maybe they’re just altruistic and they care about fans and travel and all that, but I bet you that they said, ‘Well, we’re playing in Week 5 in Washington and Week 10 at home against Carolina. We don’t want to risk Bears-Browns or Bears-Falcons being flexed into Thursday Night Football later in the season and end up with three Thursday night games.’”
Many football fans and media professionals have pushed back on granting the property any type of flex scheduling because of the negative impact it has on injury prevention, something that is not as pronounced with other properties solely because of the day of the week. Sunday Night Football on NBC was previously the only property with flex scheduling ability, and Monday Night Football on ESPN is being granted that ability between Weeks 12 and 17 with at least 12 days notice.
“They don’t really care about your in-stadium experience – they don’t,” Parkins said of the league. “As long as you watch on TV, they’re thrilled because that’s where they make a huge, ungodly percentage of their money – more so than any of the other sports.”